The goal is to support the UK sector in its return to the programme.

During the joint webinar, Nottingham Trent University (NTU) presented its readiness cycle to master the transition to the operational reality of the Erasmus programme. This structured approach includes:

• Strengthening and reviewing partnerships.
• Exploring Erasmus+ actions and their opportunities.
• Assessing internal operational capacities.
• Targeted preparation of systems and processes.

The core message for all institutions is: Systems must enable delivery, not slow it down.

The webinar highlighted that "the old way" of manual tracking—characterised by isolated spreadsheets and error-prone email management—must be replaced by integrated platforms like Mobility-Online. The system is based on four pillars of control:

• Complete Process Flexibility: Customisable workflows for all mobility types, from study abroad to summer schools.
• Dynamic Pipeline Control: Automated tasks and overviews ensure no application is lost.
• Advanced Automation: Automated allocation of exchange spots based on ranking criteria saves valuable time.
• Highest Security: 100% web-based with ISO-certified servers within the EU (Austria).

A central goal of automation is to ease the administrative burden. By automating time-consuming tasks such as configuring funding rules or managing document uploads, teams reclaim capacity for strategic implementation and direct student support.

Erasmus Without Paper (EWP) is often seen as a challenge, but the webinar showed that integration into the mobility system turns this requirement into an advantage. Data is automatically formatted for the established EU network, allowing institutions to immediately become part of a stable and already tested infrastructure.

Based on NTU's practical experience, the following steps are recommended for 2027 preparation:

• Restructure application processes to accommodate both Erasmus and non-Erasmus partners.
• Research partner EWP functionality via the official statistics portal (https://stats.erasmuswithoutpaper.eu/).
• Establish timelines for EWP implementation after joining the network.
• Identify test partners for EWP processes to trial Inter-Institutional Agreements (IIA) and Digital Learning Agreements (DLA).

By introducing these automated daily workflows early, universities ensure they are fully operational from day one of the programme's return.