Knowledge alliances

Knowledge alliancesErasmus+

Key action 2 – Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Version January 2014

Knowledge Alliances in a nutshellKnowledge Alliances are calls for large-scale collaboration between higher education and business

Focus is on • entrepreneurship mindset and

skills• jointly developed/performed

education and training activities

2 or 3 year projects, min. 6 organisations

Max. EU-contribution for 2-year project = 700 000 EURMax. EU-contribution for 3-year project = 1 000 000 EUR

Yearly deadline = 3 April 200XStart not earlier than = 1 November 200X

Overview

Key policy priorities 2014-2020

Objectives of this action

Eligibility

KU Leuven support and procedures

Key policy priorities 2014-2020

General objectives European education and training

upgrading the skills and competences of

graduates to increase their labour market

relevance

quality, efficiency and openness of

European higher education

international dimension of

education and training

up-skilling and re-skilling initiatives in the adult learning (lifelong learning)

system

transversal skills including digital skills, entrepreneurial skills and language skills

learning opportunities by digital

technologies

early-school leavingleadership of

teachers via teacher education

Horizontal policy priorities Erasmus+

Erasmus+

Key Action 1

Learning mobility of individuals• Student and staff mobility• Joint Master degrees

Key Action 2

Cooperation and innovation for good practices• Strategic partnerships • Partnerships between

the world of work and education and training institutions

• IT support Platforms • Capacity building with

Partner countries

Key Action 3

Support for policy reform• Knowledge collection

and use• Prospective initiatives• Support to European

policy tools• Cooperation with

international organisations

• Stakeholder dialogue, policy and programme promotion

Partnerships between the world of work and education and training institutions

• focus on higher education & business collaboration

Knowledge Alliances:

• Focus on vocational training programmes

Sector Skills Alliances:

Objectives of this action

Knowledge alliances:specific objectives and expected results

Develop new, innovative and

multidisciplinary approach to teaching

and learning

Stimulate entrepreneurship

and entrepreneurial competence of

students, academic and company staff

Facilitate the exchange,

flow and co-creation of knowledge

Open to any discipline, sector and cross-sectoral cooperation

Transational, Innovation & sustainability & impact driven

Results, dissemination & exploitation Tangible results: reports, events, newsletters, good practice guide, case studies, ...

• Information tool• Project database• Tangible deliverables• Showcasing best practices (annual selection by NA or EACEA)

Intangible results such as experience gained, increased (language) skills and awareness by interviews, questionnaires, tests and observations

Define target audiences and approaches

Before, during and after project

Use Erasmus+ dissemination Platform

Results, dissemination & exploitation

Multiplier events

• Organisation of national and transnational conferences/seminars/events aimed at sharing and disseminating the intellectual outputs realised by the project

• Multiplier events taking place in a Partner Country are not eligible for funding!

Assessment of success

• Facts and figures related to the website of project organisers (updates, visits, consultation, cross referencing); • Numbers of meetings with key stakeholders; • Numbers of participants involved in discussions and information sessions (workshops, seminars, peer reviews); follow-up measures; • Visibility in the social media; • Participation in public events; • Links with existing networks and transnational partners; transfer of information and know-how; • Impact on regional, national, EU policy measures; • Feedback from end-users, other stakeholders, peers, policy-makers

Which activities are supported?

Boosting innovation in higher education, business and the broader scocio-economic environment

Stimulating the flow and exchange of knowledge between higher education and enterprises

Developing entrepreneurship mind-set and competences

Boosting innovation in higher education, business and the broader socio-economic environment

Jointly development and implementation of new learning and teaching methods

• New multidisciplinary curricula• Learner centred and real problem-based teaching & learning

Organisation of continuing educational programmes and activities with and within companies

Jointly development of solutions for challenging issues, product and process innovation

Stimulating the flow and exchange of knowledge between higher education and enterprises

Study field related activities in enterprises (fully embedded in curriculum, recognised and credited)

Set-ups to trial and test innovative measures

Exchange of students, researchers, teaching staff and company staff for a limited period

Involvement of company staff in teaching and research

Developing entrepreneurship mind-set and competences

Schemes of transversal skills’ learning and application throughout higher education programmes (strengthening employability, creativity and new professional paths)

Entrepreneurship education to students, researchers and staff

Practical application of entrepreneurial skills, e.g. involvement in the commercialisation of new services/products and prototypes, the creation of start-ups and spin-offs

Eligibility

Eligible participating organisations

Any public or private organisation

• At least two higher education institutions• At least two entreprises (public or private, small, medium or large enterprise including social

enterprises);

Other non-academic partners

• a research institute; • a public body at local, regional or national level; • an organisation active in the field of education, training and youth; • an intermediary or association which represents education, training or youth; • organisations; • an intermediary or association which represents enterprises; • an accreditation, certification or qualification body

Eligible countries Erasmus+• Programme countries

o EU-28 (including Overseas Country and Territory depending on Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom )

o Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerlando Turkey and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

• Rest of the world = Partner countries

Partner countries neighbouring the EU•Western Balkan•Eastern Partnership countries•South-Mediterranean countries

Other partner countries

•Industrialised countries•Africa, Carribean and Pacific•Asia and Latin-America

Higher education institutions• Academic consortium members from Programme countries

must hold an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 2014-2020 (check: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/funding/2014/call_he_charter_en.php; KU Leuven = 27945-LA-1-2014-1-BE-E4AKA1-ECHE )

• Academic consortium members from Partner countries: interinstitutional agreements

Mobility in Knowledge Alliances• Mobility activities of students, researchers, teaching and

company staff is possible but only when added value is clear

• Mobility activities are not the main focus here• Extensive mobility activities need to be funded through Key

Action 1

Knowledge alliances minimum requirements• Consortium

o Min. 6 public/private organisations from at least 3 different programme countries

o Max. 1 public/private organisation from a partner country

o Min. 2 higher education institutions, each having a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education

o Min. 2 enterprises• Coordinator = organisation from Programme Country• Associated partners do not receive fund

Award criteria

Relevance of the project

Purpose of cooperation

Sound needs analysis

Consistence of proposed actions

Innovation in processes and outcomes

European added value (trans-nationality and potential transferability)

Are taken into account: proposals with min. 70% in total

Call management and selection

Centralised action, by EACEA

Yearly call

Yearly deadline = April 3, 12:00pm Brussels time

Budget first call = ca. 6 million euros in total

Highly competitive (contact International Office for support!)

Large consortia with clear indication of added value of each partner is needed

Project duration= 2 or 3 years (chosen at time of application)

In need for some inspiration?• 2011 and 2012 calls for Knowledge Alliances

• Opening up Education (September 2013) by European Commission• Self-assessment tool for entrepreneurial universities

Innovative learning and teaching methods

Funding rules

Budget guidelines• Max. EU-contribution for 2-year project = 700 000 EUR• Max. EU-contribution for 3-year project = 1 000 000 EUR• Basic eligible costs = impementation support

o Depends on profile of staff involved (manager, teacher/trainer/researcher, technician and admin. staff)

o Country of the particpating organisation whose staff is involved• Optional funding for mobility activities

o Travel costso Subsistence cost

• Staff• Learners

Belgium – eligible costsFinancing mechanism

Amounts

Implementation support (basic)

Unit cost (per day)

Manager (336 EUR)Teacher/Trainer/Researcher (257 EUR)Technician (194 EUR)Administrative staff (157 EUR)

Travel (optional) Unit cost (per participant)

Between 100km and 1999km (275 EUR)Above 2000km (360 EUR)

Subsistence (optional) Unit cost (per day)

Staff • between day 1 and 14: 100 EUR• between day 15 and day 60: 40 EURLearners• between day 1 and 14: 55 EUR• between day 15 and day 60: 40 EUR

What else should you know?

• Impact has to go beyond consortium partners• Budget needs to be foreseen for presentation at

University-Business Forum or other relevant events (max. 4/project)

• Reports, handbooks, guidelines etc. should be made available as Open Educational Resources (OER)

KU Leuven support and procedures

KU Leuven advice and support• Before submission via International Office

o As soon as possible, inform International Office about intentionso Advice available on request for call specifications, possible (non) academic

partners, consortium management structure, … o Compulsory consultation in case of joint curriculum initiatives with HEI in

Belgium or beyond via ‘Ondersteuningsgroep Interuniversitaire Opleidingen’

• Submission through International Office (rector as legal representative)

• After selection via International Officeo Communication to EACEA for budget revise, clarifications, …o Grant agreement (and amendments)o Advice on consortium agreement and other documents commiting KU

Leuven via ‘Ondersteuningsgroep Interuniversitaire Opleidingen’

Deadlines call spring 2014• Whether KU Leuven will be coordinator or partner• March 3 2014 = internal deadline application forms (via

johan.evers@kuleuven.be) o if joint curriculum or new course programmes are

included in proposal then approval or rejection by Executive Board (GeBu) April 1 2014

• April 3 2014 = external deadline (allow at least three working days before deadline for signature rector )

• Golden rule: inform International Office as early as possible and in case of doubt contact International Office (johan.evers@kuleuven.be)

More information • Erasmus+ Programme Guide - Knowledge Alliances (p. 109-116)

• Erasmus+ intranet page International Office

Johan EversInternational Office

johan.evers@kuleuven.be016/37 98 54

Your contact person for Erasmus+ Knowledge Alliances