The preparation of a proposal is no simple matter: a winning project idea must be identified, the right partners must be contacted and involved, the application form and all supporting documents must be duly filled out. Above all, outstanding coordination capacities and large experiences of proposal writing are essential for a successful submission. Applicants’ organisations often lack these competences, which makes the process much longer and complex.
This is where Up2Europe Experts come into play!
Up2Europe Experts provide support/fully undertake selected or the complete package of preparation tasks - from providing advice in the development of the project idea and goals, to partner search and consortium building, recurrent review and proof-reading, preparation of administrative documents, up to the actual submission to the financing agency. Up2Europe Experts bring added value to your proposal, by making sure it is clear and consistent, understandable and appealing for non-technical people, and that it meets the requirements of the selected call for proposals.
Thanks to their solid experience in proposal writing and project implementation, in the evaluation and review of project proposals, as wells as their deep knowledge of the priorities and the selection criteria of EU programmes and instruments, Up2Europe Experts ensure a smooth and effective preparation of your proposal, resulting in the submission of a high-quality proposal.
Need a more detailed description of this service? Contact one of the Up2Europe Experts.
Project Management is much more than drafting gantt charts and filling out budget sheets. It entails several tasks that requires time and specific skills, which are not always available in the beneficiaries’ organisations. But, good news: management tasks can be easily outsourced! An Expert can assist you throughout all phases of project implementation.
Up2Europe experts provide support/fully undertake selected or the complete package of project management tasks - ranging from resources and work planning, to coordination of the consortium, maintenance of a project repository, organisation of meetings, reporting, budget monitoring, etc. - allowing you to focus on the scientific and technical activities.
Thanks to their deep knowledge of project implementation and their solid experience in the management of projects in the framework of different EU funding programmes and instruments, they can ensure an effective and efficient achievement of set objective and results.
This is just a short description, if you need more details, please ask for a Quote!
Is your project idea eligible for EU funding? Which calls for proposals or tenders can you apply for? And how much could you obtain? The Funding Opportunity Report can answer these questions! UP2EUROPE experts will scan through the most interesting and appropriate EU funding opportunities in European programmes and instruments, in order to identify those that are more relevant for your project proposal.
Funding opportunities are plentiful: calls for proposals are issued every week by the numerous EU bodies. Keeping track of each one these opportunities and recognising those that better match your project idea is not easy, but it is crucial to increase your chances of receiving the grant. Furthermore, the different programmes and instruments apply different rules in terms of partnership requirements, financing and co-financing amounts, activities that can be implemented and costs that may be included.
Thanks to their sound experience working with EU funding and their thorough knowledge of the eligibility criteria and requirements of EU programmes and instruments, and taking into account your current projects and future ambitions and your network of collaborators and partners, UP2EUROPE experts can support you in identifying the most relevant sources for funding your project ideas.
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The submission deadline is approaching and you still have doubts on the necessary support documents and their correct format or on the submission process itself? While preparing a project proposal you need a timely reply to questions regarding partnership requirements, the content of specific sections, or the eligibility of activities and costs?
An Up2Europe expert can resolve your doubts and answer your question in real time at any stage of the preparation and submission process.
By means of the service Live Support & Assistance on European Projects an UP2EUROPE expert provides real time support by email, chat or phone, easing the preparation and submission of your proposal and making sure you avoid the most common errors, increasing the chance of receiving the funds.
Training in courses and masters on European Project Management, project design, advisoring on direct and indirect European funds, presentation of various funding programmes, Project Cycle management techniques, implementation and financial reporting
We focus on a very practical approach with exercises thought for the individual needs and client case.
Purpose of the action
Following the recent pandemic, the need for innovation in our education and training systems, as well as youth, has never been so great. Innovation in teaching and learning is crucial, at individual level as well as at institutional level. These innovative approaches should not only provide today’s and tomorrow’s workers with the appropriate skills for rapidly-changing labour markets, but should also arm today’s and tomorrow’s workforce with creativity and skills to confront the growing complexity of societal challenges that we all face such as climate change, the protection of biodiversity, clean energy, public health, digitalization and automation, artificial intelligence, robotics and data analysis.
This action will aim to foster innovation, creativity and participation, as well as social entrepreneurship in different fields of education and training, within sectors or across sectors and disciplines.
Forward-Looking Projects are large-scale projects that aim to identify, develop, test and/or assess innovative (policy) approaches that have the potential of becoming mainstreamed, thus improving education and training systems. They will support forward-looking ideas responding to key European priorities and that have the potential of becoming mainstreamed and giving input for improving education, training and youth systems, as well as to bring a substantial innovative effect in terms of methods and practices to all types of learning and active participation settings for Europe's social cohesion.
The goal is to support transnational cooperation projects implementing a coherent and comprehensive set of sectoral
or cross-sectoral activities that either:
The partnerships should be composed of a mix of public and private organisations combining researchers, practitioners and partners with the capacity to reach policy-makers.
Forward-Looking Projects should therefore be implemented by a mixed partnership of organisations:
Supported projects will aim at achieving systemic impact at European level by having the capacity to deploy their innovative outcomes on a European scale and/or by being able to transfer them into different thematic or geographical contexts.
Lot 1: Cross-sectoral priorities
Projects under Lot 1 can address different educational sectors or bridge educational sectors.
Proposals submitted under Lot 1 must address one of the two following priorities that are detailed under ‘Setting up a
project’:
OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTION
The general objectives are as follows:
The specific objectives include:
Activities under Forward-Looking Projects should contribute to the following:
Main activities under these Priorities could involve (non-exhaustive list):
Forward-Looking Projects are required to apply EU wide instruments and tools whenever relevant.
Projects should include the design of a long-term action plan (beyond the duration of the Erasmus+ funded project) for the progressive take-up and mainstreaming of the innovations developed to be able to impact on education and training systems, in collaboration with the relevant authorities and institutions. They should also ensure the appropriate visibility and wide dissemination of the work, including at EU and national political level.
Forward-Looking Projects could also indicate how other EU funding opportunities (e.g. European Structural Funds, European Fund for Strategic Investment, Recover and Resilience Facility, Just Transition Fund), national and regional funding (as well as private funding), can support the implementation of the project. They could take into account national and regional smart specialisation strategies and developments in the European Industrial Ecosystems.
CRITERIA TO BE MET TO APPLY FOR FORWARD LOOKING PROJECTS
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
In order to be eligible for an Erasmus+ grant, project proposals for Forward-looking Projects must comply with the following criteria:
Who can apply?
Any full partner legally established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme can be the applicant. This organisation applies on behalf of all participating organisations involved in the project.
What types of organisations are eligible to participate in the project?
For Lot 1: Such organisations can be (non-exhaustive list):
Higher education institutions established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme must hold a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE).
Number and profile of participating organisations
For all Lots:
Venue of activities
The activities must take place in EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme.
Duration of project
For Lot 1 - Cross-sectoral priorities, the duration of the project is:
The duration has to be chosen at application stage, based on the objective of the project, on the type of activities planned over time, the budget and the ambitions set for the project.
Project start dates
Projects will start on 1 November 2022, 1 December 2022 or 1 January 2023
Where to apply?
To the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
Call ID Lot 1: ERASMUS-EDU-2022-PI-FORWARD-LOT1
When to apply?
Applicants have to submit their grant application by 15 March at 17:00 (Brussels time)
Applicant organisations will be assessed against the relevant exclusion and selection criteria. For more information
please consult Part C of the Programme Guide.
SETTING UP A PROJECT
Forward-Looking Projects should always have in mind the following cross-cutting policy contexts:
1. The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan;
2. The European Commission’s Green Deal, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris
Declaration on Climate Change;
3. The European Skills Agenda – in particular action 1 on the Pact for Skills, action 6 on Skills to support the
twin transitions, and action 8 on Skills for life;
4. The Council Recommendation on vocational education and training (VET) for sustainable competitiveness,
social fairness and resilience;
5. The Council Recommendation on Upskilling Pathways: New Opportunities for Adults;
6. Digital Transformation in our education and training systems, as well as in youth, as encompassed in the
European Commission’s Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027.
LOT 1: CROSS-SECTORAL PRIORITIES
Proposals submitted under Lot 1 must address one of the following 2 priorities:
Priority 1: Supporting high quality and inclusive digital education, in line with the Digital Education Action Plan
Education and training systems are currently undergoing a deep digital transformation, which is being driven by advances in connectivity; the widespread use of devices and digital applications; the need for individual flexibility, the wider availability of and need for high-quality digital education content and the ever-increasing demand for digital skills. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has heavily impacted education and training, has accelerated the change and provided multiple new learning experiences and perspectives. The Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027 sets the EU policy for the digital transformation in education and training over the next programming period. The Digital Education Action Plan has two strategic priorities:
There is a need to equip all learners with digital competences (knowledge, skills and attitudes) to live, work, learn and thrive in a world increasingly mediated by digital technologies. Digital technology, when deployed skilfully and effectively by educators, can fully support the agenda of high quality and inclusive education and training for all learners. Technology can be a powerful and engaging tool for collaborative and creative learning. It can help learners and educators access, create and share digital content. Effective digital capacity planning and development is vital for education and training systems. This requires the development and ongoing review and updating of digital strategies addressing technology gaps in infrastructure, devices and developing relevant organisational capabilities in education, including the capacity to deliver hybrid modes of learning and teaching (remote and on-site). In this context, increasing our knowledge and understanding of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its ethical educational deployment also becomes important. Capacity should be developed to ensure accessibility to assistive technologies and accessible digital content and more generally address unequal access, e.g. on socio economic or ruralurban grounds. High-quality digital education content, user-friendly tools, value-adding services and secure platforms that maintain privacy and uphold ethical standards are essential for high quality and inclusive digital education.
In addition to the two strategic priorities outlined above, the Digital Education Action Plan sets out to support more effective cooperation on digital education and training at EU level through the set-up of a European Digital Education Hub. The Hub will promote cross-sectoral collaboration, identify and share good practice and support Member States and the education and training sector with tools, frameworks, guidance, technical expertise and research in the domain of digital education. The Hub should link national and regional digital education initiatives and actors and support new models for exchange of digital education content, addressing issues such as common standards, interoperability, accessibility and quality-assurance. The Hub should thus also be taken into account in the scope of the areas set out below.
Forward-Looking Projects will address specifically at least one of the three following areas under Priority 1:
A) Key success factors for inclusive and high-quality digital education and training.
Projects will:
Note: Factors like education and training systems’ structure and organisation, national curriculum approaches, national assessment of educational performance, teacher/trainer training strategies as well as infrastructure and connectivity are expected to be examined, but also the possibility for other hidden factors as well.
B) Artificial Intelligence in education
Projects will:
C) High-quality digital education content
Projects will:
Priority 2: Supporting education and training systems to adapt for the green transition
The European Green Deal highlights the importance of mobilising the education and training sector to support the transition to a greener and more sustainable Europe. There is a need to support collective and individual action level through the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes related to sustainability and empowering learners to become agents of change. Education and training systems and institutions can be catalysts for achieving this change.
One of the six dimensions of the European Education Area and the sixth flagship action of the European Skills Agenda focuses specifically on supporting the green transition. In addition, the Education for Climate Coalition, launched by the European Commission on 10 December 2020, aims to mobilise expertise, provide resources for networking and support creative approaches to climate action and sustainability, involving teachers, pupils and students. The goal of the Coalition is to link bottom-up initiatives and EU level action and to support pledges and concrete actions to change sustainability behaviour across the EU.
In addition, the Commission is set to propose end 2021 a Council Recommendation on education for environmental sustainability. This will aim to support Member States to embed sustainability in education and training systems and boost cooperation and exchange of experiences at European level on learning for sustainability. The Commission is also developing a European Competence Framework to help develop and assess knowledge, skills and attitudes on sustainability.
All these actions aim at helping people acquire knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient economy and society.
Forward-Looking Projects will address at least one of the three following areas under Priority 2:
A) Promoting whole institution approaches to sustainability
Projects will focus on:
B) Developing the skills and competences of learners and educators related to sustainability
Projects will focus on:
C) Empowering citizens to act on sustainability, the environment and climate change, including in the context of the new Education for Climate Coalition
Projects will focus on:
Applications can target one or more sectors of education, from Early Childhood Education and Care through to adult
learning as well as formal, non-formal and informal education. Applications that address more than one area within a
priority will not receive extra points during evaluation.
AWARD CRITERIA
1. Relevance of the project (maximum 30 points/ threshold minimum 15 points):
2. Quality of the project design and implementation (maximum 30 points/ threshold minimum 15 points):
3. Quality of the partnership and the cooperation arrangements (maximum 20 points/threshold minimum 10 points):
4. Impact, dissemination and sustainability (maximum 20 points/threshold minimum 10 points):
The proposal includes measures as well as targets and indicators to monitor progress and assess the expected impact (short- and long-term);
To be considered for funding, applications must score at least 70 points (out of 100 points in total), taking into account the necessary minimum threshold for each of the four award criteria.
The ex aequo proposals under the same priority will be prioritised according to the scores they have been awarded for the award criterion “Relevance” and then “Impact”.
The Evaluation Committee will, if possible, aim at ensuring a balanced coverage of priorities.
DEADLINE AND INDICATIVE TIMETABLE FOR EVALUATION AND GRANT AGREEMENTS
Stages Date and time or indicative period
Deadline for submitting applications 15 March at 17:00 (Brussels time)
Evaluation period April – July 2022
Information to applicants August 2022
Signature of grant agreement October – December 2022
Starting date of the action 1/11/2022 or 1/12/2022 or 1/01/2023
WHAT ARE THE FUNDING RULES?
This action follows a lump sum funding model. The amount of the single lump sum contribution will be determined for each grant based on the estimated budget of the action proposed by the applicant. The granting authority will fix thelump sum of each grant based on the proposal, evaluation result, funding rates and the maximum grant amount set in the call.
The maximum EU grant per project is as follows:
The maximum number of projects to be funded is:
For Lot 1: there is no maximum set except the budgetary constraints
How is the project lump sum determined?
Applicants must fill in a detailed budget table according to the application form, taking into account the following
points:
a) The budget should be detailed as necessary by beneficiary/-ies and organized in coherent work packages (for example divided into ‘project management’, ‘analysis’, ‘training’, ‘organization of events’, ‘model implementation’, ‘long-term action plan’, ‘communication and dissemination’, ‘quality assurance’, etc.);
b) The proposal must describe the activities covered by each work package;
c) Applicants must provide in their proposal a breakdown of the estimated costs showing the share per work package (and, within each work package, the share assigned to each beneficiary and affiliated entity);
d) Costs described can cover staff costs, travel and subsistence costs, equipment costs and subcontracting as well as other costs (such as dissemination of information, publishing or translation).
Proposals will be evaluated according to the standard evaluation procedures with the help of internal and/or external experts. The experts will assess the quality of the proposals against the requirements defined in the call and the expected impact, quality and efficiency of the action. The lump sum value will be limited to a maximum of 80% of the estimated budget determined after evaluation.
Following the proposal evaluation, the authorising officer will establish the amount of the lump sum, taking into account the findings of the assessment carried out.
The grant parameters (maximum grant amount, funding rate, total eligible costs, etc.) will be fixed in the Grant Agreement.
The project achievements will be evaluated on the outcomes completed. The funding scheme would allow putting focus on the outputs rather than the inputs, thereby placing emphasis on the quality and level of achievement of measurable objectives.
More details are described in the model Grant Agreement available in the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal (FTOP).
Expected Impact:EXPECTED IMPACT
Forward-Looking Projects intend to provide innovative solutions that can be mainstreamed at regional, national and European level and ideally with the potential to be developed further either by EU funding or else through national and regional support.
The bottom-up practices should correctly address the fixed priorities set to strengthen Europe’s innovation capacity, make a strong impact on education and training reforms and initiate systemic change.
Through the wide dissemination of project outcomes at transnational, national and/or regional levels, also taking national, European Industrial Ecosystems and regional smart specialisation strategies into account, Forward-Looking Projects are expected to make cathartic impact at system level to help education and training systems better meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
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