tenders and grants

partnership

MINERVA —OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING (ODL)AND INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN EDUCATION
Minerva is the key action for the implementation of the e-Learning action plan (see above). In this context, special efforts will be made by the European Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to promote a critical and responsible use of technology in learning. Minerva also aims at creating a favourable environment for European learners by developing infrastructures, services and contents for a relevant use of technology in learning at all levels.
In addition, as regards specific fields of interest, priority will be given to projects that address the didactical use of ICT (information and communication technologies)in the following areas:
—media education , especially with a view to raising pupils' ability to select, analyse and understand information they receive through different kinds of media, and possibly to become producers themselves,
—communication education , with a view to teaching pupils and students to use ICT in a collaborative way and to communicate at a distance. In this context, ICT should also be used for fostering intercultural dialogue,
—cross-curricular approaches , such as citizenship education using new approaches to science, cross-disciplinary learning about sustainable development, etc.
Applicants need to describe the content of their projects in concrete terms. They need to give information on how the innovative use of ICT underpins the approaches their projects want to test and validate. Projects should include innovative use of existing tools and technology for learning or more advanced applications in education based on simulation, problem solving or other constructivist approaches. Applicants need to bearin mind the concr ete validation of suggested approaches, against the background of the way schools are organised in their respective countries. Consequently, new models for teachereducation and staff development, with a view to facilitating relevant didactical uses of ICT in education, will also deserve particular attention.
Moreover, support may be given to transversal dissemination projects , which collect and synthesise the outcomes of:
—Minerva and Comenius projects supported by Socrates or projects supported by European research and technology programmes or national initiatives, and aimed at school education and initial teacher education ,
—Minerva and Grundtvig projects supported by Socrates or projects supported by European research and technology programmes or national initiatives, and aimed at adult education ,
—projects supported by Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci or projects supported by European research and technology programmes or national initiatives, and aimed at language learning .
Such transversal dissemination projects are called upon to collect, analyse and document in a user-friendly and comprehensive way the findings, outcomes and educational resources that have been produced by previous and current projects. The outcomes should be made available in several formats: synthesis papers, overviews, analytic reviews of best links to projects, possibly including videoed interviews of project leaders and/or short presentations of the main findings. The specific issues of equal opportunities, inclusive education (for integrating pupils with special educational needs into mainstream education)and the fight against social exclusion may deserve a particular focus.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The Socrates decision states in Annex IV. B. 2 that: ‘The Community contribution will not normally exceed 75 %of the total cost of any specific project, except in the case of accompanying measures ’. Participating institutions/organisations are therefore expected to commit other resources to the project and to declare such other sources of funding. The Commission may award a grant of less than the amount requested by the applicant. Grants will not be awarded for more than the amount requested. The rules governing eligible costs are explained in the application forms which are available from the addresses listed in Section V.
The guidelines for applicants provide information on the financial support available within the programme, where the amount of support provided is likely to remain stable. Generally speaking, the level of grants awarded is likely to vary considerably, depending on the type of project, the number of countries involved and so on. The following indications may be useful for developing project proposals:

(1 )In the following countries, earlier deadlines apply:
—Germany: dates vary between the different Länder , the earliest being 1 February 2003. Full details of the dates for all the Länder are available from national agencies in all participating countries,
—Greece: 1 February 2003 school partnerships, 15 January 2003 expression of interest to receive a Comenius language assistant,
—Spain: 1 February 2003,
—Italy: 1 February 2003,
—Finland: 1 February 2003,
—United Kingdom: 1 February 2003,
—Romania: 1 February 2003.
(2 )In the following country, an earlier deadline applies:
—Spain: 1 February 2003.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURES
Application and selection procedures in Socrates vary, depending on whether the action concerned is managed centrally by the European Commission or on a decentralised level by the national agencies designated by participating countries. This information is given in detail in the guidelines for applicants.
The application forms to be used, the guidelines for applicants and further details on the programme are available:
—from the national agencies for the programme, the list of which appears in Section VI and at the central website for Socrates below,
—from the central website for Socrates at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/socrates.html
—from the Socrates, Leonardo and Youth technical assistance office (TAO), rue de Trèves/Trierstraat 59-61), B-1000 Brussels, tel. (32-2)233 01 11, fax (32-2)233 01 50, e-mail: info@socrates-youth.be , which provides the European Commission (Directorate-General for Education and Culture)with technical assistance in implementing the programme.

For several of the actions within the programme, contact seminars are being organised to help people find suitable partner institutions in other participating countries and to establish projects. Details of these events are available from national agencies on request.
Applicants will be informed of the result of the selection procedures in writing. The Commission will endeavour to ensure that the selection decisions are made known to applicants at the latest five months after the closing date for submission of applications. For projects selected in accordance with the two-phase procedure, this will only refer to the second stage of the selection (full project proposals).

LIST OF SOCRATES NATIONAL AGENCIES
http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/socrates/nat-est.html