The KA1 Quality Standards, turned into a buying checklist

Since the official course catalogue closed, the vetting of course providers is entirely on the beneficiary — that’s you. The good news: the Commission published exactly what a fundable course looks like, in the Quality Standards for courses under Key Action 1. Here’s what they require, in buying-decision order.

The course itself

• At least 5 hours of learning activities per day, on average. A “course” that’s two workshops and three excursions doesn’t clear the bar.
• Active, structured methodology. Workshops, practice, collaboration. Passive attendance — conferences, lecture series — is explicitly not what the money is for.
• A European dimension: interaction between participants from different countries (or meaningful participation of local staff). Group composition isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s a requirement — which is why we publish each session’s current composition by country.

The information you must see before enrolling

The standards list, item by item, what a provider must tell you before you commit: provider and trainer track record, target audience and prerequisites, objectives and methodology, group size and composition, language, contents, learning outcomes, dates, duration, location and schedule — plus fees published with a breakdown, and optional services priced separately, never bundled.

The terms that protect you

• If the provider changes price, content, dates or location — you can cancel at no cost.
• The venue must be adequate, safe, and accessible to participants with disabilities.
• At the end: a named certificate with description, learning outcomes, dates, places and trainers — and recognition through a Europass Mobility document.

Why providers who meet the standards advertise it

Vetting is work, and coordinators reward providers who make it unnecessary. Everything above is published on our session pages not because we’re generous but because the standards are, frankly, a good product specification — and because a coordinator who can verify everything in two minutes is a coordinator who books.

Frequent questions

Are the Quality Standards binding on course providers?

They bind you, the beneficiary: choosing quality courses is your responsibility, and the standards are the Commission's published yardstick. Since the ESEP catalogue closed, they're also your only official vetting tool — which is why we turned them into a checklist.

What counts as a fundable course?

Structured training with at least 5 hours of learning activities per day on average, active methodology, and a genuinely international group. Passive formats — conferences, one-way lectures — are explicitly not fundable.

Can we cancel if the provider changes something?

Yes. Under the standards, if price, content, dates or location change, participants must be able to cancel at no cost. A provider that doesn't state this in writing hasn't read its own obligations.