1. Key Action 2 HE Guidance on applications
David Hibler
Joanna Collins
FHL

2. Overall objectives
Boost skills, employability, labour market relevance
Modernise education, training, youth work
Focus on young people
See

3. Key facts Simpler, cross-sectoral structure based on ‘Key Actions’
Worth €940m to UK over seven years
Replaces Lifelong Learning Programme, Youth in Action and other EU programmes
Addresses EU agenda for modernisation of HE

4. Erasmus+ is ‘the new EU programme for education, training, youth and sport’
KA2 HE intensive programmes but not stand alone; centralised actions (which);

5. European policy context
EU Youth Strategy (2009)
Developing European Dimensions in Sport (2011)
ET2020
(2012)
Rethinking Education (2012)
European Structural & Investment Funds (2014)

6. Key Actions Key Action 1: Learning Mobility of Individuals
Key Action 2: Co-operation for Innovation and Exchange of Good Practices
Key Action 3: Support for Policy Reform
Some activities managed centrally, not by National Agencies
Organisation, not individual applications
No funding for preparatory visits

7. Key Action 2 Strategic Partnerships (by sector and cross- sectoral)
Knowledge Alliances and Sector Skills Alliances
Capacity Building Projects
Support to IT Platforms
Broadly, absorbs Tempus within changed focus
Tempus – not yet

8. Key Action 2 Strategic partnerships
Development, transfer and/or implementation of innovative practice (incl. mobility) and development of labour market skills
Partnership size and type flexible
HE, VET, schools, adult education, youth and cross-sectoral
Funding based on unit costs
Round 1 “countries” = programme countries

9. Strategic partnerships in HE

10. Basic criteria
Wide variety of organisations: public or private, professional bodies, NGOs etc, in programme countries; sectoral, cross-sectoral
Participating HEIs - Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE)
Minimum 3 organisations from 3 programme countries
Up to €150,000 per year
2 or 3 years: duration depends on objectives and activities
Overall budget less for UK, expect much competition
Objectives and activities ie looking for well-structured project.

11. DEADLINE 30 APRIL 12.00 CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME (11.00 BST)
Application deadline
DEADLINE
30 APRIL
12.00 CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME
(11.00 BST)

12. Possible Strategic Partnerships themes
Transversal skills
Employability entrepreneurship
Innovation
Validation of competences
Regional cooperation
Active citizenship

13. Priorities for KA2 HE
Enhance quality and relevance of learning, attainment levels
Key skills: entrepreneurship, languages, digital
labour market relevance: links with work
Non traditional approaches, virtual mobility, use of ICT
Professional development
Capacity building, Organisational development
Equity and inclusion
Pursue EC priorities for modernisation of HE
Attainment levels

14. Projects Address policy objectives
Foster transversal (cross-cutting) skills for employability
Promote practical experience, work-based learning
Professional development in using ICT, support for OER
Develop innovative curricula
Validation of non-formal and informal learning and connection with formal; transition to new levels with European tools, link with national recognition systems
Career guidance and counselling
Priorities:

15. Activities Very flexible to deliver project objectives
Separate budget lines:
Project management and meetings
Intellectual outputs
Multiplier events
Teaching, training and learning activities
Linguistic support
Dissemination of results

16. Award criteria
Relevance: policy; needs; objectives; synergies between fields; innovative or complementary; added EU value
Design and implementation : work programme phases; consistency; methodology; quality control; VFM; appropriate T&L if any; recognition of learning outcomes
Quality of team and cooperation: participating organisation skills and competencies ; tasks and responsibilities; management arrangements
Impact & dissemination: evaluation; impact; dissemination; sustainability
Programme Guide pages 99 to 100

17. The application eform Completed online
Guidelines on NA website
“Declaration of Honour” to be signed off by legal representative of institution (download for signature, scan, upload)
IT issues - to Erasmus helpdesk

18. Advice
Read relevant sections of Programme Guide, especially objectives and priorities for KA2 (pages 93 to 96); award criteria (pages 99 to 100); examples of projects (page 243)
See project examples
Guidance on using the eforms is at
Read full application form and guidance before completing the form

19. The application form content overview
Context: background
Participating organisations: basic information
Description of the project: rationale for project and partnership, objectives
Preparation and project management: including m&e; target groups
Project activities: details of all outputs and activities

20. The application form content overview
Follow-up: dissemination, use of results, sustainability
Budget: management and activities
Project summary
Formal aspects: data protection, sign off

21. Context and participating organisations
Basic information
NA – select UK1
Details fill in automatically when PIC input
HEIs – accredited (ECHE), do not have to add further information to show eligibility
Summary of background and experience
Partners – as above
Need to know partner PICs

22. Description of the project, objectives
Rationale, issues and needs ie why this project?
Innovative or complementary: how fits with other activity?
Partners: how chosen? skills, knowledge, experience? New partners? EU added value
Communication and meetings, partners and stakeholders
Priorities (cf EU priorities) - overall objectives eg partnerships between education and employment
Topics - eg regional dimension; environment; discipline
Results: outputs, products, changes; people trained, skills, knowledge, cultural awareness, languages
NB not outputs covered below under “activities”.
Rationale and needs: In context of EU priorities as laid out in Programme Guide p and evidence of needs eg needs analysis
innovative or complementary – this or other organisations, why new, no overlap (docs mention rights)
Partners in context of objectives. New – because more impact on them.
Priorities and Topics CHECK
Not intellectual outputs, multiplier events, T&L,

23. Preparation and project management
Preparation: analyses, planning, building engagement, possibly before funding starts (cf. “activities”)
Budget and timelines: management and monitoring budget between partners, monitoring timelines, rectifying
Quality of activities: monitoring quality of delivery; who, how, when? (cf. “activities”)
Risks: internal and external, how monitored and mitigated
Assessing achievement: qualitative and quantitative indicators and activities (outputs, results, objectives) cf. “activities” and “impact” below
Preparation – expected to be included under activities but could also be before
Include simple work programme/ timeline as annex – EC may provide a template.

24. Implementation
Organisation of activities: who, what, where, how coordinated, timelines (template annex promised)
Target groups: who? cf. “needs”, above
Participants with fewer opportunities: number; proportion of participants
Support for them
Difficulties in participation

25. Project activities (and outputs)
Divided into types
For each type (eg intellectual outputs, events, mobility) :
Phase of the project: Preparation; Implementation; Follow-up; Dissemination; Closure
Title
Description
Tasks
Estimated start and end dates
Organisation leading the activity
Other participating organisations.

26. Intellectual outputs
Publications e.g. academic papers; policy recommendations at different levels; curricula , course materials; training materials; assessment methods, materials; handbooks, advice, guidance; case studies ; good practice; websites; innovative uses of IT and
different media; software
Type
Languages
Media

27. Multiplier events Emphasis on visibility and dissemination in Erasmus+
Beyond participating individuals and organisations
Event type
Intellectual outputs covered

28. Learning, teaching and training activities
Must contribute to overall objectives of project
Eligibility criteria and funding different from mobility in KA1: quality criteria (eg recognition) the same
Students: blended mobility i.e. up to 2 months physical mobility with virtual mobility
Staff teaching and training: 2 to 12 months
Intensive programmes of 5 days to two months
Short – term joint staff training events: 5 days to 2 months
Learning outcomes are recognised and validated in the same way as under KA1 and in line with the ECHE. ECTS recommended for recognition.

29. Learning, teaching and training activities
Activity type – click as appropriate
Activity description
Number of participants
Participants with special needs: even if you are not sure of the details, included any anticipated participation by people with special needs.
Accompanying persons – as above
Long (months) or short term (days) – as appropriate.
Participating organisations

30. Follow up - impact
Impact (effects, results, changes) on participating individuals and organisations and other stakeholders
Impact beyond the project, local, regional, national, European
Measurement – who, what, how
“substantial positive impact” on participating organisations, staff and learners – occurring during and remaining after the project.
Outside the organisations ie could be transferred and used in other European countries. Incl, innovation at systems level, input to policy. (proportionality) scaleability

31. Follow up - dissemination
Important in Erasmus+ - added value of EU funding, wider reach and impact
Communicating successes and results widely: for use by others including other sectors; to influence policy; into the future
Measureable, realistic objectives
Timetable
Resource planning
Involvement of target groups if possible
Quality of plan – appropriateness eg of target groups for dissemination of specific results; will ensure best use of results; adequate resources.

32. Follow up - dissemination
Target audiences, different levels
Responsibilities, skills of team
Accessibility, media
Monitoring
If relevant, open access to materials, documents, media,

33. Sustainability Of project activities and results
Resources – financial, other (eg institutional support)
In context going beyond project plans for a multiplier effect;
If relevant, integrated in management and pedagogy of participating organisations
Participating organisations can if relevant attract cofunding or other support to ensure sustainability of activities and continued use of outputs and results.

34. Budget (summary)
Different activities: different funding levels and structures
Most payments conditional on justification in application
Unit costs and lump sums, with ceilings
Project management per month for coordinating; 250 per month for participating
Transnational project meetings (must be justified) per participant and distance travelled
Intellectual outputs per day and staff role (manager, researcher/teacher/trainer, technician, administrator)

35. Budget (summary)
Multiplier events related to intellectual outputs: per local and foreign participant
Learning, teaching, training: travel by distance, and subsistence per participant by day or month
Linguistic support: lump sum per participant in 2 to 12 months mobility
Special needs: actuals – costs included in application
Exceptional costs: 75% actuals , subcontracted goods and services which partners cannot provide

36. Project Summary
Synopsis: to be used for publicity, uploaded to EC dissemination platform
Context
Objectives
Participants
Activities
Methodology
Results, impact, longer term benefits
Summary of participating organisations and budget
NA responsible for quality so may edit.

37. ECAS and PICs Need PIC http://www.erasmusplus.org.uk/how-to-apply
HEIs ask Erasmus coordinator
Other organisations: register on the European Commission Authentication Service (ECAS), see
Log in to Participant Portal with ECAS account details, see EC Participant Portal User Manual
Register on the Unique Registration Facility (URF)
You will receive a PIC.

38. Further information Call for Proposals and Programme Guide
UK NA website
#erasmusplusuk – BC/Ecorys hashtag
Erasmus Helpdesk (detail)
Examples of centralised projects under LLP