Digital nominations made via the Erasmus Without Paper Network are a long-awaited functionality that is finally becoming a core part of how European higher education institutions exchange student mobility data. For International Relations Offices, this is a stepping stone towards a more coherent, efficient, and reliable way to manage nominations with partner institutions.
Why digital nominations?
Nomination procedures have often relied on a mix of emails, spreadsheets, online forms, and local systems, varying from one partner institution to another. Digital nominations via the EWP Network are designed to replace these fragmented practices with a more unified approach, which is shared across participating institutions.
The digitalisation of this process significantly simplifies the nomination of students. Student data is exchanged directly between systems, removing the need for manual data transfer and reducing the risk of errors. This leads not only to lower administrative workload, but also to better data quality and greater trust in the information exchanged.
Where are we in the timeline?
A major milestone was reached already in May 2025, when the Nominations API version 3 became stable and ready for implementation. Since then, systems can rely on a finalised specification to enable support for digital nominations via EWP. From 2026 onwards, the focus will start shifting to the International Relations Officers, who will become the main actors in putting the system into use.
What can IROs do next?
Digital nominations via the EWP Network offer IROs a practical way to streamline their processes. IRO staff are encouraged to start exploring how digital nominations can fit into their existing processes. From the moment the IT systems each university uses support nominations, an obvious first step will be to make a few test dummy nominations, to get acquainted with how the system works and ensure all is working smoothly. This is the foundation from where to plan larger scale usage, at the rhythm that suits each university and its partners better.
Check out Nominations FAQ
Trying out the feature early on allows IROs to explore its benefits in a real operational context and gradually align internal procedures. Additional guidance and resources will accompany the rollout over time to support institutions as they move forward.
Engaging now means being ready to work in a more streamlined, transparent, and connected way, contributing to a smoother mobility journey for everyone involved.