Trans-National Mobility Projects - Useful information

Types of Mobility Projects

1. Trans-national training placements in enterprises or in training institutions
2. Exchanges aimed at the further professional development of trainers and guidance counsellors, and at those responsible for training establishments and for training planning and career guidance within enterprises

Participating Countries

Leonardo is not only open to the EU countries but also to the EEA countries and the associated countries:
Participating countries are:

• European Union : Österreich, Belgique/Belgie, Kypros, Ceska Republika, Danmark, Eesti, Suomi, France, Deutschland, Ellas, Magyarorszag, Ireland, Italia, Latvija, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Nederland, Polska, Portugal, Slovenija, Slovensko, Espana, Sverige, United Kingdom
• EEA Countries : Island, Liechtenstein, Norge
• Other Countries : Bulgaria, Rumania, Turkey

Target groups

Five categories of persons are benefiting from Leonardo da Vinci mobility:

1. People undergoing initial vocational training
2. University students
3. Young workers and recent graduates
4. Human resources managers, vocational training programme planners and managers, trainers and occupational guidance specialists
5. Trainers and mentors in the area of language competencies

These target groups are connected to organisations involved in professional education and training such as

• Vocational Training Schools and training organisations
• Enterprises
• Craft chambers of Commerce
• Bodies responsible for systems and policies concerning any aspect of vocational education and training at local, regional and national level

Duration of placement/exchange

The duration of placements and exchange differs between the target groups. It lies between 1 week and 52 weeks.

Quality- and Award Criteria

Quality- and Award criteria have been set up since the beginning of LdV 2 and are fixed in the contracts with beneficiaries. They mainly concern

• the clear description of the objectives and the training content of the period abroad
• a clear match between the traineeship selected and the beneficiaries' training needs
• the quality of work programme
• a good preparation
• a good mentoring and tutoring of the beneficiaries
• the validation of the competences acquired by the beneficiary and evaluation of the general outcome within the specific vocational training field
• the quality of project management

These criteria have been laid down in the so-called "partnership-commitment", a charter for all partners in a mobility project fixing their various obligations. This charter is an annex to the contracts since the year 2004.

Since 2005, this quality is monitored through an online questionnaire filled in by the beneficiaries. There is a high degree of satisfaction among the beneficiaries:

• 87% of the young beneficiaries have been satisfied or very satisfied with their placement and 77% agree that it will help them to find a job.
• 91% of the trainers who benefited from such a transnational mobility were very satisfied or satisfied with the outcome of their experience abroad.

Funding

The Leonardo da Vinci Programme provides a contribution towards the costs of the project. Leonardo da Vinci also provides some funding for language and cultural preparation and a contribution to management costs. Detailed information about funding and eligible costs is contained in the administrative and Financial Handbook for the year of application.

Funds are distributed between National Agencies in January of each year. Evaluations, selections and contracting are done by the National Agencies.

Dates and Application process

Three Calls for proposals covered the periods 2000-2002, 2003-2004 and 2005-2006. The next call refers to the new Lifelong Learning Programme and will be launched after the decision procedure, probably in December 2006.

Mobility projects are to be applied in a one-stage process by public, semi-public or private organisations at the National Agencies. The National Agencies yearly arrange regular information days for potential applicants.

The Application deadline for the next year will be published contemporaneous with the new call at the end of this year.