Transnational Cooperation Activity (TCA) „A Model for Expert Training“ A joint IS, NO & SE activity Margrét Sverrisdóttir Senior Advisor 26 August 2014

Why joint expert training module?  New programme – new actions; new rules; new application forms; new award criteria  Lack of transparency between countries in evaluation/assessment of applications => comparability of practices/quality assurance between countries  Expert handbooks detailed…..training needed  Pooling of experts

Expert Training Joint evaluations Experts evaluating KA1/KA2 proposals and NA staff involved in evaluating KA1/KA2 proposals Cost for travel, subsistence and expert support in devising the model and executing the joint training sessions was covered under TCA Each NA paid expert evaluation fees as per national rules from the NA´s operational management fee

Expert Training / Briefing & Assessment Sessions one day training/briefing session for experts working on KA1 assessments (Reykjavik, April 2014) one day training/briefing session experts working on KA2 assessments - followed by joint onsite assessment and consolidation activity (Stockholm, May 2014)

Expert Training Sessions  Joint KA1 NA staff and expert one-day training seminar in Reykjavik, 4 April 2014  participating NA staff trained other NA staff at own NA  „minimal“ adaptation of training model for local use Joint KA2 NA staff and expert training & assessment of applications in Stockholm, May 2014  Pilot on-site evaluation of HE, AE and large SE applications  27 experts evaluating at the same time  consolidation of assessments

Outputs 1.Model for training experts (training material; briefing sheets, exercises, slides, QA framework) KA1 & KA2 2.Package of briefing/training material for KA1 and KA2 3.Framework for joint training sessions for external experts and NA staff – KA1 & KA2 4.Format for pooling experts/joint on-site evaluation of KA2 - quality assurance mechanism for NAs 5.Evaluation Report - conclusions and suggestions for future activities

Evaluation of exercise On-site evaluation by NA staff on KA1 training – Use of post-it notes (positive/negative) Online evaluation among experts participating in KA2 Stockholm training/assessment (May 2014) Phone interviews with a selected number of experts and NA staff (July 2014)

Outcome of qualitative evaluation Enthusiasm, among experts, for this type of joint transnational activity Suggestions that the exercise should be extended to additional countries (Denmark, Finland and possibly the three Baltic States) Participants talked of “shared perspectives” and “common practices” alongside “increased understanding” and “improved capacity” each an irrefutable sign of success of the TCA

Examples – policy briefing sheets

Examples – award criteria sheets

Examples – where to look!