Key Action 2:
Cooperation and innovation for good
practices
KA2 - Strategic Partnerships in School
Education
24th January 2015
Key Action 2 – an overview
Key Action 2: Co-operation for
Innovation and Exchange of Good
Practices is all about enabling
organisations to work together in
order to improve their provision for
learners and share innovative
practices
• Under Key Action 2 organisations
can apply for funding to work in
partnership with organisations
from other participating
countries.
• The projects funded under this
Key Action will focus on sharing,
developing and transferring
innovative practices in education,
training and youth provision
between participating countries.
• Key Action 2 covers the five fields
of Higher Education, vocational
education and training, schools,
adult education and youth
KA2 Strategic Partnership –
A new action building on the past
From LLP /COMENIUS
• Partnerships
• Multilateral Projects and networks
• Transfer/development of Innovation
Strategic Partnerships
Support the development, transfer
and/or implementation of joint initiatives
promoting cooperation, peer learning
and exchanges at European level
Strategic Partnerships
Projects are expected to include:
Development, transfer and/or implementation of innovative
practices
Projects are expected to achieve:
Positive and long-lasting effects on the participating
organisations
Expected outcomes
Projects are expected to produce the following outcomes:
• Innovative approaches to addressing the needs of their target
groups e.g. more attractive education and training programmes,
new and improved practices to cater for the needs of disadvantaged
groups, new approaches to better support competitiveness and
employment
• A more modern, dynamic, committed and professional
environment inside the organisation e.g. integrating new methods
into daily activities, professional development of staff
• Increased capacity and professionalism to work at
EU/international level e.g. reinforced cooperation with partners
from other countries, increased quality in the implementation,
monitoring and follow-up of European projects
Types of Projects
Field
Specific
Small
By addressing policy
objectives, challenges
and needs of a specific
field
(i.e. higher education,
vocational education and
training (VET), school ed,
adult ed or youth)
By promoting crosssectoral cooperation
i.e. relevant to more
than one field (e.g.
higher education +
VET, school education
+ youth)
Small Projects –
e.g. sharing best
practice on a
particular topic
Large Projects – e.g
developing and
testing tools or
curricula for a specific
target group
CrossSectoral
large
Strategic Partnerships – School Education and Cross
Sectoral Activities and Outputs
• Curricula, courses, joint study
programmes
• Learning, teaching, training and
the development of materials and
methods
• Project-based collaboration, peer
learning, workshops, research
and analysis
• Capacity building and networking
• Information, guidance, coaching
and counselling activities
• Improvement of qualifications
frameworks, credit transfer,
quality assurance
• Training, teaching and learning
activities for HE, VET, school
education, adult education
and/or youth.
School Education and Cross Sectoral Project
Examples
Consortium of schools and local
creative industries create courses to
stimulate creativity and
entrepreneurship among pupils.
Partnership between schools and
guidance professionals to produce
new materials for career planning for
pupils throughout second level
schooling
Partnerships between two special
needs schools to share best and
innovative practice in delivering
training to staff.
Eligibility Criteria
What type of organisations can
participate?
In general the following organisations can take part in KA2:
• a higher education institution
• a school/institute/educational centre (at any level, from pre-school to upper secondary education, and
including vocational education and adult education)
• a non-profit organisation, association, NGO
• a public, private small medium or large enterprise (including social enterprises)
• a public body at local, regional or national level
• a social partner or other representative of working life, including chambers of commerce, craft/professional
associations and trade unions
• a research institute/ a foundation
•a body providing professional counselling and information services
• a body validating knowledge, skills and competences acquired through the validation of non-formal and
informal learning
• See p.110 of Programme Guide for further examples
Please note that applicants and participants must be registered companies.
Sole traders cannot apply
Eligibility Criteria
Number and profile of organisations for
KA2 School Education partnerships
School to School partnerships include schools from minimum
two Programme countries
Partnerships between regional school authorities include
organisations from minimum two Programme countries – a
regional authority, a school plus another eligible organisation
in each country
Otherwise applications must include at least 3 organisations
from 3 different Programme Countries
• All participating organisations must be identified at the time of applying for
a grant.
• All participants (includes all project partners) must register with the
Participant Portal (see page 232 of the Erasmus+ Programme Guide)
Eligibility Criteria
Who can apply/participate?
• Any organisation from a Programme Country can apply
• Organisations from Partner Countries anywhere in the world can
take part as project partners (not as applicants) and only if they add
value to the project
• Note: If the partner country is deemed not relevant then the entire
application is failed.
Programme Countries
Please note that Switzerland is no longer a Programme Country but can take
part as a Partner country
Eligibility Criteria
Duration:
2 to 3 Years
Where to Apply:
Online To the National Agency of the country in
which the Coordinator-applicant organisation is
established.
When to Apply:
By 11 a.m. Irish time on 31 March 2015
2015 Priorities
Projects must address either a Horizontal Priority or a SE specific priority
Horizontal Priorities are:
• Developing basic and transversal skills
• Developing new approaches to strengthen the education and training
paths of prospective and practicing educators/youth workers
• Enhancing Digital integration in learning, teaching, training and youth
work at various levels
• Contributing to the development of a European Area of Skills and
Qualifications
• Supporting innovative projects aimed to reduce disparities in
outcomes affecting learners from disadvantaged backgrounds/with
fewer opportunities – including learners with disabilities
2015 Priorities contd.
SE Priorities are:
• Strengthening the profile of the teaching profession
• Addressing low achievement in basic skills -literacy, numeracy
• Tackling early school leaving
• Enhancing the quality of early childhood education and care
• Promoting the development of skills and competences of teachers
KA2 Strategic Partnerships
Structuring an Application
Duration
• Duration can be between 24 and 36 months
• We recommend that you choose either a 24
month or 36 month duration
• The duration selected must agree with the
Activities of the project and the anticipated
results of the project
Activities & Budget
• Activities are directly related to the project grant
• 1 Automatic Activity (based on duration):
– Project management & Implementation
• 4 Conditional Activities:
–
–
–
–
Transnational Project meetings
Intellectual Outputs
Multiplier Events
Transnational Training, Teaching & Learning Activities
• 3 Conditional Supports:
– Exceptional Costs; Special Needs Support; Linguistic
Support
Project Management &
Implementation
• Concerns management of the project by the partners
–
–
–
–
–
General project management
Liaising with partners, including partner meetings
Developing approaches
Local work on project
Producing reports, tools etc.
• Concerns Dissemination
–
–
–
–
Meeting with stakeholders
Preparation & promotion of dissemination materials
Online dissemination (e.g. project website)
Promotional meetings (local and/or international)
Transnational Project Meetings
• Transnational Project Meetings are an activity
• Each meeting is hosted by a partner
• Important: the number and location of each
partner meeting must be decided upon prior
to completion of application form
• Need for each meeting should be made clear
in the application
• It is highly expected that SPs will have
Transnational Project Meetings
Intellectual Outputs
• Key outputs of SPs
• Tangible deliverables of the project
• Includes sub-activities related to the
realisation of those key outputs
• Requires specific allocation of staff time
Intellectual Outputs Examples
• Curriculum and course content
• Pilot test report
• Report for policy makers on student retention
schemes
• Evaluation report
• Online Learning Platform
Intellectual Outputs Example
• Output 1: CPD Materials for Teachers
• Related Sub-Activities:
– O1-A1: Review of CPD resources in partner
organisations
– O1-A2: Development of CPD materials
– 01-A3: Validation: test and validate CPD materials
in different settings with involvement of SE
stakeholders and teachers
Ownership of Intellectual Outputs
• Pages 12 & 248 of 2015 Erasmus+ Programme
Guide
• An Open Licence must be associated with
each resource produced
• Beneficiaries are copyright holders of
materials produced
• Requirement for beneficiaries to make
resources produced by the project freely
accessible through open licences
Multiplier Events
• Must be directly related to project Intellectual
Outputs
• A multiplier event is used to promote the
project outputs to the relevant target group
and stakeholders
• Hosted by a project partner
• Multiplier events should make an active
contribution to the aims of the project
• No Intellectual Output = No Multiplier Event
Multiplier Event Examples
• CPD Workshops – Hands-on experience for SE
providers and disseminating project outcomes
• Final Conference – Launch of project
outcomes/outputs to stakeholders, policy makers
etc.
• Thematic Seminar – On-the-job training seminar
for SMEs focussing on project outcomes
• Round-table Discussion Forum – Stakeholder
discussion on topics related to project
Transnational Training, Teaching and
Learning Activities
• Training, Teaching and Learning Activities (TTLs)
are opportunities for individual mobilities within
an SP and must evidently add value to the
achievement of the project’s aims
• 5 types of TTL appropriate for SE SP applications:
–
–
–
–
–
Blended mobility of learners
Short-term exchanges of groups of pupils
Long term study mobility of pupils
Short-term joint staff training events
Long-term teaching or training assignments
Blended Mobility of Learners
• Activities combining short periods of physical
mobility (Between 5 and 60 days) with virtual
mobility to prolong learning outcomes of
physical mobility
• Virtual mobility: video-conferencing, message
forums, social media, live streaming,
collaborative workspaces.
• Can be used to prepare, support and follow up on
physical mobility.
• Participants must be learners of the partners
Short term exchanges of groups of
pupils
• 5 days to 2 months excluding travel days
• Activities on the exchange visit must be
relevant to the project objectives and
contribute to the project outcomes
Long term study mobility of pupils
• 2- 12 months
• Activities in the long term mobility must
contribute to the achievement of the overall
project objectives
Short-Term Joint Staff Training Events
• Duration of 5 to 60 days (per participant)
• Involves small groups of staff from different
partners
• Training events should be linked to the aims and
scope of the project
• Examples:
– Study visits (with on-site visits)
– Discussion workshops
– Training courses
Long-term Teaching or Training
Assignments
• Duration of 2 – 12 months
• Strengthen cooperation between SP partners
• Staff develop knowledge of EU education & training
systems; share & acquire professional competences,
methods and practices
• Can be teaching or other professional activities in a partner
institution
• Fair, transparent and open selection process
• Participant involved in development of activity
• Ensure internal recognition of mobility
• Partners work together on developing mobility agreements
TTL Considerations
• All TTLs must be evidently relevant & appropriate
to the aims of the project
• Destination of activities and duration must be
planned in advance of application
• The content of the TTLs must be evident in the
application
• For Staff TTLs the level & role of the participant
should be stated in the application
• The results of the TTLs should be integrated into
the project and the organisation
Examples of TTLs
• Short-term:
– Train-the-Trainers course for SE staff to lead training
sessions with target group
– Study visit to partner organisation to study and analyse ICT
strategies of the partner
• Blended Mobility:
– Learners of partner organisations participate in a 7 day
training course related to the project, supported by online
briefing before departure and online test on return
• Long-term:
– Vice-principal of school spends 2 months working in a
partner school on developing new management skills and
approaches
Partner Country Involvement in
Activities
• Partner Countries can participate in:
– Project Management & Implementation
– Intellectual Outputs
– Transnational project meetings
– Multiplier Events
– Transnational Training, Teaching Learning Activity
• ONLY Short-term Joint Staff Training Events
KA2 Strategic Partnerships
Funding Principles
Funding Principles - Co-financing
• All Erasmus+ projects are expected to be co-financed:
 Erasmus+ grant will not cover all costs
 The grant is intended to be a contribution towards the costs of
project implementation and mobility activities
grant request in the application ≠ total project cost
• Erasmus+ grant:
 Should be used to deliver projects
 Cannot fund the running of an organisation
Funding Principles - Co-financing
Partner 1 Grant &
Own Funding
Partner 2 Grant &
Own Funding
BUDGET
Partner 4 Grant &
Own Funding
GRANT
Partner 3 Grant &
Own Funding
Funding Principles
• Maximum grant of 150,000 per year
- Therefore a three year project will have a maximum grant of
450,000
- A two year project will have a maximum grant of 300,000
• Grants are activity-driven
- Therefore applicants should focus on the aims and
objectives of the project rather than the potential grant
size
• Applicant managed funding - The Coordinator organisation applies
to manage the grant on behalf of the other partners except in the case
of school-to-school partnerships
Summary of budget headings
Project Management and
Implementation
OBLIGATORY
Transnational Project Meetings
Intellectual Outputs
Multiplier Events
Transnational Training, Teaching,
Learning Activities
Special Needs
Exceptional costs (subcontracting)
CONDITIONAL
Grant Funding - Examples
Small Scale project Partners meet to discuss best
practice
(2 year project):
Project management and
implementation grant
Transnational Project
Meetings
Grant Funding - Examples
Project management and
implementation grant
Transnational
Project Meetings
Training/Teaching/
Learning Activities
Large Scale project -
Exceptional Costs
Consortium of Partners will develop
an online learning course for SMEs in
the green tourism industry (2 year).
Learning activities for learners
including those with special needs
will be included. The course will be
widely disseminated via national and
transnational events.
Special Needs
Multiplier Events
Unit Contributions vs Actual Costs
Unit Contributions:
•
•
•
•
•
Project Management and Implementation
Transnational Project Meetings
Intellectual Outputs
Multiplier Events
Transnational Training, Teaching and Learning Activities
 Travel
 Subsistence (Individual Support)
 Linguistic Support
Actual Costs:
• Special Needs Support
• Exceptional Costs
Please consult Erasmus+ Programme Guide for
applicable rates – p. 115 - 122
Funding Principles - Unit Contributions
On-line distance calculator must be used to establish the applicable distance band
(http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/tools/distance_en.htm)
Travel Distance Between:
Amount per participant for travel and
subsistence costs
100 – 1999 km
€575
≥ 2000 km
€760
Funding Principles – Actual Costs
Special Needs Support
• Costs directly relating to project participants with a disability
or other specific needs for which additional costs will be
incurred
• Person with specific needs – participant whose individual
physical, mental or health related situation is such that his/her
participation in the project would not be possible without extra
financial support
• The use of Special Needs support applies to participants with
special needs in any of the approved Project Activities
Funding Priniciples – Actual Costs
Special Needs Support
• Grant calculated on an actual cost basis
• Will be reimbursed (if approved) at 100%
• Eligibility of the cost assessed on a case-by-case basis
any particular needs and extra costs clearly described and
justified in the proposal
Organisational and Financial Capacity
Organisational Capacity
• Applicants must demonstrate that they have adequate capacity to:
 Successfully deliver Erasmus+ projects
 Administer them in accordance with the grant agreement and
Erasmus+ Programme Guide
• The assesment of organisational capacity will consider:





The management of the organisation (e.g. available resources)
Its past history in delivering European Commission funded projects
The number of staff involved in managing the project
Access to support networks
The results of previous monitoring or audits by the NA
Organisational and Financial Capacity
Financial Capacity – the applicant has stable and sufficient sources of
funding to maintain its activity throughout project duration and to participate
in its funding
• Excluded from a formal financial capacity checks are:
 Public bodies
 International organisations
 Organisations applying for for less than €60,000
• Remaining organisations must provide:
 Applicant’s profit and loss account
 Balance sheet for the last financial year for which accounts were
closed)
KA2 Strategic Partnerships
Award Criteria
Award Criteria
Award Criteria:
•
•
•
•
Relevance of the project (30 points)
Quality of the project design and implementation (20 points)
Quality of the project team and the cooperation agreements (20 points)
Impact and dissemination (30 points)
Proposals must score over 50% of the points in each criteria and at least
60 points overall to be considered for funding.
Proportionality: In order to ensure a fair assessment of all applications, experts shall
take due account of the different nature and scope of projects proposed, considering the
experience of the participating organisations. The quality of each application shall thus be
assessed for all award criteria considering this proportionality principle.
However all Strategic Partnerships will be evaluated using the same criteria and points
system.
Award Criteria Relevance
1) Relevance of the Project to:
•
the objectives and the priorities of the Action
(Projects must address either:
a) At least one horizontal priority or
b) At least one specific Priority relevant to the field of education, training and youth that is
most impacted. See p.106-107 of Programme Guide)
The extent to which:
• the proposal is based on a genuine and adequate needs analysis
• the objectives are clearly defined, realistic and address issues
relevant to the participating organisations and target groups
• the proposal is suitable of realising synergies between different
fields of education, training and youth
• the proposal is innovative and/or complementary to other initiatives
and projects already carried out by the participating organisations
• the proposal brings added value at EU level through results that
would not be attained by activities carried out in a single country
Award Criteria – Quality of the
project design and implementation
• The clarity, completeness and quality of the work programme,
including appropriate phases for preparation, implementation,
monitoring, evaluation and dissemination
• The consistency between project objectives and activities proposed
• The quality and feasibility of the methodology proposed
• The existence and relevance of quality control measures to ensure
that the project implementation is of high quality, completed in time
and on budget
• The extent to which the project is cost-effective and allocates
appropriate resources to each activity
If the project plans training, teaching or learning activities:
• The extent to which these activities are appropriate to the project's
aims and involve the appropriate number of participants
• The quality of arrangements for the recognition and validation of
participants' learning outcomes, in line with European transparency
Award Criteria – Quality of the project team
and the cooperation arrangements
The extent to which:
• the project involves an appropriate mix of complementary
participating organisations with the necessary profile, experience and
expertise to successfully deliver all aspects of the project
• the distribution of responsibilities and tasks demonstrates the
commitment and active contribution of all participating organisations
• if relevant for the project type, the project involves participation of
organisations from different fields of education, training, youth and
other socio-economic sectors
• the project involves newcomers to the Action
• The existence of effective mechanisms for coordination and
communication between the participating organisations, as well as
with other relevant stakeholders
• If applicable, the extent to which the involvement of a participating
organisation from a Partner Country brings an essential added value
to the project (if this condition is not fulfilled the project will not be
considered for selection)
Award Criteria – Impact and Dissemination
• The quality of measures for evaluating the outcomes of the project
• The potential impact of the project:
- on participants and participating organisations, during and
after the project lifetime
- outside the organisations and individuals directly participating
in the project, at local, regional, national and/or European
levels
• The quality of the dissemination plan: the appropriateness and
quality of measures aimed at sharing the outcomes of the project
within and outside the participating organisations
• If relevant, the extent to which the proposal describes how the
materials, documents and media produced will be made freely
available and promoted through open licences, and does not contain
disproportionate limitations
• The quality of the plans for ensuring the sustainability of the project:
its capacity to continue having an impact and producing results after
the EU grant has been used up
Selection
Coordinator and applicants register
on Participant Portal
Application by the coordinator
Quality assessment by the
coordinator NA
Validation of organisations
Check for double funding
Selection of applications by the
coordinator NA
Grant agreement signed only
between the coordinator NA and
coordinator of the partnership(except
S2S)
The coordinator NA transfers the
grant for the whole partnership to
the coordinating institution or school
Reporting by the coordinating
organisation only/ school
Overview of KA2 2014 Selection Round in Ireland:
Field of School Education
School to School Projects
• Coordinator applications submitted: 8
• Coordinator applications approved: 5 (3 rejected due to lack of quality)
• ‘Daughter’ schools approved during European Selection: 18
• Total School to School Projects funded: 23
Strategic Partnerships involving organisations other than schools
• 2 submitted – both rejected (due to lack of quality and technical
ineligibility)
Cross-Sectoral Strategic Partnerships addressing more than one Field
• 2 submitted
• 1 approved (focus on career planning and guidance)
• 1 rejected due to lack of quality
Important Links/Documents
• Erasmus+ Website
http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/index_en.htm#hp_guide
• Erasmus + Programme Guide 2015 (Version 3) : There is one Programme
Guide for all fields and Actions
http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmusplus/documents/erasmus-plus-programme-guide_en.pdf
• Model e-forms (Application forms)/Template for Timetable of Activities
http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/discover/guide/documentsapplicants_en.htm
Summary
nAt least 3 organisations from 3 different Programme Countries
Except for :
School to School partnerships – min 2 Programme Countries
Partnerships between Regional Education authorities – min 2
Programme Countries
• All participating organisations must be identified at the time of applying for
a grant.
• Any organisation from a Programme Country can apply
• Applicants indicate the field of education, training and youth that is the
most relevant for their project
Duration:
2 to 3 Years
Where to Apply:
Online to the National Agency of the country in
which the applicant organisation is
established.
By 11 a.m. Irish time on 31 March 2015
When to Apply:
Assistance
Application Workshops
Hands on technical workshops to help you
complete your Application form:
• Wednesday 25th February
• Second date TBD (if required)
Contact
Action
Agency
Contact Point
Key Action 2
Strategic
Partnerships
School
Education
Léargas
Eva Creely
ecreely@leargas.ie