Knowledge alliances

Erasmus+
Key action 2 Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices
Version January 2014

Knowledge Alliances in a nutshell

Knowledge 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 EUR Max. EU-contribution for 3-year project = 1 000 000 EUR Yearly deadline = 3 April 200X Start 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 up-skilling and reskilling initiatives in the adult learning (lifelong learning) system quality, efficiency and openness of European higher education international dimension of education and training

transversal skills including digital skills, entrepreneurial skills and language skills

learning opportunities by digital technologies

early-school leaving

leadership 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
Knowledge Alliances: focus on higher education & business collaboration Sector Skills Alliances: Focus on vocational training programmes

Objectives of this action

Knowledge alliances: specific objectives and expected results

Open to any discipline, sector and cross-sectoral cooperation

Develop new, innovative and multidisciplinary approach to teaching and learning

Transational, Innovation & sustainability & impact driven

Facilitate the exchange, flow and co-creation of knowledge

Stimulate entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial competence of students, academic and company staff

Results, dissemination & exploitation

Tangible results: reports, events, newsletters, good practice guide, case studies, ...

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

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

o
o

EU-28 (including Overseas Country and Territory depending on Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom ) Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland 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 20142020 (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
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
o

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

Award criteria
Relevance of the project Quality of project design and implementation Quality of the project team and the cooperation arrangements Impact and dissemination

Purpose of cooperation

Coherence

Configuration of consortium

Exploitation of cooperation outcomes

Sound needs analysis

Work programme structure

Commitment consortium partners

Dissemination strategy

Consistence of proposed actions

Management (timeline, organisation, tasks & responsibilities)

Complementarity partnerships

Societal and economic relevance and impact

Innovation in processes and outcomes

Quality and financial control

Collaboration and team spirit

Sustainability beyond project lifetime

European added value (transnationality and potential transferability)

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
Innovative learning and teaching methods

Fostering entrepreneurial skills and attitudes

Structured mobility and knowledge exchange between academia and business

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

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) Country of the particpating organisation whose staff is involved Travel costs Subsistence cost
Staff Learners

Optional funding for mobility activities

o o

Belgium eligible costs

Financing mechanism Implementation support Unit cost (basic) (per day) Amounts Manager (336 EUR) Teacher/Trainer/Researcher (257 EUR) Technician (194 EUR) Administrative staff (157 EUR)

Travel (optional)

Unit cost (per participant)

Unit cost (per day)

Between 100km and 1999km (275 EUR) Above 2000km (360 EUR)
Staff between day 1 and 14: 100 EUR between day 15 and day 60: 40 EUR Learners between day 1 and 14: 55 EUR between day 15 and day 60: 40 EUR

Subsistence (optional)

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 o

As soon as possible, inform International Office about intentions Advice available on request for call specifications, possible (non) academic partners, consortium management structure, 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 Office

o o o

Communication to EACEA for budget revise, clarifications, Grant agreement (and amendments) 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 Evers International Office

johan.evers@kuleuven.be 016/37 98 54

Your contact person for Erasmus+ Knowledge Alliances