1. Setting up an informal group to oversee cooperation of NAs in the AE field. 2. How to get the right institutions to apply- Information Campaigns

Transcription

1 NA Cooperation: Discussion Topics There were a range of topics and themes addressed during both the Open Space and Proaction Café sessions over the 2 days. Some of these were stand alone topics and some were linked. In cases were they were linked these topics have been combined for the purpose of reporting. 1. Setting up an informal group to oversee cooperation of NAs in the AE field 2. How to get the right institutions to apply- Information Campaigns 3. Ensuring Relevance & Quality of proposals in the AE field in E+ 4. Monitoring and evaluation of ongoing projects 5. Systemic development of AE in terms of Programme and policy tools 6. KA1 and KA2 Programme Implementation 7. Validation / guidance/ learning outcomes 8. Themes / areas of need identified that could be addressed through TCA in AE Field

2 1. Setting up an informal group to oversee cooperation of NAs in the AE field One of the aims of the meeting was to set up an informal group of NAs to oversee cooperation of NAs in the Adult Education field. The NAs that expressed interest so far were the following, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland, Belgium(FL), Germany Austria, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and Ireland. The aim of the group has been broadly outlined at this meeting but will be further developed at the next meeting in Brussels. Membership of the group is an informal commitment with options for NAs to opt out or for other NAs to opt in at any time. It is also possible that there will be smaller informal groups to tackle with particular issues, e.g. developing navigator or handbook. The informal group have committed to the following; NA Meeting in June (to meet either before / during this meeting to set out our agenda points to be brought up at this meeting Discuss when to have the next NA Informal meeting/ what themes to be addressed/ hosting Discuss quality in the projects we are funding and how to support this. Sharing of approaches/ practice around monitoring and follow up. E+ Guide 2017 set priorities for AE in KA1 (linked to AE policy) and have input to KA2 priorities Talk via Yammer Encourage NA attendance at contact seminars to support colleagues (It was pointed out that NAs need to also formally invite colleagues via NA Director) Explore how we could work on updating supporting documents that help projects such as the Grundtvig Navigator, QAS etc. Explore how this could be funded e.g. TCA Share resources that NAs have developed for example the Application handbook developed by the UK NA. Put resources for both NAs and Beneficiaries up on YAMMER share resources via Yammer Look at DE validation practice for KA1 Share with partners on best practice projects that your country coordinates but your partner countries may not know about. Share this so that they can also disseminate in their country. EPALE is another tool to share / disseminate this. NAs: Ana Slovenia, Zuzanna- Slovakia, Alina Poland, Renilde- Belgium (Flanders), Sibilla - Germany, Carin Austria, Aud Norway, Therese Portugal, Eva Sweden, Denise- Ireland.

3 2. How to get the right institutions to apply The topic of how to target the right audience for the E+ AE was an important one at the meeting. NAs were eager to discuss and share on approaches to information campaigns, targeted promotion and how to ensure the relevance of the projects funded. Avenues / approaches to promotion included Through EPALE (blog) themes Identify institutions contact them directly Information campaigns/ info days and regional events Attendance at education fairs Presentation at meetings of networks Action points Work to improve information the Programme Guide particularly in terms terms of AE Priorities. Use EPALE for AE providers to promote courses/ job-shadowing and tagged correctly as either VET or AE Direct potential applicants to EPALE partner search function Share successful Information campaigns

4 3. Ensuring Relevance & Quality of proposals in the AE field in E+ It was agreed that the training and briefing of experts was key to ensuring relevance of the projects funded. Further training around evaluation and interpretation of award criteria is needed. In tandem with this, having clear priorities for Adult Education and potentially national priorities would not only help the evaluators with their task but also sends a clearer message to applicants. Evaluators will also have a role in ensuring the relevance of the projects funded and identifying Project machines. It was agreed that making a clear and explicit link between policy and programme is fundamental to ensuring a common understanding amongst National Agencies and beneficiaries of the priorities of the AE field. TCA activities (contact seminars, thematic conferences (involving experts and projects), cross-sectoral seminars and other) will play an important role in facilitating applicants to develop partnerships and projects on relevant topics. TCA will also be a useful tool for National Agencies to put a spotlight on themes, identify missing themes or areas of focus for the field going forward. This was discussed at a specific session on TCA at the NA meeting see TCA note point 8. TCA will have a key role in connecting projects with each other and the AE community, sharing ideas, competence development and better insight as to what is happening in AE across Europe. Action points: Share on approaches to training and briefing of experts Further training around evaluation and interpretation of award criteria (and elements of each criterion) is needed with NAs. Use EPALE to show good practice projects and relevance in Adult Education Share best practice and information on Project partners between NAs Use of webinars for cooperation/ training Make a clear and explicit link between policy and Programme ensuring a common understanding amongst National Agencies and beneficiaries of the priorities of the AE field. Strategic planning on topics and themes for TCAs

5 4. Monitoring & Evaluation of ongoing projects Sharing resources around monitoring of projects was chosen as a focus for discussion. Monitoring projects enable NAs to provide guidance for beneficiaries to support the running of good projects/ and to avoid projects going wrong. Monitoring provides deeper insight into the work of the Project and can help raise impact on a national and European level. It was agreed that there was a need to exchange NA experiences with regard to monitoring and evaluation practice to support better approaches but also to share the knowledge of projects particularly those best practice/ or problematic projects that we do not have contact with as partner countries. Commonalities appeared across the countries discussing ( BE, AT, N, FR, PL) which was expected given that the process is dictated by the Guide for NAs. Projects are chosen for monitoring- based on risk assessment, random selection, evaluator recommendations, best practice etc. Monitoring tools used include, kick off meetings, formal questionnaire, phone calls, audit and on the spot check (financial) and monitoring visits ( quality), progress meetings (for longer duration projects 2-3 years) monitoring letters, checking records in Mobility Tool+, webinars etc Documents used to inform the monitoring process include, risk assessment, recommendations of evaluators, interim and final reports, questionnaires. All of the monitoring requires some form of report to the beneficiary on completion of the monitoring activity. The Mobility tool is a key part of the reporting process for projects and some NAs are using webinars to train beneficiaries on the use of the Mobility + tool. Action points: Collect the resources, templates, training practices for working with the target group) between the NA and share in Yammer Quality AE Group upload the relevant tools / resources. Look at how this could be best organized perhaps a folder for NA tools & resources and a folder for Beneficiary tools & resources Share at NA Sectoral meetings on our approaches/ challenges around monitoring A coordinated action of monitoring projects across NAs by cooperating on monitoring the beneficiaries/ on the spot etc. Also explore options for joined visit monitoring (e.g. monitoring multiplier Events in KA2) Hold an NA Informal Meeting on the theme of Monitoring/ evaluation/ impact Look at capacity building AE NA Staff in monitoring through skills development ( address skills gap), networking, regional cooperation, peer learning Look at updating previous resources developed for projects for example, Grundtvig Navigator and QAF quality assurance model.

6 5. Systemic development of AE in terms of programme and policy tools In order to see the development of AE in the programme it was outlined that there is a need for greater connectedness and synergies between the IT tools, the E+ Programme and policy documents and stakeholders. E+ needs to be client centred in how it works. There needs to be greater integration of EPALE and the National Coordinators of the EAAL as well as EC Working Group on Adult Learning into the process/ implementation of E+. There must be an opportunity for the National Agencies to take a lead in this as the intermediary between the beneficiary and the Programme/ policy parts. Some NAs felt that a way to have stronger impact through Erasmus+ AE on country policy is to have national priorities. This view was not held by all NAs as they can link the European priorities to the national ones, however, it was still felt by all that the overall AE priorities need to be clearer in the guide for both actions. Therefore, national priorities could be an option for countries that wished to have them but do not have to be an obligation for all. Anni (FI) presented how Finland is integrating EPALE, EAAL and E+ and has a working group based on 4 topics (VNIL, LifeLong Learning, Basic skills and Quality). This is a model that the NAs involved in this discussion wanted to explore further. Anni has said that she will share this via Yammer. Action points: Discuss the possibility of introducing National priorities as an option for NA s in 2017 Discuss what is the role/task of Erasmus+ AE in this triad? How is Erasmus+ linked to politics/benchmarks on the one hand and to networking/knowledge management on the other hand? What can Erasmus+ achieve and what not?

7 6. KA1 and KA2 Programme Implementation Discussion around Programme implementation of KA1 and KA2 outlined that there needs to be NA collaboration to ensure that as much as is practical and possible, there is consistency across all NAs in approaches and interpretations of rules and descriptions in the E+ Programme Guide (e.g. definition of Intellectual Outputs, Multiplier Events etc) NA Collaboration around Programme implementation should facilitate sharing of templates for desk checks, sharing of good practice and an opportunity to work together to create solutions to common problems. NA collaboration will be important to highlight good practice projects towards the end of the projects (with partner countries). NA collaboration and closer interaction with the EC will be important to work towards development of the above points and also simplification i.e. application form questions to ensure inclusion and appeal. KA1 establishing the maximum limit of financing. The NAs have no way of determining maximum limit of financing depending on the size of the organization. In consequence a well-written proposal, even for organizations with a small number of employees, can consume even the entire budget of the action. Action points Use informal meetings, and NA Sectoral meetings to address challenges in Programme implementation Regular meetings between the NAs needed through informal meetings, NA meetings, other Follow up re the quality of courses attended / provided for KA1 projects ( Renilde BE) Use YAMMER

8 7. Validation / guidance/ learning outcomes The topic of validation, guidance and learning outcomes came up as a thematic topic for discussion the open space session. The main issue for this topic is mapping what tools there are and how they can be used in the AE field (what is the added value for them). The work on this theme will be partly awareness raising on these tools, on learning outcomes for both the AE field and the NA staff themselves. It was agreed that this was a cross-sectoral theme. Peter (NL) and Anni (FI) have concrete plans to make progress on this theme and have begun to cooperate via Yammer. Anni (FI) has proposed that Finland would organize a TCA in spring 2017 and the Netherlands would take over with a TCA in The timeline to 2018 will be important because in that year all European countries should deliver their action plan on non-formal and informal learning to the EC. Other countries have also expressed an interest in this theme including Slovenia, Sweden, Germany and Ireland Issues identified in this group included; Validation is different in each country (definition is needed) Learning outcomes how to write them? Tools (what are they, why use it, unclear for applicants) Practical solutions need to be explored through websites, workshops, information materials. Mapping of existing tools/ approaches including Europass for volunteers, Youthpass, open badges, CHQ method (quality, guidance, awareness)

9 8. Themes / areas of need identified that could be addressed through TCA in AE Field There was an input from Lorraine Gilligan Youth Field Director (IE) on the evolution of TCA in the Youth field. This provided much thought for discussion around how the TCA opportunity could be developed. The following recommendations were made in relation to the TCA activities; Build planning for TCA at field level to ensure relevance / strategic approach for the AE field Emphasize Inclusive Education as an AE priority Look at how TCA s can support Thematic events with a view to supporting projects stronger link to policy, an opportunity to network and possibly link networks of projects on themes to KA3/ Sectoral alliances. More structured thematic events to be repeated The following themes identified through the TCA session have been grouped; Implementing ICT tools in Adult Education Digital learning: Influence in Learning Environments, Course Structures and Contents and Individual pathways (DE) Basic skills 8 key competences ( civic education v important) Validation Digital skills/ Learning Language learning/ multilingualism Civic Education Fighting Radicalisation, Violence, Discrimination (DE) Radicalisation / civic education Refugees to remain a topic Integration of refugees Refugees/ migration Intercultural and intergenerational dialogue Integration European citizenship Participation/ access

10 General education with special focus on culture and histor Guidance and validation Participation in Adult Learning (Outreach strategies, peer-learning, guidance) Validation/ Guidance / Learning Outcomes (The Netherlands, FI &.) Validation and Guidance in Non formal AE - Thematic Seminar ( FI, SI, NL) Training the trainer on validation (The Netherlands) Guidance Recognition and validation of competences Regional Approach / Municipalities (The Netherlands) Regional cooperation Basic TCA for Newcomers to E+ Partner building Engaging and connecting local AE centres with the aim of establishing new ideas for KA2, establishing connections for KA1 exchanges, peer learning ( Slovenia, Croatia) Other themes Returning to learning (valuing learning not linked to economic activity) TCA Cross Sectoral Early School Leaving 2017 NL How to show results of good practices of E+ AE projects contributing to EU policy TCA on update and review of former QAS material and survival kit, GRU Navigator for NAs and Beneficiaries TCA for KA1 Course provision in AE (and SE?) European added value Quality and impact professionalization (is this referring to KA1?) Explaining the Impact Pyramid (Developed by Dutch NA for VET) for AE. (NL) (Question: is this for both NA and Beneficiaries?)

11 The themes identified below relate to programme implementation and quality- some may not be suitable to TCA but rather NA informal meetings, NA thematic conferences etc. TCA for NA Staff on Evaluation of Projects Training for NA staff on quality Training for NA staff on Impact and Dissemination Training for NA staff on impact and dissemination How to improve the quality of AE How to increase the quality of applications? Quality of AE projects projects how to improve it and help target groups to prepare good projects Looking at improving overall quality of applications