study visits for education and vocational training...
TRANSCRIPT
Study Visits for Education and Vocational Training Specialists
Information and Application Procedures Meeting
Wednesday 11th September 2013
Ivanna D’Arcy Study Visits Coordinator
[email protected] 01-8871258
Welcome and Introduction
• Introduction to Léargas
• The Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP)
• Study Visits in the Lifelong Learning Programme
• Aims and Objectives of the Study Visits Programme
• Guest Speaker
• Application Procedures
•Questions and Answers
Léargas
Léargas is Ireland’s National Agency for the management of National, European and International co-operation programmes involving: - Education and Lifelong Learning - Vocational Education and Training - Youth and Community Work - Guidance in Education (NCGE)
Léargas
•Léargas enables and supports people, organisations and systems to innovate and to harness the benefits of transnational partnership.
•Through European, bilateral and international programmes, Léargas enables the development of intercultural awareness, facilitates change management and assists in the development of new responses to the need for innovation in education and the workplace.
www.leargas.ie
Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP)
•Socrates I 1995 – 2000 •Socrates II 2000 – 2006 •Lifelong Learning Programme 2007 – 2013 •The Lifelong Learning Programme supports learning opportunities from childhood to old age in every single life situation. •Grants and subsidies will be awarded to projects and activities that foster interchange, promote bilateral and multilateral partnerships, foster trans-national mobility of individuals and promote quality in education and training systems throughout Europe.
Lifelong Learning Programme
Lifelong Learning Programme 2007 - 2013
Comenius School education
Erasmus Higher education
& advanced
training
Leonardo da
Vinci Initial & continuing
VET
Grundtvig Adult education
Léargas HEA Léargas Léargas
Transversal 4 key activities – Policy development; Language learning; ICT; Dissemination
Léargas and Executive Agency
Jean Monnet Jean Monnet Action; European Institutions; European Associations
Executive Agency
Study Visits in the Lifelong Learning Programme
•The Study Visits Programme is a result of the merge of the ex-Arion (formal education) and ex-Cedefop (vocational education and training) visits which were previously part of the Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci Programmes. •Study Visits fall under Key Activity 1 – Policy Cooperation and Innovation - of the Transversal Programme in the Lifelong Learning Programme
Aims and Objectives of the Study Visits Programme
• The overall objective of the Study Visits Programme is to support policy development and co-operation at European level in lifelong learning, notably in the context of the Education and Training (E&T 2020) , as well as the Bologna and Copenhagen processes and their successors
• Promote a peer learning culture through observation, exchange and mutual learning
• Study Visits facilitate the exchange of information and experience between decision makers and education and training specialists in areas of common interest
• Study Visits provide a forum for discussion, exchange and mutual learning
• Improve understanding on specific aspects of the education and vocational educational systems in Europe
• Continuous exchange of advice, ideas and information (hosts & visitors)
• Enrich flow of information – towards policy makers
What is a Study Visit?
• Week-long visits (3 - 5 days)
• Three types – General Education, VET, Mixed
• Published in a Catalogue • Programme is organised for you • Group consists of 8 to 15 participants with various professional backgrounds from different countries
•31 different topics to choose from e.g. language teaching, developing entrepreneurship, quality assurance and many more
Each study visit is unique however they all share some common elements:
• A welcome and information meeting on the evening of arrival
• Briefing meeting on the first day
• Guest speakers relevant to the study visit topic
• Visits to relevant educational organisations
• Evaluation time
• Group report time
• Time for discussion and reflection
• A social/ cultural excursion(s)
How are study visits structured?
If your application is successful you will received a grant towards:
• Travel costs, the amount depends on your destination country
• Subsistence daily rate based on a percentage of the amounts outlined in the LLP Guide page 32
Financial Information:
Guest Speaker
Dr Ken Germaine
Chief Executive
Germaine Business Planning
Innovation and entrepreneurship - Connecting education, business and local communities
Denmark, October 2012
Who is Eligible to Apply?
• Nationals or those working or living in any of the 28 EU Member States, EEA/EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and candidate countries (FYROM and Turkey).
• Individuals who have significant responsibility at local, regional or national levels and whose expertise can be used to increase awareness of others about policy and practice in other European countries and contribute to policy, innovation and exchange
• Individuals who have a decision making or specialist role within general education or vocational education and training
• Individuals who by their professional activities are well placed to act as multipliers of learning and innovation
Participants should correspond to one of the following:
• Representatives of local, regional and national authorities
• directors of education and vocational training establishments, guidance centres or validation or accreditation centres;
• heads of departments; head teachers and teacher trainers; educational and vocational training inspectors;
• representatives of education and training networks and associations;
• pedagogical or guidance advisers;
• representatives of educational services, labour offices or guidance centres; human resource managers; company training managers;
• representatives of chambers of commerce/industry/crafts;
• representatives of employers’ organisations and representatives of trade unions;
• owners or managers of small and medium-sized enterprises;
• researchers
Key players involved in Study Visits
European Commission
CEDEFOP (Greece)
European Centre for
Development
of Vocational Training
Léargas
Irish National
Agency
The Application Deadlines 2013
Round 2: 15th October 2013 For study visits taking place from March 2014 to June 2014 applications must be submitted online no later than 11am on 15th October 2013. A signed and stamped hard copy endorsed and signed by head of
organisation must be postmarked no later than 15th October 2013.
• You apply as an individual • Visits are published in a catalogue • Grants are awarded towards travel and subsistence • Applications are completed online by 11am on 15th October
2013 • Post the signed version to Léargas by 15th October 2013
• Applications postmarked later than 15th October 2013 will be
ineligible
The Application Process for Round 2
• Read the study visit catalogue or search online and select 4 visits that you are interested in and relevant to your work
• Complete the online application form in full and submit to
CEDEFOP by 11am on 15th October 2013
• Print the application form and sign it • Ensure the printed application form is endorsed by your
organisation –signature and stamp • Post the signed version to Léargas by 15th October 2013
The Application Process for Round 2
The study visits are organised around five categories of themes that fully reflect the priorities of the LLP 2011-13 and cover most of the important issues of policy and practice in education and training:
• Encouraging cooperation between the worlds of education, training and work;
• Supporting initial and continuous training of teachers, trainers and education
and training institutions' managers; • Promoting the acquisition of key competences throughout the education
and training system; • Promoting social inclusion and gender equality in education and training,
including the integration of migrants; • Developing strategies for lifelong learning and mobility.
Themes of the Study Visits
Measures to prevent early school leaving Visit 231 “Prevention, monitoring and reducing school drop-out in Luxembourg”,
Luxembourg, March 2014 Leadership and management in schools and training providers Visit 171 " Pursuing excellence for all pupils: improving school performance ",
United Kingdom, March 2014; National and sectoral qualifications frameworks linked to EQF Visit 252 ‘Qualifications frameworks as instruments of public policy for lifelong
learning, Poland, May 2014.
Study Visits for High Level Decision Makers
The Study Visits Catalogue
• The Study Visits Catalogue 2013/2014 details visits taking place
from September 2013 until June 2014
• The 2013/14 catalogue is available to download on our website
• Or you can search for a visit study visit online at
http://studyvisits.cedefop.europa.eu
You need to have Java installed on your PC to use this facility
Searching for a Study Visit Online
Applying Online
Applying Online
Guidance for Completing the Online Application Form
• Technical Guidance
Provided by CEDEFOP, this includes using the application system, submitting your application, printing and saving the document
• Advice on Filling in the Form
Complete the form in the working language of your first visit choice
Allow 30 - 40 minutes to complete the application form
• If you leave the application idle for 30 minutes your session will expire and you will lose all information
• You must fill in the application form in the working language of your first visit choice
Guidance for Completing the Online Application Form
• Technical Assessment
• Quality Assessment
• Selection Committee
Guidance for Completing the Online Application Form
• Technical /Eligibility Assessment
- Submitted by the deadline and Submitted online
- Submitted signed hard copy
- Correct application form
- Completed in full
- Correct working language
- Signed by applicant
- Signed and stamped by employer
- Participant is a national of a participating LLP country or employed in a participating LLP country
- Submitted to the correct National Agency
- Has not participated in 2011 or 2012 calls
- Belongs to one of the eligible staff categories
- 1 to 4 visits selected
- Applying under the correct round
Guidance for Completing the Online
Application Form Submission Data:
You need to complete Submitted to : On selecting IE-Ireland from the drop
down menu Léargas will automatically appear in the Agency field as well as the
time and date
Guidance for Completing the Online Application Form
• Applicant: Complete all fields in this section
• Contact Details: CEDEFOP use the contact details to confirm your online submission, CEDEFOP also send your user name and password to the email address provided, which allow you to update your application if necessary prior to 11am on 15th October 2013
• Applicant’s Organisation: Complete all fields, use the address where you are based
• Language Skills – demonstrate that you have the necessary language skills to participate in your chosen visit, only recognises the official languages of the EU
• Previous Participation and Previous Projects
• How you found out about the study visits programme
Guidance for Completing the Online Application Form
• Your Choices: Please select four visits, there is no guarantee that your first choice will be available
• 10 Description of your functions: Briefly describe your professional role and responsibilities. Clearly show that you work in a relevant field and have an appropriate level of responsibility. Limit of 60-100 words.
• 11 Motivation: Explain why you wish to participate in the visits you have chosen. The fit between your professional role and the theme and topic of the visits. Limit of 60-100 words.
• 12 Expected Impact: Discuss how you and your organisation would benefit from your participation. How the chosen visits will contribute to your professional development, how you expect the increased knowledge to contribute to your organisations work. Please address both parts of the question.
Guidance for Completing the Online Application Form
• 13 Dissemination – if your application is successful you must be able to demonstrate how you will publicise your involvement in the programme and share the information you have gained. For example, articles in newsletters, reports at meetings, among your professional networks, develop training courses etc
• Space is limited to 60 - 100 words for each question (10, 11, 12 & 13). It is
important to be brief, precise and informative as these answers will be used to assess your suitability for participating in your chosen visits
• Declaration – ensure you read the text and select ‘I Agree’ • If you have no more changes to make hit the SUBMIT button
Quality Assessment
• To be considered eligible for funding you must score over 60 points • Applications scoring less than 60 points will be rejected for lack of quality • Divided into Content and relevance (40 points) and Impact (60 points) Content and Relevance: • Question 5 – 10 points – language skills • Questions 9 & 10– chosen visits are relevant to professional activity 15 points • Question 11 – Motivation 15 points Expected Impact: • Question 10- multiplier capacity 10 points • Question 12- incorporating results 15 points • Question 12- benefit on personal and professional development 15 points • Question 12/13-home organisation/learner benefit 10 points • Question 13-realistic concrete dissemination plan 10 points
Common Pitfalls in Quality Assessment
• Lack of detail
• General statements rather than specific statements
• Inconsistencies between the questions
• Study visit choices do not link with the role description of the applicant
• Lack of impact on personal and professional development
• Lack of impact on home organisations and/or learners
• Questions not answered directly
• Irrelevant information included in the application
Common Pitfalls in Quality Assessment
• General motivation and not linked to visit topics
• The multiplier capacity of the applicant is not evident
• Weak general dissemination and excluding target groups
• No evidence of using outcomes/results/findings of the study visit
• The benefits of participation are not evident
• No local/regional/national policy link
After Online Application Complete
• You will receive a user name and password from CEDEFOP
• Print your completed online application form
• Sign the completed form
• Ensure it is stamped and signed by the head of your organisation
• Only applications which have been submitted both online to CEDEFOP and a stamped, signed hard copy received by Léargas will be eligible
• Post the completed form to Léargas by 15th October 2013
• Obtain proof of postage dated no later than 15th October 2013
• If you modify your online application form ensure that Léargas receive the final version by 15th October 2013
What Happens Next
• When we receive your hard copy you will receive an acknowledgement of
receipt with a reference number from Brian Desmond
• Technical Assessment
• Qualitative Assessment
• Selection Committee (Second week in November, Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by post at this stage)
• Results sent to CEDEFOP
• Matching Process
• Decisions Sent to Applicants (Visit Allocations December 2013, Contracts issued January 2014)
Study Visits Contacts
Ivanna D’Arcy
01 8871258
Brian Desmond
01 8871214
www.leargas.ie