TRANSNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES UNDER ERASMUS+, THE CASE STUDY OF PORTUGAL T. Nogueiro, A. Esteves Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Educação e Formação (PORTUGAL) Abstract Erasmus+ is the European Union Programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport for the period 2014-2020. These four areas can make a major contribution to help tackle socioeconomic changes, the key challenges that Europe will be facing until the end of the decade and to support the implementation of the European policy agenda for growth, jobs, equity and social inclusion. The Erasmus+ Programme was planned to support Programme Countries' efforts to efficiently use the potential of Europe’s talent and social resources in a lifelong learning perspective, linking support to formal, non-formal and informal learning throughout the education, training and youth areas. The Programme also highlights the opportunities for cooperation and mobility with Partner Countries, in the fields of higher education and youth. This programme is considered to be the most successful of the European Commission. Transnational Cooperation Activities (TCA) between National Agencies aim to support the Erasmus + programme in meeting its objectives and priorities, namely by supporting the high-quality implementation of Erasmus+ and the mobilization of a large number of organizations and individuals to whom the Education and Training Programme is directed; cooperation between active organizations in the areas of education and training; and, the development of work in those same areas. In Portugal, since 2014, TCA have been promoted among a wide range of education and training institutions. The number of institutions and participants has been increasing gradually over the years. Since the beginning of the programme, 119 participants have already benefited from these activities. The added value for participants and institutions is evident. Through the analysis of the final reports of the participants we will know to what extent the participation on the activity fulfilled their expectations; if they managed to find partners and/or start a project idea; how they prepare themselves for the activity; what were their next steps. Therefore, this paper intends to present the main conclusions obtained in Portugal by the participants and the institutions in the sectors of school education, vocational education and training, adult education and higher education. Keywords: Erasmus+ programme, institutions/organizations, participants, Transnational Cooperation Activities. 1 INTRODUCTION The Erasmus programme started in 1987 as an initiative from the European Union. This programme is the largest exchange programme and is the best-known in the world. Originally started as an independent programme but in 1995 incorporated the Socrates programme and later on, in 2007 the Lifelong Learning programme. The name Erasmus was inspired on the life and work of Desiderius (1465-1536), also known as Erasmus of Rotterdam, and is also the acronym for EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students. Since 2014 Erasmus+ took over and includes a wide range of sectors from education, training, sport and youth. Erasmus became a successful brand across the world. [1]. Erasmus+ is the result of the integration of several European programmes implemented by the Commission during the period 2007-2013, namely the Lifelong Learning Programme, The Youth in Action Programme, The Erasmus Mundus Programme, Tempus, Alfa, Edulink and Programmes of cooperation with industrialised countries in the field of higher education. These programmes supported Actions in the fields of higher education (including its international dimension), vocational education and training, school education, adult education and youth (including its international dimension). Erasmus+ is now the European Union Programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport for the period 2014-2020. These four areas can make a major contribution to help tackle socioeconomic changes, the key challenges that Europe will be facing until the end of the decade and to support the implementation of the European policy agenda for growth, jobs, equity and social inclusion. The Erasmus+ Programme was planned to support Programme Countries' efforts to efficiently use the potential of Europe’s talent and social resources in a lifelong learning perspective, linking support to formal, non-formal and informal learning throughout the education, training and Proceedings of EDULEARN19 Conference 1st-3rd July 2019, Palma, Mallorca, Spain ISBN: 978-84-09-12031-4 4643