1. MINISTRY OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CZ NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION AUTHORITY Hana Cisarova, EU Publicity Department Student competition CREATE YOUR OWN PROJECT How to sell the Cohesion Policy to the future applicants

2. The objective  to introduce cohesion policy to the future applicants, teachers and schools in an attractive way  to encourage them to look around and think about what could be done better or developed (with the help of EU funds)  to root a positive perception of cohesion policy in the "fresh" target group, untouched by the media chase and negative publicity  to use teachers as multiplicators of information not just towards their students, but also in relation to the local authorities  to encourage more schools to become real applicants  to get new project ideas from the young minds  implementation of the (modified) student projects if beneficial

3. The task – a simplified grant application  describe the baseline for the future project  present the ideal project objective and set your indicators  decide the implementation timetable with outlined project stages  define the beneficiary of the subsidy  describe the activities that will fulfil the project objective  create a SWOT analysis  select the subsidy instrument – OP, priority axis, intervention area  prove the project sustainability  decide on the budget breakdown in relation to the proposed timetable and determine the project funding throughout the different stages

4. The contestants  students of any national high-school 15 years +  students from the same class / school / cohesion region  teams of 2-5 students and 1 teacher per team  teacher as a driving force, facilitator and motivator  projects thematically corresponding to the lesson often prepared during the class  motivation of both students and teachers with attractive prizes

5. The tools – information website www.navrhniprojekt.cz

6. The tools – website content  the competition rules and timetable  methodological guideline  submission form (fill & download)  recent news  student projects examples from previous years in pdf.  contact information, link to Facebook fan page and assistance  information on EU funds incl. brochures in pdf.  assessment explanation  events calendar (dates of project submission, presentation, seminars…)  display of prices  information about the partners of the competition

7. The tools – website content / submission form & prizes

8. The tools – available assistance  seminars on the competition and EU funds within classes provided by regional contact points – 13 Eurocenters  project consultation via Eurocentre coordinators / Regional OP representatives and on-line project assistance  direct contact with the organizer (call / e-mail / even visit!)  booklet (on seminars and promotion anywhere)  CD-R (great for preparation during classes)  Facebook (micro competitions, project examples, notifications)  inspiration at Map of Projects www.mapaprojektu.czwww.mapaprojektu.cz

9. The tools – assistance, motivation, inspiration

10. The competition timetable The competition runs throughout the whole winter term with the Christmas break between the regional and final presentation rounds: 1.September: Competition launch 2.November: e-project submission to the regional Eurocentre 3.evaluation and selection of the 3 best projects in each of the 8 cohesion regions 4.December: presentation and questioning by the MAs of Regional OPs on-the-spot choice of the best project of each regional round 5.the 8 best projects continue to the final national presentation 6.Christmas break: project improvement based on the feedback from MAs 7.January: final presentations and questioning in Prague at the MRD with a press conference and announcement of the winners

11. Publicity On the start:  announcements on public radio stations focused on students and teachers (produced by the Czech Radio)  direct e-mails to all high-schools in the Czech Republic  posters / booklets / CD-R for schools, delivered by the Eurocenters During the competition:  banner on the SF website and websites of the partners  custom-made PR articles on the student/teacher websites  PR newsletter articles by the regional OPs and MRD During the year:  handing out of leaflets / booklets and talking to students and teachers on open-air events (both MRD and Eurocenters)  banner

12. Prizes  same prizes for teachers and students - profound effect!  experience rewards did not work  reward for every submitted project - use of promotional items  small prizes for micro competitions  always prize per team member  asking partners to donate  winning team: ultrabooks regional winners: tablets 2. regional place: e-readers 3. regional place: EU travel guidebooks

13. Project examples  Support for volunteer firefighters  School astronomical observatory  Project to save the local brewery  Bike share for the regional town (the first national winner)  Interactive smart-phone/tablet application  Project aimed to increase the public awareness on the quality of air  Asylum house for young homeless people  Project aimed to increase the graduates employment rate  A lot of projects for sports facilities (the favourite of the first season)  Many retirement homes (the last year’s blockbuster)

14. Results  40 projects in 2012 vs. 53 projects in 2013 Lessons learned  maximum publicity in September / October  publicity at other events during the year  talk to the teachers, not just the students  one class in the 1st season… half of the school in the 2nd season!  reward for every submitted project  be flexible and prepared to change things on the go

15. Thank you for your attention! (hook them early ) hana.cisarova@mmr.cz