1. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions Professional & Students mobility the COMETT experience & lessons as a food for thoughts Yves Boisselier MAC-Team aisbl Intl Association for the Multi-Actors Cooperation

2. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions COMETT in a nutshell Ancestor of Leonardo programme: C I : 86 – 89 / C II : 90 – 94 Cooperation University-Enterprise: COMETT II  Networks = 205 UETPs  Mobility = – Student placements: CII: 32,000 Students - 80MECU - 17,000p.yr - 6mth - 430 ECU/mth Leverage: 36,000 Students – 120 MECU – 19,000p.yr 30,000 Enterprises (1/2 SMES) – Young graduate students – Staff mobility  Vocational Training seminars/curricula  Accompanying measures  positive actions 2 EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts

3. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions Context to remember Starting point of mobility schemes Borders and even-more incompatible legal-social systems Very low or inexistent student placement culture:  In enterprises  In educational environment (as well, was not general)  In institutional structures (social security, visas, working permit, fiscal matters,...) Slow communication modes 3 EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts

4. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions 9 C.II mobility recommendation axes 1.Protection of the experience & the “Acquis” 2.Field structures & Network 3.Pool system 4.Programme animation 5.Curricula: duration, linguistic + cultural +... preparation 6.Contractual management 7.Financial issues 8.Complementarities and synergy between programmes 9.Removal of mobility barriers 4 EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts

5. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions 1. Protection of the experience & the “Acquis Implementing a natural behaviour towards European placement takes time Not “destructuring” existing networks & structures used to it or mastering it  from scratch again!!  Roles of institutional + EC to sustain and support experience developed on previous actions  Valorisation des Acquis 5 EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts

6. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions 2. Field structures & Network Need to create/relay on an efficient network motivated on student mobility management. This network:  Quick reaction at field level + tools/actions + sufficient autonomy.  Open structures + proof of animation & management of wide European mobility.  Mobility actions = NOT the only activity of this network. Not only mobility for the sake of mobility.  Privileged access to complementary initiatives. 6 EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts

7. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions 3. Pool system To be preferred and encouraged:  nearly impossible to identify flows 6/12mths ahead  optimising the volume of information (at EU + region + country levels) with time reaction.  Too rigid initial definition  blocking factor + impede quality.  Quick anwser/reaction to field needs level.  Better service offer to Enterprises  easier penetration in Enterprises/Enterprise language/concerns 7 EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts

8. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions 4. Programme animation Based on “positive actions” results Mutual understanding of the network + regular F2F meetings/networking Network image  “house-style” Communication & management tools  right from the start of a programme  unify before organisations invest independently & massively  Could also be used for project submission + results dissemination + contractual managemen: ↗ Quality Training: management + good practices exchange 8 EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts

9. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions 5. Curricula: duration, +... preparation Enterprise survey:  best ROI  6mths could be up to 12 mths.  flexibility: In 2 periods + part mandatory curricula.  flexibility: combine periods in home or other countries Linguistic & cultural training:  Ensure basic linguistic/cultural knowledge/level  Include administrative & practical knowledge before Technical/sector/business preparation Combine remote support and link U-E 9 EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts

10. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions 6. Contractual management On-going amendments + adaptation  embed flexibility New comers: stronger accompaniment + empowerment Pool management to be encouraged Customized sized of individual grants To manage contracts over 2 years academic years at least 10 EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts

11. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions 7. Financial issues Keep grant level – no spreading out (quality placement linked to life conditions) Paying the total subvention at the beginning Institutional costs possibility on each placement Co-funding & leverage effect  +50% and spontaneous  Proof of interest from students & enterprises  Need for EU support  recognised coordination point. 11 EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts

12. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions 8. Complementarities & synergy between programmes Links with RTD programmes especially to ↗ and accelerate transfer to SMEs/SMIs Other programmes deal with mobility  networks synergies at field operators (not to create a unique operator to optimise & increase dissemination +) Links with national or regional programmes: leverage effect + increase consistency with EU and between countries/region 12 EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts

13. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions 9. Mobility barriers Several studies on barriers to mobility  To encourage Member states to implement solutions  With the support of the field operators/structures Several cases of law adaptation + MPs involvment to work on a European student status  ↘ legal or social risks Explore possibilities of Alumni 13 EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts

14. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions Other mobility: Young graduate 6 to 24 mths – industrial project – studies ended Only 1 call: 14 placements – 6850 ECUavg. 10/14 in SMEs – 10mths avg. 6/14 employed 85% links U-E sustained beyond the placement High North-South transfer 100% projects: exploitable & positive results for the Enterprise Difficulties/recommendation:  Lack of information  No pool procedure  Should allow application of students ending their studies  Encourage preparation of PhDs/Thesis in enterprises. 14 EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts

15. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions Other mobility: Staff exchanges U  E or E  U – 2to 12 mths – technology related 800/1800 staff exchanges – 4.5mths – 7,500 ECU 68% from Universities 65% SMEs Difficulties:  Lack of information  Minimum duration too long for E  U  Administrative costs for placement search + replacement 15 EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts

16. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions Which model for the placements? Clear accompaniment for the U and for the E?  How? Does size of the Enterprise matters?  What to “mutualise”? Which competences and where? Towards standard regulations? Optimal duration (points of view of students & enterprises) Sandwich placements? Types of placements? Sabbatical? Pool managed by large companies, federations, unions, alumni? Role/objectives of the placement? Contributions to ECTS/ECVET or validations? VAE of U & E accompanist? VAE of Students? Links with career development? Multi-periods? Market & business support? U(s) support to business content? E(s) support to U/Curricula development?... EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts 16

17. © 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts 17 Thank you for your attention ! MAC-Team aisbl International non-profit Association for the Multi-Actors Cooperation Yves Boisselier President +32 485 800 009 yb@mac-team.com