Call for proposals � EACEA/09/10 � Under the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) � Leonardo da Vinci Programme � Award of grants to support national projects for the development of a national approach to improve the quality assurance of vocational education

The purpose of this call is to award grants to bodies responsible for the implementation of a national strategy for improving quality-assurance systems and for promoting and developing the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework in order to help these bodies in their task and in promoting the development of a quality culture among stakeholders in the field of vocational education and training.
In particular, ‘bodies responsible for the implementation of a national strategy for improving quality assurance systems and for promoting and developing the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework’ refers to the national reference points. The aim is to assist these reference points in bringing together the competent bodies in the field and in involving the representative bodies of management and labour and all national and regional stakeholders in order to ensure that the adopted initiatives are followed up.

Grants are available to help fund activities designed to promote and develop the reference framework. Each proposal will comprise two types of activity, which must be combined, namely:
- development and coordination of specific projects testing and/or promoting the use of the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework within and between countries and targeting improvements in the quality of systems and the delivery of training,
- development, at various levels, of bodies responsible for shaping policy and for the practical implementation of quality-assurance initiatives in the field of VET as well as formation of networks of such bodies.

The call is open to the bodies, establishments, institutions or competent public authorities responsible directly, or on behalf of a supervisory authority, for implementing the Recommendation on the establishment of a European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for VET (2009/C 155/01), and in particular the national reference points and the institutions to which they are attached; and the authorities responsible for the quality control of VET (ministries, inspectorates, agencies, etc.), where they are involved in implementing the reference framework.

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.

The following activities are eligible for funding:
- development of guidelines for vocational education and training systems, particularly certification systems designed to guarantee the quality of the various processes
- devising of tools and instruments for implementing the quality-assurance reference framework applying to the various stakeholders (training providers, particularly in the field of initial vocational training)
- activities, such as national or regional conferences, seminars and workshops, designed to raise awareness of quality assurance in VET and in particular of the reference framework, within the scope of a studied and well-thought-out communication strategy that will be presented as part of the project, the aim being to promote the development of a quality culture among stakeholders in the field of vocational education and training
- studies into the implementation at national level of one or more of the indicators in Annex II to the Recommendation on the establishment of a European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for VET, in close coordination with the work performed at European level within the European Network for Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training (ENQA-VET),
- dissemination of reference tools and materials that already exist or are yet to be developed (self- assessment guides, guide to implementing a quality-based approach, etc.)
- organisation of seminars or workshops on the mechanisms and implementation of the reference framework in order to ensure the development of a quality culture and in particular the appropriation of the reference framework
- review, testing and transfer of innovative tools and practices in the area of quality assurance in vocational education and training and in particular tools designed within ENQA-VET
- establishment or reinforcement of stable consortia or cooperation platforms involving institutions, authorities and competent bodies (compiling joint work programmes, devising cooperation procedures, etc.)


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

The total budget under this call is €1.2 million. Grants will be for between €50,000 and €200,000 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 85/09

(Added 2010-03-31)