Intercultural Association Mobility Friends

What Intercultural Association Mobility Friends does

Intercultural Association Mobility Friends is a Portugal-based non-profit intercultural association, founded in 2012 in Barcelos, that operates as a coordinator and host organization for European Erasmus+ mobility programs. The organization serves vocational education and training institutions, adult education providers, youth organizations, and individual educators by arranging training courses, internships, job shadowing, and cultural immersion experiences across Portugal (Mainland, Madeira, and the Azores) and, since 2025, Spain (Valencia). It is accredited by DGERT (Direção-Geral do Emprego e das Relações de Trabalho) as a Vocational Training Center and operates the Mobility Friends Training Center and Mobility Friends Campus as primary service delivery assets.

The organization's core offering is end-to-end mobility project management: from grant application support and partner matching to on-ground logistics including accommodation, cultural visits, transport, certified training delivery, and post-mobility evaluation. Its operational footprint spans four Portuguese locations and a newly opened Valencia office, with a documented partner ecosystem of 1,000+ organizations across 40+ countries and 34,000+ lifetime participants (including a record 4,272 participants in 2025). The 2025 milestone of completing its first project as accredited lead coordinator (KA121-VET) marks a capability elevation from partner-only delivery.

Mobility Friends is funded primarily through European Union Erasmus+ grants administered via National Agencies and institutional partnerships, with no direct participant fees; revenue is not publicly disclosed. It markets through content marketing, social media, email newsletters, the European School Education Platform listing, and event participation (Erasmus Days), and distributes services through direct institutional partnerships and on-site campus delivery. The legal structure is a non-profit association (PIC 948037649, OID E10207576) with a Spanish branch (OID E10428224), led by an undisclosed President, with no parent company or external equity backing indicated in the source materials.

Name

Intercultural Association Mobility Friends

Legal name

Intercultural Association Mobility Friends

Website

https://mobilityfriends.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Intercultural Association Mobility Friends is a Portugal-based non-profit founded in 2012 that coordinates Erasmus+ mobility programs for European vocational schools, adult educators, and youth organizations, operating a DGERT-accredited training center and campus in Barcelos with offices across Portugal and Spain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Education Mobility Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAIAKAB

Cultural Adjustment & Intercultural Training Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Student Support & Cultural Integration Services

SECONDARYEDALANAC

International Student Orientation & Transition Programs

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/International Student Services & Immigration Support

SECONDARYTHAKAGAJ

Alumni, Reunion & Affinity Group Educational Travel

Travel & Hospitality/Travel Agencies, Tour Operators & OTAs/Group Travel & Educational Travel Operators

SECONDARYEDAIALAD

Shared Student Apartments & Roommate-Matching Platforms

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Study Abroad Housing & Accommodation Services

Keywords

• Erasmus mobility coordination
• Vocational training services
• International education programs
• Youth mobility services
• Intercultural exchange programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelos

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Erasmus+ Project Funding: The organization coordinates and manages Erasmus+ mobility projects funded by the European Union. As a coordinator or partner, they receive EU grants to facilitate learning mobilities for students, teachers, and youth workers. Funding covers participant travel, accommodation, cultural activities, and training course delivery.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Intercultural Association Mobility Friends is a non-profit organization that coordinates Erasmus+ mobility programs for educational institutions, vocational schools, and youth organizations across Europe. It delivers international training courses, internships, job shadowing placements, and cultural immersion experiences through its DGERT-accredited Mobility Friends Training Center and Mobility Friends Campus in Barcelos, Portugal, with operations in Portugal Mainland, Madeira, Azores, and Spain. Services include accommodation, cultural visits, transport coordination, and certified modular training programs, supported by EU grant funding.

Product overview

Mobility Friends operates as an Erasmus+ mobility organization offering a comprehensive suite of international education and training services. The core offering centers on Erasmus Mobilities programs encompassing training courses, Erasmus+ projects, internships, and job shadowing opportunities. The organization maintains a DGERT-accredited Training Center delivering certified vocational courses. The Mobility Friends Campus in Barcelos, Portugal serves as the primary hub, providing accommodation, cultural activities, and logistical support. Additional locations span Portugal Mainland, Madeira, Azores, and Spain (including a new Valencia office opened in 2025). Support services include accommodation booking, cultural visits, and transport arrangements across all operational regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mobility Friends Training Center: DGERT accredited vocational training center offering professional training courses with 1,800 hours of courses delivered and around 700 participants annually.
• Mobility Friends Campus

Products and services

• Erasmus Mobilities International mobility programs including training courses, Erasmus+ projects, internships, and job shadowing opportunities for participants from partner countries across 40+ countries.
• Mobility Friends Training Center Vocational training center accredited by DGERT offering certified training courses, professional development programs, and educational workshops for international participants.
• Accommodation Services Housing arrangements for mobility participants including facilities like Collector's Home in Braga's historic center and various locations across Portugal including Madeira and Azores islands.
• Cultural Visits Organized cultural excursions and activities including visits to cities like Porto, Braga, and Barcelos, as well as experiences such as Douro cruises and Porto wine tastings.
• Transport Coordination Transportation arrangements and logistics support for mobility participants across operational regions in Portugal and Spain.
• Formações Modulares Certificadas (Certified Modular Training) Certified modular training programs providing vocational education and professional development qualifications under DGERT accreditation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 34,000+ participants served since 2012
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• European School Education Platform (ESEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobility Friends is listed on ESEP, the European Commission's official platform serving as the meeting point for Erasmus+ projects, educators, and students across Europe. This partnership provides visibility and connection within the European education ecosystem.
• Escola Profissional de EsposendecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational school from Esposende, Portugal partnering with Mobility Friends to organize international mobility experiences under Erasmus+ VET Accreditation. 27 students participated in 2025 mobility project.
• Escola Secundária de Alberto SampaiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecondary school in Braga, Portugal collaborating on Erasmus+ mobility projects for student and teacher professional development through international placements.
• Escola Secundária de BarcelinhoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecondary school in Barcelinhos, Portugal partnering on vocational education mobility projects coordinated by Mobility Friends.
• North Portugal Vocational Schools NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple vocational education institutions from Northern Portugal participated in the first accredited KA121-VET project coordinated by Mobility Friends, sending students to Bulgaria and Spain for internships.
• European Union Erasmus+ ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funding and program framework. Mobility Friends receives EU grants through Erasmus+ to coordinate mobility projects with partner institutions across 40+ countries.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ESN (Erasmus Student Network): Pan-European student organization supporting Erasmus+ mobility participants with cultural integration, buddy programs, and accommodation. Direct overlap in serving international students and Erasmus+ participants, though typically volunteer-led rather than professional services.
• SALTO-YOUTH Resource Centres: European network of resource centres supporting youth mobility and non-formal learning within Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps. Directly comparable in targeting youth mobility programs and partnering with EU institutions.
• Eurodesk Brussels-link (Eurodesk Network): European youth information network coordinating Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps mobility opportunities. Most direct comparable: also an EU-funded mobility coordinator serving young people across Europe with similar target audience and program framework.
• YFU (Youth For Understanding): International non-profit specializing in student exchange programs with cultural immersion and host family placements. Comparable model offering mobility coordination, accommodation, and cultural integration for international participants.
• AIESEC: Global youth-run non-profit organization facilitating international internships, volunteer experiences, and professional mobility. Direct overlap in international youth mobility, training, and intercultural exchange programs.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: Global non-profit intercultural exchange organization offering youth mobility, hosting, and cultural integration programs. Directly comparable mission, non-profit structure, and Erasmus+ adjacent programming across Europe.

Broad incumbents

• WorldStrides: Large educational travel provider offering group travel, internships, and cultural programs for students globally. Comparable in coordinating group educational travel and cultural immersion experiences, though with a US-centric base.
• EF Education First: Major private education company offering language training, cultural exchange, and academic programs across Europe. Comparable in mobility and intercultural services, but at significantly larger scale and for-profit structure.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): Large-scale study abroad and intercultural exchange provider with programs across Europe and globally. Comparable international education and mobility coordination model, but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic scope.

Regional players

• Intermundo (Swiss Federation of Youth Organizations): Swiss-based coordinating body for international youth exchanges and cultural mobility programs. Comparable in coordinating mobility experiences with cultural integration focus, though primarily serving Swiss institutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mobilityfriends
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/intercultural-association-mobility-friends

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Intercultural Association Mobility Friends