1. Knowledge alliances Erasmus+
Key action 2 – Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices
Version January 2014

2. Knowledge Alliances in a nutshell
Knowledge Alliances are calls for large-scale collaboration between higher education and business
Focus is on
entrepreneurship mindset and skills
jointly developed/performed education and training activities
2 or 3 year projects, min. 6 organisations
Max. EU-contribution for 2-year project = EUR
Max. EU-contribution for 3-year project = EUR
Yearly deadline = 3 April 200X
Start not earlier than = 1 November 200X

3. Overview Key policy priorities 2014-2020 Objectives of this action
Eligibility
KU Leuven support and procedures

4. Key policy priorities

5. General objectives European education and training
upgrading the skills and competences of graduates to increase their labour market relevance
quality, efficiency and openness of European higher education
international dimension of education and training
up-skilling and re-skilling initiatives in the adult learning (lifelong learning) system
transversal skills including digital skills, entrepreneurial skills and language skills
learning opportunities by digital technologies
early-school leaving
leadership of teachers via teacher education

6. Horizontal policy priorities Erasmus+

7. Erasmus+ Key Action 1 Key Action 2 Key Action 3
Learning mobility of individuals
Student and staff mobility
Joint Master degrees
Key Action 2
Cooperation and innovation for good practices
Strategic partnerships
Partnerships between the world of work and education and training institutions
IT support Platforms
Capacity building with Partner countries
Key Action 3
Support for policy reform
Knowledge collection and use
Prospective initiatives
Support to European policy tools
Cooperation with international organisations
Stakeholder dialogue, policy and programme promotion

8. Partnerships between the world of work and education and training institutions
focus on higher education & business collaboration
Knowledge Alliances:
Focus on vocational training programmes
Sector Skills Alliances:

9. Objectives of this action

10. Knowledge alliances: specific objectives and expected results
Develop new, innovative and multidisciplinary approach to teaching and learning
Stimulate entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial competence of students, academic and company staff
Facilitate the exchange, flow and co-creation of knowledge
Transational,
Innovation & sustainability & impact driven
Open to any discipline, sector and cross-sectoral cooperation

11. Results, dissemination & exploitation
Tangible results: reports, events, newsletters, good practice guide, case studies, ...
Intangible results such as experience gained, increased (language) skills and awareness by interviews, questionnaires, tests and observations
Define target audiences and approaches
Before, during and after project
Use Erasmus+ dissemination Platform
Information tool
Project database
Tangible deliverables
Showcasing best practices (annual selection by NA or EACEA)

12. Results, dissemination & exploitation
Multiplier events
Organisation of national and transnational conferences/seminars/events aimed at sharing and disseminating the intellectual outputs realised by the project
Multiplier events taking place in a Partner Country are not eligible for funding!
Assessment of success
Facts and figures related to the website of project organisers (updates, visits, consultation, cross referencing);
Numbers of meetings with key stakeholders;
Numbers of participants involved in discussions and information sessions (workshops, seminars, peer reviews); follow-up measures;
Visibility in the social media;
Participation in public events;
Links with existing networks and transnational partners; transfer of information and know-how;
Impact on regional, national, EU policy measures;
Feedback from end-users, other stakeholders, peers, policy-makers

13. Which activities are supported?
Boosting innovation in higher education, business and the broader scocio-economic environment
Stimulating the flow and exchange of knowledge between higher education and enterprises
Developing entrepreneurship mind-set and competences

14. Boosting innovation in higher education, business and the broader socio-economic environment
Jointly development and implementation of new learning and teaching methods
New multidisciplinary curricula
Learner centred and real problem-based teaching & learning
Organisation of continuing educational programmes and activities with and within companies
Jointly development of solutions for challenging issues, product and process innovation

15. Stimulating the flow and exchange of knowledge between higher education and enterprises
Study field related activities in enterprises
(fully embedded in curriculum, recognised and credited)
Set-ups to trial and test innovative measures
Exchange of students, researchers, teaching staff and company staff for a limited period
Involvement of company staff in teaching and research

16. Developing entrepreneurship mind-set and competences
Schemes of transversal skills’ learning and application throughout higher education programmes (strengthening employability, creativity and new professional paths)
Entrepreneurship education to students, researchers and staff
Practical application of entrepreneurial skills, e.g. involvement in the commercialisation of new services/products and prototypes, the creation of start-ups and spin-offs

17. Eligibility

18. Eligible participating organisations
Any public or private organisation
At least two higher education institutions
At least two entreprises (public or private, small, medium or large enterprise including social enterprises);
Other non-academic partners
a research institute;
a public body at local, regional or national level;
an organisation active in the field of education, training and youth;
an intermediary or association which represents education, training or youth;
organisations;
an intermediary or association which represents enterprises;
an accreditation, certification or qualification body

19. Eligible countries Erasmus+
Programme countries
EU-28 (including Overseas Country and Territory depending on Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom )
Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
Turkey and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Rest of the world = Partner countries
Partner countries neighbouring the EU
Western Balkan
Eastern Partnership countries
South-Mediterranean countries
Other partner countries
Industrialised countries
Africa, Carribean and Pacific
Asia and Latin-America

20. Higher education institutions
Academic consortium members from Programme countries must hold an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (check: KU Leuven = LA BE-E4AKA1-ECHE )
Academic consortium members from Partner countries: interinstitutional agreements

21. Mobility in Knowledge Alliances
Mobility activities of students, researchers, teaching and company staff is possible but only when added value is clear
Mobility activities are not the main focus here
Extensive mobility activities need to be funded through Key Action 1

22. Knowledge alliances minimum requirements
Consortium
Min. 6 public/private organisations from at least 3 different programme countries
Max. 1 public/private organisation from a partner country
Min. 2 higher education institutions, each having a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education
Min. 2 enterprises
Coordinator = organisation from Programme Country
Associated partners do not receive fund

23. Award criteria
Are taken into account: proposals with min. 70% in total
Relevance of the project
Purpose of cooperation
Sound needs analysis
Consistence of proposed actions
Innovation in processes and outcomes
European added value (trans-nationality and potential transferability)
Quality of project design and implementation
Coherence
Work programme structure
Management (timeline, organisation, tasks & responsibilities)
Quality and financial control
Quality of the project team and the cooperation arrangements
Configuration of consortium
Commitment consortium partners
Complementarity partnerships
Collaboration and team spirit
Impact and dissemination
Exploitation of cooperation outcomes
Dissemination strategy
Societal and economic relevance and impact
Sustainability beyond project lifetime

24. Call management and selection
Centralised action, by EACEA
Yearly call
Yearly deadline = April 3, 12:00pm Brussels time
Budget first call = ca. 6 million euros in total
Highly competitive (contact International Office for support!)
Large consortia with clear indication of added value of each partner is needed
Project duration= 2 or 3 years (chosen at time of application)

25. In need for some inspiration?
2011 and 2012 calls for Knowledge Alliances
Opening up Education (September 2013) by European Commission
Self-assessment tool for entrepreneurial universities
Innovative learning and teaching methods
Fostering entrepreneurial skills and attitudes
Structured mobility and knowledge exchange between academia and business

26. Funding rules

27. Budget guidelines
Max. EU-contribution for 2-year project = EUR
Max. EU-contribution for 3-year project = EUR
Basic eligible costs = impementation support
Depends on profile of staff involved (manager, teacher/trainer/researcher, technician and admin. staff)
Country of the particpating organisation whose staff is involved
Optional funding for mobility activities
Travel costs
Subsistence cost
Staff
Learners

28. Belgium – eligible costs
Financing mechanism
Amounts
Implementation support (basic)
Unit cost
(per day)
Manager (336 EUR)
Teacher/Trainer/Researcher (257 EUR)
Technician (194 EUR)
Administrative staff (157 EUR)
Travel (optional)
Unit cost (per participant)
Between 100km and 1999km (275 EUR)
Above 2000km (360 EUR)
Subsistence (optional)
Unit cost (per day)
Staff
between day 1 and 14: 100 EUR
between day 15 and day 60: 40 EUR
Learners
between day 1 and 14: 55 EUR

29. What else should you know?

30. Impact has to go beyond consortium partners
Budget needs to be foreseen for presentation at University-Business Forum or other relevant events (max. 4/project)
Reports, handbooks, guidelines etc. should be made available as Open Educational Resources (OER)

31. KU Leuven support and procedures

32. KU Leuven advice and support
Before submission via International Office
As soon as possible, inform International Office about intentions
Advice available on request for call specifications, possible (non) academic partners, consortium management structure, …
Compulsory consultation in case of joint curriculum initiatives with HEI in Belgium or beyond via ‘Ondersteuningsgroep Interuniversitaire Opleidingen’
Submission through International Office (rector as legal representative)
After selection via International Office
Communication to EACEA for budget revise, clarifications, …
Grant agreement (and amendments)
Advice on consortium agreement and other documents commiting KU Leuven via ‘Ondersteuningsgroep Interuniversitaire Opleidingen’

33. Deadlines call spring 2014
Whether KU Leuven will be coordinator or partner
March = internal deadline application forms (via
if joint curriculum or new course programmes are included in proposal then approval or rejection by Executive Board (GeBu) April
April = external deadline (allow at least three working days before deadline for signature rector )
Golden rule: inform International Office as early as possible and in case of doubt contact International Office

34. More information
Erasmus+ Programme Guide - Knowledge Alliances (p )
Erasmus+ intranet page International Office

35. Johan Evers International Office johan.evers@kuleuven.be 016/37 98 54
Your contact person for Erasmus+ Knowledge Alliances