1. Operational Programme Education for Competitiveness1

2. Presentation contents
Basic information about the Operational Programme
Education for Competitiveness
Programme objectives
Priority axes
Connection to other OPs
Types of projects
Chart of the project cycle
Entities implementing the OPEC
Contact data and further information 2 2

3. Operational Programme Education for Competitiveness
The total volume of funds for the OPEC amounts to roughly EUR 2.15 billion
EU funds (ESF) correspond to 85% of the amount (roughly EUR 1.83 billion)
sources of the state budget of the Czech Republic represent 15% of the amount (roughly EUR 0.32 billion)
OPEC is a long-term thematic operational programme
in the competence of the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports
OPEC focuses on
the human resources development through various kinds of education with emphasis on a complex system of lifelong learning, creation of environment conducive to research, development and innovation activities, and stimulation of cooperation between participating subjects 3 3

4. Programme objectives 4 4 Global objective
Development of the knowledge society to foster the competitiveness of the Czech Republic through modernization of systems of initial, tertiary and further education, their interconnection into a complex system of lifelong learning and improvement of conditions in research and development.
Specific objective 1
Development and improvement of the initial education with emphasis on the key competences of graduates in order to improve their labour market prospects and to motivate them for further education.
Specific objective 2
Innovation in the area of tertiary education in order to interlink it with research and development, to foster flexibility and creativity of graduates able to work in the knowledge economy, to make conditions for research and development more attractive, and to develop complex and efficient tools that would support the innovation process as a whole.
Specific objective 3
Strengthening the adaptability and flexibility of human resources as the main factor for competitiveness and sustainable development of the Czech Republic through support of further education on the side of the offer and demand.
Specific objective 4
Creating a modern, high- quality and efficient system of lifelong education through the development of a system of initial, tertiary and further education including the interconnection of individual parts of the system of lifelong education.
Priority axis 1
Initial education
(without the Capital City of Prague)
Priority axis 2
Tertiary education, research and development
(without the Capital City of Prague)
Priority axis 3
Further education
(without the Capital City of Prague)
Priority axis 4
Systemic framework of lifelong education
(including Prague) 4 4

5. Priority axes 5 5

6. Priority axis 1: Initial education
Areas of support
1.1 Increasing quality in education
1.2 Equal opportunities for children and pupils including those with special educational needs
1.3 Further education for employees of schools and educational institutions
1.4 Improving conditions for education at primary schools
Grant beneficiaries (e.g.)
Regions and municipalities
Schools and educational institutions
Colleges and universities
Non-governmental organizations
Trade unions and employers’ associations, professional and trade associations
Organizations offering leisure-time activities for children and youth 6 6

7. Priority axis 2:Tertiary education, research and development
Areas of support
2.1 Higher professional education
2.2 College education
2.3 Human resources in research and development
2.4 Partnership and networks
Grant beneficiaries (e.g.)
Higher trade schools
Colleges and universities (all types)
Public research institutes;
Regions and municipalities
Healthcare centres;
Non-governmental organisations 7 7

8. Priority axis 3: Further education
Areas of support
3.1 Individual further education
3.2 Supporting further education
Grant beneficiaries (e.g.)
Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports
Educational institutions
Colleges and universities
Non-governmental organisations 8 8

9. Priority axis 4:Systemic framework of lifelong education
Areas of support
4.1 Systemic framework of initial education
Grant beneficiaries
Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports
Czech School Inspectorate 9 9

10. Priority axis 5:Technical assistance
Areas of support
5.1 Programme management, control, monitoring and evaluation
5.2 Programme awareness and publicity
5.3 Absorption capacity of subjects implementing the programme
Grant beneficiaries
MŠMT
13 Czech regions 10 10

11. Connection to other OPs
OP Research and Development for Innovations
It supplements OPEC with ERDF funds for investment support so the two types of projects can be combined.
OP Enterprise and Innovation
OPEC will create conditions for efficient education of corporate employees (with a systemic approach to further education)
OP Human Resources and Employment
Synergy of both programmes, which brings the quality of educational system and graduates in harmony with the needs and requirements of the labour market
As regards the development of the system of further education, OPHRE focuses on the growth in employment and on the acquisition and improvement of skills for the respective job
OP Environment
It supplements OPEC with ERDF funds meant for development of infrastructure for environmental education, consultancy and awareness
OP Prague – Adaptability
It supplements OPEC with educational activities in Prague 11 11

12. Types of projects Individual projects (IP)
(in Priority axes 1, 2, 3, 4)
national (IPn) other (IPo)
prepared by MŠMT, prepared and executed all-state level by other institutions at regional and supraregional level
global grants (GG)
(in Priority axes 1 and 3)
grant projects (GP)
announced and administered by the region
executed e.g. by
schools, educational institutions
at regional level 12 12

13. Chart of the project cycle
CALL
Project plan
Application for financial support (Benefit7)
Project assessment
APPROVAL
Project implementation
Project completion and evaluation
Project sustainability
In a simplified form, the chart above captures the project cycle that starts by a call for submission of project applications (GG, IP or GP), continues by translating the projects prepared by the applicants into standardized project applications Benefit7, by evaluation of the submitted projects, their approval, execution and, finally, termination. 13 13

14. Entities implementing the OPEC
Managing Authority
MŠMT MF AB
OPEC monitoring committee
Beneficiary
(GP)
(Ipo)
(Ipn)
Intermediating entitities (regions) GG
PCB
Ministry of Finance (MF)
Payment and Certification Body (PCB)
Auditing Body (AB)
OPEC Monitoring Committee
supervision of the programme execution; representatives of partners
MŠMT
Managing Authority of the programme
full responsibility of the programme execution
13 Czech regions
intermediating entities,
responsibility for a part of OPEC delegated to them
________________________________________________
Applicant = entity preparing the project and applying for financial support from OPEC
Beneficiary= entity whose project has been approved and is implemented with support from OPEC 14 14

15. Contact details and further information
contact address
Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports
OPEC management department / CERA department
Karmelitská 7, Prague,  
address
other information 15 15