Calls for grant projects proposals:

Main characteristics of grant type projects:
Value of project: 50,000 – 499,000 euro
Implementation level – Local, Regional
Project duration: 6 to 18 months

 KAI 1.1: Access to quality education and initial VET

This key area of intervention will support actions for restructuring and improving the preuniversity education system (according to the structure of the educational system, in force) with a view to increase access to quality education and key competencies for all.

Financed activities – examples:

• Develop/ update/ review/ testing/ implementation of tools and procedures for evaluation and assessment of students, including organizing and conducting professional examinations for certification of skills for professional qualification of all levels, assessment of key skills in all education institutions, recognition/ validation/certification of prior learning;
• Development/ implementation/ integration of tools and practices of inclusive education, elaboration/ development of support mechanisms to increase access and participation in initial vocational education and training;
• Elaboration/ development/ revision/ testing and implementation of skills and professional standards in initial vocational training;
• Developing/ updating/ improving/ testing and implementation of guidance and counseling tools, and services;
• Improvement/ provision of guidance and counseling in education institution.

Eligible applicants: public and private providers of guidance, counseling, mediation services and alternative school, social partners in education, NGO’s (foundations and associations) acting in initial vocational education and training or related.

KAI 1.2: Quality in higher education

This key area of intervention will support actions for restructuring and improving the higher education system.

Financed activities – examples:

• Drafting/ updating/ revising/ testing/ implementing/ transposing the methodologies, tools, benchmarks, procedures and mechanisms for quality assurance and management, university management, evaluation and accreditation etc.;
• Drafting/ updating/ revising/ implementing/ describing/ validating the qualifications in higher education, including elaboration of terms of reference for the definition of the qualifications, as well as procedures for their validation;
• Drafting/ updating/ revising/ testing/ implementing, procedures, tools for managing and implementing the NQF in higher education, at system level and in universities;
• Defining and adapting study programs to the qualifications in higher education, including elaboration of learning materials and tools;
• Improving integrated library and scientific documentation services in higher education.

Eligible applicants: Ministry of Education, Research and Youth, NGOs, accredited higher education institutions, both public and private, NGOs, foundations and associations acting in the field of higher education or related to it, including students’ unions.

KAI. 1.4: Quality in continuing vocational training (CVT)

This key area of intervention is aiming at increasing the public and private CVT system’s capacity of providing quality training in order to ensure grounds for raising the participation in CVT.

Financed activities – examples:

• Developing/ updating/ description/ validation of professional qualifications and competencies in CVT national and sectoral level, including development and updating of the terms of reference for defining the qualifications, standards and occupational profiles, as well as procedures for validation;
• Developing/ updating/ reviewing/ testing/ implementing procedures, methodologies and mechanisms for training, evaluation and certification of competences and qualifications;
• Developing/ updating / improving/ testing/ implementing management tools for National Qualification Framework (NQF);
• Support for sectoral committees, including staff training, in order to strengthen their capacity to engage actively in quality assurance in CVT;
• Developing/ updating/ reviewing/ testing/ implementation of methodologies and procedures for validation/ recognition of prior learning and certification;
• Drafting/updating/revising/testing/implementing methodologies and procedures for transposing quality assurance at CVT providers level.

Eligible applicants: trade unions, Employers, National Agency for Employment, public or private centers validation / certification of prior learning

KAI 2.2: Preventing and correcting early school leaving

This key area will aim at preventing and correcting early school leaving, by maintaining/ reintegrating the potential early school leavers in education and training.

Financed activities – examples:

• Promotion of awareness raising campaigns aiming at preventing and reducing early school leavers;
• Development and provision of guidance, counseling and educational assistance to prevent early school leaving (for people at risk of early school leaving and their families);
• Activities adaptation/ development of curriculum for the training of preschool education core competencies, including the development of teaching and learning materials and adaptation to the specific needs of preschoolers;
• Development and delivery activities such as “family kindergarten”;
• Elaboration/ development/ testing/ implementation of educational methodologies and alternative solutions in order to prepare for entering the educational system.

Eligible applicants: Institutes/ centers of research and development in education, NGO’s working in education, social inclusion, improve the situation of vulnerable groups in education and related services, guidance and counseling providers, accredited school, public and private.

KAI 6.2: Improving the access and participation for vulnerable groups on the labour market

The Key area focuses on facilitating the access to employment for people belonging to vulnerable groups, with the aim of avoiding social exclusion, marginalization, discrimination and the poverty trap.

Financed activities – examples:

• Training programmes addressed to specific needs of vulnerable groups, including basic skills and certified training programmes;
• Motivating programmes for vulnerable groups to get integrated/reintegrated on the labour market, assisting them with effective job search;
• Activities addressed to the conversion of redundant and neglected industrial workshops;
• Counseling for the development of new sheltered jobs in enterprises;
• Activities for setting up of care/assistance services for family dependents to enable participation in the labour market of people at risk of social exclusion;
• Assistance in organisation of support groups and selfhelp groups
• Development of service quality standards for services leading to integration with the labour market and delivered by social services providers;
• Studies and expertise aimed at evaluating the impact and effectiveness of forms of support offered to persons threatened with social exclusion;
• Training for employees of social services providers (including NGO’s and volunteers) working with persons from high risk groups.

Eligible applicants: social cooperatives, NGOs, accredited providers of social services, employment and continuous vocational learning, institutions and member organizations of Regional Pacts and Local Partnerships for Employment and Social Inclusion, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Interior and coordinated structures.
Evaluation and approval of grant project proposals are carried out in compliance with “first come -first served” principle, NOW is the time to start working on your project ideas!

Calls for strategic project proposals

Main characteristics of strategic type projects:
Value of project: 500,000 – 5,000,000 euro
Implementation level – National, Multi-Regional

KAI 2.3 – Access and participation in CVT (Continuous Vocational Training)

In this call for project proposals are funded: Continuous Vocational Training programs (CVT) in order to facilitate full qualification and requalification of employees, activities to facilitate access of employees to services for validation and certification of professional competences achieved in informal or/ and nonformal contexts, and activities for training providers to diversify and encourage flexible training programs.

Financed activities – examples:

• Participation to courses for qualification, certification or/ and improving skills training;
• Certification of professional competences;
• Rising employees awareness and informing regarding qualification opportunities;
• Support for CVT providers in development of training programs (CVT) for qualification and/ or requalification of employees;
• Authorization and certification in order to provide continuous professional training programs for qualification and/ or requalification of employees;
• Developing professional and career guidance and counseling services for employees: developing materials for counseling and guidance activities, providing information, counseling and guidance services;
• Information/ awareness/ media campaigns on human resource development opportunities, information on qualification or requalification possibilities for employees, etc.

Eligible applicants: Authorized training providers, NGO-s and institutions (associations and foundations) specialized in human resources development, members of the sectoral committees and Sectoral Committees with juridical personality, Professional associations, Chambers of commerce and industry etc.

KAI 6.4: Transnational initiatives on inclusive labour market

The Key area focuses on transnational initiatives as a part of a strategy to share information and innovation on an inclusive labour market with other EU Member States, supporting transnational initiatives and partnerships at European level aiming to develop human resources and create an inclusive labour market.

Financed activities – examples:

• Transnational projects aimed at HRD in the framework of social inclusion policies and practices;
• Setting-up partnerships at European level for HRD and social inclusion;
• Exchange of experience and transfer of expertise about successful methodologies developed for social inclusion, including mentoring.

Eligible applicants: NGO-s (associations and foundations), authorized training providers, public or private, SME`s associations, Professional Associations, Accredited public or private Universities etc.

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