Ερευνητικά Προγράμματα Κύπρου

Call for proposals
Erasmus+ , Key Action 2 “Capacity Building in the Field of Higher Education 2018” - EAC/A05/2017

(2017/C 361/04)

Objectives and description

The European Commission published its 2018 Call for Proposals for Erasmus+, the European Union's programme for mobility and cooperation in education, training, youth and sport. With its annual budget expected to increase by ?200 million, Erasmus+ will provide an unprecedented number of opportunities for individuals and organisations in Europe and beyond.

This action which aims to support the modernisation, accessibility and internationalisation of higher education in the Partner Countries is to be carried out in the context of the priorities identified in the Communications “Increasing the impact of EU Development Policy: an Agenda for Change” and “European Higher Education in the World”.

This action contributes to the development of sustainable and inclusive socio-economic growth in Partner Countries and should ensure development and EU external actions objectives and principles, including national ownership, social cohesion, equity, proper geographical balance and diversity. Special attention will be given to the least developed countries as well as to disadvantaged students from poor socio-economic backgrounds and to students will special needs.

Capacity-building Projects are transnational cooperation projects based on multilateral partnerships, primarily between higher education institutions (HEIs) from Programme and eligible Partner Countries. They can also involve non-academic partners to strengthen the links with society and business and to reinforce the systemic impact of the projects.

Through structured cooperation, exchange of experience and good practices and individual mobility, Capacity-building Projects aim to:

· support the modernisation, accessibility and internationalisation of higher education in the eligible Partner Countries;

· support eligible Partner Countries to address the challenges facing their higher education institutions and systems, including those of quality, relevance, equity of access, planning, delivery, management and governance;

· contribute to cooperation between the EU and the eligible Partner Countries (and amongst the eligible Partner Countries);

· promote voluntary convergence with EU developments in higher education;

· promote people-to-people contacts, intercultural awareness and understanding.

These objectives are pursued in the eligible Partner Countries, through actions that:

· improve the quality of higher education and enhance its relevance for the labour market and society;

· improve the level of competences and skills in HEIs by developing new and innovative education programmes;

· enhance the management, governance and innovation capacities, as well as the internationalisation of HEIs;

· increase the capacities of national authorities to modernise their higher education systems, by supporting to the definition, implementation and monitoring of reform policies;

· foster regional integration and cooperation across different regions189 of the world through joint initiatives, sharing of good practices and cooperation.

Two categories of Capacity-building projects are supported:

1. Joint Projects: aimed at producing outcomes that benefit principally and directly the organisations from eligible Partner Countries involved in the project. These projects typically focus on three different types of activities:

· curriculum development;

· modernisation of governance, management and functioning of HEIs;

· strengthening of relations between HEIs and the wider economic and social environment.

2. Structural Projects: aimed at producing an impact on higher education systems and promoting reforms at national and/or regional level in the eligible Partner Countries. These projects typically focus on two different categories of activities:

· modernisation of policies, governance and management of higher education systems;

· strengthening of relations between higher education systems and the wider economic and social environment.

Capacity-building projects can be implemented as:

· National projects, i.e. projects involving institutions from only one eligible Partner Country;

· Multi-country projects within one single region, involving at least two countries from this region;

· Multi-country projects involving more than one region, involving at least one country from each region concerned.

Eligible participants

The following types of participating organisations can apply for a grant:

· a higher education institution;

· an association or organisation of higher education institutions;

· only for Structural Projects: a legally recognized national or international rector, teacher or

· student organisation.

Each participating organisation must be established in a Programme Country or in an eligible Partner Country. Higher education institutions (HEIs) located in a Programme Country must hold a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE). An ECHE is not required for participating HEIs in eligible Partner Countries.

Associations or organisations of higher education institutions dedicated to the promotion, improvement and reform of higher education as well as to co-operation within Europe and between Europe and other parts of the world are eligible. If such associations, organisations or networks also cover other education sectors and training, the main focus of their activities must be on higher education, which must be clearly reflected in the organisation statutes and governance structures. An association, organisation or network of higher education institutions will count as one legal entity/partner institution, meaning that it will be treated as one entity from the country where the headquarter is based. These organisations will not be considered as HEIs. Only those members which are established in the Programme or eligible Partner Countries can benefit from the grant.

Capacity-building projects must respect all of the following criteria:

1. National projects: One eligible Partner Country and at least two Programme Countries must be involved in the project.
These projects must include, as full partners, a minimum number of HEIs, as follows:

· minimum one HEI from at least two of the Programme Countries taking part in the project;

· minimum three HEIs from the Partner Country taking part in the project;

· projects must include at least as many Partner Country HEIs as there are Programme Country HEIs.

Exception: in Partner Countries where the number of higher education institutions is lower than 5 in the whole country or in cases where one single institution represents more than 50% of the overall student population of the country, applications counting only one HEI for those countries will be accepted.

2. For projects addressing two or more Partner Countries (multi-country projects): At least two eligible Partner Countries and at least two Programme Countries must be involved in the project. Partner Countries can be from the same region or from different regions covered by the Action.
These projects must include, as full partners, a minimum number of HEIs, as follows:

· minimum one HEI from at least two of the Programme Countries taking part in the project;

· minimum two HEIs from each Partner Country taking part in the project;

· projects must include at least as many Partner Country HEIs as there are Programme Country HEIs.

Additional specific criteria applying to:

· Structural Projects: projects must also involve, as full partners, the Ministries responsible for higher education in each of the eligible Partner Countries targeted by the project.

· Projects involving partners from Region 4 (Russian Federation) must involve at least another Partner Country.

· Projects involving partners from Region 8 (Latin America), must involve at least two Partner Countries from that region in the project.

Depending on the countries involved in the project, national, regional or cross cutting priorities may be defined for both categories of projects (Joint Projects and Structural Projects). Should this be the case, projects will have to demonstrate how and to which extent they address these priorities.

Funding conditions

Minimum EU grant for Joint and Structural projects: 500 000 EUR.

Maximum EU grant for Joint and Structural projects: 1 000 000 EUR.

Deadline of proposals' submission

The deadline for submitting proposals is 8 February 2018 at 12:00 (noon), Brussels time.

You can find further details regarding the application process here: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/funding/capacity-building-higher-education-2018_en

Further information

Please find attached the call for proposals text. The Commission published the Erasmus+ Programme Guide (http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/resources/programme-guide) in all official EU languages. The Programme Guide is the key document that provides applicants with full details of all opportunities available in the 2018 Call for proposals for Erasmus+.

More information: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/funding/capacity-building-higher-education-2018_en

Kind regards,

Flora

Flora Stavropoulou
Junior Officer

European Office of Cyprus

Rue du Luxembourg 3, 2nd floor

B-1000, Brussels

Tel/Fax: +32 (0) 2 280 22 85

E-mail: eoc.brussels2@ucy.ac.cy

THE GREEK TRANSLATION OF THE CALL TEXT IS ATTACHED.