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26/01/2016 Info Session Webinar Quality assurance at European level for enhanced transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications (Call for proposals EACEA/48/2015)
26/01/2016
Info Session Webinar
Quality assurance at European level for enhanced transparency and recognition of skills and
qualifications (Call for proposals EACEA/48/2015)
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Aim of the webinar
• To provide potential applicants with information about the Call and the application process;
• To provide an opportunity to ask questions about the Call and the application process.
Agenda of the webinar
Time Topic Speaker
10.00 - 10:15 How to use the webinar? Technical aspects Ildiko HEGEDUS - EACEA
10:15 - 10:25 Welcome and introduction Graziella RIZZA – EACEA
10:25 - 10:45
Quality assurance at European level for
enhanced transparency and recognition of
skills and qualification Karin VAN DER SANDEN - DG EMPL
10:45 – 11:25 How to prepare and submit an application Gloria BARILARI - EACEA
11:25– 11:55 Questions & Answers session
11:55 – 12:00 Closure of the Webinar Graziella RIZZA – EACEA
Who's running the webinar?
Graziella,
EACEA
Gloria,
EACEA
Ben,
DG HR
Ildiko,
EACEA
Karin,
DG EMPL
Quality Assurance at EU level for enhanced transparency and
recognition of skills and qualifications
Why the call
Easy understanding and recognition of
skills and
qualifications of individuals
Learning and workforce mobility
Better skilled workforce better used across EU
.
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The wider context
The New Skills Agenda for Europe
Overall goals:
Increase skills levels in Europe as a means to better lives and jobs…
… and boost competitiveness & support fair and balanced growth reaping the full benefits of digital & technological advancements
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Main areas of focus
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Deliver higher and more relevant skills
Facilitate visibility and recognition
Improve skills intelligence
Facilitate visibility
EQF is at core of EU transparency initiatives
• A translation grid of 8-Levels
• Covering all types and all levels of qualifications
• Voluntary process and tool
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EQF Milestones
• National qualifications levels are referenced to the EQF (based on 10 criteria)
• Putting EQF levels on new diplomas/certificates and/or Europass supplements
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NQF referenced until now
Planning to ref by 2016
NQF presented but not refer.
Non-MS not yet referenced
Task of Member States 1: reference national system to EQF
Evaluation of the EQF
Transparent and coherent EQF referencing should be enhanced, in light of the changing nature of qualifications systems
The link between qualifications frameworks and quality assurance systems should be strengthened
The role of the EQF in relation to international qualifications and third country qualifications should be clarified
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Facilitate recognition
Transparency of learning outcomes and quality will support fair, reliable and efficient recognition decisions
The decision whether or not to admit a learner or employ a worker is not part of the recognition decision
Formal and De-facto recognition
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Formal recognition
The process of granting official status to acquired learning outcomes for purposes of further studies or employment, through:
i) Award of qualifications (certificates, diploma or titles)
ii) Validation of non-formal and informal learning
iii) Grant of equivalence, credit units or waivers
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What is de-facto recognition
The acknowledgement of value of skills and qualifications by economic and social stakeholders (such as employers)
It can lead to access to a non-regulated profession or non-formal training
It does not lead to formal recognition of achieved learning outcomes
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Current EU policy development
• New Skills Agenda for Europe (negotiation with MS starting 2nd half 2016)
• Revision of the EQF Recommendation including exploring the possibilities for
• International qualifications
• International sectoral frameworks and systems
• Studies (final results mid 2016)
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– Studies and pilots support thinking on if and how to address the themes at EU level
– International qualifications and international sectoral frameworks and systems addressed in EQF revision
– Core profiles NOT in revision or skills agenda but exploration on theoretical basis
– All results:
need to be based on reinforcing EU Cooperation
need to involve Member States and Stakeholders
need to be underpinned by quality assurance
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Relation of pilots to policy developments
Details of themes A, B and C of the call
Objectives of the call
General objective:
Test possible key criteria, and methodologies at European level that could be applied when
a) relating international qualifications or international sectorial qualifications systems or frameworks to the EQF and for awarding international qualifications that are related to the EQF
b) relating potential European core profiles of qualifications to the EQF and for awarding1 qualifications forthcoming from them
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Awarding in this context meaning: the certification process including assessment, validation and award
With the aim
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Creating ground for trust comparable to the level of trust achieved through the EQF referencing process in the levels and content
Support de-facto recognition of qualifications forthcoming from European core profiles of qualifications
Improve the de-facto and formal recognition of international qualifications
Relating an international sectorial qualifications system or framework to the EQF and describing quality assurance principles, mechanisms and possible quality criteria for this and for awarding qualifications forthcoming from it
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Criteria for establishing which international/sectorial systems or frameworks can be related to the EQF
Methodology, common quality assurance principles, mechanisms and quality criteria
Example of a potential relation of an international sectorial qualifications system or framework and EQF
Report demonstrating the validation with stakeholders from education and training and the labour market
Theme A
Relating (one or more) international qualification(s) to the EQF and describing quality assurance principles and mechanisms for awarding this qualification(s).
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Criteria for establishing which international qualifications, can be related to the EQF
Methodology, common quality assurance principles, mechanisms and quality criteria
Example of a potential relation of an international qualification and EQF
Report demonstrating the validation with stakeholders from education and training and the labour market
Theme B
Developing one or more potential European core profiles, relating it/them to the EQF and describing quality assurance principles and mechanisms for awarding qualifications forthcoming from it.
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Exhaustive inventory/mapping in a minimum of 10 eligible countries, describing content and structure of existing education/training and labour market information related to the chosen qualifications
One or more European core profile(s)of a qualification, related to the EQF and expressed in terms of knowledge, skills and competences
Quality assurance principles and mechanisms and possible quality criteria for development of a core profile and award of qualifications forthcoming from it
Report on a common position among all interested organisations on the developed results
Theme C
IMPORTANT
• Since currently no formal possibility exists to:
– directly relate international sectorial qualifications systems or framework to the EQF
– relate international qualifications to the EQF
– create European core profiles for qualifications
• Results of the pilots will NOT represent a formal outcome but will inform the Commission in the potential development of a European-wide quality system
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How to prepare and submit an application
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• General information & timetable
• Selection process
• Eligibility, Exclusion, Selection and Award criteria
• Submission of applications
• Application package
• Detailed description of the project
Outline
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Call for proposals published in OJ No C 415 on 15/12/2015
3 themes
Application form: electronic (eForm)
Starting of the activities: between 1/06/2016 and 1/08/2016
Maximum project duration: between 18 and 24 months
Total estimated budget: 400.000 €
Maximum EU co-funding: 75% of the total eligible costs
General information
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Timetable
Full proposal stage
Deadline
29th February 2016 – 12:00 PM
Selection process
March – April 2016
Information to
applicants
May 2016
Grant agreements /
Decisions
June 2016
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Proposals evaluated against: Eligibility Criteria
Exclusion criteria
Selection criteria (operational and financial capacity)
Award Criteria
Selection process
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Eligible applicants International Professional organisations or associations;
National Professional organisations or associations;
Public and private authorities related to national qualifications frameworks
Social Partners (EU, national and sectorial)
Research centres
Public and private awarding bodies
Public and private education and training providers
Public and private Quality assurance or Accreditation organisations
Eligibility
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The applicants must also fulfil the following criteria: • Bodies/associations must have been legally established for
more than 2 years.
• Represent at least one major stakeholder group from the labour market;
• Represent at least one major stakeholder group from Education and Training.
Eligible applicants
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Eligible countries
the 28 Member States of the European Union,
the EFTA/EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway,
the candidate countries and potential candidates benefiting from a pre-accession strategy, Agency
ENP countries which can take part in the Erasmus + programme and have set up an Erasmus + National Agency.
Eligibility
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Eligible activities
Desk reviews; Analyses; Research; Mapping; Surveys; Drafting proposals; Testing preliminary results with stakeholders; Validation of results; Reporting; Coordination activities with the Commission (twice a year)
Eligibility
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Coordination activities with the Commission
In order to discuss the progress of the action, meetings of project representatives in Brussels with EACEA and the
Commission must be foreseen twice a year.
Eligible activities
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Monobeneficiary applicants
BUT
In order to achieve significant results, involvement of a large representative group of stakeholders in more than 2 countries.
For Theme C applicants are also requested to:
1. Provide an inventory/mapping in a minimum of 10 eligible countries;
2. Provide a report on a common position among all interested organisations, with a minimum representation of 10 eligible countries of which a minimum of 8 MSs.
Partnership
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The award criteria for the funding of a proposal are:
• Relevance (20 %)
• Quality of the project design and implementation (30 %)
• Quality of the project team and cooperation (working) arrangements(30 %)
• Impact and dissemination (20 %)
If the total score is less than 50%, the application will be rejected. If the score for at least one of the award criteria will be less than 50%, the
application will be rejected.
Award criteria
Award Criteria table
Section Maximum
Score
1. Relevance 20
1.1. How relevant is the proposal to the objectives of the Call? 10
1.2. How relevant is the description of testing possible key criteria,
procedures and methodologies?
10
2. Quality of the project design and implementation 30
2.1. How coherent is the overall design of the action? In particular does it
reflect the analysis of the problems involved, take into account external
factors and relevant stakeholders?
10
2.2. Is the project well presented with an indication of milestones,
expected results and activities?
10
2.3. Does the proposal contain objectively verifiable indicators for the
outcome of the action?
10
3. Quality of project team and cooperation (working) arrangements 30
3.1. Does the proposal describe how the project team contributes to the
planned activities?
10
3.2. Have monitoring arrangements, risk analysis and mitigating
measures been planned?
10
3.3. Has quality assurance of deliverables been envisaged? 10
4. Impact and dissemination 20
4.1. Does the proposal indicate how stakeholders (including the
commission) will be involved/informed in the process?
10
4.2. Is the proposal likely to have a multiplier effect, including scope for
replication and information sharing?
10
Total 100
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How to submit an application
Register in the Participants' portal and get a PIC number
Use the official application package
Apply in one of the official languages of the EU
Submission of applications
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Application package
Application form (eForm)
Annexes:
• Description of the action
• Estimated budget
• Declaration of honour
• Financial identification form
If applicable:
• Financial statement
• Financial capacity form • Audit report • CVs of project team • Activity report • List of previous projects.
Detailed description of the action
1. Explain in which way the action addresses the call objectives and how relevant it is to them
2. Define the methodological approach for testing key criteria and procedures under the selected theme
3. Describe the main phases of the project highlighting major milestones, expected results, related activities. Indicate for each result objective verifiable indicators
4. Clearly define the role of each team member / involved entity in the action
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Summary of project main phases
Description Timeline Objective
Verifiable Indicators
Involved expertise
Countries
Year 1 Year 2
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Result 1
Activity 1.1
Activity 1.2.
Activity 1.3.
Result 2
Activity 2.1
Activity 2.2.
Activity 2.3.
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Detailed description of the action
5. Describe what the planned monitoring arrangements are and how you plan to promptly identify risks and propose mitigating measures
6. How to you intend ensuring quality of deliverables/expected results?
7. Identify who your key stakeholders are and explain how you plan to involve/inform them during the project implementation (including the Agency and the Commission)
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Further information?
EACEA – Unit A1 – Erasmus+
Gloria Barilari, Project Adviser
EACEA Website: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu
Web page of the call:
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/funding/quality-assurance-european-level-for-enhanced-transparency-and-recognition-skills-and-qualifications_en
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Thank you for your attention!
