The student nomination process has now entered a transformative phase with the roll-out in digital form.
The student nomination process finally introduces a unified approach for Erasmus+ nominations using Erasmus Without Paper. This marks a pivotal step in the ongoing mission to streamline student data exchange across European higher education institutions.
What this means for Higher Education institutions
The EWP nominations (where a student is ‘nominated’ based on the Inter-institutional agreement) will replace the current fragmented nomination practices where each institution has its own requirements and process. The EWP nomination brings a streamlined and consistent approach to nominate students:
- a standardised nomination process across institutions
- limited set of info about student and agreement being exchanged
- transparency about nomination status for both sending and receiving institution
- nomination to be followed by an incoming application
- reduced administrative workload through automation
- improved data quality and reliability
Results of a collaborative effort involving many stakeholders
Over the recent months, a collaborative effort involving International Relations Officers, the EWP+ Consortium, DG EAC and IT teams has shaped this new stable release that can now be implemented on a technical level. Their joint work has culminated in a set of technical and business specifications designed to simplify and harmonise the nomination process across the institutions participating in Erasmus+ mobility.
The stable release of nominations API, available since 15 May, introduces a comprehensive package that includes:
- technical specifications ensuring interoperability between systems
- agreed-upon business workflows that reflect real institutional practices
- detailed guidance to support implementation and adoption
This release is the result of extensive testing, feedback, and lessons learned from earlier phases. It reflects a deep understanding of the challenges institutions face and offers practical solutions to address them.
Looking ahead
This stable release is more than a technical update: it’s a strategic advancement for the EWP Network. It lays the groundwork for:
- wide adoption across institutions
- enhanced student experiences through faster, more reliable processes
- continued innovation in digital student services
A central element of this new process is the European Student Identifier, which ensures that student data is securely and accurately exchanged between institutions, forming the backbone of digital student mobility.
Next steps
Institutions are encouraged to:
- explore the new specifications and workflows
- implement the stable release in their systems
- exchange nominations with confidence and consistency
By taking these steps, institutions will actively contribute to building a student mobility process that is secure, consistent, and truly unified across Europe.
Originally published on the ESCI portal.