About Us
The Establishment of EUPA
The European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA), is a legal autonomous Agency established through the legal notice 128 of 2007. The Agency was formerly a unit within the Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment set up on the 4 May 2000. The aim of the EUPA has always been to support Maltese individuals and entities in availing themselves of funding under the various educational programmes provided by the European Commission. Yet the aim of the Agency is deeper than simply a financial contribution or sponsorship through which projects may be realised. During 2007 and 2013 the EUPA was responsible for the management of the decentralised action of former generations of EU programmes for education including the Youth in Action and Lifelong learning programmes.
The Agency acts as a link between the European Commission and project promoters both at national as well as the local level and promotes as well as manages EU projects of an educational nature, content or objective. The EUPA engages itself in initiatives that are consonant with the educational policies and strategies of the Ministry responsible for education.
For the current programming period (2021- 2027) the European Commission developed the old EU programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport under the name of Erasmus+. Erasmus+ is the EU Programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport.
Education, training, youth and sport are key areas that support citizens in their personal and professional development. Programme decentralised actions are implemented at national level by a network of National Agencies. In Malta the National Agency responsible for the management of these actions is the European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA).
Mission Statement
The mission of the European Union Programmes Agency is to promote, implement and manage the Erasmus+ Programme and European Solidarity Corps at national level with sound and efficient management of EU funds for the successful implementation of the Programmes in terms of quality and impact.
Vision
The vision of the European Union Programmes Agency is to inspire lifelong learning, knowledge, skills and personal development by facilitating EU funding opportunities in Malta and Gozo.
SHARED VALUES
➢ We lead by example
➢ We work together
➢ We seek the facts and provide insight
➢ We are open and honest in our communication
➢ We are committed to our communities
➢ We respect and value diversity
➢ We act professional and be accountable for our actions
➢ We welcome challenges and innovation
➢ We embrace a supportive attitude
➢ We act with integrity and transparency
The EUPA Team
As a service provider, the EUPA strongly believes in its people. Apart from investing in new competences and skills, the Agency actively promotes teamwork and collegiality. The positive feedback which EUPA members of staff repeatedly receive is testimony to the sterling service which the team collectively provides.
Former programmes
The general objective of the programmes is to contribute towards a holistic development of the community as an advanced knowledge society, with sustainable economic development, more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, while ensuring good protection of the environment for future generations. These aspects can be achieved through both Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action Programmes, which give an important contribution to the acquisition of competences, experiences and knowledge. These programmes are a key instrument in providing a varied range of people coming from different age groups and backgrounds, with opportunities for non-formal and informal learning with a European dimension.
The general objective of the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) is to contribute through lifelong learning the development of the Community as an advanced knowledge society, with sustainable economic development, more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, while ensuring good protection of the environment for future generations. In particular, it aims to foster interchange, co-operation and mobility between education and training systems within the community so that they become a world quality reference.
The Youth in Action Programme (YiA) was the EU Programme dedicated towards the field of youth, and was a key instrument in providing young people with opportunities for non-formal and informal learning with a European dimension. The YiA Programme was a programme for all young people aged between 13 and 30 and youth leaders, encouraging the involvement of disadvantaged youth. Complimenting Youth in Action, the Agency hosted also the Euro-med Youth Platform. The Euro-Mediterranean Youth Platform created a network of all those involved in the youth sector in Europe and the Mediterranean.
The Erasmus+ 2014-2020 period aimed at boosting skills and employability, and modernising Education, Training and Youth work. The seven year programme had a budget of €14.7 billion. The programme through its centralised and decentralised actions shall contribute to the achievement of:
• The objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy, including the main education target;
• The objective of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training including the corresponding benchmarks;
• The sustainable development of Partner Countries in the field of higher education;
• The overall objectives of the renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010 – 2018);
• The promotion of European values in accordance with Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union
Erasmus + (2021-2027)
Erasmus+ is the EU Programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport for the period 2021-2027.
Education, training, youth and sport are key areas that support citizens in their personal and professional development.
High quality, inclusive education and training, as well as informal and non-formal learning, ultimately equip young
people and participants of all ages with the qualifications and skills needed for their meaningful participation in
democratic society, intercultural understanding and successful transition in the labour market. Building on the success
of the programme in the period 2014-2020, Erasmus+ strengthens its efforts to increase the opportunities offered to
more participants and to a wider range of organisations, focusing on its qualitative impact and contributing to more
inclusive and cohesive, greener and digitally fit societies
The Programme has the following specific objectives:
– promote learning mobility of individuals and groups, as well as cooperation, quality, inclusion and equity,
excellence, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of education and
training;
– promote non-formal and informal learning mobility and active participation among young people, as well as
cooperation, quality, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of
youth;
– promote learning mobility of sport staff, as well as cooperation, quality, inclusion, creativity and innovation at
the level of sport organisations and sport policies
Decentralised Actions
Under this new progamme 2 Key Actions are being supported:
Key Action 1: Learning Mobility of Individuals
Key Action 2 : Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices
Centralised Actions
The centralised actions are managed at a European level by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) located in Brussels. Further information can be obtained directly from the EACEA website.
European Solidarity Corps
The European Solidarity Corps brings together young people to build a more inclusive society, supporting vulnerable people and responding to societal and humanitarian challenges. It offers an inspiring and empowering experience for young people who want to help, learn and develop and provides a single entry point for such solidarity activities throughout the Union and beyond. The Programme opens up more and better opportunities covering a broad range of areas, such as integration of migrants, environmental challenges, prevention of natural disasters, education and youth activities, preservation of cultural heritage, humanitarian aid. It also supports national and local actors, in their efforts to cope with different societal challenges and crises.
The activities of the European Solidarity Corps support the objectives of the EU Youth Strategy for 2019-20 which encourages young people to become active citizens, agents of solidarity and positive change for communities across Europe, inspired by EU values and a European identity.
The general objective of the Programme is to enhance the engagement of young people and organisations in accessible and high-quality solidarity activities, primarily volunteering, as a means to strengthen cohesion, solidarity, democracy, European identity and active citizenship in the Union and beyond, addressing societal and humanitarian challenges on the ground, with a particular focus on the promotion of sustainable development, social inclusion and equal opportunities.
The specific objective of the Programme is to provide young people, including young people with fewer opportunities, with easily accessible opportunities for engagement in solidarity activities that induce positive societal changes in the Union and beyond, while improving and properly validating their competences, as well as facilitating their continuous engagement as active citizens.
Euroguidance
The Agency is also responsible for Euroguidance Malta, which is an integral part of adult education. Euroguidance Malta cooperates with existing vocational guidance services both in employment as well as in educational fields. This assistance serves as a platform, focusing its attention mainly on experts and practitioners as well as the public in general in their career pathways, including companies, organisations, citizens, educational advisors, pedagogical institutions and major stakeholders on Lifelong Learning guidance and mobility in the European space.
Eurodesk
Eurodesk network provides EU information in the fields of funding, education, training, youth mobility, study, work, volunteering and leisure. The target groups are young people and those working with young people. The network also provides information on financial support for projects/activities involving young people.
Europass
Europass is a framework providing transparency of qualifications and competences through a set of documents citizens can use freely. The objectives of the Europass are:
• to help citizens communicate their skills and qualifications effectively when looking for a job or training;
• to help employers understand the skills and qualifications of the workforce;
• to help education and training authorities define and communicate the content of curricula.