The European Commission has launched two calls for proposals under the Lifelong Learning’ Programme aiming at the award of grants for actions to develop and implement the European Qualifications Framework (Eqf), including national and sectoral qualifications frameworks, on one hand, an to provide support for European cooperation in education and training. Interested applicants can submit their applications by August 14th 2009.

The European Commission has published in the Official Journal of the European Union on April 29th 2009, public announcements of the launch of two Calls for proposals aiming at the development of the EU Programme in the field of lifelong learning.

Development and implementation of the European Qualifications Framework (Eqf)

The general objective of Call for Proposals EACEA/06/09, for the award of grants for actions to develop and implement the European Qualifications Framework (Eqf), including national and sectoral qualifications frameworks, is to award grants to approximately 6-8 proposals, with participants from the maximum number of countries and sectors, to organise actions to facilitate consortia that will contribute to a successful and enduring implementation of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), as an overarching framework to facilitate mobility and lifelong learning.

The submission of applications for grants under this call is open especially to consortia of European, national, regional and sectoral organisations, including, for example, ministries, qualifications authorities, sectoral associations, social partners and other key stakeholders with an interest and role in qualifications systems. Applicants should also be sufficently representative in terms of the sector, labour market or education and training system(s) that their project is intended to benefit.

Applications for funding may only be made by consortia consisting of organisations drawn from at least 7 different eligible countries.

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects under this call amounts to EUR 2 million, and grants will amount to between EUR 200 000 and EUR 300 000 per project.

Support for European cooperation in education and training

As for the Call for Proposals EACEA/07/09, for the support for European cooperation in education and training, this call includes two parts:

• Part A — Raising national awareness of lifelong learning strategies and of European cooperation in education and training
• Part B — Support for transnational cooperation in the development and implementation of national and regional lifelong learning strategies

Part A is open to national ministries in charge of education and training, other public bodies and stakeholders’ organisations — such as regional, national or European associations or other private bodies — active in the field of lifelong learning (pre-primary, schools, VET, higher education and adult learning), as for Part B eligible applicants must be national ministries in charge of education and training, other public bodies and stakeholders’ organisations — such as associations or other private bodies — at the European or national level active in the field of lifelong learning (pre-primary, schools, VET, higher education and adult learning). 

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects amounts to EUR 2,787 million, and the maximum grant per project will be EUR 120 000 for Part A and EUR 200 000 for Part B.

Deadline and Applications

Applications must be despatched, date as postmark, to the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency, indicating Call ref. (and Part A or B if applicable) no later than August 14th 2009 to:

Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency
Life Long Learning Programme, Key Activity 1
Call for Proposals (Ref.)
Avenue du Bourget 1 (BOU2 2/145)
B-1140 Brussels
 
Proposals will only be accepted if elecronically completed in full using the official application form and signed in original by the person who is authorised to enter into legally binding commitments on behalf of the applicant organisation.

Further informations as well as some relevant documents can be found at the Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency website.