Frequently Asked Questions for Transfer of Innovation Projects

1
Frequently Asked Questions for Transfer of
Innovation Projects  
2
Which reference documents are necessary for
submitting a TOI project?

• Decision 1720/2006/EC of the Parliament and of
  the Council of 15 November 2006
• General Call for Proposals 2009
• Official announcement of the Call for Proposals
• Strategic Priorities
• Administrative and financial information
  (available in the General Call 2008)
• LLP Guide 2009 Part I - General provisions
• LLP Guide 2009 Part II - Sub-Programmes and
  Actions
• LLP Guide 2009 Part II - Explanations by Action
• All these documents are available on the
  official web site of the programme
  (http//ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/llp/inde
  x_en.html)
• as well as on the NAs web sides
• A regular consultation of them is warmly
  suggested!

3
Which is the difference between a TOI and a DOI
project?

• Transfer of innovation projects focus on the
  identification of one (or more) innovative
  solution/s for adaptation and implementation in
  different countries and/or sectors and/or target
  groups (Procedure NA2)
• Development of innovation projects develop new
  solutions to help several countries and/or
  sectors to cope with a common challenge which is
  not yet addressed at European level (Procedure
  COM)
• As long as the main focus of the proposal is to
  put the results into practice it will be
  considered as an eligible proposal under the
  Transfer of Innovation action

4
What are the common principles for the validation
of non-formal and informal learning? (1/2)

• These common principles cover four key areas
• Individual entitlements the identification and
  validation of non-formal and informal learning
  should, in principle, be a voluntary matter for
  the individual. There should be equal access and
  equal and fair treatment for all individuals. The
  privacy and rights of the individual are to be
  respected.
• Obligations of stakeholders stakeholders should
  establish in accordance with their rights,
  responsibilities and competences systems and
  approaches for the identification and validation
  of non-formal and informal learning. These should
  include appropriate quality assurance mechanisms.
  Stakeholders should provide guidance, counselling
  and information about these systems and
  approaches to individuals.

5
What are the common principles for the validation
of non-formal and informal learning? (2/2)

• Confidence and trust the processes, procedures
  and criteria for the identification and
  validation of non-formal and informal learning
  must be fair, transparent and underpinned by
  quality assurance mechanisms.
• Credibility and legitimacy systems and
  approaches for the identification and validation
  of non-formal and informal learning should
  respect the legitimate interests and ensure the
  balanced participation of the relevant
  stakeholders. The process of assessment should be
  impartial and mechanisms should be put in place
  to avoid any conflict of interest. The
  professional competence of those who carry out
  assessment should also be assured.

6
What is the European Qualifications Framework
(EQF)?

• EQF is ameta-framework
• that is to say a neutral reference point for
  classifying qualification levels and a sort of
  translation device for comparing qualifications
  across Europe, that Member States are invited to
  use on a voluntary basis.
• It is not meant to replace existing national
  frameworks or systems, but only to allow a better
  comparison and easier communication among them.
  Yet, by recommending governments to relate their
  qualifications systems to the common framework.
• The EQF inevitably aims also at acting as a
  catalyst for national reforms and, in particular
  at promoting the development of National
  Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs)

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Which are the general features of EQF?

• its lifelong learning perspective (from general
  education to the highest level of academic and
  professional education and training)
• its approach based on learning outcomes for
  defining and describing qualifications
• the promotion of the validation of non-formal and
  informal learning (in particular for those
  citizens most likely to be subject to
  unemployment or insecure forms of employment)
• its attention to quality assurance as a basis for
  ensuring mutual trust.

8
Which are the specific features of EQF?

• The EQF is based on eight reference levels, from
  qualifications achieved at the end of compulsory
  schooling to higher academic qualifications.
• Each level describes what a learner knows,
  understands and is able to do - regardless of the
  system where a particular qualification was
  acquired.
• The EQF reference levels therefore shift the
  focus away from the traditional approach, based
  on learning inputs (duration of a learning
  experience, type of institution, etc.), to a
  scheme related to learning outcomes (knowledge,
  skills and competences acquired on completion of
  a learning pathway).
• Recommendation on EQF
• http//ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-po
  licy/doc44_en.htm

9
What is the European Quality Assurance Reference
Framework forVocational Education and Training?

• The EQARF is based on the Common Quality
  Assurance Framework (CQAF), which was developed
  in 2004 in the course of the Copenhagen Process.
• The European Quality Assurance Reference
  Framework for Vocational Education and Training
  aims at supporting the European member countries
  in advancing the continuous improvement of their
  vocational education and training systems by
  means of common European reference indicators and
  in monitoring them.

10
Which are the objectives of the EQARF?

• Providing a quality assurance and improvement
  cycle of planning, implementation,
  evaluation/assessment and review of VET,
  supported by common quality criteria, indicative
  descriptors and indicators
• Stimulating monitoring processes, including a
  combination of internal and external evaluation
  mechanisms, to be defined by Member States as
  appropriate in order to identify the strength of
  systems, processes and procedures and areas for
  improvement
• Supporting the use of measuring tools to provide
  evidence of effectiveness
• Proposal for a recommendation on the
  establishment of EQARF
• http//eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?
  uriCOM20080179FINENPDF

11
What is the European Credit System in the area of
Vocational Education and Training (ECVET)?

• According to the proposal, ECVET can be defined
  as a method for describing a qualification in
  terms of units of learning outcomes (knowledge,
  skills and competences)
• which are transferable
• and which can be accumulated, with associated
  credit points.
• A device for facilitating the transfer and
  accumulation (capitalisation) of learning
  outcomes of individuals who pass from one
  learning context to another, from one system of
  qualification to another.
• A unit is the smallest part of a qualification
  that can be assessed, validated and possibly
  certified.
• The credit points are meant to represent the
  relative value of a unit in relation to the whole
  qualification and to foster the transfer of
  learning outcomes by providing a common European
  reference.

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Which are the objectives of ECVET?

• the geographic and professional mobility of
  individuals (transfer)
• the individual development and employability
  (accumulation)
• the transparency and comparability of
  qualifications across Europe
• the validation of all types of learning in a
  lifelong and lifewide perspective
• the cooperation and the promotion of a mutual
  trust among VET stakeholders in the great variety
  and diversity of VET systems

13
Which are the features of ECVET?

• The objectives of a learning pathway, a training
  programme or units/elements of a qualification
  are expressed in terms of learning outcomes, i.e.
  knowledge, skills and competences to be mastered
  at a given reference level
• one body/institution assesses certain learning
  outcomes achieved by an individual in whatever
  context (be it either through a formal training
  pathway or, for instance, on the job) and awards
  credits to the learner
• a second body/institution from a different
  country but also within the same national context
  validates (accepts) the credits and recognises
  them for the award of a qualification.
• Proposal for a recommendation on the
  establishment of ECVET
• http//ec.europa.eu/education/ policies/educ/ecvet
  /com180_en.pdf

14
Is there an optimum size for a TOI project
partnership?

• Assessors of project proposals look for evidence
  of a multi-player and a transnational dimension
  in a Leonardo project partnership
• The most important thing is that the proposal is
  focused upon the specific needs and results which
  you identify, and that the partnership is
  relevant to these

15
What is meant by a multi-player partnership and
why is it important?

• Multi-player, or multi-actor partnerships are
  those involving different types of organisation -
  e.g. companies, social partners, industry or
  sectoral bodies - rather than only training
  providers
• In evaluating project proposals, assessors look
  for evidence of need, and demonstration that a
  project will have maximum impact through
  effective dissemination and evaluation

16
What does dissemination and exploitation of
results mean?

• It refers to specific actions aiming at
  maximising the effectiveness of results of the
  projects supported by the Lifelong Learning
  programme

17
Which Countries can join the Programme?

• The Leonardo da Vinci sub-programme is open to
  the organisations from 31 European countries
• the 27 EU Member States (Austria, Belgium,
  Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
  Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
  Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
  Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,
  Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
  United Kingdom)
• the 3 European Economic Area countries (Iceland,
  Liechtenstein, Norway)
• the Candidate Country Turkey (two other Candidate
  Countries, Croatia and FYR Macedonia, may
  participate according to bilateral agreement
  signed by EC). Also Switzerland can join the
  Programme on the basis of a specific agreement

18
Which are the eligibility criteria? (1/2)

• Grant requested is indicated
• Total cost of the project is indicated
• Submission of application on the official 2009
  Application Form for TOI
• Application is submitted in original and
  unbounded paper form
• Compliance with the deadline of 27 February 2009
• Application is sent to the appropriate National
  Agency
• Submission of application is in one of the
  official languages of the UE
• Compliance with the minimum and maximum duration
  of projects
• Compliance with the minimum number of eligible
  countries (at least 3 organisations coming from
  different countries - one of which from a EU
  member state)
• Presentation of letters of intent (at least a
  copy) of at least the minimum number of
  partners/members signed by the legal
  representative of the organisation

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Which are the eligibility criteria? (2/2)

• Financial data are expressed in
• Declaration of honor is signed in original by one
  person in the applicant legal entity who is
  authorised to enter into legally binding
  commitments
• Application includes the Excel spreadsheet with
  the detailed budget
• For private bodies with grant request exceeding
  25.000, a copy of the official accounts (an
  accounts certified by an appropriate external
  body, and/or published, and/or approved by the
  organisations general meeting) for the most
  recent financial year for which the accounts have
  been closed, should be attached to the
  application
• NOTE For additional documentation required refer
  to the web site of your National Agency

20
How many partner letters of intent need to be
provided at application stage?

• For Transfer of Innovation projects, it is
  required to include Letters of Intent from the
  minimum number of transnational partners for the
  proposal to be eligible (minimum 3 eligible
  countries, of which one EU member)
• At the proposal stage the letters can be in
  copies, but once the proposal is successful
  original letters are required

21
How many copies of the application form should I
send?

• For Transfer of Innovation projects promoters
  must submit one unbound original
• As far as the number of copies, promoters have to
  contact their NAs
• No need to send a copy to the European Commission

22
In which language may the proposal be submitted?

• One of the European official languages
• Summary should be provided in EN, FR or DE
• Note Refer to your NA for further information
  on that

23
How long can a TOI project last?

• Minimum 12 months
• Maximum 24 months

24
What proportion of the total project costs can be
met by Leonardo funding?

• Maximum contribution 75 of the total cost
• Maximum amount per annum 150.000

25
Which are the possible typologies of EU funding?

• Lump-sums the beneficiary has to be able to
  prove the reality of the activity for which grant
  support is awarded rather than the actual amount
  of expenditure
• Scales of unit costs the beneficiary does not
  have to justify the costs incurred but has to be
  able to prove the reality of activities resulting
  into the entitlement to a specific amount
• Real costs the beneficiary shall keep and be
  able to produce upon all proofs of expenditure
  related to the expense items based on real costs

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How can I find new partners?

• Contact Seminars
• The NAs web sites periodically publish
  information to find out information on European
  partner-finding events (Contact Seminars)
• Partner Search Databases
• Some NAs implemented a Partner Search Database
  where is possible to find a list of partners and
  made them available for consultation on their web
  site
• Using existing links
• Many national organisations already have
  European links through networking bodies,
  partnerships or work contacts. Involving partners
  already known by your organisation means allow to
  rely on a pre-existing relationship to add
  commitment to the partnership

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• Thanks for your attention!!!