ERASMUS Academic networks
ERASMUS Academic Networks are designed to promote European cooperation and innovation in specific subject areas.
They contribute to enhancing quality of teaching in higher education, defining and developing a European dimension within a given academic discipline, furthering innovation and exchanging methodologies and good practices. This is achieved by means of cooperation within the network between higher education institutions, university faculties and departments and may also involve professional associations and enterprises as well as other organisations.
They contribute to enhancing quality of teaching in higher education, defining and developing a European dimension within a given academic discipline, furthering innovation and exchanging methodologies and good practices. This is achieved by means of cooperation within the network between higher education institutions, university faculties and departments and may also involve professional associations and enterprises as well as other organisations.
Which criteria must a network fulfil?
- All networks should bring together an appropriate range of relevant stakeholders concerned by the theme addressed and shall address topics of direct relevance for the European higher education policy;
- The main focus shall be sharing knowledge, discussing methodologies, promoting the exchange of experience and disseminating good practices in this field as well as producing and promoting creativity and innovation;
- Networks shall address current, emerging and future developments of the subject area;
- Geographical coverage and a balanced participation among countries must be ensured;
- All networks should involve the participation of at least 25 institutions from 25 LLP participating countries;
- One of the organisations participating in the network project must act as the co-ordinator. However, it is expected that other network partners take the lead on implementing the different parts of the work programme.
- It is vital that the whole of the network be actively associated with its activities.
What is expected of the network
As a minimum, each network is expected to carry out the following operational activities:- Create a website and other appropriate tools to support information exchange and dissemination;
- Produce an annual report on the state of innovation in its area of activity;
- Provide the ‘players’ in ERASMUS with full information about the network’s events and activities;
- Organise an annual meeting in the thematic area of the network. The meeting may also bring together representatives of other Erasmus-supported activities in the field concerned, including notably multilateral projects and intensive programmes. It can take the form of an open seminar or conference, thereby encouraging collaboration between Erasmus-supported projects and other relevant initiatives;
- Take appropriate measures regarding the evaluation of the network's performance.
Which issues will academic networks tend to focus on?
- Mapping the field. This might typically involve describing, analysing, and comparing existing teaching methods, and defining and experimenting with new ones, identifying existing high quality teaching material and placing it at the disposal of the members of the network.
- Quality assurance related to an academic thematic area.
- Facilitating European co-operation. Assessing the state of the art in European cooperation, identifying needs and obstacles and ways to overcome them. Setting up tools and European strategies (such as to improve the use of ECTS, new governance models, etc).
- Defining and updating generic and sectoral competences using learning outcome and student-centred methodologies in the thematic area of the network, such as following the approach of the pilot project “Tuning Educational Structures in Europe” in the discipline of the network.
- Promoting synergies between teaching and research, notably by encouraging higher education institutions to integrate research results in their teaching and linking Erasmus academic networks with Networks of Excellence funded by the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for Research, Technology Development and Demonstration Activities.
- Reinforcing the link between education and society, bringing together public and private sector, scientific and professional players, thereby contributing to Europe's innovation capacity.
Which subject areas receive funding?
Each year, network proposals focusing on subject areas and themes not extensively covered by networks already being funded under this action are particularly encouraged, in order to arrive at an optimal coverage of academic disciplines. Information on networks funded in previous calls can be found in the project compendia (see below). What grant is available?
- A maximum EU contribution to projects will be 600.000 € for the entire duration of the project.
- The maximum grant for all third country partners combined is 25.000 € in addition to the amount specified above
- The maximum EU contribution is 75%.
Duration
- Minimum and maximum duration 3 years.
- Extension of the eligibility period by up to 6 months on request for networks is possible only in exceptional cases. The total grant will not change
Who can benefit?
- Higher education institutions
- Public bodies
- Enterprises
- Associations and other relevant organisations active in relation to higher education
- Partner organisations from countries not participating in the Lifelong Learning Programme on the following conditions:
- Neither the applicant nor the organisation responsible for project management / coordination can be a third country partner;
- Third country participation is an additional option in an otherwise normal, eligible application and consortium.
Who can apply?
- Higher education institutions holding a full duration ERASMUS University Charter
- Public bodies, enterprises, associations and other relevant organisations active in relation to higher education
How to apply?
- Respond to the yearly call for proposals
- Applications are to be filed with the Executive Agency.
- Further information is available on the Executive Agency's website and in the info sheet
Statistics
| Year | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
| Networks under Socrates II | 19 | 25 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 29 | 14 |
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Networks (academic + structural) under LLP | 8 | 14 | 13 | 8 |
ERASMUS Academic Networks compendia
ERASMUS success stories in the field of Academic networks 2010
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Lifelong Learning ERASMUS Award in Gold 2010 – Erasmus Academic network Erasmus network in women's studies in Europe: ATHENA II     - ATHENA II, the successor to the ATHENA network launched in 1998 and continuing today as ATHENA III, is a thematic network on women's rights, gender equality and diversity which brings together academics, students, young professionals and organisations in civil society, providing inclusion of expertise from groups without access to academic structures, addressing questions identified by groups fighting social exclusion. |
ERASMUS success stories in the field of Academic networks 2009
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Lifelong Learning ERASMUS Award in Gold 2009 – Erasmus Academic network Erasmus network in history: CLIOHNET - New links for historical perspectives in European culture  - Creating Links and Innovative Overviews to Enhance Historical Perspectives in European Culture (CLIOHnet) aims to bring new critical awareness to history academics, to people of all ages learning history, and to European citizens in general. Since history has a major influence on how ideas are moulded, very selective versions of it can become the foundation for national ideologies. In this process, history is not always an innocent bystander: political violence, racism, xenophobia and other divisive policies are often driven by uncritical and unscrupulous use of “historical facts”. The European History Network started in the late 1980s as part of the ECTS pilot project. Today its members have unequalled experience and understanding of the different ways history is researched, written, learned and taught in Europe and other continents. CLIOHnet has generated important initiatives in this context –giving rise notably to a network for research, CLIOHRES.net, with which it has jointly produced an entire library written by historians from many different countries and bringing a new transnational dimension to European history. |
ERASMUS success stories in the field of Thematic Networks 2007
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ERASMUS Thematic Network for Music "Polifonia"                 - "Polifonia" studies various issues related to professional music training at the European level. The network, which is the biggest European project on professional music training to date, involves more than 60 institutions in the field of music training and the music profession in 30 European countries. It is jointly co-ordinated by the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and the European Association of Conservatories (AEC).Link www.polifonia-tn.org |
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CCN: Consumer Citizenship Network - The Consumer Citizenship Network (CCN) is an interdisciplinary network of educators who share an interest in how the individual's role as a consumer can contribute constructively to sustainable development and mutual solidarity. The participants develop interdisciplinary approaches to central issues dealing with the balance between material and non material well being and how one can translate ethical values into everyday practice through conscientious participation in the market. The CCN brings together expertise in the fields of citizenship, environmental and consumer education to develop good practice for teaching and accessing consumer citizenship education.Link www.hihm.no/concit |
