C 016 2002 EN 20 1 01 20020119 EN 021 20 1 22 3 <TI> <P>Call for proposals under the EC/Canada cooperation programme in higher education and training</P> <NO.DOC.C>2002/C 16/21</NO.DOC.C> </TI>

The European Commission announces a call for proposals under the European Community/Canada cooperation programme in higher education and training (EC/Canada programme). Full programme guidelines and application forms can be obtained from the addresses indicated under point 8 of this call.

 <TI> <NP> <NO.P>1.</NO.P> <TXT>Object of the call</TXT> </NP> </TI>

The EC/Canada programme aims primarily at promoting understanding between the peoples of the European Community and Canada and improving the quality of their human resource development.

To this end, the programme will support innovative, multilateral, student-centred projects with the potential to stimulate substantive and long-lasting structural transatlantic co-operation in higher education and training. It may also support international education projects that give rise to new forms of cooperation between the European Community and Canada.

 <TI> <NP> <NO.P>2.</NO.P> <TXT>Types of projects concerned by this call</TXT> </NP> </TI>

Consortia implementation projects are three-year projects fostering institutional partnerships centred on students. Students benefit from international curricula and cultural dimensions being added to their studies through a combination of curricular innovation and study or training abroad.

 <TI> <NP> <NO.P>3.</NO.P> <TXT>Partners eligible for funding and minimum number of partners in a project</TXT> </NP> </TI>

The EC-Canada programme is based on the development of a consortium of higher education and vocational education and training institutions or organisations in the 15 Member States of the European Community and in Canada. Membership may involve higher education or training institutions and organisations including industry and business groups, non-governmental organisations, publishers, government departments, chambers of commerce, and research institutes as defined below.

For the purpose of this programme:

higher education institution: means any establishment according to the applicable laws or practices which offers qualifications or diplomas at higher education level, whatever such establishment may be called,

training institution: means any type of public, semi-public or private body, which, irrespective of the designation given to it, in accordance with the applicable laws and practices, designs or undertakes vocational education or training, further vocational training, refresher vocational training or retraining contributing to qualifications recognised by the competent authorities,

students: means all those persons following learning or training courses or programmes which are run by higher education or training institutions as defined in this notice, and which are recognised or financially supported by the competent authorities.

Projects must have a minimum of three higher education or training institutions or organisations as partners on each side from at least three different Member States of the European Community and two different provinces in Canada. Only higher education and training institutions are eligible to receive funding.

All projects must have a non-profit higher education or training institution or organisation as lead partner in the EC and in Canada. These institutions are responsible for submitting a common proposal, for directing the project and for grant management or fiscal control.

Projects partners may represent business and industry groups and may help give the project the national and international visibility necessary for it to succeed beyond the funding period. These organisations may collaborate to offer internships or may offer professional advice and expertise.

 <TI> <NP> <NO.P>4.</NO.P> <TXT>Administration of the EC/Canada programme</TXT> </NP> </TI>

The EC/Canada programme is administered jointly by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Education and Culture (DG EAC) and by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC), in conjunction with the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Applicants from the European Community and Canada should work together to submit a common proposal to the Directorate-General for Education and Culture and to HRDC.

 <TI> <NP> <NO.P>5.</NO.P> <TXT>Types of activities supported under consortia implementation projects</TXT> </NP> </TI>

Projects should focus on the following components:

development and dissemination of innovative international curricula,

student mobility and the development of its organisational framework,

student mobility numbers and length of study,

work placements and internships,

student recruitment strategies,

agreements on tuition and fees,

development of language and cultural preparation and assessment,

recognition of periods of study and training,

provision for student services,

structured exchanges and teaching assignments for teachers, trainers, administrators and other relevant specialists,

joint development and dissemination of web-based and computer-based technologies,

development of a strong project evaluation plan.

 <TI> <NP> <NO.P>6.</NO.P> <TXT>Institutional commitment</TXT> </NP> </TI>

EC and Canadian lead and partner institutions and organisations must include in each application package letters of endorsement from senior academic or executive officers. For consortia projects the endorsement letters must indicate a willingness and intent to sign agreements on credit transfer or recognition and tuition fees waivers with international partners.

Institutions should prove their commitment through significant cost sharing. The total amount of funding granted by the European Commission (DG EAC) may not exceed 75 % of the approved budget.

 <TI> <NP> <NO.P>7.</NO.P> <TXT>Funding amounts</TXT> </NP> </TI>

The European Community will support the EC lead and partner institutions. The amount of EC funding available for this programme is EUR 715000. Canada will support the Canadian lead and partner insititutions.

The total funding amount for a three-year project will be up to EUR 130000 including student mobility stipends at a maximum of EUR 12000 per sending institution. Stipends are intended to offset additional costs incurred travelling to Canada over the costs of remaining at the home institution. In allocating student stipends consortia should adjust for individual students' needs.

 <TI> <NP> <NO.P>8.</NO.P> <TXT>Submitting a proposal</TXT> </NP> </TI>

The lead institution in the EC and the lead institution in Canada must submit the common proposal to DG EAC and HRDC. EC lead institutions should apply to the Commission for funding covering expenses incurred by the lead and partner institutions. All application packets must be postmarked no later than or delivered in person on 1 April 2002.

For EC applicants seeking further information, please contact:

Nicole Versijp

European Commission

Directorate-General for Education and Culture

B7 8/20

B-1049 Brussels

Tel. (32-2) 296 66 64

fax (32-2) 295 57 19

E-mail: nicole.versijp@cec.eu.int

For Canadian applicants seeking further information, please contact Ginette Carle, Policy Officer, by telephone (819) 997-33 62, by fax (819) 953-81 47 or by e-mail: ginette.carle@hrdc-drhc.gc.ca

Common guidelines and application forms are available in the European Community at:

European Commission, Directorate-General for Education and Culture, Tempus programme - cooperation with the USA and Canada, B7 8/20, B-1049 Brussels (mail address),

European Commission, Directorate-General for Education and Culture, Tempus programme - cooperation with the USA and Canada, B7 8/30, B-1049 Brussels (office address);

the Europa server Internet address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/canada/canada.html

In Canada at:

http://www.canlearn.ca/iam or http://www.cibletudes.ca/mai

 <TI> <NP> <NO.P>9.</NO.P> <TXT>Project selection</TXT> </NP> </TI>

DG EAC and HRDC will select projects for funding on a bilateral basis assisted by panels of independent experts. While overall attention will be paid to supporting a diverse range of institutions, subject areas and geographic areas, the proposals will be judged primarily on the basis of the following three selection criteria, weighted equally:

The significance of the proposed project as determined by the extent to which the project would:

(a) address an important problem or need in which transatlantic co-operation provides a clear added value; (b) involve the development or demonstration of promising new strategies that build on, or are alternatives to, existing strategies; (c) produce important or far-reaching results or outcomes, especially improvements in teaching and student achievements; (d) achieve a broad impact by producing results (such as information, materials, processes or techniques) that could be used in a variety of other settings.

The quality of the proposed project as determined by the extent to which:

(a) the project represents an appropriate response to the problem or need addressed; (b) the goals, objectives and outcomes to be achieved are clearly specified and measurable; (c) the partners are capable of carrying out the project as shown by (i) the applicants' understanding of the problem or need; (ii) the quality of the project design, including objectives, approaches, and evaluation plan; (iii) the applicants' prior experience; (d) organisational aspects such as academic recognition and linguistic/cultural preparation are taken into account.

The adequacy of resources, of the proposed project as determined by the extent to which:

(a) the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design and potential significance of the project; (b) there is a potential for continued support of the project after DG EAC/HRDC funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated commitment of appropriate entities to such support; (c) each partner has a relevant role in the consortium and demonstrates a serious commitment to the implementation and success of the project.