Knowledge alliances
Erasmus+
Key action 2 – Cooperation for innovation and the
exchange of good practices
Version January 2014
Knowledge Alliances in a nutshell
Knowledge Alliances are calls for
large-scale collaboration
between higher education and
business
Focus is on
• entrepreneurship mindset and
skills
• jointly developed/performed
education and training
activities
2 or 3 year projects, min. 6
organisations
Max. EU-contribution for 2-year
project = 700 000 EUR
Max. EU-contribution for 3-year
project = 1 000 000 EUR
Yearly deadline = 3 April 200X
Start not earlier than = 1
November 200X
Overview
Key policy priorities 2014-2020
Objectives of this action
Eligibility
KU Leuven support and procedures
Key policy priorities
2014-2020
General objectives European education and training
upgrading the skills
and competences of
graduates to increase
their labour market
relevance
quality, efficiency and
openness of
European higher
education
international
dimension of
education and
training
up-skilling and reskilling initiatives in
the adult learning
(lifelong learning)
system
transversal skills
including digital skills,
entrepreneurial skills
and language skills
learning opportunities
by digital
technologies
early-school leaving
leadership of
teachers via teacher
education
Horizontal policy priorities Erasmus+
Erasmus+
Key Action 1
Learning mobility of
individuals
• Student and staff mobility
• Joint Master degrees
Key Action 2
Cooperation and
innovation for good
practices
• Strategic partnerships
• Partnerships between the
world of work and
education and training
institutions
• IT support Platforms
• Capacity building with
Partner countries
Key Action 3
Support for policy
reform
• Knowledge collection and
use
• Prospective initiatives
• Support to European
policy tools
• Cooperation with
international organisations
• Stakeholder dialogue,
policy and programme
promotion
Partnerships between the world of work and
education and training institutions
Knowledge Alliances:
• focus on higher education & business collaboration
Sector Skills Alliances:
• Focus on vocational training programmes
Objectives of this action
Knowledge alliances:
specific objectives and expected results
Open to any discipline, sector
and cross-sectoral cooperation
Develop new, innovative
and multidisciplinary
approach to teaching
and learning
Facilitate the
exchange, flow and
co-creation of
knowledge
Transational,
Innovation & sustainability &
impact driven
Stimulate
entrepreneurship
and entrepreneurial
competence of
students, academic
and company staff
Results, dissemination & exploitation
Tangible results: reports, events, newsletters, good practice guide, case studies, ...
Intangible results such as experience gained, increased (language) skills and
awareness by interviews, questionnaires, tests and observations
Define target audiences and approaches
Before, during and after project
Use Erasmus+ dissemination Platform
•
•
•
•
Information tool
Project database
Tangible deliverables
Showcasing best practices (annual selection by NA or EACEA)
Results, dissemination & exploitation
Multiplier events
• Organisation of national and transnational conferences/seminars/events aimed at
sharing and disseminating the intellectual outputs realised by the project
• Multiplier events taking place in a Partner Country are not eligible for funding!
Assessment of success
• Facts and figures related to the website of project organisers (updates, visits,
consultation, cross referencing);
• Numbers of meetings with key stakeholders;
• Numbers of participants involved in discussions and information sessions
(workshops, seminars, peer reviews); follow-up measures;
• Visibility in the social media;
• Participation in public events;
• Links with existing networks and transnational partners; transfer of information and
know-how;
• Impact on regional, national, EU policy measures;
• Feedback from end-users, other stakeholders, peers, policy-makers
Which activities are supported?
Boosting innovation in higher education, business
and the broader scocio-economic environment
Stimulating the flow and exchange of knowledge
between higher education and enterprises
Developing entrepreneurship mind-set and
competences
Boosting innovation in higher education, business
and the broader socio-economic environment
Jointly development and implementation of new
learning and teaching methods
• New multidisciplinary curricula
• Learner centred and real problem-based teaching & learning
Organisation of continuing educational programmes
and activities with and within companies
Jointly development of solutions for challenging
issues, product and process innovation
Stimulating the flow and exchange of knowledge
between higher education and enterprises
Study field related activities in enterprises
(fully embedded in curriculum, recognised and credited)
Set-ups to trial and test innovative measures
Exchange of students, researchers, teaching staff and
company staff for a limited period
Involvement of company staff in teaching and research
Developing entrepreneurship mind-set and
competences
Schemes of transversal skills’ learning and application
throughout higher education programmes (strengthening
employability, creativity and new professional paths)
Entrepreneurship education to students, researchers and staff
Practical application of entrepreneurial skills, e.g. involvement
in the commercialisation of new services/products and
prototypes, the creation of start-ups and spin-offs
Eligibility
Eligible participating organisations
Any public or private organisation
• At least two higher education institutions
• At least two entreprises (public or private, small, medium or large
enterprise including social enterprises);
Other non-academic partners
•
•
•
•
a research institute;
a public body at local, regional or national level;
an organisation active in the field of education, training and youth;
an intermediary or association which represents education, training
or youth;
• organisations;
• an intermediary or association which represents enterprises;
• an accreditation, certification or qualification body
Eligible countries Erasmus+
• Programme countries
o
o
o
EU-28 (including Overseas Country and Territory depending on
Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom )
Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
Turkey and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
• Rest of the world = Partner countries
Partner countries neighbouring
the EU
• Western Balkan
• Eastern Partnership countries
• South-Mediterranean countries
Other partner countries
• Industrialised countries
• Africa, Carribean and Pacific
• Asia and Latin-America
Higher education institutions
• Academic consortium members from Programme countries
must hold an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 20142020 (check:
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/funding/2014/call_he_charter_en.php; KU
Leuven = 27945-LA-1-2014-1-BE-E4AKA1-ECHE )
• Academic consortium members from Partner countries:
interinstitutional agreements
Mobility in Knowledge Alliances
• Mobility activities of students, researchers, teaching and
company staff is possible but only when added value is
clear
• Mobility activities are not the main focus here
• Extensive mobility activities need to be funded through Key
Action 1
Knowledge alliances minimum requirements
• Consortium
Min. 6 public/private organisations from at least 3
different programme countries
o Max. 1 public/private organisation from a partner
country
o Min. 2 higher education institutions, each having a valid
Erasmus Charter for Higher Education
o Min. 2 enterprises
• Coordinator = organisation from Programme Country
• Associated partners do not receive fund
o
Are taken into account: proposals with min. 70% in total
Award criteria
Relevance of the
project
Quality of project
design and
implementation
Quality of the
project team and
the cooperation
arrangements
Impact and
dissemination
Purpose of
cooperation
Coherence
Configuration of
consortium
Exploitation of
cooperation
outcomes
Sound needs
analysis
Work programme
structure
Commitment
consortium partners
Dissemination
strategy
Consistence of
proposed actions
Management
(timeline,
organisation, tasks
& responsibilities)
Complementarity
partnerships
Societal and
economic relevance
and impact
Innovation in
processes and
outcomes
Quality and
financial control
Collaboration and
team spirit
Sustainability
beyond project
lifetime
European added
value (transnationality and
potential
transferability)
Call management and selection
Centralised action, by EACEA
Yearly call
Yearly deadline = April 3, 12:00pm Brussels time
Budget first call = ca. 6 million euros in total
Highly competitive (contact International Office for support!)
Large consortia with clear indication of added value of each partner is needed
Project duration= 2 or 3 years (chosen at time of application)
In need for some inspiration?
• 2011 and 2012 calls for Knowledge Alliances
Innovative learning and
teaching methods
Fostering
entrepreneurial skills
and attitudes
Structured mobility and
knowledge exchange
between academia and
business
• Opening up Education (September 2013) by European Commission
• Self-assessment tool for entrepreneurial universities
Funding rules
Budget guidelines
•
•
•
•
Max. EU-contribution for 2-year project = 700 000 EUR
Max. EU-contribution for 3-year project = 1 000 000 EUR
Basic eligible costs = impementation support
o
Depends on profile of staff involved (manager, teacher/trainer/researcher,
technician and admin. staff)
o
Country of the particpating organisation whose staff is involved
Optional funding for mobility activities
o
Travel costs
o
Subsistence cost
•
•
Staff
Learners
Belgium – eligible costs
Financing
mechanism
Amounts
Implementation support Unit cost
(basic)
(per day)
Manager (336 EUR)
Teacher/Trainer/Researcher (257 EUR)
Technician (194 EUR)
Administrative staff (157 EUR)
Travel (optional)
Unit cost (per
participant)
Between 100km and 1999km (275 EUR)
Above 2000km (360 EUR)
Subsistence (optional)
Unit cost (per
day)
Staff
• between day 1 and 14: 100 EUR
• between day 15 and day 60: 40 EUR
Learners
• between day 1 and 14: 55 EUR
• between day 15 and day 60: 40 EUR
What else should you
know?
• Impact has to go beyond consortium partners
• Budget needs to be foreseen for presentation at
University-Business Forum or other relevant events (max.
4/project)
• Reports, handbooks, guidelines etc. should be made
available as Open Educational Resources (OER)
KU Leuven support
and procedures
KU Leuven advice and support
• Before submission via International Office
o
As soon as possible, inform International Office about intentions
o
Advice available on request for call specifications, possible (non) academic
partners, consortium management structure, …
o
Compulsory consultation in case of joint curriculum initiatives with HEI in
Belgium or beyond via ‘Ondersteuningsgroep Interuniversitaire Opleidingen’
• Submission through International Office (rector as legal
•
representative)
After selection via International Office
o
Communication to EACEA for budget revise, clarifications, …
o
Grant agreement (and amendments)
o
Advice on consortium agreement and other documents commiting KU
Leuven via ‘Ondersteuningsgroep Interuniversitaire Opleidingen’
Deadlines call spring 2014
• Whether KU Leuven will be coordinator or partner
• March 3 2014 = internal deadline application forms (via
johan.evers@kuleuven.be)
o if joint curriculum or new course programmes are
included in proposal then approval or rejection by
Executive Board (GeBu) April 1 2014
• April 3 2014 = external deadline (allow at least three working
days before deadline for signature rector )
• Golden rule: inform International Office as early as
possible and in case of doubt contact International Office
(johan.evers@kuleuven.be)
More information
• Erasmus+ Programme Guide - Knowledge Alliances (p. 109-116)
• Erasmus+ intranet page International Office
Johan Evers
International Office
johan.evers@kuleuven.be
016/37 98 54
Your contact person for Erasmus+
Knowledge Alliances