The EUUS Cooperation Programme in Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training _________ E

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The EU-US Cooperation Programme in Higher
Education and Vocational Education and Training
_________European CommissionDG Education
Culture
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Structure of presentation

• Background
• Objectives
• Activities
• Funding
• Selection of applications

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The programme at glance

• Concrete measure providing support to
  partnerships among EU and US higher education and
  vocational training institutions aimed at
  promoting joint study programmes and student
  exchanges across the Atlantic.
• Based on a formal agreement between the European
  Community and the Government of the United stated
  signed 1995 which is about to be renewed for the
  period 2006-2013

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Programme Objectives (1)

• Promote mutual understanding
• Languages
• Cultures
• Institutions
• Improve quality of human resources
• Modernisation of universities
• Employability / Competitiveness

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Programme Objectives (2)

• Improve quality of EU-US student mobility
• More transparency
• Mutual recognition of period of studies and
  training
• Portability of credits
• Promote institutional relations

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The new cooperation programme 2006-2013

• ATLANTIS
• Transatlantic Degrees
• Excellence mobility projects
• Policy oriented measures
• Schuman-Fulbright individual mobility grants

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Transatlantic Degree Consortia Projects

• Undergraduate level (first cycle)
• Joint study programme at 2 or more EU US
  institutions
• Joint or double degree awarded
• Considerably shorter and less expensive than 2
  separate degrees

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Transatlantic Degrees Eligible consortia

• At least 3 HE/VET institutions of which at least
  2 EU ones located in two different member states
  and one from the US
• At least two institutions awarding the
  joint/double degree (EU-1 and US-1)
• If gt2 degree awarding institutions ? competitive
  advantage in the selection

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Transatlantic Degrees key components

• Joint study programme
• Student mobility
• Faculty mobility
• Language and cultural training
• Evaluation
• Dissemination

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Joint Study programme

• Common programme of study fully recognised by all
  partners
• Typically a 4-year duration (bachelor)
• Shared admission standards
• Recognition of courses and exams taken at partner
  institutions
• Students mobility in at least 2 EU and 1 US
  institutions
• Leading to award of a recognised joint or double
  degree

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Student Mobility

• At least one full academic year on the other side
  of the Atlantic
• Plus a period of study in a second EU
  institutions in a different country worth 20 ECTS
• Tuition and fees recommended to be due only to
  the home institution
• Agreement on award of academic credits earned
  abroad

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Faculty Mobility

• Teaching or research assignments in the US
  institutions
• Managing the joint study programme
• Support for 1 to 8-week mobility

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Language and Cultural training

• Use of two EU languages
• Courses not necessarily in the national language
• If English is the language of instruction then
  separate training on local language
• Cultural preparation and pre-departure briefings

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Evaluation and Dissemination

• evaluation plan
• possibly independent experts
• strategies for sustainability and dissemination
  of the results of the project
• funding linked to results

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Policy Oriented Measures

• Two-year duration
• Flexibility in the type of activities
• Studies, seminars, benchmarking
• Added value for Transatlantic cooperation in
  education and training

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Funding for Transatlantic Degrees

• Projects are selected and receive funding for
  four years
• Maximum overall funding of 696,000 for the EU
  partner institutions of 4-year project
• Similar funding for the US institution(s) from
  FIPSE
• No specific co-financing is required use of flat
  rates and individual mobility grants

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Funding for Transatlantic Degrees (2)

• Mobility Grants to EU students
• Maximum of 576,000 for a 4-year projects
• 1,200 per month spent in the US
• Minimum 1 academic year spent in the US 12,000
• Maximum 2 academic years in the US 24,000
• At least 6 EU students per year

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Funding for Transatlantic Degrees (3)

• Mobility Grants to EU faculty
• Maximum of 60,000 for a 4-year projects
• 1,000 mobility grant per week spent in the US
• plus a fixed amont of 1,000 for travel
• Minimum 1 week, maximum 8 weeks

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Funding for Transatlantic Degrees (4)

• Flat rate funding to the partner institutions
• Maximum of 60,000 for a 4-year projects
• Canculated as 7,500 per institution per year

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Funding for Policy Oriented Measures

• Projects are selected and receive funding for 2
  years
• Up to 75 of total project cost for EU partners
• Maximum 50,000 for EU partners and 50,000 for
  US partners
• Partners to cover at least 25 of project cost

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Funding

• Up to 75 of total project cost for EU partners
• Maximum 50,000 for EU partners and 50,000 for
  US partners
• Partners to cover at least 25 of project cost

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Selection of applications (1)

• Significance of the proposed project
• Innovation and value added of transatlantic
  curriculum development in the proposed field of
  study
• Expected benefits for the students in terms of
  their employability in translational labour
  markets

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Selection of applications (2)

• Quality of the design of the proposed project
• Integrated/common study programme
• Arrangemens for recognition and award of academic
  credits, use of ECTS
• Evidence that the double degree is officially
  recognised
• Balanced involvement of all partner institutions,
  1 or 2 EU degree awarding institutions

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Selection of applications (3)

• Quality of the design of the proposed project
• Realistic overall duration of the double/joint
  degree (closest to 4 years)
• Cross culture and linguistic preparation
• Built-in assessment/evaluation mechanisms
• Dissemination of products and results

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Selection of applications (4)

• Three-step approach
• Peer review by independent experts (August 06)
• Joint Selection with the American authorities
  (September 06)
• Financial decision and award of grants by the
  European Commission (October 06)

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Overview Industrialised countries
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More Information

• http//europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/eu-
  usa/index_en.html