leveraging funding programs in the uk and european union

LEVERAGING FUNDING PROGRAMMES IN THE UK AND EUROPEAN UNION CAPP Certification Track Sponsored by:

SIÂN OWEN HEAD OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT (FUNDING), PEARSON

To cover

§  A quick reminder of who funds what

§  Policy objecKves

§  Budgets and numbers

§  Funding prioriKes

§  Funding policy change –  16-‐18 –  19+ –  ApprenKceships –  Traineeships –  24+ Advanced Learning Loans

A QUICK REMINDER OF WHO FUNDS WHAT

Who funds what

Nick Boles announced last week the permanent appointment of Peter Lauener as the CEO of the Skills Funding Agency. He will take up his role on

Monday 3 November 2014. Peter will retain his post as the CEO of the EducaJon Funding Agency (EFA) with separate accountability for each agency’s

budget.

Nick Boles MP was appointed as Minister of

State jointly for the Department for Business, InnovaJon and Skills and

the Department for EducaJon on 15 July

2014.

POLICY OBJECTIVES

Policy objecNves 16-‐19

§  Increase parKcipaKon – drive up parKcipaKon, reduce NEET, expand uptake of English and maths.

§  Strengthen qualificaKon rigour – reform A levels, vocaKonal qualificaKons, ApprenKceship standards.

§  Drive up the quality of vocaKonal opKons – more and be\er ApprenKceships, Traineeships, work experience.

§  Improve standards – strong framework on inspecKon, performance measures and intervenKon.

§  Increase choice and diversity – enabling new insKtuKons to enter market (academies, free schools, UTCs).

§  Inquiry being undertaken into 16-‐18 parJcipaJon in educaJon by Public Accounts CommiWee – aYer a report by the NAO in September 2014 said beWer informaJon needed about impact of RPA reform.

Policy objecNves 19+

§  High-‐quality ApprenKceship and Traineeship opportuniKes.

§  Raise standards across vocaKonal training.

§  Focus on English and maths.

§  Review qualificaKons to drive up standards of vocaKonal courses and ensure we have a coherent and comprehensible skills system.

§  Encourage use of online delivery – Agency response to Further EducaJon Learning Technology AcJon Group (FELTAG) – 10% wholly-‐online component – ideally all courses should have some wholly-‐online elements, some having more substanJal proporJon. Not expecJng providers to convert 10% but encouraging providers to establish strategy to determine where adopJon of greater ‘blend’ adds value.

ApprenNceships

§  Future ConservaKve government will use £1bn in welfare spending cuts to fund 3 million apprenKceships.

§  Future Labour government want same number of school-‐leavers to go on to apprenKceships as university by 2025, and scrap level 2.

BUDGETS AND NUMBERS

Budgets

2013-‐14 2014-‐15 2015-‐16

16-‐18 £7,045m £7,000m

Maintained School 6th Forms Academy 6th Forms FE and Training Providers ApprenJceships

£853m £1,392m £3863m £705m

19+ £3,155m £3,242m £3,085m

Adult Skills Budget ApprenJceships Traineeships Workplace Learning Classroom Learning English and maths

£2,467 £2,258m £2,004m

Employer Ownership £46m £73m £73m

24+ Advanced Learning Loans £129m £398m £498m

Offender Learning and Skills Service £130m £129m £129m

Community Learning £211m £211m £211m

European Social Fund £171m £173m £170m

Numbers

ParNcipaNon in EducaNon, Training and Employment by 16-‐18 year olds in England: End 2013 – Summary staNsNcs for end 2012 and provisional end 2013

% of age 16 % of age 17 % of age 18 % of age 16-‐18

End 2012 End 2013 (prov)




Full-‐Kme educaKon 83.5 85.9 74.6 73.8 48.4 50.4 68.6 70.0

Part-‐Kme educaKon 4.5 4.9 5.4 5.9 5.9 6.2 5.3 5.7

Work-‐based learning 3.2 3.2 6.0 6.2 7.7 8.4 5.7 5.9

EducaKon and work-‐based learning

91.0 93.8 85.6 85.4 61.6 64.5 79.2 81.2

EducaNon and training 93.1 95.6 88.9 89.4 69.3 72.1 83.6 85.6

NEET 5.8 4.0 7.1 6.1 14.5 12.5 9.2 7.6

Numbers

All Age ApprenNceship Programme Starts by Age(2008/09 to 2013/14)

Age

2008/09 Full Year

2009/10 Full Year

2010/11 Full Year

2011/12 Full Year

2012/13 Full Year

2013/14 Full Year (prov.)

Under 19 99,400 116,800 131,700 129,900 114,500 117,800 5% down

19-‐24 84,700 113,800 143,400 161,400 165,400 156,900 3% down

25+ 55,900 49,100 182,100 229,300 230,300 157,700 29% down

Total 239,900 279,700 457,200 520,600 510,200 432,400 13% down

of which 19+ 140,600 162,900 325,500 390,700 395,700 314,600

S

•  FE loans system for apprenKces, which applied to learners from the age of 24 and from level three , dropped in February. •  Skills Minister “looks forward to numbers bouncing back”. •  Risk of making employers pay towards apprenKce training costs?

Numbers

All Age ApprenNceship Programme Starts by Level (2008/09 to 2013/14)

2008/09 Full Year

2009/10 Full Year

2010/11 Full Year

2011/12 Full Year

2012/13 Full Year


Intermediate ApprenNceship 158,500 190,500 301,100 329,000 292,800 282,500

Advanced ApprenNceship 81,300 87,700 153,900 187,900 207,700 141,100

Higher ApprenNceship 200 1,500 2,200 3,700 9,800 8,900

All ApprenNceships 239,900 279,700 457,200 520,600 510,200 432,400

Numbers

Traineeship Starts by Age (2013/14)

Age 2013/14

Full Year (prov.)

Under 19 7,000

19-‐23 3,500

Total 10,500

Numbers

Workplace Learning Starts by Level (2008/09 to 2013/14)

2008/09 Full Year

2009/10 Full Year

2010/11 Full Year

2011/12 Full Year

2012/13 Full Year


Total starts 906,100 774,500 599,300 331,600 148,500 101,400

Below Level 2 155,300 147,100 114,300 43,200 30,900 14,200

Level 2 579,900 430,500 331,900 252,200 102,100 70,800

Level 3 135,800 100,200 81,800 34,200 11,100 12,100

Level 4+ 11,900 4,300 3,000 2,000 2,000 4,100

No Level Assigned 23,200 92,400 68,300 -‐ 2,400 200

Below Level 2 (excluding English and maths) 22,100 27,900 11,200 4,200 2,900 4,600

English and maths 191,700 127,000 108,300 62,200 39,400 20,100

Full Level 2 520,100 415,100 315,400 226,300 85,200 49,900

Full Level 3 136,100 98,200 80,600 31,700 6,000 2,300

Numbers

24+ Advanced Learning Loans Starts by Level (2013/14)

Level 2013/14 Full Year (prov.)

Level 3 54,500

Level 4 2,700

Total 57,100

FUNDING PRIORITIES

Funding prioriNes 19+

Adult prioriNes

Full government funding

English and maths qualificaKons and units to help adults progress to GCSE A* to C (L2) 19+

Traineeships to help young people progress to an ApprenKceship or other job 19 to 24

QualificaKons and units (up to and including L2) to help adults into work 19+

QualificaKons and units (L3 or above) to help adults into work 19 to 23

Entry and L1 qualificaKons to help adults progress to first full L2 19 to 23

First full L2 qualificaKon 19 to 23

First full L3 qualificaKon 19 to23

At Level 2 ‘full’ is currently 15+ credits At Level 3 ‘full’ is currently 30+ credits

Funding prioriNes 19+

Adult skills prioriNes

Contributory government funding

To promote shared responsibility for invesJng in skills, recognising that in most cases, and especially at higher levels, most of the benefit goes to the learner by way of increased wage gains and progression and to the employer by having a higher skilled, more producJve workforce. Intermediate-‐level ApprenKceships (Level 2) ApprenKces 19+

Advanced-‐level ApprenKceships (Level 3) ApprenKces 19+

Higher ApprenKceships (at Levels 4, 5 and 6) ApprenKces 19+

Entry, Level 1 and Level 2 qualificaKons 19+ who do not qualify for full-‐funding

Level 3 or 4 qualificaKons 19 to 23 who do not qualify for full-‐funding 24+ have access to 24+ loans

FUNDING POLICY CHANGE

Funding policy change

§  16-‐18

§  19+

§  ApprenKceships

§  Traineeships

§  24+ Advanced Learning Loans

16-‐18

16-‐18

§  2013/14 –  study programmes introduced. –  coherent, well thought out study programmes should not be wholly occupaKonal, include at least one

qualificaKon of substanKal size which offers progression into educaKon or employment, include high quality work experience or internships (where appropriate) and non-‐qualificaKon acKvity, for example tutorial Kme, study skills and other enrichment acKviKes, include GCSE A*-‐C in English and/or maths or qualificaKons that lead towards this level, for students who have not already achieved them.

–  funding per pupil (£4000 per year per full-‐Kme learner). –  £480 per subject for full Kme students and equivalent rates for part Kme students for those without

GCSE Grade C or above in maths/English. –  no extra funding for achievement, but retenKon sKll included in formula. –  RPA – all required to conKnue in educaKon or training unKl end of academic year in which they turn 17.

§  2014/15 –  cut in funding rate for 18 year-‐olds of 17.5% (approx. £3,300). –  condiKon of funding – 16-‐19 year-‐olds without grade C or above in maths/English have to be enrolled

on GCSE or ‘stepping stone’ qualificaKon. –  transiKonal protecKon from Spending Review 2010 decision to equalise school sixth form funding with

other insKtuKons and to reduce funding for enrichment comes to an end.

16-‐18

§  2015/16 –  all young people required to conKnue in educaKon or training unKl 18 birthday. –  no addiKonal changes to funding factors within the naKonal funding formula. –  naKonal funding rate to be confirmed January 2015. –  all full-‐Jme students with grade D GCSE in maths/English have to retake GCSE (not ‘stepping stone’

qualificaKon). –  £480 maths/English funding will conKnue.

§  2016/17 –  10% uplin for study programmes of 4 A levels where student passes 4 A levels at grade B –  20% uplin for study programmes of 5 A levels where student passes 5 A levels at grade B. –  20% uplin for study programmes comprising full level 3 InternaKonal Baccalaureate where the student

achieves 28 points. –  10% uplin for study programmes comprising Technical Baccalaureate programmes equivalent to four A

levels in size, and 20% for those that are the size of the full level 3 InternaKonal Baccalaureate or larger, on the basis of qualificaKons passed.

–  increase to the uplin for specialist land-‐based provision from 1.6 to 1.75. –  Formula ProtecKon Funding ends.

19+

§  2013/14 –  funding based on credit, rates set according to rates matrix.

§  2014/15 –  awarding organisaKons need to apply for funding for any qualificaKons not automaKcally

approved for funding. –  NQF qualificaKons not automaKcally approved cannot be applied for. –  size, purpose and recogniKon rules. –  Skills Funding Agency will only approve qualificaKons for funding where appropriate

organisaJons indicate that the qualificaKon does a\est to relevant skills, knowledge and understanding at a parKcular level in a parKcular sector.

–  qualificaKons removed if take-‐up too small unless niche. –  impact of Ofqual review of the QCF for NQF qualificaKons? funding based on credit? unit

funding?

§  2015/16 –  Minister stated that providers teaching English/maths GCSE to 19+ outside

apprenKceships will receive higher rate of funding. Not confirmed anywhere as yet.

APPRENTICESHIPS

ApprenNceships

§  2014/15 –  summary of Trailblazer funding published. –  single government co-‐investment rate for core funding which will apply up to a cap for

each standard – Core Government ContribuKon (CGC). –  allocaKon of cap based on five factors: projected costs of delivery, economic impact, social

mobility and inclusion, skills shortages, and strategic fit. –  mandatory cash contribuKon. –  for every £1 employers contribute, government will pay £2. –  five caps set at £18,000, £8,000, £6,000, £3,000 and £2,000. –  employers can negoKate price for training and assessment with provider(s). –  addiKonal payments : small businesses (£500 – £2,700), 16-‐18 year old (between £600 –

£5,400), and successful compleKon (between £500 – £2,700). –  training in English and maths at level 1 or level 2 fully funded. –  funding not routed via employers – mechanism not agreed or set up – plans expected in

next few weeks – likely to spell out opKons rather than provide answer.

ApprenNceships

§  2015/16 –  AGE 16 to 24 (ApprenKceship Grant for Employer) extended to 2015/16.

§  provides ApprenJceship grants with a value of £1,500 to employers with up to 1,000 employees to encourage employers to take on new ApprenJces aged 16 to 24. Eligible employers must not have taken on an ApprenJce in the previous 12 months. Subject to budget availability and the employer’s commitment to support the ApprenJce to the end of their programme, any one employer can claim support for up to ten apprenJces.

§  2017/18 –  All ApprenKceship starts are on employer designed standards.

ApprenNceships

TRAINEESHIPS

Traineeships

§  Traineeships introduced in 2013/14 to provide essenKal work preparaKon, English, maths and work experience, to secure ApprenKceship or other work.

§  2013/14 –  available for 16-‐25s, core target – unemployed, li\le work experience, focused on work,

below level 3, or 19-‐24 and not yet achieved Level 2, providers and employers believe ready for employment or apprenKceship within six months.

–  core content – work preparaKon training, English and maths, high quality work placement. –  work placement minimum 6 weeks, maximum 5 months, traineeships maximum 6

months. –  16-‐19s – 16-‐19 methodology, part-‐Kme according to number of hours, retenKon accounts

for around 50% funding, early movement into posiKve outcome – fully funded. –  19-‐24s – adult methodology, matrix rates, plus work placement funding. –  primary measure of success – securing posiKve outcome.

Traineeships

§  2015/16 –  Government will set out shortly response to recent consultaKon on Traineeships funding

methodology for 2015/16. –  consultaKon looked at how to ensure funding arrangements for Traineeships drive

posiKve outcomes for young people, achieve greater consistency in the way Traineeships are funded for 16 to 18 year olds and 19 to 24 year olds, ensure providers have the flexibility to design high quality programmes that maximise outcomes for young people.

24+ ADVANCED LEARNING LOANS

24+ Advanced Learning Loans

§  Loans are available for eligible learners aged 24 and above studying at Level 3 and above (including Advanced and Higher ApprenKceships) and cover the cost of tuiKon, so learners do not have to pay upfront.

§  Recent consultaKon looked at: –  effecKveness of current loans systems. –  expanding the scope of loans in the FE sector to cover 19-‐23 year olds and to make loans

available for level 2 qualificaKons where learners are not enKtled to full grant funding. –  moving certain qualificaKons, for example Higher NaKonal Diplomas (HNDs) and Higher

NaKonal CerKficates (HNCs) from Higher EducaKon funding to Advanced Learning Loans.

ANDREA PAROLA GENERAL MANAGER, EESA

EeSA Members

EeSA – Vision and Mission

Vision

Foster a compeKKve and inclusive Europe where e-‐skills and digital literacy drive innovaKon and promote

prosperity

Mission

Ensure that Europe has the human capital and aqtude to compete globally and drive growth.

Promote e-‐Skills as a key component of life-‐long learning, personal development and job creaKon.

Encourage the recogniKon of e-‐Skills for all in a technology-‐driven society and economy.

Formal Education

Basic Skills, Digital Literacy, Digital Competence

Skills for employability, Certification, up-skilling, Training

Innovation, Creation

The European Union

28

7,2

30

507 million

Member States

Combined population of

EU Member States

Percent of world’s population

Percent of global GDP

European Union -‐ United in diversity

1957 2014

Member States 6 28

PopulaKon 174 million 507 million

Languages 4 24

57 Years of EU IntegraNon

The new College of Commissioners (2014-‐2019)

Jean-Claude JUNCKER

Frans TIMMERMANS

Maros SEFCOVIC

Kristalina GEORGIEVA

Jyrki KATAINEN

Federica MOGHERINI

Valdis DOMBROVSKIS

Andrus ANSIP

Vera JOURIVA

Günther OETTINGER

Pierre MOSCOVICI

Marianne THYSSEN

Corina CRETU

Johannes HAHN

Dimitris AVRAMO-POULOS

Vytenis ANDRIU- KAITIS

Jonathan HILL

Elzbieta BIENKOWSKA

Miguel Arias CANETE

Neven MIMICA

Margrethe VESTAGER

Violeta BULC

Cecilia MALMSTRÖM

Karmenu VELLA

Tibor NAVRACSICS

Carlos MOEDAS

Phil HOGAN

Christos STYLIANIDES

What to expect

§  New Commission -‐ digital skills remain high on the agenda

§  Focus on acKon and delivery -‐ use exisKng framework and tools

§  Subsidiarity implementaKon through naKonal and regional iniKaKves

UNDERSTANDING EU FUNDING

Policy areas driving EU funding

•  EducaNon

•  Health

•  Consumer protecNon

•  Environmental protecNon

•  Humanitarian aid

AllocaNon of the EU budget to companies and organisaNons in the form of:

Procurement Grants

Buy Purpose Give money

European Commission

Owner of results Beneficiary

Agreed price Payment Sharing cost

Profit Principles No profit

Call for tenders Procedure Call for proposals

Tenders – Selling services and goods The European Commission uses public contracts to buy the following goods and services: -‐ Studies -‐ Technical assistance and training -‐ Consultancy -‐ Conference and publicity services -‐ Books and IT equipment Providers are selected via calls for tender which are issued by the Commission departments, offices and agencies around Europe. ApplicaKons are examined and evaluated on the basis of criteria that have been clearly announced in the calls for tenders.

Tenders – Principles Transparency

•  All relevant informaKon concerning purchases are published.

Equal treatment and non-‐discriminaNon

•  All interested parKes are treated the same way. An advantage (e.g. AddiKonal informaKon) given to one tenderer must be shared with all others.

Widest compeNNon ProporNonality

•  The choice and organisaKon of the procedure of the call for tenders have to be proporKonate to the subject and the value of the subject.

Grants – funding a project

The European Commission makes direct financial contribuKons in the form of grants in support of projects or organisaKons which further the interests of the EU or contribute to the implementaKon of an EU programme programme policy. • AcNon grants finance acKons intended to help achieve an objecKve that forms part of an EU policy • OperaNng grants finance the operaKng expenditure of a body pursuing an aim of the general European interest or an objecKve that forms part of an EU policy Grants cover a diverse range of fields (specific condiKons vary from one field to another). However, grants: •  Are a form of complementary financing

•  Enable a given operaKon to break even financially and cannot lead to a profit for their beneficiaries;

•  Cannot be awarded retroacKvely for acKons that are already completed

•  In addiKon, only one grant may be awarded for the same acKon.

Grants – funding a project

•  Grants are subject to annual programming and are not awarded on a case-‐by-‐case basis.

•  Work programmes, which fix the broad outlines of the grants that are envisaged over the year (area of acKvity, objecKves, Kmetable, available budget, award condiKons, etc.), are published by the Departments of the Commission before 31 March each year.

•  The Commission’s Departments publish calls for proposals on their internet sites; the calls for proposals invite candidates to present, within a given deadline, a proposal for acKon that corresponds to the objecKves pursued and fulfils the required condiKons.

•  ApplicaKons are examined and evaluated on the basis of criteria that have been clearly announced in the calls for proposals.

Grants AllocaNon – Principles

Equal treatment • No preferenKal treatment. An advantage given to an applicant must be given to all the others

Non-‐cumulaNve • Each beneficiary may not get more than one grant per acKon, or not more than one operaKng grant per financial year

Non retroacNve • AcKons already completed are excluded from EU funding. AcKons which have already begun may be considered for EU funding where the applicant can demonstrate the need to have started the acKon before the agreement is signed

Co-‐signing • The Commission and the beneficiary will share the costs

Non profit • Grant beneficiaries may not generate profit with the EU grant they receive. At the end of a grant, if a profit is made, the surplus is to be recovered by the Commission

Upcoming Calls for proposals

Submissions and SelecNon

From EvaluaNon to NegoNaNon

Advice to Proposers

Gejng Help

How to submit a proposal

Submission

Eligibility?

EvaluaKon

SelecKon

DOs and DON’Ts

§  DON’T: §  Address more than one topic §  Set broad, ambiKous, unachievable objecKves §  Include redundant partners

§  Impact = a conference each year, a public website and x published papers

§  DO: •  Study the work programme

•  Set focused, realisKc objecKves focused and show how they will be achieved •  ConsorKum to include all stakeholders •  Good impact * Good research = key •  Write for informed non-‐specialist

Funding programmes

§ Horizon 2020 – (2014 – 2020)

§ Budget: €80 billion § Policy areas: innovaKon, research, science, industrial leadership, societal challenges

§ Applying for funding: § Proposals to be submi\ed online before the deadline

§ Calls onen require three partners (partner search opKons) § Proposals evaluated by a panel of independent specialists against a list of criteria § ApplicaKons are informed once a proposal passes the evaluaKon stage (five months’ duraKon)

§ The potenKal grant agreement confirms what research & innovaKon acKviKes will be undertaken, the project duraKon, budget, rates and costs and the European contribuKon

§ Further informaKon on the programme and the calls for proposals:

§  h\p://ec.europa.eu/research/parKcipants/portal/desktop/en/funding/index.html

§  h\p://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/how-‐get-‐funding

§ Erasmus + – (2014 – 2020)

§ Budget: €14.7 billion § Policy areas: EducaKon, training, youth, sport

§ Applying for funding: §  The European Commission published the call for porposals under Erasmus+ Programme. It covers and support the acKviKes:

§  Key acKon 1 – Learning mobility of individuals §  Key acKon 2 – CooperaKon for innovaKon and the exchange of good pracKces §  Key acKon 3 – Support for policy reform

§  Eligible Applicants – Any public or private body acKve in the field of educaKon, training, youth and sport can apply for funding under Erasmus+ programme. Beside also any group of young people, acKve in youth work but not necessary in the context of youth organisaKons should be able to apply for funding for learning mobility of young people and youth workers as well as for the strategic partnerships in the field of youth.

§  Deadline -‐ The deadlines for submission of applicaKons depends on acKviKes under the three key acKons and are ranging from

14 March to 1 October

§ Further informaKon on the programme and the calls for proposals:

§  h\p://eur-‐lex.europa.eu/legal-‐content/FR/TXT/?qid=1391526028719&uri=OJ:JOC_2014_030_R_NS0008

§  h\p://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-‐plus/documents/erasmus-‐plus-‐programme-‐guide_en.pdf

§ COSME – (2014 – 2020) § Budget: €2.3 billion § Policy objecKves: Be\er access to finance for Small and Medium-‐Sized Enterprises (SMEs), Access to markets, supporKng entrepreneurs and more favourable condiKons for business creaKon and growth. The ExecuKve Agency for SMEs (EASME) has been set-‐up by the European Commission to manage on its behalf several EU programmes including COSME.

§ Applying for funding: § The Equity Facility for Growth (EFG)– Through the COSME EFG, the European Investment Fund (EIF) invests in selected funds that provide venture capital and mezzanine finance to expansion and growth stage SMEs, in parKcular those operaKng across borders

§ Eligibility: EnKKes undertaking risk capital investments into SMEs

§ SMEs established and operaKng in one or more EU Member States and COSME Associated Countries can benefit from EFG

§  ApplicaKon documents: h\p://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/single_eu_equity_instrument/cosme_efg/index.htm

§  The Loan Guarantee Facility (LGF) offers guarantees and counter guarantees, including securisaKon of SME debt finance poryolios, to selected financial intermediaries to help provide more loans and leases to SMEs.

§  Eligibility: Financial or credit insKtuKons and loan (debt) funds and guarantee insKtuKons, credit or financial insKtuKons duly authorised to carry out lending or leasing acKviKes to SMEs according to applicable legislaKon, established and operaKng in one or more of the EU Member States and COSME Associated countries

§  ApplicaKon documents: h\p://goo.gl/YhU2jo

§  Further informaKon on COSME: h\p://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/iniKaKves/cosme/index_en.htm

§  Specific calls under COSME: h\p://ec.europa.eu/research/parKcipants/portal/desktop/en/opportuniKes/cosme/index.html

Some references……

§  Tenders:

h\p://ec.europa.eu/contracts_grants/contracts_en.htm

§  Grants:

h\p://ec.europa.eu/contracts_grants/grants_en.htm

§  Research:

h\p://cordis.europa.eu/home_en.html

§  Partners

h\p://ec.europa.eu/research/parKcipants/portal/desktop/en/support/naKonal_contact_points.html

Contact Info: Siân Owen [email protected] Andrea Parola [email protected]

Up Next

§  12.00 – Unconference Roundtables –  4th floor Abbey Room

§  13.00 – Conference Lunch in the Exhibit Hall –  5th floor Mountba\en Lounge

§  14.00 – Today’s Technologies & CompTIA CerKficaKons –  4th floor Abbey Room

THANK YOU.