Leonardo da vinci

Stuttgart, 12.05.2003:

LEONARDO DA VINCI -

Information Meeting of the German Agency for Professional Training (BIBB)

for detailed information see: http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/leonardo.html

Notes summarized by Ellen Fetzer, with remarks concerning the Professional Practice WG’s objectives

LEONARDO DA VINCI is the Community’s Vocational Training Action Programme (current call: 2000 – 2006).

Main aims of the programme are:

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  to consolidate a European co-operation area for education and training
  
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  to support lifelong training policies
  
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  to develop quality, innovation and the European dimension in vocational training systems and practices through transnational co-operation.
  

European landscape architecture schools should cooperate with their national professional associations to establish Continuing Professional Education. This could contribute to a continuing development of our profession. Distance learning units are especially useful for those without easy access to established landscape architecture education and professionals with few time resources due to the demands of work and family. The working conditions of landscape architects are changing (similar to other professions): digital planning methods become more and more complex and require a wide range of knowledge as well as changing legislations due to growing European influence on environmental policy. The aim of this pilot project could be the establishment of a distance learning European University using/coordinating the resources of existing universities in the field of Continuing Education.

Measures of the programme are:

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  mobility,
  
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  pilot projects,
  
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  language competences,
  
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  transnational networks,
  
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  reference material.
  

The following notes concentrate on the pilot project measure because it seems to be the most appropriate measure for the above described aim.

Content of the measure

The Council Decision of 26 April 1999 describes this measure as “support for transnational pilot projects to develop and transfer innovation and quality in vocational training, including actions aiming at the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in vocational training".

On this basis, the proposed actions are intended to contribute to:

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  promoting the design, development, testing, assessment and dissemination of innovative vocational training products, tools, methods and approaches including training for trainers and guidance counsellors;
  
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  developing the use of ICTs (inofrmation and communication technologies) in vocational training;
  
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  developing new vocational training tools, services and products using ICTs which will promote access to vocational training;
  
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  supporting the creation of transnational open and distance vocational training networks intended to make the broadest possible range of innovative teaching tools and methods available to the general public (multimedia educational products, websites, remote tutoring); this action fits to the above described aim
  
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  designing, testing and validating new approaches to vocational training designed for new work situations;
  
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  developing innovative tools for information and counselling in vocational training in the context of lifelong learning.
  

Implementation

The "pilot projects" measure is implemented through multi-annual Community calls for proposals in which the priorities for the projects to be undertaken are defined.

The principles for implementation of this measure, defined at Community level are given below,

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  Community support is intended for the production of tangible materials, products, methods and approaches in the field of vocational training and guidance, and not for training activities as such.
  
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  The purpose of the innovation and quality sought in all the proposals is to find solutions to actual problems for which the “classical” approaches have failed to find an answer. Innovation is not a concept which can be generalised, particularly at European level. Proposals must therefore put the innovative dimension of the project in context and in relation to the needs of the target groups. This may be a task for the working group: defining target groups and demands - question: is there any study/inquiry about this theme?
  
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  The development of innovation and quality may apply equally to institutional contexts and to formal or informal practices developed in enterprises, as well as to initiatives promoted at local, regional or sectoral level.
  
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  Innovation and quality must be gauged against strict predefined criteria (see IV for quality criteria).
  
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  Maximum benefit must be drawn at European level from the results, particularly those of the first phase of the programme, by making more use of the expertise and experience of the various European bodies and/or other qualified organisations active in this field.
  
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  In order to make best use of the results and obtain feedback enabling the product, material, approach or method to be adapted and transferred, dissemination must be an integral part of the project’s work programme.
  
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  In disseminating the results of projects, the European dimension must be enhanced by making vocational training and guidance materials, products, methods and approaches available, where possible, in the languages of all the partners.
  

Some basic information on the pilot project measure:

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  Maximum duration of a pilot project is three years, but its advisable to apply only for 2 years funding
  

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  Maximum financial contribution is 75% of the eligible costs (max. 200 000 Euros/year)
  

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  Deadline for 2004 projects is 03.10.2003 – this is the day after tomorrow
  

there will also be a further call in 2004 -

we don’t have to precipitate with this, but having a first project idea evaluated be the German agency this year would help to make the idea more clear, even if it won’t be enough for a full proposal in 2003.

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  Proposals must be submitted by a trans-national partnership involving partners from at least three participating countries, one of which must be from a Member State of the European Union. It is advisable to include at least 12 institutions from 6 countries and at least two members of the accession countries. I think of a mix of professional associations and faculties
  

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  Project proposals must prove their innovative character – is this innovative?
  

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  Applicants have to point out that the project can only be realised with a European cooperation
  

inputs and tasks have to be distributed equally among the partners

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  European organisations are not allowed to act as applicant body
  

This means that neither EFLA nor ECLAS can apply for this, the applicant body has to be one institution, being responsible for the project management

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  Projects need the co-operation/partnership of different bodies i.e. universities, professional associations, professional chambers. The applicant body can be a university.