The Leonardo da Vinci programme
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 (AT), Belgique/Belgie (BE), Bulgaria (BG), Kypros (CY), Ceska Republika (CZ), Deutschland (DE), Danmark (DK),  Eesti (EE), Ellas (EL), Espana (ES), Suomi (FI), France (FR),  Magyarorszag (HU), Ireland (IE), Italia (IT), Lithuania (LT), Luxembourg (LU), Latvija (LV), Malta (MT), Nederland (NL), Polska (PL), Portugal (PT), Rumania (RO), Sverige (SE), Slovenija (SI), Slovensko (SK), United Kingdom (UK)
• EEA Countries : Island (IS), Liechtenstein (LI), Norge (NO)
• Other Country : Turkey (TR)

Target groups

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

1. Trainees in initial vocation training, (IVT) - except at tertiary level - either within a training school or at the work place
2. People in the labour market (PLM) - having finished their vocational training and not being attached to a training organisation anymore
3. Vocational Education and Training professionals (VETPRO), such as: Human resource managers in undertakings, vocational training programme planners and managers, trainers and occupational guidance counsellors, teachers/trainers/other educational staff, persons responsible for training establishments and for training planning, who 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

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.

Award priorities are :

• the impact at institutional level (national, regional, sectoral …) and
• the originality and innovative character

Funding

The Leonardo da Vinci Programme provides a contribution towards the costs of the project.

Leonardo da Vinci also provides some funding for pedagogical 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 actual call refers to the new Lifelong Learning Programme and has been launched in December 2007.

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.

Application deadline once a year at the end of March.