CALL FOR PROPOSALS — DG EAC 01/06

Higher education reform (Lisbon strategy and Bologna process)

(2006/C 43/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.   Objectives and description

The purpose of this call is to support the implementation of projects aiming to contribute to the reform process in higher education. Eligible activities would cover priority areas of curricular, funding and governance reform as well as seminars and conferences on these themes. In doing so, the Commission seeks to contribute to the priorities set in the Education and Training 2010 section of the agenda for the Lisbon Strategy (1), as well as to the priorities of the Bologna Process defined by higher education ministers in the Berlin and Bergen Communiqués (2).

The projects selected under this call will be supported with funds from Action 8 of the Socrates Programme: Accompanying Measures, awareness-raising activities to promote cooperation in the field of education (3).

2.   Eligible applicants

Applicants must be associations or networks or consortia of higher education institutions or other bodies active in relation to higher education, with members in at least three countries participating in the Socrates programme.

Applications from legal entities established in one of the following countries, participating in the Socrates programme, are eligible:

3.   Budget and project duration

The total budget available for the co-financing of projects under the present call is estimated at EUR 3 000 000. Financial assistance from the Commission cannot exceed 85 % of the total eligible costs. The level of grants awarded is likely to vary considerably, depending on the type of project, the number of partners involved and so on. Activities must start between 1 September and 1 December 2006. The maximum duration of projects is 24 months.

4.   Deadline

Applications must be sent to the Commission no later than 20 April 2006.

5.   Further information

The full text of the call for proposals and the application forms are available on the following website:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/index_en.html.

Applications must comply with the requirements set out in the full text and be submitted using the form provided.

(1)  The priorities for higher education are described in the Commission Communication Mobilising the brainpower of Europe: enabling universities to make their full contribution to the Lisbon Strategy, COM 5005 (152).

(2)  For the Communiqués, see http://www.dfes.gov.uk/bologna.

(3)  Decision No 253/2000/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 24 January 2000, establishing the second phase of the Community action programme in the field of Education ‘Socrates’ (OJ L 28, 3.2.2000, p. 1-15). Article 3, paragraph 1, and Annex, Section II., Action 8: Accompanying Measures, under 1. (a), L 28/12.