Call for proposals — EACEA/48/2015 — Erasmus+ Programme Key Action 3: Support for policy reform — Support to European Policy Tools — Quality assurance at European level for enhanced transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications
Date: 2015-12-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU aid, EU programme, continuing vocational training, cooperation in the field of education, education policy, financial aid, professional qualifications, recognition of vocational training qualifications








C_2015415EN.01001701.xml










15.12.2015   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 415/17





CALL FOR PROPOSALS — EACEA/48/2015
Erasmus+ Programme Key Action 3: Support for policy reform — Support to European Policy Tools
Quality assurance at European level for enhanced transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications
(2015/C 415/07)
1.   Description, objectives, and themes

The general objective of the call is to test possible procedures, mechanisms and quality criteria at European level that could be applied when:






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relating international qualifications or international sectorial qualifications systems or frameworks to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) (1) and for awarding international qualifications that are related to the EQF;










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relating potential European core profiles of qualifications (2) to the EQF and for awarding qualifications forthcoming from them;




with the aim of creating ground for trust (3) in the levels and procedures to support recognition of qualifications forthcoming from European core profiles of qualifications and to improve the de-facto and formal recognition of international qualifications.
The present Call will provide funding through the 3 following themes:


Theme A
: Relating an international sectorial qualifications system or framework to the EQF and describing quality assurance principles, mechanisms and possible quality criteria for this and for awarding qualifications forthcoming from it;


Theme B
: Relating (one or more) international qualification(s) to the EQF and describing quality assurance principles, mechanisms and possible quality criteria for awarding this qualification(s).


Theme C
: Developing one or more potential European core profiles of qualifications based on ESCO occupational profiles, relating it/them to the EQF and describing quality assurance principles, mechanisms and possible quality criteria for awarding qualifications forthcoming from it. Since the full version of ESCO will be published by 2017 the applicant is to select one or more ISCO level 4 occupations. The relevant ESCO occupational profile(s) will be provided after award of the pilot.
2.   Eligible countries







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EU Member States;










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candidate countries and potential candidates benefiting from a pre-accession strategy, in accordance with the general principles and general terms and conditions for the participation of those countries in Union programmes established in the respective framework agreements, Association Council decisions or similar agreements, and subject to the setting up of an Erasmus+ National Agency;










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EFTA countries that are party to the EEA agreement, in accordance with the provisions of that agreement;










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countries covered by the European neighbourhood policy which have concluded agreements with the Union providing for the possibility of their participation in the Union’s programmes, subject to the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with the Union on the conditions of their participation in the programme and subject to the setting up of an Erasmus+ National Agency.




3.   Eligible applicants

The call is opened to:






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International Professional organisations or associations;










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National Professional organisations or associations;










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Public and private authorities related to national qualifications frameworks










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Social Partners (EU, national and sectorial)










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Research centres










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Public and private awarding bodies










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Public and private education and training providers










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Public and private Quality assurance or Accreditation organisations




An organisation may submit only one application either for Themes A, B or C.
4.   Eligible activities

Activities may start between 1 June 2016 and 1 August 2016. The activities to be funded under this call may include desk reviews, analyses, research; mapping, surveys, drafting proposals, testing preliminary results with stakeholders, validation of results, reporting and coordination activities with the Commission (twice a year).
All the activities should have an international nature or impact. In order to achieve noteworthy results, a large representative group of stakeholders in more than two countries must be involved.
5.   Award criteria

The award criteria for the funding of a proposal are:






1.


Relevance (20 %)










2.


Quality of the project design and implementation (30 %)










3.


Quality of the project team and cooperation (working) arrangements (30 %)










4.


Impact and dissemination (20 %)




6.   Budget

The total estimated budget available for the co-financing of actions under the present call is EUR 400 000.
Financial contribution from the EU cannot exceed 75 % of the total eligible action costs.
The maximum estimated grant will be:






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EUR 180 000 under Theme A;










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EUR 60 000 under Theme B, and










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EUR 80 000 under Theme C.




The Agency reserves the right not to distribute all the funds available for the call.
7.   Procedure for submission of proposals and deadline







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In order to be able to submit an application, applicants will have to register their organisation in the Unique Registration Facility (URF) and receive a Participant Identification Code (PIC). The PIC will be requested in the application form. The Unique Registration Facility is the tool through which all legal and financial information related to organisations will be managed. It is accessible via the Education, Audiovisual, Culture, Citizenship and Volunteering Participant Portal. Information on how to register can be found in the portal under the following address: http://ec.europa.eu/education/participants/portal










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Grant applications must be drawn up in English, French or German and using the official application package. Please ensure you are using the correct application.










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The application package is available on the internet at the following address:
https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/funding/quality-assurance-european-level-for-enhanced-transparency-and-recognition-skills-and-qualifications_en




Applications must be submitted by the following deadline:

29 February 2016 at 12 pm, Brussels time


(1)  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32008H0506%2801%29&from=EN

(2)  Regulated professions are excluded from this pilot.

(3)  Comparable to the level of trust achieved through the EQF referencing process.