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EUROPEAN COMMISSION

APELEAC/A03/2014Erasmus+VocationalEducationandTrainingMobilityCharter20152020

PartIIProceduralAnnex

How to apply for the Erasmus+ VET Mobility Charter

Introduction

Should I apply to be awarded the Erasmus+ VET Mobility Charter?

This depends very much on your experience of VET mobility and the vision for yourorganisation's futureactivities. Ifyouhavealready successfully carriedout thenumberofpreviousVET(Leonardo)mobilityprojectsthatisstipulatedinthenationalpastperformancecriteria insection9ofPart IoftheCall,and ifyouhaveavisiontofurther internationaliseyourorganisationandbuildtransnationalVETmobility(learnersandstaff)intoasustainablepartofthatinternationalstrategy,thentheErasmus+VETMobilityChartermaybeforyou.Ifyoudonothavepreviousexperience,thenitisadvisabletosimplyapplyforsinglemobilityprojects through the Erasmus+ yearly call. Similarly for smaller or more specialisedinstitutions or for those that do not plan to intensify their international activities, thensimply applying for a single project in the yearly call may be a better idea. If yourorganisation lacks previous experience and has not previously carried out the number ofVET(Leonardo)mobilityprojectsasstipulatedinsection9ofPartIoftheCall,butwouldliketo internationaliseyour institution in the longtermand introduce regularand sustainablemobility,thenwesuggestthatyouaccruethenecessaryexperiencethroughsingleprojects,garneringthenecessaryexperienceinmanagingtransnationalVETmobility,andthenapplytobeawardedtheErasmus+VETMobilityCharterafterseveralyears.In addition, consortiamay also apply for theCharter.Consortia aremadeupof threeormore organisations active in the field of VET and cooperating to improve theirinternationalisation and mobility. Consortia might already be ones either formally orinformallyestablishedunderthepreviousLifelongLearningProgramme,ortheycanbenewones formed for Erasmus+. Consortiawhose organisations each have the necessary past

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experienceasdefinedabovemayapplyfortheCharter;thosewhereoneormoremembersdonothave theprerequisitepastperformance can still apply for singlemobilityprojectsundertheyearlycalls.Ifyouhavedoubts,pleasecontactyourNationalAgencywhocanadviseonthebestwaytoproceed.FurtheropportunitiestoapplyfortheErasmus+VETMobilityCharterareforeseeninthecomingyears.

Philosophy behind the process of the Erasmus+ VET Mobility Charter

TheawardoftheCharterisintendedtoencourageorganisationsthathavetrackrecordsofprovenquality in learnerandstaffmobilitytofurtherdeveloptheir internationalstrategiesbygiving them thepossibility toapplyusinga simplifiedapplicationprocedure.Thisgivesthemtheflexibilityandroomformanoeuvretofurtherdeveloptheirinternationalactivities.Bythiswemeanembedding internationalmobility intheiractivitiesandcurriculaandalsodeveloping further international approaches by, for example, networking with bodies inothercountries,promotingthelearningofforeignlanguagesandlookingbeyondwhatisthenational VET approach. It is about a strategy and a roadmap for sustainability ofinternationalmobilityandmovingsteadilytowardsit.A certain community of organisations in each country have become regular programmebeneficiaries and over many years have developed their international activities andenhancedtheirquality.TheCommissionintendstofacilitatetheirparticipationandsimplifyprocedures by introducing simplified applications (mainly planned mobility flows) andsimplified reporting structuresunder the yearlyErasmus+Callsonce theorganisationhasbeen awarded the VETMobility Charter. Itwill therefore still be a requirement tomakeapplications under subsequent general calls. The award of the Charter in itself is not anawardoffunding.TheCharterprocesswillrewardpastperformanceandwillcheckexantethemanagementcapacities of the organisation and the quality ofmobility organisation (a kind of exantequality commitment) as well as looking more deeply at the institution's internationalstrategyandplansforfuturedevelopment.QualitystandardshavetobemaintainedbyorganisationswhichholdtheCharterandtheywillbemonitoredduring thecourseof theErasmus+Programme.Anymajor failing in thequalityofthemobilityorthemanagement,anyreductioninthecapacityoftheorganisationtocarryoutthenecessaryforeseenmobilitiesoranylossofinternationalisationfocuswithin

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theorganisation's strategiesandactivities could result in thewithdrawalof theErasmus+VETMobilityCharter.

The Application Form

General Information

Ifyouareaconsortium,pleasereflectthisinthewholeoftheapplicationformandrefertotheperspectiverole,activitiesandgoalsofeachmemberoftheconsortium.Thepurposeofmobilityconsortia is to facilitate theorganisationofmobilityactivitiesand toofferaddedvalue in terms of quality of activities compared to what each individual sending VETinstitution(egVETschool)wouldbeabletodeliveralone.The member organisations of a VET mobility consortium are expected to pool or shareservices related to the organisation of mobility and develop their internationalisationtogether through mutual cooperation and sharing of contacts. Joint activities includetypically joint administrative, contractual and financial management of mobility, jointselection and/or preparation andmentoring of participants aswell as,where relevant, acentralisedpointforfindingenterprisesandformatchmakingenterprisesandparticipants.Themobility consortium can also act as a facilitator for incoming trainees and staff. Thisincludes finding a receiving organisation in the region where the mobility consortiumpartnersarelocatedandprovidingassistanceincaseofneed.Theconsortiumcoordinator,possiblytogetherwithother/intermediaryorganisations,hastoplay an active role in fostering contacts with enterprises and finding opportunities fortraineeships and training places for staff, in promoting these activities and providinginformation,etc.Each sending VET organisation remains responsible for the quality, the contents and therecognitionofthemobilityperiods.Eachmemberoftheconsortium isrequiredtosignanagreementwiththeconsortiumcoordinatortospecifytherolesandresponsibilitiesandtheadministrative and financial arrangements; the modalities of cooperation shall specifymatters like themechanisms forpreparation,quality assurance and followupofmobilityperiods.

Context

Pleasemakesurethatallboxesaredulyfilledin.

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National Agency of the Applicant Organisation

Please choose correctly the appropriate National Agency in the country where yourorganisation isestablished. Ifyourorganisation isestablished inBelgium,pleaseselecttheAgencyoftheappropriatelanguagecommunity.

Applicant organisation

Pleasemakesurethatalltheboxesaredulyfilledin.

Profile

Pleaseselectthecorrectprofileofyourorganisation.

Background and Experience

Please give a brief presentation of your organisation and show its aims in transnationalmobilityandthetypesofpeoplethatyouwishtosendabroad.PleaseindicateobjectivesoftheErasmus+ProgrammethatyourorganisationsharesandexplainyourmotivationtobeawardedtheCharter.It is also important to show the management structure behind the organisation oftransnationalmobility, includinghuman resources (staff and volunteers) anddescribe theskills of the persons in charge of managing transnational mobility and theinternationalisation strategy.Do youhave an internationaloffice?Do youhave awritteninternationalstrategy?IfyouhavepreviouslybeenawardedtheLeonardodaVinciMobilityCertificate,thenpleaseenteritsreferencecode.Yourapplicationwillbeassessednotonlyonthestrengthofthisapplicationform,butalsoon your past performance during the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP). Assessorswillhave informationathandaboutyourpreviousrecord intransnationalmobilitythroughtheLLP. That said, in the section "Background and Experience" you should highlight yourexperienceinVETmobilityasfullyaspossible,includingtheimpactofthepreviousLeonardodaVinciCertificatewhererelevantandhow,ifatall,thataffectedyourinternationalisation.

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Legal Representative

Forlegalreasons,itisessentialthatthissectionisaccuratelyandfullyfilledin.

Contact Person

Pleasefullycompletethedetailsofthechiefcontactperson inchargeofthetransnationalmobilityactivitiesofyourorganisation.

Strategy and Experience

1) Here you should attach a document that fully outlines your organisation'sinternationalisationstrategy,includingfulldetailsofyourtransnationalmobilityapproachesand aims. If you are a consortium show related details for all organisations in theconsortium. Show your strategic goals and decisions related tomobility activities. Pleaseincludeotheractivitiesandprojects, inaddition toVETmobility,and showotherways inwhich your institution is internationalising. Please also describe quality approaches toimplementing this strategy and your own resources available for fostering furthertransnationalmobility.Forideasondevelopingsuchstrategiesandtobestgagewhereyourorganisationisintheprocess,youarewelcometorefertothefollowingtwolinks:i) http://r2i.iqac.net/participant_email.php (Youonlyneedtoenter name, emailandthenselecttherightscanwhich is QIS2020InventoryscanEnglish.Thenchecktoagreewiththeterms.Thescanistotallyanonymousandresultsareonlyavailablefortheuser.)ii)http://www.cimo.fi/services/publications/strength_from_international_cooperation(Ausefulguidebookforthestrategicplanningofinternationalcooperation)2)Ifyouareapplyingonbehalfofaconsortium,theorganisationsintheconsortiumshouldeachhavehadtheexperienceofmanagingthenumberofpreviousVET(LeonardodaVinci)mobilityprojectsasstipulated insection9ofPart IoftheCall.Pleasementiontheroleofeachpartnerandprovidedetailsofeachpartnerorganisation intherelevantboxesoftheform,withashortdescriptionofeachpartnerorganisation'saimsandactivities.Youshouldalsomention how the consortium as awhole plans to cooperate and communicate. Youshouldalsodetailwhereappropriateeachpartnerorganisation'sownfundsthatcanbeusedtocarryoutmobilityandhowthesefundshavebeenused,includingthenumberofpeopleundertakingtransnationalmobilityandtheirtypicalprofile.

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Implementation of Past and Current Mobility Activities

General Information: Past and Current Activities

Provide information on how many LDV mobility projects have been carried out by yourorganisationduring the last3years, theaveragenumberofparticipantsperyearand thetypes of activity involved. Show the profile of the participants and whether they arestudents,apprentices,recentgraduatesorstaff.Show too thepercentageofyourstudentpopulation thatundertakes learningmobilitywhere relevant.Note thatassessorswillnotonlytakeintoaccounttheinformationthatyouprovidehere,butwillalsotakeawiderviewof your past performance in VET mobility throughout the previous Lifelong LearningProgrammewhenassessingthisCharterapplication.

Organisational Issues and Quality Management of Future Mobility Activities

An importantpartof this application is todetailhow you intend tomanage themobilityactivitiesthatyoucarryout.Thisisvital,giventhatqualityinmobilitycanonlybeachievedin the right frameworkofqualitymanagement,and therefore inorder to receive theVETMobilityCharter it is necessary to show how youmanage the full cycle ofmobility frompreparation to followup. This means committing to a de facto "Quality Commitment",withoutit,yourorganisationcannotreceivetheCharter.Thereforeyouneedtoexplainhowyoumanagethemobilitywithinyourorganisation(s)anddetail how the important practical arrangements for organizing travel, subsistence, socialsecurity,insurance,andthelikearemade.If youhave ahighdemand formobility,please show a clear and transparentprocess forselectingparticipants,includingthedifferentstagesforselectionandthecriteriayouusetomake the final decision. Show whether you use mobility for the most able learners, orwhether you use it too forweaker performers such as thosewith learning difficulties orfeweropportunitieswhereappropriate.Pleasegiveanideaofthetypeofparticipantsthatyouenvisagesending.Theirpreparationisofparamount importance for achievingqualitymobility activities.Pleaseexplainhow theparticipants are prepared, whether this is sectorspecific, taskrelated, linguistic,intercultural,psychologicaletc.Ifyouplantoinvolveparticipantswhofacebarrierstotheirparticipation,whetherforsocioeconomic reasons,ordue to specialneedsorother factors,pleasedetail theapproachesthatyouusetoenablethemtoparticipate.

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Youwillneedtodetailhowyoumonitorthemobilityactivitiessoastoensurethehighestpossible quality of the training placements and communication channels open toparticipantswhentheyareabroad.Thereshouldalsobeasupportormentoringwhentheparticipantsareabroadsothattheyhaveareferencepointforanyprofessionalorpersonalreasons.Oryoumay sendaccompanyingpersonswithyoungerparticipantsor thosewithspecialneeds,andthisshouldbedetailedheretoo.In the learning outcomes section, show how the learningoutcomes of themobilities arerecognised,eitherthroughECVET,Europass,or insomeotherway.Showhowagreementsaremadewiththehostingorganisations,andifECVETisused,showhowtheMemorandaofUnderstanding are established. Also show how host organisations are chosen and howLearningAgreementsaredrawnuptakingintoaccounttherequiredlearningoutcomes.Thisshouldshowfullythedifferentmodalitiesofcooperation.Showtheassessmentproceduresthat are used in validating and recognising the learning outcomes. Are nonformal andinformalexperiencesalsorecognised?Areunplannedbutachievedlearningoutcomestakeninto account?Pleaseprovidedetailsofhow this is carriedout and alsohow youplan todevelopinthefuture.Finally,youshoulddetailthemainachievementsofyourpreviouswork,anditsimpact,howyoudisseminateyourresultsandevaluationproceduresthatyouhaveputinplacetoassesswhetherthetransnationalmobilityhashaditsdesiredresultsandtofollowthedevelopmentof theparticipants following theirmobilityactivity.Whilsthighlightingyourachievements,pleasealsoshowtheachievementsandimpactofthepreviousLeonardodaVinciCertificatewherethisisrelevant.

Future Developments

Describe here your long term strategy and any new developments foreseen. Show yourplannedmobility flowsover thenext threeCall years (2015, 2016, 2017),breakingdownestimatednumbersbyVETlearnersandstaff.ShowalsowhetheryouwilluseonlyErasmus+fundsorwhetheryouhaveyourown resourcesor funds fromnationalorother schemes.Notethatwhatisrequiredforfutureplannedmobilityflowsisawiseestimation.Theactualamount of mobilities to be granted will be decided when your project application issubmittedundergeneralcallsinsubsequentyearsandthenassessed.

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Assessment Procedure

How will my application be assessed?

Your application will be assessed 50% on the strength of your organisation's pastperformanceinorganisingVETmobility,20%onitsinternationalstrategy,20%onthequalityofmanagement and organisation ofmobility and 10% on planned future developments.Whenassessingpastperformance,informationwillbetakenintoaccountnotonlyfromthisApplicationFormbutalsoingeneralfromyourpreviousLLPperformance.TheVETCharterwillthereforebeawardedbasedonthefollowingawardcriteria: PAST PERFORMANCE (EXPERIENCE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF TRANSNATIONAL

MOBILITY)50/100Ofwhich:

Level of Previous Experience: The applicant demonstrates a level of experienceproportionatetotheorganisation'ssize,internationalstrategyandcapability(numberofprojects successfully carried out and completed necessary minimum level definednationally intheCall),amountsofmobility,sizeofbudgetsetc,through involvement inVET(Leonardo)mobilityinitiatives.10/100Nature of Previous Experience: The previous experience of the applicant inimplementing VET (Leonardo) mobility projects adequately reflects the nature of thepresent application. This takes into account references to the target groups, targetcountries, partners, sectors, durations of placements, work programme/tasks,preparation periods, recognition of competences and any other relevant information.10/100QualityandAchievementsofPreviousExperience:Theextent towhich theapplicantdemonstrates an appropriate levelof successful experience (use of budget, quality ofmanagement, satisfactionofparticipants, recognitionof competences,useofpreviousLDV Certificate, etc.) through their involvement in Leonardo mobility and/or othermobilityinitiatives.Whererelevant,theapplicantshowshowtheuseofthepreviousLDVmobility certificate brought about improvements in themanagement of transnationalmobility. The applicant shows that the achievements of and/or improvements to theprevious VET (Leonardo) mobility activities as well as the partnerships adequatelydemonstrateacommitmenttoqualityandlongtermdevelopment.30/100

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"INTERNATIONALISATION STRATEGY": INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGY, STRATEGYDEVELOPMENTSANDCOMMITMENTTOTRANSNATIONALMOBILITY20/100

The application and the supporting documentation (the attachment to the applicationform)ontheinternationalisationstrategyreflectagenuineandgoodqualityapproachtodeveloping sustainable longterm internationalisation, including transnational mobility.Thegeneralapproachandcommitmenttolongtermdevelopmentofinternationalisationandaninternationalmobilitystrategyareclear. "ORGANISATIONALISSUESANDQUALITYMANAGEMENT"20/100The application shows that, both in the past performance and in future plans, theorganisationreacheshighqualitylevelsofgeneralmanagementofmobility,includingitsown internalmanagement structure,human resourcesandmobilityorganisation frompreparationthroughtorecognitionanddisseminationandevaluation.Thisincludes:Organisational issues,showingasolidgeneralapproachandcommitmentto longtermdevelopment in relation to organisational issues, including thepractical arrangementsaround mobility like travel, accommodation and social security, the selection andpreparation of participants, dealing with special needs, monitoring, mentoring,recognitionoflearningoutcomes,disseminationandevaluation.15/100AndQualitymanagement,showingasolidgeneralapproachandcommitmentto longtermdevelopmentinrelationtoqualitymanagement,withemphasisonhumanresourcesandsustainablestructures.5/100 FUTUREDEVELOPMENTS10/100The applicant shows clarity, consistency and relevance when proposing futuredevelopments.Theenvisageddevelopmentsexplainclearlyandareconsistentwiththeoverall nature and quality of the internationalisation strategy. The planneddevelopments display appropriate relevance in relation to the applicants longtermstrategicapproach.Thestatedexpectationsoverthenextthreeyearsappearrealisticinlight of the overall internationalisation strategy and taking into account the pastperformanceoftheapplicant.

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TheAssessmentThethresholdforbeingawardedtheVETMobilitycertificateisa)havinganoverallmarkof70/100,andhavingthefourseparatecategorymarksabovethethresholdof25/50,10/20,10/20and5/10.Failuretopassaseparatecategorythresholdwillresult intherejectionoftheapplication.

Information on Selection Results and Follow-up

YourapplicationwillbeassessedandyouwillbeinformedbyDecember2014whetheryouhavebeengrantedtheErasmus+VETMobilityCharter.Ifso,youwillbeabletoapplyforVETmobilityunderthe2015Callthroughthesimplifiedapplicationprocedureandreportusingthe simplified reportingprocedure.Otherwise,youwillhave toapply fora singlemobilityprojectunderthe2015Callintheusualway.IfawardedtheCharter,youwillbeeligibletomakesimplifiedyearlyapplicationsandreportsundergeneralErasmus+Calls.Subject tocontinued satisfactoryperformance, thiswill lastthroughuntil2020.

Reporting and Monitoring

ReportingIntermsofreporting,bodiesholdingtheVETMobilityCharterwillsimplyfillinasimplifiedelectronicreportformwhenclosingacontractwhichshowsbasicstatisticsonbudgetconsumptionandsizeofmobilityflows.ToalargedegreethisreportisderivedfromtheMobilityTool.InthethirdyearoftheCharterand2020,inadditiontothesimplifiedreport,theholdersoftheVETMobilityCharterwillbeasked to reporton the internationalisationprocessand the impactof theCharter.MonitoringIntermsofmonitoring,holdersoftheChartermaybesubject tomonitoring/onthespotchecksbytheirNationalAgencythatcoveratthesametimea)thefinancialandoperationalside of their management; b) the quality of their mobility; c) the development of theirinternational strategy. If serious problems are detected, consequences of themonitoringcouldbethereductionoffuturebudgetsincaseofunderuseoreventhewithdrawaloftheCharteritself.

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During the lifecycle of the Charter, theNational Agencymaymake amonitoring visit toassessyourworkandyoumaybeinvitedtoameetingwithotherCharterholderstoassessyourprogress.TerminationoftheCharterPoorquality,badfinancialmanagement,fraud,lowmobilitynumbers,ornoprogress/decliningfocuswiththeinternationalisationstrategycouldallbereasonstowithdrawtheCharter.Inthisevent,theorganisationwouldstillbeeligibletoapplyforVETmobilityfundingthroughsingleprojectsunderthegeneralcalls.