Identification of critical success factors for implementing NLLS, through collaboration and exchange of expertise IDENTIFY LLP-2008-RO-KA1-KA1NLLS

History Restricted NLLS call for proposals published at the beginning of 2008, deadline for proposals 13 August proposals received, 7 selected for funding

Basic data Eligibility period: 1 March 2009 – 28 February 2010 Total eligible budget: EUR Total Community grant: EUR (74.84%)

Partners Partner numberCountryLegal name P1 Applicant and coordinating organisation RomaniaNational Agency for Community Programmes in the Field of Education and Vocational Training P2RomaniaAgentia Romana de Asigurare a Calitatii in Invatamantul Preuniversitar P4BulgariaHuman Resources Development Centre (LLP National Agency) P5TurkeyMinistry of National Education, Directorate General of Apprenticeship and Non- Formal Education P6GermanyDVV-International

Objectives Aim: identify the key factors for a successful implementation of NLLS in partner countries Objectives: 1. to identify the common/recurring difficulties and challenges in the implementation of NLLS and the solutions developed to overcome them; 2. to initiate and sustain transfer of knowledge and expertise from European partners regarding the implementation of NLLS; using the knowledge and expertise of other Member States in the development and a quality assured implementation of lifelong learning strategies. 3. encourage cooperation between key actors involved in the development of a national lifelong learning strategy

Envisaged results (I) 1. Reports on the identification of problems and solutions in the implementation of NLLS, at the level of each partner country. 2. Workshops focused on exchange of good practices and transfer of expertise and development of joint guidelines The workshops will include: Joint analysis of results from national reports (see above), Identifying critical factors for success, Establishing common guidelines for a successful and a quality assured implementation of NLLS.

Envisaged results (II) 3. Project conference; the conference aims to present the project’s results so far and to gather feedback for their further adjustment and refining, as well as to ensure that the results are visible at the level of the stakeholders and are likely to be used in further policy development. 4. Publication 1: booklet with problems, challenges as well as success stories in implementing NLLS at European level 5. Publication 2: guidelines for a successful implementation of national lifelong learning strategies. It will describe different ways of dealing with these identified problems, give access to professional recommendations gathered from the invited consultants & experts and propose ‘tried and tested’ solutions to recurring problems and common difficulties.

Target groups Persons involved in policy development in education and training, at national and regional level Decision makers (Ministries of Education, public or private bodies involved in policy development, curricula development, quality assurance, evaluation, accreditation) Organisations active in the labour market and organisations connecting the education and training system with the labour market

WP1 – Overall project management Management of partnership (including organisation of partnership meetings, issuing bilateral contracts, making payments to partners etc), Planning and organisation of activities (kick-off and evaluation meetings, workshops, conference), Planning and implementing a monitoring and evaluation strategy, Project evaluation (internal and external), Overall financial management (interim financial reports from partners), Participation in project meetings organised by the European Commission, Dissemination and exploitation activities.

WP2 – Data collection & analysis This package includes the following activities: Gather data regarding the level of development and/or implementation of NLLS in each partner country, Identify recurring problems in developing the NLLS and their causes, Relate the national context with European political priorities and initiatives, Identify the challenges and priority areas for development, at national level. Each partner institution will be responsible for carrying out data gathering and analysis in their respective national context, as a prerequisite for implementing the next work packages. Partners will agree on a common format for data gathering, in order to ensure consistence, comparability and transferability of data across thematic domains and national contexts.

WP2 – Data collection & analysis National reports on NLLS development/implementation: Common reporting format: Existing legislation (NLLS document & others) Brief description of NLLS (where applicable) Legislation in development Level of implementation of NSSL: responsible authority, supporting organizations etc. List of brief description & links to relevant resources (projects, initiatives) Challenges & areas for improvement

WP3 – project workshops While the partner organisations from the organising country will be in charge of all administrative and logistic aspects related to workshop organisation, all partners will be involved in the planning and management of workshop content. Analysis/discussion during each workshop will provide the content basis for the next one – they are planned as integrated events, each of them feeding into the next one. They will focus on: Identifying difficulties and challenges encountered in the development or implementation of NLLS, Identifying solutions which were tested and/or implemented, Encouraging debate and transfer of expertise between participants, Guidelines and recommendations from participants and from the invited experts/consultants. 1 st workshop, Turkey 2 nd workshop, Germany 3 rd workshop, Bulgaria

WP4 – project reunion The reunion is intended as a forum for presenting the results of previous workshops and for encouraging exploitation of project outcomes. It will also provide an opportunity for further discussion and analysis, with the participation of policy and decision makers in education & training, experts, education & training institutions, organisations active in the labour market, employment services, employers’ associations etc. The event will include: presentations of project activities, an overview of NLLS development and implementation in partner countries, discussion and refining of the two project publications, presentation of success stories in the implementation of NLLS, discussion on the guidelines for successful implementation of NLLS.

WP5 – quality management system Key aspects to be monitored: agreement on a minimal quality plan and a list of indicators to be monitored. The aim is to ensure a common understanding of quality assurance activities throughout the partnership and a common reporting procedure. Each partner will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the quality plan in project activities at national level. They will prepare an interim report mid-way through the project, in order to ensure that main objectives are addressed. At the end of the contractual period, the coordinator will be responsible for collecting information regarding the implementation of the quality plan from each partner and for compiling a final report on quality assurance. An independent evaluator will report on the quality of project management and project outcomes.

WP6 – Project publications 1. Booklet with success stories in implementing NLLS at European level. This document aims to offer access to good practices related to the implementation of lifelong learning strategies in partner countries and to highlight different approaches and priorities that underline these national strategies. 2. Guidelines for a successful implementation of national lifelong learning strategies. An essential outcome of the project, this document should serve as a reference base for both ‘beginner’ and ‘advanced’ countries in the implementation of NLLS. It will propose ‘tried and tested’ solutions to recurring problems and common difficulties. The booklet will be developed and published by the time of the conference, in order to be disseminated to a wider circle of stakeholders. The draft document on guidelines for successful NLLS implementation will be circulated and discussed during the conference, and published shortly after. The two products will be disseminated during and after the conference to stakeholders in education, training and the labour market.

WP7 – dissemination strategy Dissemination activities will include: Information and promotion through the project website; all partner organisations will promote the website through their specific channels of communication (networks of promoters, project coordinators, institutional partners etc.) Dissemination of project publications A dissemination and exploitation event will be organised in each partner country. This event will focus on promoting the project activities and outcomes to a wider public, beyond the initial target groups. Priority: involvement of policy and decision makers, in order to ensure that results will be taken into account in future policy development.

Dissemination Website: Common promotional material: to be discussed National events Networks, collaborators