Call for proposals - EACEA/08/10 - Under the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) - Leonardo da Vinci Programme - Award of grants to support national projects to test and develop the credit system for vocational education and training (ECVET)

The purpose of this call is to award grants for the organisation of:
- actions to set up or consolidate partnerships between competent institutions to establish an operational framework to develop tests on the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET),
- actions in the field of the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET), as set out in the technical specifications annexed to the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council, in order to apply and implement it in concrete terms.

The call is open to competent bodies, establishments, institutions or authorities that are responsible for implementing the Recommendation on the establishment of a European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (2009/C 155/02) at the national, regional, local or sectoral level. This particularly applies to public and private institutions and authorities responsible for the design, administration and award of vocational qualifications.

Applications may be submitted by organisations (including all partner organisations) established in one of the EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey. Depending on the result of current negotiations, organisations from Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Switzerland may also be eligible.

Applicants must be legal bodies which have been established for more than three years. Consortia must comprise at least four bodies from at least four eligible countries.

The following activities may qualify for consideration under this call:
- establishment or consolidation of stable consortia or cooperative platforms made up of competent institutions, authorities and bodies (drawing up of joint work programmes, design of cooperative procedures, etc.)
- mechanisms and research specifically dedicated to the application of the ECVET principles and technical specifications to vocational qualifications
- organisation of seminars, meetings or workshops on ECVET mechanisms and implementation
- design of innovative instruments, publications or websites focusing on the operational aspects of ECVET implementation and transnational cooperation in this field
- attendance at the thematic workshops and a conference
- follow-up activities (including dissemination activities, impact analyses, etc.) with a view to consolidating outcomes, sustaining durable partnerships and contributing to the modelling, promotion and transfer of outcomes

All the above activities must be part of a project that meets the requirements embodied in the objectives set out in the detailed guidelines of the call for proposals.

Activities must begin between 1 January and 31 March 2011. Projects must last for 18-36 months.

The total budget under this call is €2 million. Grants will be for between €50,000 and €300,000 to a maximum 75% of total eligible costs.

The deadline for applications is 16 July 2010.

Further details are on the EACEA website.

Reference: 2010/C 85/08

(Added 2010-03-31)