Education Call: Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Courses 2025

DEADLINE EXTENDED ‼️ 
The application deadline for the CPD Courses Call (EIT-labelled and non-labelled) has been extended to 25 April 2025 at 17:00 CET. 
This extension offers applicants more time to finalise and submit high-quality proposals. Please refer to the updated call guidelines for revised dates and details. 

EIT Culture & Creativity invites you to submit proposals for 2025 continuous professional development (CPD) courses, designed to upskill professionals in the cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSI), address critical skills gaps and foster innovation in all EIT CC priority areas (Fashion, Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Audio-Visual Media, and Gaming) in support of Europe’s green, digital, and social transitions. 

Timeline

  • Call opening: 11 February 2025
  • Call closure: 25 April 2025 at 17.00 CET
  • Eligibility and admissibility check: Late April – Early May 2025 
  • External evaluation of proposals: May 2025
  • Portfolio selection: End of May 2025
  • Communication of results to applicants: Early June 2025
  • Publication of results: Early July 2025 (1 month standstill period)
  • Tentative projects start date: Early July 2025

Total estimated EIT funding allocated to this call

€2,250,000, with EIT Culture & Creativity financial support allocated as follows: 

 

  • 10 EIT-labelled courses: Up to €150,000 per course  
  • 10 non-EIT-labelled courses: Up to €75,000 per course

 

Co-funding 

 All proposals must have a minimum co-funding rate of 30% across the project. Partners within a consortium may have different individual co-funding rates, as long as the overall co-funding for the entire project meets the required minimum of 30%.

Who can apply?

  • Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Universities and academic institutions providing tertiary education and professional training. 
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers: Institutions focused on skills-based learning for career development.
  • Business sector entities: Startups, scaleups, micro entreprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and large companies, particularly those involved in CCSI innovation. 
  • Knowledge and innovation institutions: Research institutions, innovation and technology centres engaged in applied or technological research and education, or cultural institutions with sectoral insights to enhance project outcomes may also be part of the consortium as third additional partner for EIT-labelled courses. 

Consortium requirements

EIT-labelled CPD courses 

 

Proposals may be submitted by a consortium of 2-3 partners, including: 

 

  • Consortium partner 1 and project lead: Educational partner (HEI or VET provider). 
  • Consortium partner 2: Business partner (e.g. startup, scaleup, micro entreprises, SME, or large company). 
  • Consortium partner 3 (optional): Research institution, innovation and technology centre engaged in applied or technological research and education, or cultural institution with sectoral insights to enhance project outcomes. 

Non-EIT-labelled CPD courses 

 

Proposals may be submitted by a single applicant or a consortium of 2 partners: 

 

  • Single applicants: Only HEIs or VET providers. 
  • Consortium: HEI or VET provider as the educational partner and project lead, one business partner (e.g. startup, scaleup, micro entreprises, SME, or large company) as consortium partner 2.

Scope and topics of the call 

EIT-labelled CPD courses

 

  • Course 1, Entrepreneurship & Creative Thinking: Foresight, strategic innovation, and creative leadership. 

  • Course 2, Entrepreneurship & Emerging Technologies: AI, AR, and VR for creative processes and digital mentorship. 

  • Course 3, Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Architecture: Circular design, bio-based materials, and climate-resilient urban planning. 

  • Course 4, Entrepreneurship & Gaming: Emerging gaming technologies, market competitiveness, and platform integration. 

  • Course 5, Youth Entrepreneurship: Targeted training for young people (ages 15–24), focusing on entrepreneurial skills, digital tools, and sustainable practices. 

Non-EIT-labelled CPD courses

 

  • Course 1, Architecture: Sustainable renovation, circular design, and bio-based materials. 

  • Course 2, Audio-Visual Media: AI, data analytics, IP protection, and content monetisation. 

  • Course 3, Cultural Heritage: Digital tools for archiving, storytelling, and craft preservation. 

  • Course 4, Fashion: Circular design, digital supply chain optimisation, and SME growth strategies. 

  • Course 5, Gaming: Advanced technologies (AI, AR/VR), global market strategies, and diversity promotion.

KPIs requirements

 EIT-labelled CPD courses: 

 

  • EITHE07.1 – Graduates from EIT-labelled programmes: Minimum 30 graduates per course, including detailed reporting on participant demographics and programme details. 
  • EITHE07.2 – EIT RIS Graduates from EIT-labelled programmes: Minimum 9 RIS graduates, with similar reporting requirements.
  • EITHE09.1 – Students enrolled in EIT-labelled programmes: At least 55 students enrolled per course, tracked and reported.
  • Additional KPI CCSI02 – Students / professionals with new entrepreneurial skills: Minimum 20 participants demonstrating new entrepreneurial skills, with supporting data and evidence provided in reporting.

Non-EIT-labelled CPD courses: 

 

  •  EITHE08.1 – Participants in non-labelled education and training: Minimum 290 participants successfully completing courses, with breakdowns of enrolment and completion by demographics and programme type.

  • EITHE08.2 – EIT RIS Participants in (non-degree) education and training: At least 87 participants from RIS countries completing the courses, with detailed reporting, with supporting data and evidence provided in reporting.

  • Additional KPI CCSI02 – Students / professionals with new entrepreneurial skills: Minimum 20 participants demonstrating new entrepreneurial skills, with supporting data and evidence provided in reporting.
  •  

Project phases

Projects must conclude by 31 December 2025. Please take this into account when planning the following phases:  

 

1.Preparation (1–1.5 months maximum)

  • Course design
  • Content creation
  • Setup

2. Implementation (Varies by course type)

  • EIT-labelled CPD courses: 1–3 months (maximum) 
  • Non-EIT-labelled CPD courses: 1–4 weeks (maximum) 
  • Delivery and feedback collection

 

3. Post-Course (1 month maximum)

  • Evaluation
  • Reporting
  • Sustainability planning

Total project durations must align with these phases to ensure that all deliverables and KPIs are met within the timeframe: ending no later than 31 December 2025. 

Admissibility, eligibility, evaluation and portfolio selection criteria

For the admissibility, eligibility, evaluation and portfolio selection criteria please see the call guidelines.  

The application form will be available from 11 February 2025 until 25 April 2025 17:00 CET. 

 

Please make sure you have a Participant Identification Code (PIC). If you lack a PIC, you will need to register first on the EU Funding & Tender Portal. 

 

Please submit your proposal here: 

 

EIT-labelled CPD courses
Non-EIT-labelled CPD courses

Please note that the following list of documents need to be submitted:

 

  • Application form, available on Monday platform (link above) 
  • Budget plan and EIT funding request (template below) 
  • Work plan and project timeline as Gantt chart 
  • Link to video demonstration 

Key documents for your application

Guidelines (Amended 11/04/2025)
Budget plan and EIT funding request template
Eligibility of expenditure
FAQ

Useful links to prepare your application: 

 

Information sessions

To help applicants in preparing and submitting their proposals, EIT Culture & Creativity will host three information sessions covering the different aspects of the call. For those unable to attend, these webinars will be recorded, ensuring open, free, and fair access to all interested stakeholders. 

 

  • Webinar 1: Evaluation criteria and application process: Information session covering eligibility and evaluation criteria, assessment and application process, and requirements for both EIT-labelled and non-EIT-labelled CPD proposals.18 February 2025, 11:00-12:00 CET. Click here to view the recording: EIT Culture & Creativity_ Education Call 2025 – Webinar 1.mp4

Contact details 

In addition to the information sessions, applicants may submit their inquiries via the official EIT Culture & Creativity Contact Form.  

This form should be used for all questions related to call content, technical aspects, thematic focus, administrative, financial, or procedural matters. The relevant team will review and respond accordingly to provide clear and aligned guidance throughout the application process

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