EcoSuPM 2025: Redefining Erasmus+ Project Management Through Sustainability and Ethics

10.6.2025

Nestled between Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein is the 4^th smallest countries in Europe and 6^th smallest in the world—yet full of surprises starting from landscape, food, and hospitality. With just over 42,000 residents, zero airports, and zero highways, this alpine microstate is a powerhouse of innovation and environmental stewardship. The only university of Liechtenstein is located in capital Vaduz, yet Liechtenstein is a global leader in niche industries like precision manufacturing and sustainable finance.

And for four days in May 2025, Ruggell in Liechtenstein became the European hub for another kind of precision—Ecological and Sustainable Project Management (EcoSuPM) in Erasmus+. The seminar aimed to enhance the quality and sustainability of Erasmus+ project management across sectors (YOUTH, SCH, VET, ADU, HED). It was designed for both newcomers and experienced practitioners. This cross-sectoral Erasmus+ Transnational Cooperation Activity (TCA) did more than teaching, it challenged participants to reflect, collaborate, and innovate for a greener, fairer Europe.

Welcome to a Shared Vision

The seminar opened with a warm welcome by Dr. Stefan Sohler, Head of the NA AIBA Liechtenstein, setting the tone for collaboration across KA1 and KA2 projects. Participants were placed in maximally heterogeneous groups, fostering connections between newcomers and experienced project managers.

Foundations: Why Sustainability Matters

Day 2 kicked off with reflective warm-up questions: What does sustainability mean in your everyday life? This simple start snowballed into deeper discussions on embedding eco-conscious choices throughout the Erasmus+ project lifecycle—from planning to dissemination.

The group assignments were central to this process, focusing on key project management areas:

Laying the Foundations
Management Structures
Quality Assurance and Impact Evaluation
Communication and Collaboration
Dissemination and Exploitation of Results

Figure 1. Group work photos showing brainstorming or discussion at five different work islands focusing on their assigned project management areas (Photos: NA AIBA Liechtenstein and Piia Hytönen (top right))

Each group crafted sustainable best practices, co-created a shared project management checklist, and contributed to a digital repository of tools and templates. These practical outcomes empower future project teams to act with clarity and conscience.

Tools and Roadmaps: From Theory to Action

Workshops led by experts like Viktor Mason and Sabine Roehrig-Mahhou highlighted critical tools for sustainable planning, risk assessment, dissemination strategies, and quality control. A “marketplace” activity allowed teams to exchange resources in real time. One powerful output was the creation of an Ultimate Sustainable Project Management System, a live document designed to evolve as Erasmus+ projects do.

Laying the foundations	Management structures	QA & Impact	COM+Collaboration	Dissemination +Exploitation
Ethical considerations	Partnership Agreements (KA2) or Learning Agreements (KA1)	QA Plan with PM and WP indicators and timeline (QA = Quality Assurance; PM = Project Management; WP = Work Packages)	Steering Committee	Dissemination Plan
EU-Values and Erasmus+ priorities	Payment arrangements	Impact Evaluation Plan with Quantitative and Qualitative indicators and timeline	Operational Committees	Dissemination reporting tools
GDPR rules	Shared online folder	Detailed tools/methods as annexes of the plans	Meeting schedule	Dissemination templates and visual identity
review Needs analysis	Management Handbook		Shared online project folder	Project website and social media
review Risk management plan	detailed Gantt chart to monitor progress		Communication channels	Stakeholder list
review Gantt chart	Financial monitoring tools (budget summary files, timesheets….)		Collaboration tools	Info on partners’ and project website
organise pre-kick-off online meeting			Conflict resolution systems	Exploitation plan with all partners’ input

Table 1. Checklist of different elements to be considered throughout the entire life cycle of the project.

LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS
Project Management TOOL / ACTION	Suggested Eco-Sustainable Practices	Actions Planned in Our Project	Responsibility (Who?)	Timeline/Deadline	Template / File

Table 2. Each phase of the project should include the template questions regarding the Eco-sustainable practices, by who, how and when.

Ethics and Data Protection: Doing the Right Thing

Led by Michal Osmenda, Day 4 focused on ethics and GDPR. Through engaging examples, participants explored:

The 04 ethical pillars of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice
The intersection between ethics and data privacy
Key roles of data subjects, controllers, and processors

This session emphasized the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, grounding Erasmus+ projects not only in regulations but in values.

Figure 2. Four pillars of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice (EcoSuPM, session 04, own adaptation by author)

Participants left with clear checklists and templates to ensure data responsibility and ethical compliance throughout all phases of their Erasmus+ projects.

Beyond the content, EcoSuPM fostered a genuine sense of community. From dinner in Vaduz to casual evening walks, the event offered time to build networks that will outlive the four-day agenda.

Key Takeaways

Participants walked away with:

A hands-on understanding of project cycles and Erasmus+ requirements
Tools for eco-sustainable planning, GDPR compliance, and ethical decision-making
A strengthened network for cross-sectoral collaboration
A commitment to embedding European values in everyday project practices

The EcoSuPM seminar provided valuable insights into sustainable and ecological project management within the Erasmus+ framework. Participants left with enhanced skills, practical tools, and a deeper understanding of how to integrate sustainability and European values into their projects.