Key Action 2 – Strategic Partnerships for Schools & LAs An overview of funding opportunities

Objectives: Outline of Erasmus+ programme Key features of Key Action 2 Next steps

The new EU programme for education, training, youth and sport

Overall objectives of Erasmus+ Boost skills and employability Modernise education, training and youth work Focus on young people

Key facts about Erasmus+ Simplification Worth €940m to UK over seven years Replaces Lifelong Learning Programme, Youth in Action and other EU programmes

Erasmus+ is ‘the new EU programme for education, training, youth and sport’

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

Key Action 3 Meetings between decision-makers and young people in the field of youth Funding for structured dialogue to support policy making

Key Action 1 Open to Higher Education, Vocational Education and Training, schools, adult education and youth Funding for study, work experience, job shadowing, training and teaching

Key Action 1 No individual applications, organisations only Applications are project based for 1 or 2 years Application deadline 17 March 2014 (now 24 March)

Programme countries Following the announcement from the European Commission regarding Switzerland's participation in Erasmus+, Switzerland will now participate as a Partner Country under the Erasmus Call, rather than a Programme Country, pending an agreement between the EU and Switzerland.

Key Action 2 - building on the past Lifelong Learning Programme Partnerships (including Regio) Multilateral Projects and networks Transfer/development of Innovation Youth in Action 4.4 Innovation and quality 4.5 Information 1.2 Youth initiatives

Key Action 2 Strategic Partnerships Open to Higher Education, Vocational Education and Training, schools, adult education and youth Funding for development, transfer and/or implementation of innovative practices (including mobility for staff and pupils in schools) Partnership size and type flexible i.e. cross sectoral approach

Key Action 2 Strategic Partnerships Minimum of two partners from two countries (for schools only or LA only strategic partnerships) otherwise minimum of three Partnerships will last 2 or 3 years Next application deadline 30 April 2014

Key Action 2 Strategic Partnerships One application per project, assessed by coordinating National Agency School to school only = individual Grant Agreements

Schools Priorities Improving the attainment of young people, particularly those at risk of early school leaving (ESL) Improving the attainment of young people with low basic skills in Maths, Science and Literacy Developing high quality and accessible Early Childhood Education and Care services Revising and strengthening the professional profile of the teaching professions

Example of a Strategic Partnership between schools Three schools in 3 programme countries developing learning materials together on how to interest pupils in the subjects of maths and science in a creative and appealing way. The expected output is the creation of a number of learning materials to be used in the maths and science classes The activities would involve the direct cooperation of pupils in those classes both virtually (e.g. using eTwinning) and live for a project week.

For a two-year project the schools would apply for a grant covering: Project management and implementation: a unit cost grant per school Transnational project meetings: 4 meetings including 24 mobilities Transnational learning/training activity: a joint project week for which a group of 15 pupils each from two of the schools would travel to the third school and work together during a week with the materials, closed by an exhibition open to local schools and the local community of the hosting school.

General info Call for Proposals and Programme guide released in December 2013, updated February plus/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus- plus/index_en.htm Applications made online

ECAS and PICs Before being able to apply for Erasmus+ funding: Register your organisation on the European Commission Authentication Service (ECAS), if not already registered. For guidance on registration, see our How to Register on ECAS video and guideEuropean Commission Authentication Service (ECAS)How to Register on ECAS Log in to the Participant Portal with your ECAS account details and register your organisation on the Unique Registration Facility (URF) to obtain your unique Participant Identification Code (PIC), if not already registered. The European Commission has produced a Participant Portal User Manual to help guide you through the process of registering on the portal.Participant PortalUnique Registration Facility (URF) Participant Portal User Manual

Finding out more All key information being added to UK website, (UK website) – this is the best way of getting information about the programmewww.erasmusplus.org.uk Lots of information including Call for Proposals and Programme Guide on EC site EC twitter and Facebook: #erasmusplusuk – BC/Ecorys hashtag British Council Customer Services