NEWS
2nd International Call: Service-Learning Projects
9 June 2026
RUN-EU launches the 2nd International Call for Teaching Innovation and Social Transformation Projects in Service-Learning (S-L), reinforcing its commitment to innovative teaching methodologies, international collaboration, and social impact across its partner institutions.
About Service-Learning (S-L)
Service-Learning (S-L) projects are an educational innovation and social transformation approach that fosters the cognitive, social, and ethical development of university students, contributing to their personal growth and the acquisition of professional skills. RUN-EU is committed to integrating this methodology to strengthen students’ social engagement competencies and promote internationalisation.
S-L combines learning processes with community service activities, focusing on the critical analysis of real-world social challenges and actively contributing to their resolution in creative and meaningful ways.
This methodology can be applied across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, integrated into teaching plans designed by faculty, internships (curricular and extracurricular), dedicated S-L courses with academic credit recognition, or as part of bachelor’s and master’s theses.
Requirements for Participation
For this call, proposals must include collaboration between at least two RUN-EU partner institutions and at least one external organisation, such as an NGO, association, public institution, or any social, environmental, or educational entity. These organisations may operate internationally.
Projects should align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and may address areas such as environmental conservation, health promotion, international cooperation, social inclusion, education, functional diversity, cultural heritage, and citizenship.
Purpose and Objectives
The main purpose of this call is to promote, support, recognise, and disseminate teaching innovation and social transformation projects based on the Service-Learning methodology within RUN-EU partner institutions.
Specific objectives include:
- Support and promote S-L-based teaching initiatives
- Identify and disseminate best practices in S-L
- Foster partnerships with social and educational organisations
- Encourage interdisciplinary and international collaboration
- Strengthen transversal and disciplinary competences
- Promote international projects, especially in contexts with fewer opportunities
- Consolidate the RUN-EU alliance and institutionalise S-L across universities
Participation and Implementation
Faculty and researchers from RUN-EU partner universities, together with social entities in their regions, are eligible to apply.
Each institution will define how the activity is integrated into its academic offer. At UBU, for example, approved projects must be included in the teaching guide with a reference such as:
“An educational activity aligned with the Service-Learning Programme objectives will be offered.”
Each project must designate a faculty coordinator and define the roles of all participating staff. Projects may be implemented during the 2026/2027 and/or 2027/2028 academic years.
Financial Support
Each institution will allocate €500 per project from the RUN-EU funding. Additional support may be provided depending on institutional resources.
Further mobility support may include STA grants for staff exchanges or Erasmus funding for students through Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs).
Project expenses must be directly linked to the activity, previously approved activity and properly justified. Each institution is responsible for monitoring expenditure.
Eligible costs include:
- Materials and training activities
- Local transport for participants (if justified)
Excluded costs include:
- Non-approved expenses or those outside project timelines
- Cash payments or personal compensation
- Expenses not aligned with institutional procedures
Invoices must be submitted by 30 November (first semester) and 31 May (second semester).
Institutional Recognition
Upon project completion and submission of final evaluation reports, participants will receive a certified document issued by FAPSA.
Application Deadlines
- 2026/2027 academic year: applications due by 30 June 2026
- 2027/2028 academic year: applications due by 30 June 2027
Applications must be submitted via email to the RUN-EU Office of each institution.
See Annex I (Project Sheet) for application details.
Evaluation and Selection
All proposals will be evaluated by the RUN-EU S-L Committee using the criteria defined in Annex II (Evaluation Rubric). The committee may request improvements or modifications if needed.
Selected initiatives will be included in the S-L project catalogue, available on the RUNEU portal.
Provisional results will be published within a month after the submission deadline on the RUN-EU ESEC webpage, allowing for a 5-day claim period. Claims will be resolved within 15 days. Final decisions will be published on the RUN-EU portal. In the event the Project is not executed, those responsible must communicate this decision via email.
For all projects, it is mandatory to submit a final report by 20 June 2026, filling in a specific form: ANNEX III (Final Report).