ERASMUS MUNDUS

Transcription

1 ERASMUS MUNDUS Prgramme Guide fr the attentin and infrmatin f future applicants and beneficiaries The Prgramme Guide must be read in cnjunctin with the relevant annual Calls fr Prpsals and Guidelines t the Calls fr Prpsals fr Actin 2 which will prvide detailed infrmatin n the specific grant applicatin prcedures. Please nte that nly the English versin f the Erasmus Mundus Prgramme Guide is legally binding. All ther linguistic versins are prvided fr infrmatin nly. Versin 12/2012

2 1 INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME GUIDE PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES PROGRAMME STRUCTURE AND BUDGET HOW TO PARTICIPATE IF YOU ARE A EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION (HEI): A THIRD-COUNTRY HEI AN INDIVIDUAL A RESEARCH ORGANISATION AN ORGANISATION ACTIVE IN THE FIELD OF HIGHER EDUCATION DEFINITIONS AND GLOSSARY COMMON ELEMENTS APPLICABLE TO ALL ACTIONS APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURES EXCLUSION CRITERIA SELECTION CRITERIA FINANCIAL CONDITIONS CONTRACTUAL CONDITIONS ACTION 1 A: ERASMUS MUNDUS MASTERS COURSES (EMMC) INTRODUCTION EMMC - ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS AND CONSORTIUM COMPOSITION ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES EMMC - AWARD CRITERIA EMMC - FINANCIAL CONDITIONS EMMC - CONTRACTUAL CONDITIONS EMMC - SELECTION PROCEDURE AND INDICATIVE TIMETABLE CONDITIONS FOR USING THE ERASMUS MUNDUS BRAND NAME (EMBN) ACTION 1 B: ERASMUS MUNDUS JOINT DOCTORATE PROGRAMMES (EMJD) INTRODUCTION EMJD - ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS AND CONSORTIUM COMPOSITION ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES EMJD - AWARD CRITERIA EMJD - FINANCIAL CONDITIONS EMJD - CONTRACTUAL CONDITIONS EMJD - SELECTION PROCEDURE AND INDICATIVE TIMETABLE ACTION 2 : ERASMUS MUNDUS PARTNERSHIPS EMA2 - STRAND 1: PARTNERSHIPS WITH COUNTRIES COVERED BY ENPI, DCI, EDF AND IPA INSTRUMENTS

3 6.1.1 THEMATIC FIELDS OF STUDY AND REGION/COUNTRY NEEDS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA A PARTNERSHIP COMPOSITION AND ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS B ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES AWARD CRITERIA EMA 2 STRAND 2: PARTNERSHIPS WITH COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES COVERED BY THE INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES INSTRUMENT (ICI) THEMATIC FIELDS OF STUDY AND REGION/COUNTRY NEEDS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA a ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS AND CONSORTIUM COMPOSITION B ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES AWARD CRITERIA FINANCIAL CONDITIONS CONTRACTUAL CONDITIONS SELECTION PROCEDURE AND INDICATIVE TIMETABLE ACTION 3 : ERASMUS MUNDUS PROMOTION PROJECTS INTRODUCTION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES SELECTION CRITERIA AWARD CRITERIA FINANCIAL CONDITIONS CONTRACTUAL CONDITIONS SELECTION PROCEDURE AND INDICATIVE TIMETABLE ANNEXES LIST OF THE ERASMUS MUNDUS NATIONAL STRUCTURES LIST OF EU DELEGATIONS USEFUL INTERNET ADDRESSES AND DOCUMENTS

4 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME GUIDE Erasmus Mundus is a cperatin and mbility prgramme in the field f higher educatin fr: the enhancement f quality in Eurpean higher educatin; the prmtin f the Eurpean Unin as a centre f excellence in learning arund the wrld; the prmtin f intercultural understanding thrugh cperatin with third cuntries as well as fr the develpment f third cuntries in the field f higher educatin. Erasmus Mundus prvides a respnse t the challenges f glbalisatin faced by Eurpean higher educatin tday, in particular the need t adapt educatin systems t the demands f the knwledge sciety, t enhance the attractiveness and visibility f Eurpean higher educatin wrldwide and t stimulate the prcess f cnvergence f degree structures acrss Eurpe. These themes are central t current natinal refrm prcesses in higher educatin taking place in Member States. In additin it prvides an imprtant vehicle fr the prmtin r intercultural dialgue between the Eurpean Unin and the rest f the wrld. The prgramme cntinues and extends the scpe f the activities already launched during its first phase ( ) and includes the Erasmus Mundus External Cperatin Windw scheme, which was launched in 2006 as a cmplement t the riginal prgramme. The decisin establishing the secnd phase f the Erasmus Mundus Prgramme was adpted by the Eurpean Parliament and Cuncil n (Decisin N 1298/2008/EC). 1 The prgramme cvers the perid and has an verall budget f 470 millin fr Actins 1 and 3 and an indicative budget f 460 millin fr Actin 2. The Eurpean Cmmissin (hereinafter referred t as the Cmmissin ) has entrusted the implementatin f the Erasmus Mundus Prgramme t the Educatin, Culture and Audivisual Executive Agency (hereinafter referred t as the Agency r "EACEA ). As a result, the Agency is respnsible fr the management f this prgramme - including drawing up Calls fr Prpsals, selecting prjects and signing prject agreements, financial management, mnitring f prjects (assessment f intermediate and final reprts), cmmunicatin with beneficiaries and n-the-spt cntrls - under the supervisin f the Directrate-General fr Educatin and Culture (DG EAC) as regards Actins 1 and 3, under supervisin f the Directrate-General Develpment and Cperatin - EurpeAid as regards EMA2-STRAND1, and under supervisin f the Freing Plicy Instruments Service (FPI) 2 as regards EMA2-STRAND2. The Agency is further respnsible fr the implementatin f mre than 15 Eurpean Unin (EU) funded prgrammes and actins in the fields f educatin and training, active citizenship, yuth, audivisual and culture. This Prgramme Guide applies t all EM prjects 3 and aims t assist all thse interested in implementing jint cperatin activities r receiving individual schlarships within the Erasmus Mundus Prgramme ( ). It shuld help them understand the bjectives and the different prgramme actins, the types f 1 OJ 340, , p The Service fr Freign Plicy Instruments (FPI) is respnsible fr the peratinal and financial management f the budgets fr Cmmn Freign and Security Plicy (CFSP), Instrument fr Stability (IfS), Industrialised Cuntries Instrument (ICI)1, Electin Observatin Missins (EOMs) and press and public diplmacy (PPD). 3 Including thse EM prjects selected under the first phase f the EM Prgramme that are still running under the phase f the EM Prgramme. 4

5 activities that can (r cannt) be supprted, as well as the cnditins under which this supprt can be granted and the grant awarded used. Althugh, as stated abve, the Guide is valid fr the entire duratin f the prgramme, future applicants shuld read it in cnjunctin with the specific Call fr Prpsals t which they intend t apply. These Calls fr Prpsals will be published in accrdance with activities planned by the Cmmissin in its annual Wrk Prgramme and will prvide additinal infrmatin n the budgetary allcatin freseen as well as any ther relevant infrmatin and/r dcument specific t the Call. All frms r dcuments needed t apply fr funding are available n the Erasmus Mundus prgramme's web pages (see PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES The prgramme's aim is t prmte Eurpean higher educatin, t help imprve and enhance the career prspects f students and t prmte intercultural understanding thrugh cperatin with third cuntries, in accrdance with EU external plicy bjectives in rder t cntribute t the sustainable develpment f third cuntries in the field f higher educatin. The prgramme's specific bjectives are: t prmte structured cperatin between higher educatin institutins and an ffer f enhanced quality in higher educatin with a distinct Eurpean added value, attractive bth within the Eurpean Unin and beynd its brders, with a view t creating centres f excellence; t cntribute t the mutual enrichment f scieties by develping the qualificatins f wmen/men s that they pssess apprpriate skills, particularly as regards the labur market, and are pen-minded and internatinally experienced thrugh prmting mbility fr the mst talented students and academics frm third cuntries t btain qualificatins and/r experience in the Eurpean Unin and fr the mst talented Eurpean students and academics twards third cuntries; t cntribute twards the develpment f human resurces and the internatinal cperatin capacity f higher educatin institutins in third cuntries thrugh increased mbility streams between the Eurpean Unin and third cuntries; t imprve accessibility and enhance the prfile and visibility f Eurpean higher educatin in the wrld as well as its attractiveness fr third-cuntry natinals and citizens f the Eurpean Unin. The Cmmissin shall ensure that n grup f EU citizens r third-cuntry natinals is excluded r disadvantaged. 1.3 PROGRAMME STRUCTURE AND BUDGET The Erasmus Mundus prgramme cmprises three actins: Actin 1: Implementatin f Jint Prgrammes at Masters (Actin 1A) and Dctrate (Actin 1B) levels and award f individual schlarships/fellwships t participate in these prgrammes; Actin 2: Erasmus Mundus Partnerships; Actin 3: Prmtin f Eurpean Higher Educatin. 5

6 Actin 1 Erasmus Mundus Jint Prgrammes (including schlarships) Actin 1 prvides: Supprt fr high-quality jint masters curses (Actin 1 A) and dctral prgrammes (Actin 1 B) ffered by a cnsrtium f Eurpean and pssibly third-cuntry higher educatin institutins. Other types f rganisatins cncerned by the cntent and utcmes f the jint prgramme can participate in the cnsrtium. Schlarships/fellwships fr the third-cuntry and Eurpean students/dctral candidates respectively t fllw these Erasmus Mundus jint masters curses and dctral prgrammes. Shrt-term schlarships fr third-cuntry and Eurpean academics t carry ut research r teaching assignments as part f the jint masters prgrammes. This Actin will fster cperatin between higher educatin institutins and academic staff in Eurpe and third cuntries with a view t creating ples f excellence and prviding highly trained human resurces. Jint prgrammes must invlve mbility between the institutins f the cnsrtium and lead t the award f recgnised jint, duble r multiple degrees t successful students / dctral candidates. The indicative budget breakdwn and number f utputs freseen fr the different activities cvered by Actin 1 in the perid shuld be the fllwing 4 : Expected number f utputs by 2013 Estimated ttal budget (in millin ) Jint Prgrammes Erasmus Mundus Masters Curses (EMMCs) Erasmus Mundus Dctrate Prgrammes (EMJDs) 35 6 Ttal Jint Prgramme Individual schlarships / fellwships Categry A schlarships fr Masters students Categry B schlarships fr Masters students Categry A fellwships fr dctral candidates Categry B fellwships fr dctral candidates Schlarships fr third-cuntry schlars in EMMCs Schlarships fr Eurpean schlars in EMMCs Ttal schlarships / fellwships Ttal indicative budget 454 Actin 2 Erasmus Mundus Partnerships Erasmus Mundus Partnerships aim at prmting institutinal cperatin and mbility activities between Eurpe and third-cuntry Higher Educatin Institutins (HEIs). This Actin is built n the previus EU 4 This distributin is prvided fr infrmatin nly and may vary ver the curse f the prgramme. 5 See definitin f Categries A and B under sectins and belw. 6

7 prgramme External Cperatin Windw ( ) with a wider gegraphical cverage, a larger scpe and differentiated bjectives. Actin 2 is divided int tw strands: º EMA2 - STRAND1: Partnerships with cuntries cvered by the ENPI, DCI, EDF, IPA and ICI (ICI +) instruments 6 (frmer External Cperatin Windw); º EMA2 - STRAND2: Partnerships with cuntries and territries cvered by the Industrialised Cuntries Instrument (ICI) 7. Actin 2 prvides: Supprt fr the establishment f cperatin partnerships between Eurpean HEIs and HEIs frm targeted third cuntries/territries with the bjective f rganising and implementing structured individual mbility arrangements between the Eurpean and the third-cuntry/territries partners. Schlarships f varius lengths - depending n the pririties defined fr the third cuntries/territries cncerned, the level f studies r the particular arrangements agreed within the partnership - fr Eurpean 8 and third-cuntry/territry individuals (students, schlars, researchers, prfessinals). Similarly t Actin 1, the tw strands f Actin 2 pursue bjectives f excellence. In additin t that, EMA2 - STRAND1 aims specifically at bjectives f develpment. Cntrary t Actins 1 and 3, which are funded frm the budget f the Eurpean Unin allcated t the educatin activities, Actin 2 activities are funded by different financial instruments available in the cntext f the external relatins activities f the Unin (i.e. the Eurpean Neighburhd and Partnership Instrument, the Instrument fr Pre-Accessin Assistance, the Develpment Cperatin Instrument, the Eurpean Develpment Fund and the Industrialised Cuntries Instrument). Because f the diversity in the plicy bjectives cvered by these financial instruments, but als due t the different needs and pririties f the third cuntries cncerned, Actin 2 implementatin rules may vary cnsiderably frm ne year t anther and frm ne partner cuntry t anther. The Actin 2 chapter f the present Prgramme Guide is therefre limited t the cmmn and stable aspects f the Actin fr the five years f the prgramme, while detailed infrmatin n the third cuntries cncerned and the specific cperatin rules applicable t them will be defined in the Erasmus Mundus Actin 2 annual call fr prpsals. An indicative verall amunt f 460 millin has been prpsed fr the financing f Actin 2 prjects. This budget shuld allw fr the selectin f apprximately 100 cperatin partnerships whse funding will be cvered by the financial envelpes f the respective external plicy instruments. 6 ENPI - Eurpean Neighburhd and Partnership Instrument DCI - Develpment Cperatin Instrument IPA - Instrument fr Pre-accessin Assistance EDF - The Eurpean Develpment Fund (EDF) is the main Eurpean instrument fr prviding assistance fr develpment cperatin under the Ctnu Agreement: "the Partnership Agreement between the members f the African, Caribbean and Pacific Grup f States f the ne part and the Eurpean Unin and its Member States f the ther part". ICI - Instrument fr cperatin with industrialised and ther high-incme cuntries and territries. This includes the prmtin f peple-t-peple links t supplement Erasmus Mundus Actin 2 and given the adptin f ICI revisin n December 2011, it als supprts the mbility f the Eurpean Unin students and academic staff t third cuntries (ICI + under the relevant Lts). Fr mre details n these instruments, see 7 Fr mre details n the ICI instrument, see 8 The pssibility t award schlarships t Eurpean individuals depends n the financial instrument used t fund the cperatin activities with the third cuntry cncerned. Applicants are invited t refer t the annual Call fr Prpsals fr detailed infrmatin applicable t Actin 2 cperatin activities with individual third cuntries. 7

8 Actin 3 Prmtin Prjects Actin 3 prvides supprt t transnatinal initiatives, studies, prjects, events and ther activities aimed at enhancing the attractiveness, prfile, image and visibility f, and accessibility t, Eurpean higher educatin in the wrld. Actin 3 activities relate t the internatinal dimensin f all aspects f higher educatin, such as prmtin, accessibility, quality assurance, credit recgnitin, recgnitin f Eurpean qualificatins abrad and mutual recgnitin f qualificatins with third cuntries, curriculum develpment, mbility, quality f services, etc. Activities may include the prmtin f the Erasmus Mundus Prgramme and its utputs, and can be implemented by mixed netwrks f Eurpean and third-cuntry rganisatins active in the field f higher educatin. Actin 3 activities may take varius frms (cnferences, seminars, wrkshps, studies, analyses, pilt prjects, prizes, internatinal netwrks, prductin f material fr publicatin, develpment f infrmatin, cmmunicatin and technlgy tls) and may take place anywhere in the wrld. Actin 3 activities shall seek t establish links between higher educatin and research and higher educatin and the private sectr in Eurpean and third cuntries, and explit ptential synergies whenever pssible. The Actin 3 budget fr the entire duratin f the Prgramme amunts t 16 millin and shuld lead t the funding f arund 50 prjects. 1.4 HOW TO PARTICIPATE IF YOU ARE A EUROPEAN 9 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION (HEI) 10 : Eurpean HEIs can submit: An Actin 1 applicatin prpsing a jint prgramme at masters r dctral level develped in cperatin with partner universities frm Eurpe and, if relevant, third cuntries. If the prpsal is selected, Erasmus Mundus funding will be awarded during five cnsecutive years (subject t the renewal f the Prgramme beynd 2013) with the purpse f: cntributing t the jint prgramme's implementatin and management csts; ffering schlarships/fellwships t Eurpean and third-cuntry students / dctrate candidates enrlled in the jint prgramme; (in the cntext f masters prgrammes nly) ffering shrt-term schlarships t Eurpean and third-cuntry schlars t carry ut teaching and research activities in the cntext f the jint prgramme. An Actin 2 applicatin presenting a structured cperatin partnership targeted at specific nn- Eurpean cuntries/regins and cmpsed f Eurpean and third-cuntry HEIs frm the gegraphical area cncerned, with the purpse f ffering full and shrt-term schlarships t students, schlars and prfessinals frm the third cuntries and, if eligible, Eurpean cuntries cncerned. An Actin 3 applicatin presented n behalf f a cnsrtium r netwrk f Eurpean and thirdcuntry HEIs/rganisatins active in the field f higher educatin with the bjective f enhancing the 9 See Chapter 2 fr the definitin f Eurpean Institutin. 10 Fr the purpses f Actin 1 B - Jint Dctrate prgrammes, the cncept f HEI includes als dctral/graduate/research schls and research rganisatins prviding dctral training and research activities and delivering recgnised degrees at dctral level: see definitin under Chapter 2. 8

9 attractiveness f the Eurpean higher educatin sectr and t facilitate its cperatin with the rest f the wrld A THIRD-COUNTRY HEI 11 Althugh third-cuntry HEIs can participate as active members f the cnsrtium/partnership/netwrk in exactly the same actins as Eurpean HEIs, they cannt submit a grant prpsal n behalf f the entire cnsrtium/partnership/netwrk. Such applicatins have t be presented by Eurpean rganisatins AN INDIVIDUAL Actins 1 and 2 f the Prgramme prvide financial supprt t Eurpean and third-cuntry individuals t allw them t carry ut study, teaching r research activities in the framewrk f selected cnsrtia r partnerships: Jint Prgrammes Partnerships Eurpean and third-cuntry Individuals Actin 1A EMMC Actin 1B EMJD Actin 2 Strand 1 Bachelr students X Actin 2 Strand 2 Masters students X X X Dctral candidates X X X Pst-dctral candidates X X Schlars/academic staff X X X Administrative staff frm HEIs X X It shuld be nted that: Under Actin 2, the type f individual beneficiaries may vary in accrdance with the specific needs and bjectives f the third cuntry cncerned as well as the financial instrument used t fund the schlarships; The award f individual schlarships t Eurpean schlars under Actin 1A will depend n the participatin f a third-cuntry rganisatin in the cnsrtium cncerned; The definitin f Eurpean and third-cuntry individuals varies between Actin 1 and Actin 2 (fr mre details see specific chapters n Actin 1A, 1B and Actin 2). Individuals interested in an Erasmus Mundus schlarship have t apply directly t the selected Actin 1 cnsrtium r Actin 2 partnership f their chice and g thrugh a cmpetitive selectin prcess rganised by the partners invlved. This selectin prcess is rganised in accrdance with a prcedure and set f criteria designed by the cnsrtium / partnership and apprved in advance by the Agency. The lists f cnsrtia and partnerships are available at the fllwing address; these lists are updated whenever new cnsrtia r partnerships are selected fllwing a call fr prpsals A RESEARCH ORGANISATION Althugh the bjectives f Erasmus Mundus are nt t supprt directly research activities in Eurpe, the prgramme is pen t any public r private research rganisatin that may cntribute t its bjectives, 11 See Chapter 2 fr the Definitin f third-cuntry institutin. 9

10 ntably as regards the enhancement f the quality f higher educatin and the cmplementarities between higher educatin, research and develpment activities. These rganisatins can take part in all three Actins f the Prgramme but can nly submit and crdinate prjects under Actin 1B (prvided they are entitled t deliver dctrate degrees) and Actin AN ORGANISATION ACTIVE IN THE FIELD OF HIGHER EDUCATION While mst f the Erasmus Mundus activities are targeted twards HEIs and the individuals invlved in them, the prgramme is pen t any rganisatin anywhere in the wrld that is, directly r indirectly, active in the field f higher educatin. These can be public administratin bdies, NGOs, scial partners, prfessinal rganisatins, chambers f cmmerce r industry, enterprises, etc. These rganisatins can take part as assciated partners in all three Actins f the prgramme. In Actin 3 they can act as full partner and submit and crdinate prjects if they are lcated in a cuntry that is eligible under the prgramme. 10

11 2 DEFINITIONS AND GLOSSARY Applicant / Crdinating rganisatin rganisatin that submits a grant applicatin n behalf f a cnsrtium, partnership r netwrk f participating rganisatins. The applicant/crdinating rganisatin represents and acts n behalf f the grup f participating rganisatins in its relatins with the Agency. If the grant applicatin is selected, the applicant will becme the main beneficiary (see definitin f beneficiary belw) and will sign the grant agreement n behalf f the participating rganisatins. Assciated partner any rganisatin that can cntribute t the prmtin, implementatin, mnitring, evaluatin activities and/r sustainable develpment f an Actin 1, 2 r 3 cnsrtium/partnership, can be cnsidered as an assciated partner. This applies mre specifically t sci-ecnmic partners (i.e. cmmercial enterprises, public authrities r rganisatins, nn-prfit r charitable rganisatins, etc.), internatinal rganisatins r in certain cases t third-cuntry higher educatin institutins. In cntrast t "full partners" (see definitin belw), assciated partners are nt entitled t benefit directly frm the grant. Bachelr student / undergraduate (student in first cycle) a persn enrlled in a first cycle higher educatin prgramme and wh will btain after the cmpletin f the prgramme a first higher educatin degree. Beneficiary and c-beneficiary 12 the beneficiary (als referred t as main beneficiary r crdinating rganisatin ) is the rganisatin that, n behalf f the cnsrtium / partnership / netwrk f participating rganisatins, has signed an agreement with the Agency. The beneficiary has the primary legal respnsibility twards the Agency fr the prper executin f the agreement; it is als respnsible fr the verall and day-t-day crdinatin and management f the prject in the partnership, cnsrtium r netwrk, and fr the use f the EU funds allcated t the prject. Only in the cntext f a grant agreement with multiple beneficiaries can full partners be cnsidered as cbeneficiaries and include their expenditure in the final budget f the prject. In all ther circumstances, nly the expenditure incurred by the main beneficiary and duly recrded in its accunts in accrdance with the applicable accunting principles f the cuntry where it is established can be cnsidered as eligible. Crdinatr / crdinating rganisatin: The crdinatr is the prject leader in the crdinating rganisatin. He/she acts as cntact persn fr the Agency in all aspects related t the management f the prject. The crdinating rganisatin is the rganisatin respnsible fr the verall management f the prject in the partnership, cnsrtium r netwrk. The crdinating rganisatin usually acts as beneficiary (r main c-beneficiary) in the cntractual and financial relatins between the cnsrtium, partnership r netwrk and the Agency (see abve). C-tutelle jint supervisin f dctral studies by tw universities frm different cuntries; if successful, the dctral candidate will be awarded a jint r duble dctral degree awarded by the tw institutins. Diplma Supplement The Diplma Supplement mdel was develped by the Eurpean Cmmissin, Cuncil f Eurpe and UNESCO/CEPES. The purpse f the supplement is t prvide sufficient independent data t imprve the internatinal transparency and fair academic and prfessinal recgnitin f qualificatins (diplmas, degrees, certificates etc.). It is designed t prvide a descriptin f the nature, level, cntext, cntent and status f the studies that were pursued and successfully cmpleted by the individual 12 The c-beneficiary mdalities apply t Actin 3 prjects. 11

12 named n the riginal qualificatin t which this supplement is appended. It shuld be free frm any value judgements, equivalence statements r suggestins abut recgnitin. ( Disseminatin a planned prcess f disseminating infrmatin n the activities, utputs and results f prgrammes and prjects t key actrs and target grups. It ccurs as and when the results f prgrammes and initiatives becme available. Dctral candidate (candidate in third cycle) an early-stage researcher at the beginning f his/her research career, starting at the date f btaining the degree which wuld frmally entitle him/her t embark n a dctral prgramme. Dctral Candidate Agreement an agreement signed by the cnsrtium and the dctral candidate enrlled in the jint dctrate prgramme explicitly indicating any academic, research, financial and administrative mdalities related t the candidate's participatin in the prgramme and, if applicable, the award and usage f the fellwship. Dctral prgramme (third cycle) a research-related prgramme f higher educatin study and research that fllws a higher educatin degree and leads t a fully recgnised dctrate degree, ffered by higher educatin institutins r, in thse Member States where this is in accrdance with natinal legislatin and practice, by a research rganisatin. Dctral schl a research and pedaggical structure that grups and crdinates several research teams in the cntext f a cherent research prject and rganises and/r prvides training activities fr dctral candidates and prepares them t their prfessinal career. Duble r Multiple Degree - tw r mre natinal diplmas issued by tw r mre higher educatin institutins and recgnised fficially in the cuntries where the degree-awarding institutins are lcated. Editin f a Jint Masters Curse / Jint Dctrate Prgramme the "editin" f an EMMC r EMJD crrespnds t the cmplete duratin f the jint curse/prgramme frm the enrlment f the students/dctral candidates up t the award f their masters r dctral degree; nce selected, all individual EMMCs and EMJDs will be awarded a framewrk partnership agreement (see 4.5 r 5.5) cvering five cnsecutive "editins" f the jint curse/prgramme; each "editin" starts at the beginning f an academic year and ends ne, tw, three r fur years later depending n the duratin f the jint curse/prgramme. Emplyment Cntracts: in the cntext f Erasmus Mundus "Actin 1B Jint Dctral Prgrammes", "Emplyment cntracts" refer t the dctral candidates' recruitment methd that guarantees adequate and equitable scial security prvisins (including sickness and parental benefits, health and accident insurance, pensin rights and unemplyment benefits) in accrdance with existing natinal legislatin and with natinal r sectral cllective bargaining agreements. Prvided these cnditins are met, EMJD cnsrtia can pt fr the mst suitable enrlment framewrk. EURAXESS a prtal cntaining useful infrmatin n the management f research activities as well as the recruitment f researchers; mre infrmatin is available at: Eurpean Credit Transfer System (ECTS) a student-centred system aimed at facilitating students' mbility between different HEIs and based n the student wrklad required t achieve the bjectives f a prgramme, bjectives preferably specified in terms f the learning utcmes and cmpetences t be acquired. Mre infrmatin is available at: 12

13 Erasmus Mundus Jint Dctrate (EMJD) Cnsrtium Agreement an agreement signed by all cnsrtium full partners (and, if applicable, assciated partners) clearly laying dwn fr the jint dctral prgramme the academic, research, administrative and financial rules and prcedures in adherence with the rules and requirements as set ut in the Erasmus Mundus prgramme. Erasmus Mundus Masters Curse (EMMC) Cnsrtium Agreement an agreement signed by all cnsrtium full partners (and, if applicable, assciated partners) clearly laying dwn fr the jint masters curse the academic, administrative and financial rules and prcedures in adherence with the rules and requirements as set ut in the Erasmus Mundus prgramme. Erasmus Mundus Natinal Structures Erasmus Mundus Natinal Structures are cntact and infrmatin pints designated by the participating Eurpean cuntries; they infrm the public abut the prgramme, ffer assistance and advice t ptential applicants and actual participants and prvide feedback n prgramme implementatin t the Cmmissin and the Agency; they can prvide useful infrmatin abut the particularities f natinal educatin systems, visa requirements, credit transfers, and ther tls; they are cnsulted n the recgnitin f degrees, the eligibility f institutins and ther quality elements related t the prgramme. See list f Erasmus Mundus Natinal Structures under Chapter 8. Enterprise all undertakings engaged in ecnmic activity in the public and private sectr, whatever their size, legal status r the ecnmic sectr in which they perate, including the scial ecnmy. Eurpean Qualificatin Framewrk (EQF) acts as a translatin device t make natinal qualificatins mre readable acrss Eurpe, prmting wrkers' and learners' mbility between cuntries and facilitating their lifelng learning; mre infrmatin is available at: "Eurpean cuntry" a cuntry which is a Member State f the Eurpean Unin r any ther cuntry which participates in the prgramme accrding t Article 9 f the Prgramme Decisin (i.e. EEA cuntries; candidate cuntries with a pre-accessin strategy, and ptential candidate cuntries f Western Balkans and the Swiss Cnfederatin, prvided an agreement establishing their participatin in the EM prgramme is in frce by the date f the selectin decisin). Shuld this nt be the case, HEIs frm the cuntry cncerned will be cnsidered as third-cuntry rganisatins entitled t participate in prjects as partners but nt t submit r crdinate them, and their natinals cnsidered as third-cuntry natinals 13. Please find belw fr each f the three Actins f the Prgramme, the list f "Eurpean cuntries" at the time f drafting the present versin f the Prgramme Guide: 13 The participatin f third cuntry rganisatins and/r natinals under Actin 2 is directly linked t the gegraphical cverage f the specific lsts cncerned. 13

14 "Eurpean Cuntries" in accrdance with Article 9 f the Prgramme Decisin at the time f drafting the present versin f the Guide Cuntries Actin 1 and 3 Actin 2 27 EU Member States Yes Yes EFTA cuntries Iceland Yes N Liechtenstein Yes N Nrway Yes N Switzerland N N Western Balkan cuntries [Albania, Bsnia and Herzegvina, Cratia 14, Frmer Yugslav Republic f Macednia (FYROM), Ksv 15 - under UNSC 1244/1999, Mntenegr, Serbia] N N Eurpean individual a persn wh is a natinal r a resident f a Eurpean cuntry as specified abve. Eurpean institutin an institutin which is lcated in any f the Eurpean cuntries as specified abve. Evaluatin Cmmittee the cmmittee in charge f drafting the selectin prpsal that will be subject f the frmal grant award decisin; the cmpsitin f the evaluatin cmmittee may vary frm ne actin t anther but it must be cmpsed f at least three persns representing tw different rganisatinal entities with n hierarchical link between them. Fr Erasmus Mundus it is cmpsed f representatives frm the Agency and frm the services cncerned in the Eurpean Cmmissin; fr Actin 1, this evaluatin cmmittee is assisted by a Selectin Bard cmpsed f leading figures frm Eurpean academia prpsed by the Member States f the EU and appinted by the Cmmissin. Explitatin f results cnsists f mainstreaming and multiplicatin. Mainstreaming is the planned prcess f transferring the successful results f prgrammes and initiatives t apprpriate decisinmakers in regulated lcal, reginal, natinal and Eurpean systems. Multiplicatin is the planned prcess f cnvincing individual end-users t adpt and/r apply the results f prgrammes and initiatives. Full Partner any rganisatin fulfilling the Actin-specific eligibility criteria, which acts as a full member f a cnsrtium, partnership r prject netwrk. In cntrast with "assciated partners" (see definitin abve), full partners can benefit frm the EU grant and in clse cperatin with the beneficiary play a decisive rle in the management and implementatin f the prject cperatin activities. Higher educatin all types f curses f study, r sets f curses f study, training r training fr research at the pst-secndary level which are recgnized by the relevant natinal authrities f a participating cuntry as belnging t its higher educatin system. 14 As frm 01 July 2013, Cratia shuld becme the 28th Member State f the Eurpean Unin and shuld therefre be cnsidered as a "Eurpean cuntry" in the cntext f the Erasmus Mundus Prgramme. As a result, Cratian individuals and institutins are invited t cnsult the frthcming EM calls f prpsals in rder t verify their eligibility status fr the calls cncerned. 15 This designatin is withut prejudice t psitins n status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinin n the Ksv Declaratin f Independence 14

15 Higher Educatin Institutin (HEI) an establishment prviding higher educatin and recgnized by the cmpetent natinal authrity f a participating cuntry as belnging t its system f higher educatin; fr the purpses f Actin 1 B - Jint Dctral prgrammes, the cncept f HEI includes als dctral/graduate/research schls and research rganisatins n the cnditin that they prvide dctral training and research activities, and deliver dctrate degrees recgnised as such by the relevant authrities f the cuntry cncerned. Higher educatin staff persns wh, thrugh their duties, are invlved directly in the educatinal and/r administrative prcess related t higher educatin. Jint degree a single diplma issued by at least tw higher educatin institutins ffering an integrated prgramme and recgnised fficially in the cuntries where the degree-awarding institutins are lcated; in accrdance with the Erasmus Mundus Prgramme Decisin, prgrammes resulting in the award f jint degrees shall be prmted. Marie Curie Initial Training Netwrk a Eurpean Cmmissin-funded prgramme aimed t imprve early-stage researchers' career prspects in bth the public and private sectrs, thereby making research careers mre attractive t yung peple; mre infrmatin can be btained frm Masters prgramme (secnd cycle) a secnd cycle higher educatin prgramme that fllws a first degree r equivalent level f learning and that leads t a masters degree ffered by a higher educatin institutin and recgnised as such by the relevant authrities f the cuntry where the master degree is delivered. Masters student (student in secnd cycle) a persn enrlled in a secnd cycle higher educatin prgramme and wh has already btained a first higher educatin degree r has a recgnised equivalent level f learning accrding t natinal legislatin and practices. Memrandum f Understanding: a dcument that describes all the agreements reached between the partners with regard t all aspects related t the management f the partnerships and rganisatin f the mbility. It utlines the rle and respnsibility f the partners within the rganisatin cncerning mbility activities, the prcedure and criteria fr the selectin f candidates and the measures freseen t tackle specific prgramme bjectives such as recgnitin, quality assurance, preventin f brain drain and sustainability. It must als cntain specific prvisins in terms f financial management f the grant. Mbility mving physically t anther cuntry, in rder t undertake study, wrk experience, research, ther learning r teaching r research activity r related administrative activity, supprted as apprpriate by preparatin in the hst language. Pst-dctral Prgramme higher educatin study r research ffered by a higher educatin institutin r a research rganisatin established in accrdance with natinal legislatin and practice that fllws a dctral degree. Prmtin and awareness raising is used primarily in the cntext f publicising the existence f prgrammes and initiatives, their aims, bjectives and activities and the availability f funding fr given purpses. Pst-dctral Researcher an experienced researcher wh is in pssessin f a dctral degree r wh has at least three years f full-time equivalent research experience, including the perid f research training, at a research rganisatin established in accrdance with natinal legislatin and practice after btaining the degree which frmally allwed him/her t embark n a dctral prgramme ffered by 15

16 higher educatin institutin. Schlar / academic a persn with utstanding academic and/r prfessinal experience wh lectures r cnducts research in a higher educatin institutin r a research rganisatin established in accrdance with natinal legislatin and practice. Student Agreement an agreement signed by the cnsrtium and student enrlled in the jint masters curse explicitly indicating any academic, financial and administrative mdalities related t the student's participatin in the jint curse and, if applicable, the award and usage f the schlarship. Third-cuntry a cuntry which is nt a Eurpean cuntry as specified abve. Third-cuntry individual a persn wh is neither a natinal nr a resident f a Eurpean cuntry as specified abve. Third-cuntry institutin an institutin that is nt lcated in any f the Eurpean cuntries as specified abve. The cuntries participating in the Lifelng Learning Prgramme 16 are nt cnsidered as third cuntries fr the implementatin f Actin OJ L 327, , p

17 3 COMMON ELEMENTS APPLICABLE TO ALL ACTIONS The fllwing sectin applies t all three Actins cvered by the Prgramme Guide. The enclsed prcedure and criteria must therefre be respected by all applicants and participants independently frm the Actin they apply t r participate in. They are cmplemented by specific elements applicable t individual Actins which are described in detail in the crrespnding chapters f the Guide. Grant applicatins are selected in accrdance with fur different types f criteria, i.e. eligibility, exclusin, selectin and award criteria. While exclusin and selectin criteria described under sectins 3.2 and 3.3 are identical fr all Erasmus Mundus Actins, the ther criteria vary frm ne Actin t anther and are described in detail in the relevant sectins f the Guide. 3.1 APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURES a) Applicants are invited t submit their prpsal in accrdance with the eligibility, selectin and award criteria relevant t the Erasmus Mundus Actin they intend t apply t; b) There must be ne c-crdinating/applicant rganisatin that submits the applicatin n behalf f the cnsrtium / partnership / netwrk f participating rganisatins; c) The crdinating/applicant institutin will be the cntact pint fr the prpsal in its relatins with the Agency. If the prpsal is selected, it will enter int legal cmmitments with the Agency and will fficially represent and reprt fr the cnsrtium / partnership / netwrk; d) Prpsals must be submitted t the Agency in accrdance with the prcedure indicated in the applicatin frm 17 ; e) The applicatin deadline may vary in accrdance with the Actin cncerned. It is mentined n the relevant applicatin frm and call fr prpsals; f) Grant applicatins must be drawn up in ne f the EU languages specified in the applicatin frm, using the frm specifically designed fr this purpse; g) Only applicatins submitted by the deadline and in accrdance with the requirements specified n the frm will be accepted; h) N changes t the prpsal can be made after the applicatin has been submitted. Hwever, if there is a need t clarify certain aspects, the applicant may be cntacted fr this purpse; i) Thrughut the selectin prcedure, infrmatin abut the utcme f individual applicatins may nt be given; j) Applicants will be infrmed by the Agency f the receipt f their prpsal within 15 wrking days; k) Only applicatins that meet nne f the the general exclusin criteria (see 3.2 belw) and which fulfil the Actin-specific selectin and eligibility criteria will be cnsidered fr a grant. If an applicatin is deemed ineligible, a letter indicating the reasns will be sent t the applicant; l) Prjects will be selected in accrdance with the budget available fr the actin cncerned and the quality f the prpsals submitted; m) All applicants will be infrmed f the results f the selectin in writing. The intentin is t infrm applicants f the utcme f the selectin prcedure n later than 6 mnths after the submissin deadline; 17 If e-applicatins are used, specific prcedures will be described in the relevant electrnic frms and instructins. 17

18 n) It is planned that beneficiaries will receive their grant agreement within 3 mnths frm the date f infrmatin f the successful applicants. Summary f the selectin prcedure applicable t Erasmus Mundus prpsals Registratin and acknwledgement f receipt by the Agency. Check f eligibility and selectin criteria carried ut by the Agency. Assessment carried ut by internatinal academic experts cvering the apprpriate disciplines and having experience in internatinal cperatin prjects in the field f higher educatin. Meeting f the Evaluatin Cmmittee t recmmend prpsals fr selectin. Fr Actin 1, the Evaluatin Cmmittee is assisted by a Selectin Bard cmpsed f leading persnalities frm Eurpean academia prpsed by the Member States and appinted by the Eurpean Cmmissin. In parallel t steps 3 and 4 and if applicable, cnsultatin f Natinal Structures and/r EU Delegatins fr eligibility matters relating t HEIs. Preparatin f a draft grant award decisin by the Agency taking int accunt the pinins issued during steps 3, 4 and 5 abve. Adptin f the grant award decisin by the Agency 18. Eligible applicants are infrmed by the Agency abut the grant award decisin. The experts assessment is prvided t all applicants. Applicatin Deadlines The fllwing deadlines are prvided fr infrmatin nly. Applicant candidates are invited t cnsult the relevant call fr prpsals fr a cnfirmatin f the submissin deadline. Actin Actin 1A Jint Masters Curses (EMMC) Actin 1 B Jint Dctrate Prgrammes (EMJD) Actin 2 Partnerships Actin 3 Prmtin f Eurpean Higher Educatin Deadlines 15 April (nt applicable in 2013) 15 April 15 April Any questin r request fr additinal infrmatin cncerning the applicatin prcedure fr any f the three Actins f the prgramme in the cntext f the annual call fr prpsals must be submitted t: EACEA-Erasmus-Mundus@ec.eurpa.eu. 3.2 EXCLUSION CRITERIA Applicants and (c-)beneficiaries must state that they are nt in any f the situatins described in Articles 106(1), 107 and 109 f the Financial Regulatin applicable t the general budget f the Unin 19 and set ut belw In parallel and fr Actins 1 and 3 nly, transmissin f the selectin prpsal by the Cmmissin t the Prgramme Cmmittee and the Eurpean Parliament fr infrmatin. 18

19 They will be excluded frm participating in Erasmus Mundus Calls fr Prpsals if they are in any f the fllwing situatins: a) they are bankrupt r being wund up, are having their affairs administered by the curts, have entered int an arrangement with creditrs, have suspended business activities, are the subject f prceedings cncerning thse matters, r are in any analgus situatin arising frm a similar prcedure prvided fr in natinal legislatin r regulatins; b) they r persns having pwers f representatin, decisin making r cntrl ver them have been cnvicted f an ffence cncerning their prfessinal cnduct by a judgment f a cmpetent authrity f a Member State which has the frce f res judicata; c) they have been guilty f grave prfessinal miscnduct prven by any means which the respnsible Authrising Officer can justify including by decisins f the EIB and internatinal rganisatins; d) they are nt in cmpliance with their bligatins relating t the payment f scial security cntributins r the payment f taxes in accrdance with the legal prvisins f the cuntry in which they are established r with thse f the cuntry f the respnsible Authrising Officer r thse f the cuntry where the grant agreement is t be perfrmed; e) they r persns having pwers f representatin, decisin making r cntrl ver them have been the subject f a judgment which has the frce f res judicata fr fraud, crruptin, invlvement in a criminal rganisatin, mney laundering r any ther illegal activity, where such illegal activity is detrimental t the Unin's financial interests; f) they are subject t an administrative penalty referred t in Article 109(1) f the Financial Regulatin Applicants, (c-)beneficiaries and schlarship candidates cannt be granted financial assistance if, n the date f the grant award decisin, they: a) are subject t a cnflict f interest; b) are guilty f misrepresentingthe infrmatin required by the Agency as a cnditin f participatin in the grant award prcedure r fail t supply that infrmatin; c) find themselves in ne f the situatins f exclusin, referred t in Article 106(1) f the Financial Regulatin; In accrdance with Articles frm 109 f the Financial Regulatin, administrative and financial penalties may be impsed n beneficiaries wh are guilty f misrepresentatin r are fund t have seriusly failed t meet their cntractual bligatins under a previus grant award prcedure. T cmply with these prvisins, applicants and partners 21 fr a grant exceeding EUR must sign a declaratin n their hnur certifying that they are nt in any f the situatins referred t in Articles 106(1) and 107 f the Financial Regulatin. 19 REGULATION (EU, EURATOM) N 966/2012 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL f 25 Octber 2012 n the financial rules applicable t the general budget f the Unin ((therein referred t as the "Financial Regulatin) 20 This prvisin des nt apply fr grants which are lwer than r equal t EUR (Article 131(4)(a) FR) 21 Fr Actin 1 and 2 applicatins, this declaratin n hnur will be signed nly by the applicant institutin n behalf f its cnsrtium partners. 19

20 3.3 SELECTION CRITERIA OPERATIONAL CAPACITY Applicants and (c-)beneficiaries must have the prfessinal cmpetence and qualificatins required t cmplete the prpsed prject. In rder t demnstrate this cmpetence, an applicatin fr a grant abve EUR will have t include the CVs f the persns respnsible fr the implementatin and management f the prject within each f the partner institutins 22. If applicable, the peratinal capacity f an applicant will be assessed taking int accunt the different applicatins submitted by the same rganisatin/department in the cntext f the same call fr prpsals. FINANCIAL CAPACITY Applicants and (c-)beneficiaries must have stable and sufficient surces f funding necessary t maintain their activity thrughut the perid during which the prject is being carried ut. In rder t allw an assessment f their financial capacity, applicants must submit, either with their applicatin r prir t the cntractualisatin stage (the prcedure applicable will be specified in the applicatin frm attached t the relevant call fr prpsals): a declaratin n their hnur, cmpleted and duly signed, attesting t their status as a legal persn and that they have the peratinal and financial capacity t cmplete the prpsed prject and/r the Financial Identificatin Frm 23 cmpleted by the applicant rganisatin and certified by the bank (riginal signatures required). 3.4 FINANCIAL CONDITIONS General Cnditins Applicable t EU Grants Applicants and future beneficiaries shuld be reminded that EU grants are incentives t carry ut prjects that wuld nt be feasible withut EU's financial supprt and are based n the principle f c-financing. They cmplement the applicant s wn financial cntributin and/r natinal, reginal r private assistance that has been btained elsewhere; Each prject may give rise t the award f nly ne EU grant t any ne beneficiary. The award f grants shall be subject t the principle f transparency and equal treatment; Grants may nt be cumulative r awarded retrspectively; hwever, a grant may be awarded fr a prject that has already begun nly where the applicant can demnstrate the need t start the prject befre the agreement is signed. In such cases, expenditure eligible fr financing may nt have been incurred prir t the date f submissin f the grant applicatin; Acceptance f a grant applicatin des nt cnstitute an undertaking t award a financial cntributin equal t the amunt requested by the beneficiary. Althugh the allcated amunt may nt exceed the amunt requested, a grant f less than the amunt requested by the applicant may be awarded; The awarding f a grant des nt establish an entitlement fr subsequent years; The EU grant may nt have the purpse r effect f prducing a prfit fr the beneficiary 24. Prfit is defined as a surplus f receipts 25 ver the eligible csts incurred by the beneficiary, when the request 22 The number and nature f the CVs t be prvided will be specified in the applicatin frm attached t the relevant call fr prpsals