Erasmus+ for Schools Applying in 2017

Transcription

1 Erasmus+ for Schools Applying in 2017

2 2 Erasmus+ for Schools 3 About Erasmus+ Erasmus+ is the European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport. It runs for seven years, from 2014 to 2020, with organisations invited to apply for funding each year to undertake unique and worthwhile activities. Key facts and figures Over its lifetime, Erasmus+ has an overall budget of 14.7 billion for the development of knowledge and skills. A proportion of this budget is allocated to provide funding for schools projects. Erasmus+ in the UK is managed by the UK National Agency, a partnership between the British Council and Ecorys UK. Changing Lives, Opening Minds Erasmus+ enables your school to organise teaching or training abroad for your teachers and other support staff, to exchange the best in modern European schools practice, improve teaching or staff practices and make your school s European Development Plan come to life. You can also create partnerships with other schools, with local or regional authorities and with organisations involved in education and training or youth practice across the European Union and beyond. There is a range of online tools to support you through the process such as the School Education Gateway portal, which is a source of school education policy and resources, as well as a partner and opportunities finding tool and etwinning, where you can start, grow or extend your partnership or Erasmus+ project. There s a whole world of opportunities for schools within Erasmus+. Erasmus+ and the EU referendum The referendum result does not affect UK organisations applying for Erasmus+ funding in 2017 or taking part as a partner or consortium member. Applications that are successful under the 2017 Call will be awarded funding for the duration of the project. Other (8.8%) Sport (1.8%) Jean Monnet (1.9%) Youth (10%) Education and training (77.5%) Higher education (43%) Education & Training VET (22%) Adult education Unallocated (5%) (15%) Schools (15%) With this funding, by 2020, the European Union aims to support: more than 200,000 teachers collaborating online and involving more than 100,000 schools through etwinning; 800,000 lecturers, teachers, trainers, education staff and youth workers to teach or train abroad; 25,000 partnerships, involving 125,000 organisations, to implement joint initiatives and promote exchange of experience, know-how and links with the world of work.

3 4 Erasmus+ for Schools 5 What can I do? There are a number of different funding streams available under Erasmus+ for which UK schools providing general, vocational or technical education at any level from pre-school to upper secondary education can apply. Schools funding is split into two areas: Funding for teaching or training abroad for school staff. This activity is known as mobility and is Key Action 1 of Erasmus+; Funding to link with other organisations to develop innovation and exchange of good practices. This is known as Key Action 2 Strategic Partnerships between schools, local and regional authorities and other sectors. Information on all schools funding opportunities can be found on our website at: /schools-funding Mobility for school staff (Key Action 1) Teaching or training abroad Whether you are a teacher or support staff in a school, Key Action 1 is the funding strand that applies to you as an individual. It is about mobility which would usually mean you spend time abroad. Mobility projects can cover one or more of the following: study courses, observation, job shadowing, training and teaching. Overall, projects last from between 1 to 2 years, but for individuals or groups of staff this can mean activity for as little as 2 days or up to 2 months in duration. Mobility projects are transnational and so all project activity except structured courses or training events must involve at least two schools your own school and the partner school(s) abroad. To successfully apply for funding for a Mobility Key Action 1 project a school should be aiming to support the professional development of some or all of the school staff, as a part of the school s European Development Plan. Types of Mobility for school staff include: a teaching assignment: allowing staff of school education organisations to teach at a partner organisation abroad; staff training: supporting the professional development of school staff (including nonteaching staff) in either: - participation in structured courses or training events abroad; or - a job shadowing/observation period abroad in any relevant organisation active in school education.

4 6 Erasmus+ for Schools 7 Funding An Erasmus+ grant is intended as a contribution to the costs of your project so it may not cover the total cost. Funding will come in the form of a unit cost or (a percentage of the) real cost. You could receive the following funding per participant: Travel from the place of origin to the venue of the activity. Individual support this is for day to day costs of attending the project including local travel, food and accommodation. Course fees enrolment fee. Organisational support this is for organisation, management and implementation of the activity and can cover supply staff costs. Special needs support specific additional costs for participants with a disability or specific needs. Strategic Partnerships (Key Action 2) Under Key Action 2, funding is available for Strategic Partnerships between schools only and also between schools and other organisations active in the field of school education. The aim of the partnership is to create a group to tackle particular issues related to schools education, such as teaching standards, entrepreneurship, citizenship, basic skills or linguistic skills, through collaboration and innovation. It is still possible to include pupils on short term visits/exchanges under Key Action 2 but only if this part of the activity helps to deliver the project s outcomes. These can be school-only partnerships, school education partnerships between local/ regional school authorities with or without schools or even partnerships between schools and other education and training organisations. Schools can choose to be the lead organisation or the partner. Projects can last between 1 and 3 years, or a pro rata duration in between. The lead organisation applies to the Erasmus+ National Agency in their country for funding on behalf of the project as a whole.

5 8 Erasmus+ for Schools 9 Types of Strategic Partnership activities include: developing, testing and implementing innovative approaches and practices for pupils, staff and organisations; cross-sectoral co-operation between schools and other organisations leading to curriculum development, reinforcing basic skills, combating violence in schools as some examples; local consortia between local/regional authorities and schools to improve the educational offer for young people; facilitating the recognition and certification of skills and competences; short-term exchanges of groups of pupils on study/training periods within a project aiming to promote linguistic skills and intercultural awareness for example; the encouragement of active citizenship and entrepreneurship; the use of etwinning for online collaboration between partners and/or students and for teacher, student teacher and teacher educator professional development. Strategic Partnerships with organisations in other sectors As well as working with local authorities, you can also work with organisations in sectors other than in school education: higher education, vocational education and training, adult education, sport and youth. Partnerships involving schools are encouraged to include a range of partner organisations that could add value to a project, for example enterprise organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and cultural bodies. The funding for this strand is available under Key Action 2 and must include at least three partners from three different countries. Online tools and resources Sign up to etwinning etwinning is the European Commission s online community for schools, and provides a secure collaboration space and online tools. As part of the Erasmus+ programme, it can be your first step to Mobility Key Action 1 and Strategic Partnerships Key Action 2 projects. As a teacher in a school or college, you can search for partners before an Erasmus+ project, engage in online partnerships and carry out an Erasmus+ project within a secure platform - free of charge. You and your students (aged between 3-19) can form short or long term partnerships, collaborate on a whole range of curriculum based projects in any subject area and use an array of exciting and innovative ICT tools. The National Support Service for etwinning in the UK is the British Council, who will support you through your journey. With more than 380,000 registered users, why not register on the etwinning website today or sign up to a workshop? It s quick, safe and easy to use. Funding An Erasmus+ grant is intended as a contribution to the costs of your project so it may not cover the total cost. Funding will come in the form of a unit cost or (a percentage of the) real cost. You could receive funding for the following: Project management. Travel grants. Transnational project meetings. Learning, teaching and training activities. Multiplier events. Subsistence. Producing intellectual outputs. Special needs support.

6 10 Erasmus+ for Schools 11 School Education Gateway School Education Gateway is a European Commission (EC) portal to help schools get the most from Erasmus+. It provides a one stop shop for teachers, schools, and education professionals on European education policy, news, trends, resources and opportunities. Importantly it provides helpful online tools to find partners and source professional development opportunities funded through Erasmus+. Before you apply for your Erasmus+ schools project, register on the School Education Gateway to find professional development and partnership opportunities for school staff to support Mobility Key Action 1 and Strategic Partnerships Key Action 2 projects. School Education Gateway has three vital tools for schools involved in Erasmus+: for Key Action 1 school staff mobility activities: - a course catalogue for finding and rating staff training opportunities - a mobility opportunities database for finding and posting job shadowing, observation and teaching assignment opportunities. for Key Action 2 partnerships for schools; - a partnerships area, for finding and posting partnership opportunities. The School Education Gateway is linked to etwinning and you can use your etwinning log-in to access it. Please visit: /schooleducationgateway for more information. Why take part? Builds relationships Erasmus+ can strengthen relationships between staff, pupils and teachers as well as build links with the wider community. One out of two partnerships has led to more parental involvement in school and to improved collaboration with local authorities. Erasmus+ can be a part of your school s international and partnership activity these activities can help with your education inspection, or school improvement plan. Helps you retain valued staff Erasmus+ activities make staff feel valued. The chance to spend time in another European country, studying, job shadowing or on a school partnership visit, means staff also return to school refreshed, energised and more motivated. Improves teaching and learning etwinning and Erasmus+ actions apply pedagogical principles such as motivation, technical integration and socialisation to promote the acquisition of 21st century skills. Crosscurricular projects (which can involve students of different ages) help teachers and students, including those who are difficult to engage or less academic, to collaborate in new ways. Other benefits for your school; Costs for supply staff can be covered in the funding. Supports the delivery of modern foreign languages across your school. Improves the quality of teaching and learning across your school. Improves self-confidence and motivation among both staff and pupils. Travel opportunities in Europe for staff and pupils. Increases skills and competences among all staff, not only teachers. Enhances pupils and teachers intercultural awareness and understanding. Builds pupils life skills, which will help with future employment. Enhances the reputation of your school in the UK and throughout Europe.

7 12 Erasmus+ for Schools 13 Case studies St Mary s Primary School (Key Action 1 & 2) Welcoming Europe into the Class Dissolving European Boundaries St Mary s Primary School in Northern Ireland has partnered with schools from Greece, Finland, Italy, Spain and the Republic of Ireland. Their Key Action 2 project Dissolving European Boundaries directly involves children from across all the schools in the partnership. It is envisaged that pupils will gain knowledge, skills and competencies which will enable them to travel for work and education in the future. In addition to their 34,580 partnership funding, St Mary s has also received 45,145 funding for their Key Action 1 staff mobility project Welcoming Europe into the Class. St Mary s staff will travel to visit other educational settings across Europe or attend international training courses. Staff will compare education systems and meet and exchange ideas with European peers to find solutions to problems faced by primary schools on a day-to-day basis. Recent evaluations from past pupils highlighted the many happy memories associated through participation in previous European partnerships. Many also commented on their choice of career being influenced by involvement in such projects. Canning Street Primary School (Key Action 2) Successful Scientists Taking part in Comenius (the predecessor European Union schools programme) and Erasmus+ has given the staff involved the confidence to take learning beyond the classroom and develop the experiences for all teachers. By travelling and coming together with their European partners they have been able to find out more about their pedagogical approaches and share knowledge. It has given both teachers and pupils the opportunity to learn more about the culture of their partner countries and pupils have visited places that otherwise would have been beyond their reach. Through these experiences our school has changed the way in which we teach our thematic curriculum to include a more global approach. We have achieved the International School Award for the third time and have helped other schools to become involved in Erasmus+. We are also now on the verge of becoming a centre of excellence for the Global Learning Programme. Since October 2014, the partners on the mobility project have met twice to make introductions and then to discuss how each school was promoting an eco-friendly environment. The group planned activities at each school for pupils across the age ranges Pupils at St. Mary s are currently designing and creating their own eco characters. These characters will feature in short videos and will be used to promote eco credentials.

8 14 Erasmus+ for Schools 15 How to apply A step-by-step guide to applying 1 Be an eligible UK school Check your school is on the relevant UK country education department s database with a URN/SEED, as appropriate. You will need to be a school recognised by the government. Visit: /eligibleschools 5 Register on ECAS and obtain your PIC Create an ECAS account and register in the Portal to obtain a nine digit PIC (Participant Identification Code) which you and your partners will need in order to complete the eform. 2 3 Sign up to etwinning and the School Education Gateway for free Finding appropriate partners is key to a successful project. You can search for partners using both the etwinning portal and the School Education Gateway (which allows you to use your etwinning login). Find out more: Review your organisational and financial capacity As part of your application you will need to demonstrate that you have the capacity to successfully administer and deliver your Erasmus+ project. 6 7 Fill out the eform Choose the correct eform for your sector, Key Action and funding round. Ensure you have enough time to do this, check that all fields are correctly filled out and validate the form. Only then will you be able to submit. Check the deadline and dates Check and double-check the deadline and the time for submitting your online application form. Also check the project start and end dates. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Visit: /schools-funding for more information. 4 Decide on your project Decide on a project for your school based on the activities allowed under a Key Action.

9 16 Erasmus+ for Schools 17 How to apply Top tips UK schools recognised by the government (and not teachers or pupils by themselves) can apply for Erasmus+ funding to run their mobility, partnership or other projects each year. Schools may only apply for funding for one project per Round of funding. For Key Action 1 and Key Action 2 there is generally one deadline in a calendar year. We publish these deadlines on the UK website as soon as they are announced by the European Commission. This is referred to as a Call for Proposals. Please note that all applications must be made by an organisation, not by individuals, whether for Key Action 1 or Key Action 2. Applications are made online. There is a specific electronic application form for each Key Action and sector, so it is important to download the correct form. Five top tips: 1. Whether you have been successful or unsuccessful in applying for funding for a project, you can still apply for another project in the next funding Round. 2. Start your application well before the due date, in case there are any issues with IT on deadline day. 3. When your PIC is entered into an application form, your organisation s details will be entered automatically. 4. You should refer to your school s European Development Plan in your application, to show the school vision for European activities which support teaching and learning. 5. Feeling confused by the jargon? Visit /glossary for a glossary of terms. Read more top tips at /toptips

10 18 Erasmus+ for Schools 19 Support from the UK National Agency Whether you are new to the programme, or have applied before, at the UK National Agency we are here to support you all the way, from application guidance through to managing your project. Erasmus+ information sessions these are aimed at newcomers, and take place each autumn in locations across the UK. Guides for applicants for each Key Action and sector, the UK NA provides application guidance documents, available for download from our website. Application support webinars these may be pre-recorded or live events, which may include a Q&A session, for more detail on the application process in the run up to the funding deadline(s). Advice sessions you can call or us for specific advice about completing your application and we may also occasionally run extra advice webinars or events. Contact us The UK National Agency is a partnership between the British Council and Ecorys UK. This page sets out how you can contact us for advice and guidance on Erasmus+. Enquiries on schools funding T: E: erasmusplus.enquiries@britishcouncil.org Visit /events for upcoming events. Funding deadlines Deadlines are announced by the European Commission during each annual Call to Apply but can change, so please visit /deadlines

11 Erasmus+ is the European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport. The Erasmus+ UK National Agency is a partnership between the British Council and Ecorys UK. SCH 2017/B