Call for proposals — EACEA/15/11 — Under the Lifelong Learning Programme — Support for European cooperation in education and training
Date: 2011-03-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, apprenticeship, education, vocational training








C_2011093EN.01001701.xml










25.3.2011   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 93/17





CALL FOR PROPOSALS — EACEA/15/11
Under the Lifelong Learning Programme
Support for European cooperation in education and training
2011/C 93/10







Part A —


Raising national awareness of lifelong learning strategies and of European cooperation in education and training











Part B —


Support for transnational cooperation in the development and implementation of national and regional lifelong learning strategies




1.   Objectives and description

The general objectives of the call for proposals are to support the establishment and implementation of coherent and comprehensive lifelong learning strategies and policies at national, regional and local level, covering and interlinking all types (formal, non-formal, informal) and levels of learning (preschool, primary, secondary, tertiary, adult, initial and continuing vocational education and training), including links to other relevant policy sectors (e.g. employment and social inclusion), through:






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supporting awareness-raising and institutional commitment, coordination and partnership with all stakeholders to contribute to national implementation of the four strategic priorities of the ‘Strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020)’,










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supporting transnational cooperation and exchange of experiences and good practice in the development and implementation of coherent and comprehensive lifelong learning strategies and policies at both the national and regional level, covering all forms and levels of learning,










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supporting the identification of the main critical factors and through joint experimenting, testing and transferring innovation in relation to the successful implementation of lifelong learning strategies and policies.




2.   Eligible applicants

This call is open to organisations established in the countries participating in the Lifelong Learning Programme. Third-country participation is not allowed for this action.
Applications must be submitted by a legal person having the legal capacity. Natural persons may not apply for a grant.
Beneficiaries can be national or regional ministries in charge of education and training and lifelong learning policies, and other public bodies and stakeholders’ organisations active in the development and implementation of lifelong learning policies. Stakeholders’ organisations include European, national and regional associations or organisations whose main activities or core responsibilities are directly linked to any education and training sector, in particular social partner organisations and other national or regional associations that represent the interests of a societal group in the establishment and implementation of lifelong learning policies.
For the purpose of this call, all higher education institutions specified by Member States (participating countries), and all institutions or organisations providing learning opportunities which have received over 50 % of their annual revenues from public sources over the last two years (other European Union grants for an action excluded), or which are controlled by public bodies or their representatives, are considered to be public bodies. Such organisations are required to state in a signed declaration of honour (included in the application package) that their organisation complies with the above-mentioned definition of public body. The Agency reserves the right to request documentation to prove the veracity of this declaration.

Part A.1 —   Raising national awareness of lifelong learning strategies and of European cooperation in education and training
Applications for funding may be made by one or more national or regional authorities from the same country responsible for education and training and Lifelong Learning policies, or other public bodies designated by such authorities to reply to the call.

Part A.2 —   Raising national awareness of lifelong learning strategies and of European cooperation in education and training
Applications for funding may be made only by national partnerships composed of at least three organisations directly involved in the development and implementation of lifelong learning policies.

Part B —   Support for transnational cooperation in the development and implementation of national and regional lifelong learning strategies
Applications for funding may only be made by transnational partnerships composed of at least five organisations directly involved in the development and implementation of lifelong learning policies, and involving three or more eligible countries.
Applications may be submitted by organisations (including all partner organisations) established in the following countries:






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the 27 EU Member States,










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the three EEA/EFTA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway,










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candidate countries: Turkey, Croatia, Switzerland.




Third-country participation is not allowed for this action.
At least one country of the partnership must be an EU Member State (applies only to Part B of this call).
3.   Eligible activities


Part A.1 —   Raising national awareness of lifelong learning strategies and of European cooperation in education and training (Strategic Framework ET 2020)
The activities to be financed under this part of the call include (specific objectives):






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awareness-raising activities supporting national debates and dialogue linked to the establishment and implementation of lifelong learning strategies and policies (such as national or regional conferences, seminars or workshops), with a special focus on the recognition and validation of prior learning (non-formal and informal),










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the establishment of forums and other activities which will contribute to better coherence and coordination in the process of establishing and implementing coherent and comprehensive national lifelong learning strategies, with a special focus on the recognition and validation of prior learning (non-formal and informal),










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dissemination and awareness-raising activities under the Strategic Framework ET 2020 of tools or reference material (e.g. information activities, including media campaigns, publicity events, etc.), with a special focus on the recognition and validation of prior learning (non-formal and informal),










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follow-up action linked to existing national programmes aiming at establishing and implementing the Education and Training Open Method of Coordinaton under the Strategic Framework ET 2020 at national level, with a special focus on the recognition and validation of prior learning (non-formal and informal).





Part A.2 —   Raising national awareness of lifelong learning strategies and of European cooperation in education and training
The activities to be financed under this part of the call include (specific objectives):






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activities supporting national debates and dialogue (such as national or regional conferences, seminars or workshops) linked to the establishment and implementation of lifelong learning strategies and policies, with a special focus on the recognition and validation of prior learning (non-formal and informal),










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the establishment of forums and other activities which will contribute to better coherence and coordination in the process of establishing and implementing coherent and comprehensive national lifelong learning strategies, with a special focus on the recognition and validation of prior learning (non-formal and informal),










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Follow-up action linked to existing national programmes aiming at establishing and implementing the Education and Training Open Method of Coordinaton under the Strategic Framework ET 2020 at national level, with a special focus on the recognition and validation of prior learning (non-formal and informal).





Part B —   Support for transnational cooperation in the development and implementation of national and regional lifelong learning strategies
The activities to be financed under this part of the call include (specific objectives):






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joint development and testing of innovative tools and practices,










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transnational transfer of good practice (peer learning) which may include analyses, conferences and seminars, aimed at directly supporting policy making and implementation,










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actions aiming at the creation and development of transnational partnerships supporting policy making and implementation at the regional, national and European level.




Activities must start between 1 January 2012 and 31 March 2012.
The maximum duration of projects is 12 months for Part A and 24 months for Part B.
No applications will be accepted for projects scheduled to run for a longer period than that specified in this call for proposals.
4.   Award criteria

Eligible applications/projects will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

Part A —   Raising national awareness of lifelong learning strategies and of European cooperation in education and training
1.   Relevance: the grant application and the results foreseen are clearly positioned in the specific, operational and broader objectives of the call for proposals. The objectives are clear, realistic and address relevant issues and target groups, including a wide range of key stakeholders at all levels concerned by the establishment and implementation of lifelong learning strategies, including policy and decision makers, practitioners, providers, social partners, representatives of civil society and learners (40 %).
2.   Quality of the plan of actions: the organisation of the work is clear and appropriate to achieving the objectives; tasks/activities are defined in such a way that the results will be achieved on time and to budget (10 %).
3.   Quality of the methodology: the tools and practical approaches proposed are coherent and appropriate to address the identified needs for clearly identified target groups (10 %).
4.   Quality of the project team: the project team includes all the skills, recognised expertise and competences required to carry out all aspects of the plan of actions, and there is an appropriate distribution of tasks across its members (10 %).
5.   The cost-benefit ratio: the grant application demonstrates value for money in terms of the activities planned relative to the budget foreseen (10 %).
6.   Impact: the foreseeable impact on the approaches, target groups and systems concerned is clearly defined and measures are in place to ensure that the impact can be achieved. The results of the activities are likely to be significant (10 %).
7.   Quality of the valorisation plan (dissemination and exploitation of results): the extent to which the planned dissemination and exploitation activities will ensure optimal use of the results beyond the participants in the proposal, during and beyond the lifetime of the project (10 %).

Part B —   Support for transnational cooperation in the development and implementation of national and regional lifelong learning strategies
1.   Relevance: the grant application and the results foreseen are clearly positioned in the specific, operational and broader objectives of the call for proposals. The objectives are clear, realistic and address relevant issues and target groups, including key stakeholders concerned by the implementation and delivery of lifelong learning policies, including policy and decision makers, practitioners, providers, partners, representatives of civil society and learners (40 %).
2.   Quality of the plan of actions: the organisation of the work is clear and appropriate to achieving the objectives; tasks/activities are distributed among the partners in such a way that the results will be achieved on time and to budget (10 %).
3.   Quality of the methodology: the tools and practical approaches proposed are coherent, innovative and appropriate to address the identified needs for clearly identified target groups (10 %).
4.   Quality of the consortium: the consortium includes all the skills, recognised expertise and competences required to carry out all aspects of the plan of actions, and there is an appropriate distribution of tasks across the partners (10 %).
5.   The cost-benefit ratio: the grant application demonstrates value for money in terms of the activities planned relative to the budget foreseen (10 %).
6.   Impact and European added value: the foreseeable impact on the approaches, target groups and systems concerned is clearly defined and measures are in place to ensure that the impact can be achieved. The results of the activities are likely to be significant and the benefits of and need for European cooperation (on top of national, regional or local approaches) are clearly demonstrated (10 %).
7.   Quality of the valorisation plan (dissemination and exploitation of results): the extent to which the planned dissemination and exploitation activities will ensure optimal use of the results beyond the participants in the proposal, during and beyond the lifetime of the project (10 %).
5.   Budget

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects amounts to EUR 2,8 million.
Financial contribution from the European Union cannot exceed 75 % of the total eligible costs.
The maximum grant per project will be EUR 120 000 for Part A (A.1 and A.2) and EUR 300 000 for Part B.
The Agency intends to allocate the amount available according to the following indicative proportion: 1/2 for Part A — 1/2 for Part B. However, the final allocation depends on to the number and quality of the proposals received for parts A and B.
The Agency reserves the right not to distribute all the funds available.
6.   Deadline for submission

Final date for submission of applications is 30 June 2011, 12.00 noon (Central European Time)
A complete application consists of the following:






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one original application package (eForm and its four attachments) which 
must be submitted online
 as instructed in the eForm User Guide. This version, including its attachments is considered to be the master version.










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One paper version to be sent immediately after the deadline containing:






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one paper copy of the electronically submitted application package with its attachments (with the submission number received),










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mandate letters from all partners (Part A.2 and Part B — multi-beneficiary agreement), the letters must use the models provided. Signed fax or scanned versions of the mandate letters will be accepted at proposal stage, but originals will have to be available at the moment of establishing the agreement,










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proof of legal existance (copy of articles of associations and/or legal registration documents),










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annual account for the most recent financial year,










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financial capacity form (only for private organisations),










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financial identification form,










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VAT registration (when applicable).








The paper version must be sent by ordinary or registered mail and addressed to the following address:





Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency




Unit P3 — LLP: Leonardo da Vinci, Grundtvig and Dissemination, Key Activity 1 — ECET




Call for Proposals EACEA/15/11 (Part A.1/Part A.2/Part B)




BOU2 02/145




Avenue du Bourget/Bourgetlaan 1




1140 Bruxelles/Brussel




BELGIQUE/BELGIË




Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Applications sent by fax or only by e-mail will not be accepted.
7.   Further information

Detailed guidelines of the call for proposals and the application package are available on the following website:
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/llp/funding/2011/call_ecet_2011_en.php
Applications must be submitted using the forms provided and contain all the attachments, annexes and information as required in the detailed guidelines.