EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for Education and Culture Lifelong learning: higher education and international affairs Higher education; Erasmus

Brussels, 7th July 2011 EAC/C-1 LO/ns Ares (2011) n° file code: 2011/NAR/008

INVITATION ADDRESSED TO THE NETWORK OF NATIONAL ACADEMIC RECOGNITION INFORMATION CENTRES (NARIC)

FOR CO-FUNDING PROPOSALS FOR THE YEAR 2012-2013

1. INTRODUCTION

This Invitation to submit is based on Decision 1720/2006/EC establishing the Lifelong Learning programme (LLP) which was adopted by the European Parliament and Council on 15 November 2006. Under this Decision, the Commission is inviting proposals for the implementation of the Community network of National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC). Article 5.1.f of the Decision states that the Lifelong Learning Programme shall comprise "actions to support transparency and recognition of qualifications". Article 20(h) provides that within the framework of this programme, the Erasmus programme shall be aimed at "bodies providing guidance, counselling and information services relating to any aspect of lifelong learning". Article 21.2.c stipulates that one of the operational objectives of the Erasmus programme shall be "to increase the degree of transparency and compatibility between higher education and advanced vocational education qualifications in Europe".

In Chapter V of the LLP Decision, the transversal programme, under Objective 1(b) (to promote quality and transparency), Article 1(e) mentions under the key activity of policy cooperation and innovation in lifelong learning: "action to support transparency and recognition of qualifications and competences including those acquired through non-formal and informal learning, information and guidance on mobility for learning purposes, and cooperation in quality assurance, as referred to in Article 5(1)(f), which may include: (i) networks of organisations which facilitate mobility and recognition, such as Euroguidance and National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARICs)". In the administrative and financial provisions of the LLP Decision, under section B.2, under (2) Designation of beneficiaries, the constituent national units of the NARIC network are explicitly listed among the bodies which act as instruments to implement the programme at national level, in conformity with the provisions of Article 54(2)(c) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No. 1605/2002 as amended by Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No. 1995/2006 of 13 December 2006 and of Article 38 of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No. 2342/2002 as amended by Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No. 478/2007 of 23 April 2007.

Ref. Ares(2011)740934 - 07/07/2011

2

For the period 2007-2013, participation in the Lifelong Learning Programme is open to the Member States, the EFTA/EEA countries under the Agreement on the European Economic Area1, and the candidate countries2. The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (“the Agency”) has been entrusted by the Commission of the European Communities (“the Commission”) with the management of this Invitation.

2. OBJECTIVES – PRIORITIES

2.1 Objectives

This Invitation aims to support the NARIC network in promoting co-operation and mobility in the field of education and employment, especially by striving for a better recognition of diplomas and study periods. To this end, this Invitation invites projects which:

- substantially enhance the quality and effectiveness of the NARIC network, in view of the tasks laid down in the NARIC Network Mandate (see annex 1);

- aim at implementing priorities in the field of recognition set in the framework of the Europe 2020 Strategy and the European Higher Education Area (Bologna Process) .

2.2 Priorities

The priorities of this Invitation fall within the framework of the Lifelong Learning Programme, as well as within the framework of the Europe 2020 Strategy and the Bologna Process.

1. European recognition tools

• Europe2020 has a strong focus on learning mobility in the flagship Youth on the Move. To enhance learning mobility the recognition of study periods abroad is essential. To enhance learning mobility, it is important that NARICs cooperate among themselves, and with relevant players such as higher education institutions and stakeholder organisations to improve the recognition process

• Dissemination of the use of the European recognition tools such as ECTS, DS, QFs, the European Area of Recognition manual.

2. Networking among the centres

The ENIC-NARIC centres are facing new challenges with increased international mobility and focus on recognition. The role the NARICs should play to develop both a joint recognition practice and policy is important and should be explored and also how to link practitioners and policy makers. The NARIC network should also start planning for future challenges within the framework of a new programme. Sharing

1 Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, 2 Croatia and Turkey

3

information and good practice among the centres is also vital, both through a well-functioning network website and in view of improving recognition of third country qualifications.

3. EQF and recognition of formal, non-formal and informal learning

• The use of learning outcomes in credential evaluation should be further exploited with a view to improve the recognition of formal, non-formal and informal learning, in line with the existing and emerging qualifications frameworks. The projects should build on current NARIC activities and projects.

3. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applications which comply with the following criteria will be the subject of an in-depth evaluation: 3.1 Eligible institutions

Applicants must be part of the NARIC network listed in Annex 2. Non-NARIC institutions from eligible countries (see point 3.2.) can participate as partners in projects under this Invitation and may benefit from the grant in the event that the application is selected. Institutions from non-eligible countries (see point 3.2.) can participate as associated partners in projects under this Invitation. However, they cannot manage any part of the grant and cannot be funded in case the application is selected. Eligible participating institutions must be legal entities. The Agency will propose a grant agreement only on the basis of acceptance of documents which make it possible to define the beneficiary’s legal personality. The applicant institutions must provide the following documents:

Private company, association, etc.:

– bank details form, duly completed and signed, – extract from the official gazette/trade register, and certificate of liability to

VAT (if, as in certain countries, the trade register number and VAT number are identical, only one of these documents is required).

Public-law entity:

– bank details form, duly completed and signed, – legal resolution or decision established in respect of the public company

or other official document established for the public-law entity. 3.2 Eligible countries

Only applications from National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC) established in one of the following countries are eligible:

- the 27 Member States of the European Union; - the EFTA/EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein Norway and Switzerland; - the candidate countries: Croatia and Turkey

3.3 Eligible activities

4

3.3.1. Projects for the benefit of the NARIC network

a) Promoting recognition in the European setting in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy and the Bologna Process, through:

• information and dissemination seminars; • training seminars; • workshops; network meetings; • working groups on medium- and long-term issues and prospects; • publications; • promotion of NARIC activities; • further development of the electronic support, such as the ENIC-NARIC

website.

b) Thematic Group Visits:

The Thematic Group Visits should deal with persistent recognition problems or particularly innovative practices at the host NARIC. They should

• involve visitors from at least three NARIC centres from eligible countries; • demonstrate European added value and involve multilateral networking and

benchmarking; • aim to exchange relevant experience, develop common initiatives and allow

for contacts not only within the NARIC network but also with other relevant bodies in the host country;

• result in a clear report with recommendations to the National Authorities, the NARIC Advisory Board and the European Commission, to be distributed to the whole NARIC network and widely disseminated after the event.

As an indication, a NARIC may participate in a maximum of three thematic group visits per year with a maximum of two persons per visit (with two working days at location and two travelling days).

c) Projects for the benefit of all the network members

Projects in this category should be:

• transnational, involving at least three NARIC centres; • aiming to mobilise the existing expertise and experience of the whole

NARIC network; • targeting innovative themes, relevant for the benefit of all the network

members, and feeding directly into the Europe 2020 Strategy and the Bologna Process;

• in line with the objectives and the priorities of this Invitation.

The following types of activities will be considered under this category:

• training seminars and conferences; • studies, research activities, reports;

5

• hosting the ENIC/NARIC website (for this activity, the requirement to involve at least three NARIC centres does not apply).

Budget for activities 3.3.1. a) and b)

On the basis of co-financing, an indicative overall budget of 80,000 Euro for this category of projects (3.3.1 a) and b)) is provided for, with an indicative maximum of 25,000 Euro per project. This category will take about 16% of the whole budget of NARIC projects.

Budget for activity 3.3.1 c)

On the basis of co-financing, an indicative overall budget of 300,000 Euro for this category of projects is provided for. This category will take about 60% of the whole budget of NARIC projects.

As an indication, only two to four projects from this category will be selected for a European Union funding.

3.3.2. Organisation of the 2012 annual ENIC-NARIC meeting The annual ENIC-NARIC meeting brings together over 120 participants from the ENIC-NARIC network (54 countries). It is hosted and organised by one of the NARIC Centres. The meeting may include a two-day meeting programme, a presentation of the Higher Education system of the organising country, preparatory meetings (ENIC Bureau / NARIC Advisory Board) and an excursion / dinner programme.

Budget for activity 3.3.2.

On the basis of co-financing, an indicative maximum budget of 60,000 Euro for this project is provided for. This category will take about 12% of the whole budget of NARIC projects.

3.3.3. Organisation of the 2013 annual ENIC-NARIC meeting

The annual ENIC-NARIC meeting brings together over 120 participants from the ENIC-NARIC network (54 countries). It is hosted and organised by one of the NARIC Centres. The meeting may include a two-day meeting programme, a presentation of the Higher Education system of the organising country, preparatory meetings (ENIC Bureau / NARIC Advisory Board) and an excursion / dinner programme.

Budget for activity 3.3.3.

On the basis of co-financing, an indicative maximum budget of 60,000 Euro for this project is provided for. This category will take about 12% of the whole budget of NARIC projects.

3.4 Eligible applications

6

In order to be considered eligible, applications must comply with the following conditions (see also section 13 of this Invitation):

- be complete and duly signed (original signature required), by the person in the applicant organisation, authorised to enter into legally binding commitments;

- be completed electronically by computer (no handwritten submissions, or submissions completed using a typewriter will be accepted), using the official application form;

- be sent to the Executive Agency by the relevant deadlines as mentioned in point 4;

- be written in one of the official languages of the European Union (preferably in English, French or German in order to speed up the selection process);

- comply with the timetable as specified in point 4;

- include project budget(s) in Euro balanced in terms of expenditure and revenue, duly justified with regard to the proposed activities and in compliance with the maximum limit of European Union co-financing, established at 75% of total eligible costs described in the project’s budget(s);

- include a financial identity form duly completed and signed by the applicant and certified by the bank;

- include a legal entity form, duly completed and signed by the applicant;

- if applicable, include a letter of intent of partners.

Furthermore:

- No changes to the application can be made after the application has been submitted. However, if there is a need to clarify certain aspects, the applicant may be contacted for this purpose by the Executive Agency.

4. TIMETABLE

For eligible activities under point 3.3.1. and 3.3.2.:

Applications must be sent to the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency, at the latest by 14 October 2011 by ordinary or registered post (please read carefully section 13.3 of this Invitation concerning the procedures for submitting applications). Projects under point 3.3.1 must be implemented between 1 February 2012 and 31 January 2014 at the latest and projects under point 3.3.2 (organisation of the 2012 annual ENIC-NARIC meeting) must be implemented between 1 February 2012 and 31 January 2013 at the latest. Costs incurred outside this period are not eligible.

For eligible activities under point 3.3.3.:

Applications must be sent to the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency, at the latest by 1 March 2012 by ordinary or registered post (please read carefully section 13.3 of this Invitation concerning the procedures for submitting applications). Projects must be implemented between 1 February 2013 and 31 January 2014 at the latest. Costs incurred outside this period are not eligible.

5. PROJECT DURATION

7

The maximum duration of projects is 24 months for projects under point 3.3.1 and 12 months for projects under point 3.3.2 and 3.3.3 and should respect the timetable specified in point 4. If, after the signing of the grant agreement and the start of the action, it becomes impossible, for fully justified reasons beyond the beneficiary's control, to complete the action within the scheduled period, an extension to the eligibility period may be granted by the Agency.

6. BUDGET AVAILABLE

The total European Union budget earmarked for the co-financing of NARIC projects is estimated at 500,000 Euro for the entire two-year period. The financial European Union contribution cannot exceed 75% of total eligible project costs. The Agency reserves the right not to distribute all the funds available.

7. EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Applicants must state that they are not in any of the situations described in Articles 93(1), 94 and 96(2)(a) of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 as amended) and set out below.

Applicants will be excluded from participating in the Invitation if they are in any of the following situations:

a) they are bankrupt or being wound up, are having their affairs administered by the courts, have entered into an arrangement with creditors, have suspended business activities, are the subject of proceedings concerning those matters, or are in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure provided for in national legislation or regulations;

b) they have been convicted of an offence concerning their professional conduct by a judgment which has the force of res judicata;

c) they have been guilty of grave professional misconduct proven by any means which the contracting authority can justify;

d) they have not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions or the payment of taxes in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which they are established or with those of the country of the contracting authority or those of the country where the contract is to be performed;

e) they have been the subject of a judgment which has the force of res judicata for fraud, corruption, involvement in a criminal organisation or any other illegal activity detrimental to the Communities' financial interests;

f) they are subject to an administrative penalty referred to In Article 96(1) of the Financial Regulation (Council Regulation 1605/2002 of 25/06/02, as amended).

Applicants will not be granted financial assistance if, on the date of the grant award procedure, they:

(a) are subject to a conflict of interests;

8

(b) are guilty of misrepresentation in supplying the information required by the contracting authority as a condition of participation in the grant award procedure, or fail to supply this information.

(c) find themselves in one of the situations of exclusion, referred to in art 93(1) of the Financial Regulation, for this grant award procedure;

(d) and they are subject to the penalty consisting in the exclusion from contracts and grants financed by the budget for a maximum period of ten years.

In accordance with Articles from 93 to 96 of the Financial Regulation, administrative and financial penalties may be imposed on applicants who are guilty of misrepresentation or are found to have seriously failed to meet their contractual obligations under a previous contract award procedure.

To comply with these provisions, applicants must sign a declaration on their honour certifying that they are not in any of the situations referred to in Articles 93 and 94 of the Financial Regulation.

8. SELECTION CRITERIA

Applicants will be evaluated as regards the professional competencies and qualifications necessary for carrying out the proposed activity. If required in the application form, applicants must submit the CVs of key staff involved in the project, showing relevant professional experience. For consortia, this obligation applies to all partners.

9. AWARD CRITERIA

Eligible applications will be assessed on the basis of the following award criteria:

9.1 Award criteria for project proposals under point 3.3.1 a) and b):

Promoting recognition in the European setting in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy and the Bologna Process and Thematic Group Visits

QUALITY OF THE WORK PROGRAMME

The objectives are clear, realistic and address a relevant issue; the methodology is appropriate to achieving the objectives; the work programme defines and where applicable distributes tasks / activities among the partners in such a way that the results will be achieved on time and to budget.

THE COST-BENEFIT RATIO

The grant application demonstrates value for money in terms of the activities planned relative to the budget foreseen.

QUALITY OF THE VALORISATION PLAN (DISSEMINATION AND EXPLOITATION OF RESULTS)

The planned dissemination and exploitation activities will ensure optimal use of the results beyond the participants in the action, during and beyond the lifetime of the action.

9

9.2 Award criteria for project proposals under point 3.3.1. c)

Projects for the benefit of all the network members

QUALITY OF THE WORK PROGRAMME

The objectives are clear, realistic and address a relevant issue; the methodology is appropriate to achieving the objectives; the work programme defines and distributes tasks / activities among the partners in such a way that the results will be achieved on time and to budget.

INNOVATIVE CHARACTER

The project will provide innovative solutions to clearly identified needs of the identified target groups. It will achieve this either by adapting and transferring innovative approaches which already exist in other countries or sectors of the economy or by developing a brand new solution not yet available in any of the countries participating in the Lifelong Learning Programme.

QUALITY OF THE CONSORTIUM

The consortium brings together all the skills and competences required to carry out the work programme, and there is an appropriate distribution of tasks across the partners.

EUROPEAN ADDED VALUE

The benefits and need for European cooperation are clearly demonstrated.

THE COST-BENEFIT RATIO

The grant application demonstrates value for money in terms of the activities planned relative to the budget foreseen.

RELEVANCE

The grant application is clearly positioned in one of the priority areas of the Invitation to submit. The results foreseen are relevant to the specific, operational and broader objectives of the Programme.

IMPACT

The foreseeable impact on the approaches and systems concerned is significant.

QUALITY OF THE VALORISATION PLAN (DISSEMINATION AND EXPLOITATION OF RESULTS)

The planned dissemination and exploitation activities will ensure optimal use of the results beyond the participants in the action, during and beyond the lifetime of the action.

9.3 Award criteria for project proposals under point 3.3.2. and 3.3.3.

The organisation of the 2012 and 2013 annual ENIC-NARIC meetings

QUALITY OF THE WORK PROGRAMME

10

The objectives are clear, realistic and address a relevant issue; the methodology is appropriate to achieving the objectives; the work programme defines tasks / activities in such a way that the results will be achieved on time and to budget.

THE COST-BENEFIT RATIO

The grant application demonstrates value for money in terms of the activities planned relative to the budget foreseen.

QUALITY OF THE VALORISATION PLAN (DISSEMINATION AND EXPLOITATION OF RESULTS)

The planned dissemination and exploitation activities will ensure optimal use of the results beyond the participants in the action, during and beyond the lifetime of the action.

All individual award criteria for project proposals concerning points 3.3.1 a and b, 3.3.1 c, 3.3.2 and 3.3.3 have the same weighting.

10. FINANCIAL CONDITIONS

European Union grants are incentives to carry out projects which would not be feasible without the Agency’s financial support, and are based on the principle of co-financing.

They complement the applicant's own financial contribution and/or national, regional or private assistance that has been obtained elsewhere.

Acceptance of an application by the Agency does not constitute an undertaking to award a financial contribution equal to the amount requested by the beneficiary.

The awarding of a grant does not establish an entitlement for subsequent years.

Grant applications must include a detailed estimated budget in which all prices are given in euro. Applicants from countries outside the euro zone must use the conversion rates published in the Official Journal of the European Union, series C, on the date of publication of this Invitation.

The budget for the action attached to the application must have revenue and expenditure in balance and show clearly the costs which are eligible for financing from the European Union budget.

The amount of the own resources indicated in the revenue part of the estimated budget is regarded as secured, and this amount (25% as a minimum), must be entered in the revenue section of the final account.

The allocated amount may not exceed the amount requested.

The applicant must indicate the sources and amounts of any other funding received or applied for in the same financial year for the same action or for any other action and for routine activities.

The beneficiary shall supply evidence of the co-financing provided, either by way of own resources, or in the form of financial transfers from third parties. The applicants shall

11

provide an explicit undertaking from each co-financing organisation to provide the amount of funding stated in the grant application for the operation.

The Agency grant may not have the purpose or effect of producing a profit for the beneficiary. Profit is defined as a surplus of receipts over costs. The amount of the grant will be reduced by the amount of any surplus.

10.1 Contractual provisions and Payment procedures

In the event of definitive approval by the Agency, a grant agreement or a grant decision, drawn up in euro and detailing the conditions and level of funding, will be sent to the beneficiary.

Agreement: the 2 copies of the original agreement must be signed by the beneficiary and returned to the Agency immediately. The Agency will sign it last.

The account or sub-account indicated by the beneficiary must make it possible to identify the funds transferred by the Agency. If the funds paid into this account give rise to interest or equivalent profits in accordance with the legislation of the country where the account is held, such profit or interest will be recovered by the Agency where it results from the prefinancing payment if this payment exceeds 50 000 euros.

A pre-financing payment of 70% will be transferred to the beneficiary within 45 days of the date when the last of the two parties signs the agreement and all the possible guarantees are received.

Pre-financing is intended to provide the beneficiary with a float.

The Agency will establish the amount of the final payment to be made to the beneficiary on the basis of the final reports. If the eligible costs actually incurred by the organisation during the project are lower than anticipated, the Agency will apply its rate of funding to the actual costs, and the beneficiary will, where applicable, be required to repay any excess amounts already transferred by the Agency under the pre-financing payment.

10.2 Double financing

The projects supported may not benefit from any other European Union funding for the same activity.

10.3 Eligible costs

The general context, nature and amount of expenditure will be considered when assessing eligibility. The following criteria apply to the cost category for which the cost is estimated and either the associated number of units (which will lead to the estimated cost applying the appropriate formula) or the estimated cost as such. These criteria do not apply to flat-rate grants. To be considered as eligible costs of the action, costs must satisfy the following general criteria:

12

- they must relate to activities involving the eligible countries in the Lifelong Learning Programme. Any costs relating to activities undertaken outside these countries or by organisations that are not registered in an eligible country are not eligible unless they are necessary for the completion of the action and duly justified in the application form and in the report;

- they must be incurred by legal bodies/institutions and in the case of consortia, by the official partners of the consortium;

- they are incurred during the duration of the action/project as specified in the grant agreement;

- they are connected with the subject of the agreement and they are indicated in the estimated overall budget of the action/project;

- they are necessary for the implementation of the action/project which is the subject of the grant;

- they are identifiable and verifiable, in particular being recorded in the accounting records of the beneficiary and determined according to the applicable accounting standards of the country where the beneficiary is established and according to the usual cost-accounting practices of the beneficiary;

- they comply with the requirements of applicable tax and social legislation;

- they are reasonable, justified, and comply with the requirements of sound financial management, in particular regarding economy and efficiency.

The applicant's internal accounting and auditing procedures must permit direct reconciliation of the costs and revenue declared in respect of the action with the corresponding accounting statements and supporting documents. For scales of unit costs, this implies that the "number of units" must be recorded in appropriate documents (i.e. time sheets, presence lists, etc.). Where national taxation and accounting rules do not require an invoice, an accounting document of equivalent value means any document produced in order to prove that the accounting entry is accurate and which complies with the applicable accounting law. Eligible direct costs

The eligible direct costs for the action/project are those costs which, with due regard for the conditions of eligibility set out above, are identifiable as specific costs directly linked to the performance of the action and which can therefore be booked to it directly. In particular, the following direct costs are eligible, provided that they satisfy the criteria set out in the previous paragraph:

- the cost of staff assigned to the action/project, comprising actual salaries plus social security charges and other statutory costs included in their remuneration, provided that this cost does not exceed the average rates corresponding to the usual remuneration policy of the beneficiary or, where applicable, its partners. NB: this cost must be actual cost incurred by the beneficiary, and staff cost of other organisations is eligible only if it is paid directly or reimbursed by the beneficiary; the corresponding salary costs of personnel of national administrations are

13

eligible to the extent that they relate to the cost of activities which the relevant public authority would not carry out if the project concerned was not undertaken

- travel allowances for staff taking part in the action/project (for meetings, European conferences, etc.), provided that they are reasonable, justified, and that they comply with the principle of sound financial management, in particular regarding economy and efficiency;

- subsistance allowances for staff taking part in the action/project (for meetings, European conferences, etc.) provided that they do not exceed the scales approved annually by the Commission;

- purchase cost of equipment (new or second-hand), provided that it is written off in accordance with the tax and accounting rules applicable to the beneficiary and generally accepted for items of the same kind. Only the portion of the equipment's depreciation corresponding to the duration of the action/project and the rate of actual use for the purposes of the action may be taken into account by the Agency, except where the nature and/or the context of its use justifies different treatment by the Agency;

- costs of consumables and supplies, provided that they are identifiable and assigned to the action/project;

- costs entailed by other contracts awarded by the beneficiary or its partners for the purposes of carrying out the action/project, provided that the conditions laid down in grant agreement are met;

- costs arising directly from requirements linked to the performance of the action/project (dissemination of information, specific evaluation of the action/project, audits, translations, reproduction, etc.), including, where applicable, the costs of any financial services (especially the cost of financial guarantees).

Eligible indirect costs

- a flat-rate amount, not exceeding 7% of the eligible direct costs of the action, is eligible under indirect costs, representing the benficiary’s general administrative costs which can be regarded as chargeable to the action/project.

Indirect costs may not include costs entered under another budget heading.

Indirect costs are not eligible where the beneficiary already receives an operating grant.

10.4 Ineligible costs

The following costs shall not be considered eligible:

- contributions in kind; - return on capital; - debt and debt service charges; - provisions for losses or potential future liabilities (provisions for contractual and

moral obligations, fines, financial penalties and legal costs); - interest owed;

14

- doubtful debts; - exchange losses; - VAT, unless the beneficiary can show that he is unable to recover it according to the

applicable national legislation; - excessive or reckless expenditure; - purchase of capital assets; - in the case of rental or leasing of equipment, the cost of any buy-out option at the end

of the lease or rental period; - costs associated with the preparation of the application for the Lifelong Learning

Programme; - costs of opening and operating bank accounts; - costs incurred in relation to any document required to be submitted with the

application (audit reports, etc.). - costs declared by the beneficiary and covered by another action or work programme

receiving a European Union grant;

11. SUB-CONTRACTING AND AWARD OF PROCUREMENT CONTRACT

Where implementation of the action/project requires sub-contracting or the awarding of a procurement contract, the beneficiary and, where applicable, its partners must obtain competitive tenders from potential contractors and award the contract to the bid offering best value for money, observing the principles of transparency and equal treatment of potential contractors and taking care to avoid conflicts of interests.

In the event of subcontracting exceeding a value of EUR 60 000, the competent awarding officer may impose special rules on these beneficiaries, in addition to those referred to in the previous paragraph. These special rules shall be based on rules contained in the Financial Regulation and determined with due regard for the value of the contracts concerned, the relative size of the European Union contribution in relation to the total cost of the action and the risk. Such special rules shall be included in the grant decision or agreement. The costs of subcontracting may not exceed an amount of 30% of the total eligible costs covered by the work programme. Any amount in excess of this limit will not be considered eligible. Costs of management and administration of the project can't be subcontracted. Subcontracting is allowed only if the staff of the applicant organisation does not have the skills required for the performance of the work concerned. In order to be eligible, the subcontracting must have been fully described in the application. If no subcontracting was foreseen in the application, prior written approval from the Agency needs to be obtained. The only subcontracting expenditure allowed concerns costs in accordance with the provisions of this Invitation. Subcontracting agreements must contain at least the following information:

- subject of the subcontracting; - dates of start and end of subcontracting; - the amount payable;

15

- detailed description of costs; - work schedule or phases; - payment procedures (one or more instalments); - penalty clause(s) in the event of non-fulfilment of the contract or delays in the

performance of work (if this is feasible or possible). For public bodies, national rules on tenders apply and take precedence over those indicated in this Invitation. Beneficiaries must clearly acknlowledge the European Union’s contribution in all publications or in conjunction with activities for which the grant is used.

Furthermore, beneficiaries are required to give prominence to the name and logo of the European Commission on all their publications, posters, programmes and other products realised under the co-financed project. To do this they must use the format and the logo of the LLP Programme. If this requirement is not fully complied with, the beneficiary’s grant may be reduced.

12. PUBLICITY

All grants awarded in the course of a financial year must be published on the Internet site of the European Union institutions during the first half of the year following the closure of the budget year in respect of which they were awarded. The information may also be published using any other appropriate medium, including the Official Journal of the European Union.

For legal entities which have received a European Union grant:

a) the following information will be published:

- name and address of the beneficiary; - subject of the grant; - amount awarded and rate of funding;

b) the beneficiary must clearly acknowledge the European Union’s contribution in all publications or in conjunction with activities for which the grant is used. Furthermore, they are required to give prominence to the name and logo of the European Commission on all their publications, posters, programmes and other products realised under the co-financed action. If this requirement is not fully complied with, the beneficiary’s grant may be reduced. The logo may be downloaded from the following official EU website: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/publ/graphics/identity_en.html;

c) the beneficiary must make available on-line the description of the action and its interim and final results via a website to be maintained during the project and for a set period after its completion. The website details should be notified to the Agency at the beginning of the action and confirmed in the final report;

d) the beneficiary must, as the results become available, provide them to the public and make these results available via a European Commission-supported informatics platform.

16

13. PROCEDURE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

13.1 Publication

The Invitation is being published in the Commission's interface with the NARIC network "CIRCA" under "NARIC" – library " NARIC invitation for co-funding proposals 2012-2013" http://circa.europa.eu/Members/irc/eac/naric/library?l=/naric_2012-2013&vm=detailed&sb=Title) " and will be sent via the ENIC/NARIC "listserv" (recognition@enic-naric.net and hoc@enic-naric.net).

13.2 Application form

The official application form for this invitation will be sent by e-mail to the National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC) following on the publication of this Invitation. The Executive Agency will make the application form available at: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/llp/funding/2011/index_en.php

13.3 Submission of the grant application

Only complete applications submitted on the official application form 2012 - 2013, duly completed, dated, showing a balanced budget (revenue/expenditure), and signed by the person authorised to enter into legally binding commitments on behalf of the applicant organisation will be accepted.

All additional information considered necessary by the applicant can be included on separate sheets.

A complete application consists of the following:

• One original application and three copies, to be sent by post/special courier. The original must be marked "ORIGINAL" and must contain the original signature of the person in the applicant organisation authorised to enter into legally binding commitments with the Executive Agency. Each copy must be bound and marked "COPY".

• The electronic version of the application is to be sent by e-mail to the following Agency address: eacea-naric@ec.europa.eu by the deadline.

The applicant is responsible for ensuring that paper copies and the electronic version are identical to the original application. Applications sent solely by fax or e-mail will not be accepted.

Grant applications must be drawn up in one of the official languages of the European Union (preferably in English, French or German in order to speed up the selection process), using the official form specifically designed for this purpose. Please note that only applications completed electronically by computer will be considered.

Applications which do not include all the stipulated documents will not be considered.

17

Applications sent after the relevant deadline (date as per postmark / receipt from courier service) will be rejected. Applicants are strongly advised to obtain and keep a proof of the date of despatch.

Applications must be sent to the following address:

Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency Lifelong Learning : Erasmus, Jean Monnet NARIC Ms. Monika Holik Office: BOU2 3/107 Avenue du Bourget 1 B-1140 Brussels The outer envelope containing the proposal must indicate the reference: NARIC.

No changes to the application file can be made after the application has been submitted. However, if there is a need to clarify certain aspects, the Agency may contact the applicant for this purpose.

Applicants will be informed by e-mail of the receipt of their proposal.

Only applications that fulfil the eligibility criteria will be considered for a grant. If an application is deemed ineligible, a letter indicating the reasons will be sent to the applicant.

All unsuccessful applicants will be informed in writing.

Selected proposals will be subject to a financial analysis, in connection with which the Agency may ask the applicants to provide additional information and, if appropriate, guarantees.

13.4 Applicable rules

The basic rules applicable to the present Invitation are laid down in the following:

− Decision No. 1720/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2006 establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning and Decision No 1357/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 amending Decision No 1720/2006/EC.

− Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the

Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities. (OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1525/2007 of 17 December 2007 (OJ L 343, 27.12.2007, p. 9).

− Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities. (OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1, as last amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 478/2007 of 23 April 2007 (OJ L 111, 28.4.2007, p. 13).

18

13.5 Protection of personal data

All personal data (such as names, addresses, CVs, etc.) will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the European Union institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data.3

Your replies to the questions in the application form are necessary in order to assess your grant application and they will be processed solely for that purpose by the department responsible for the Union grant programme concerned. On request, you may be sent personal data and correct or complete them. For any question relating to these data, please contact the Agency. Beneficiaries may lodge a complaint against the processing of their personal data with the European Data Protection Supervisor at any time. (http://www.edps.europa.eu/EDPSWEB/).

Applicants and, if they are legal entities, persons who have powers of representation, decision-making or control over them, are informed that, should they be in one of the situations mentioned in:

- the Commission Decision of 16.12.2008 on the Early Warning System (EWS) for the use of authorising officers of the Commission and the executive agencies (OJ, L 344, 20.12.2008, p. 125), or

- the Commission Regulation of 17.12.2008 on the Central Exclusion Database – CED (OJ L 344, 20.12.2008, p. 12),

their personal details (name, given name if natural person, address, legal form and name and given name of the persons with powers of representation, decision-making or control, if legal person) may be registered in the EWS only or both in the EWS and CED, and communicated to the persons and entities listed in the above-mentioned Decision and Regulation, in relation to the award or the execution of a procurement contract or a grant agreement or decision.

13.6 Contacts

For questions, please contact:

Ms Cristina Camaiani Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency

Unit P2 - Lifelong Learning: Erasmus, Jean Monnet Avenue du Bourget 1 B-1140 Brussels Tel: +32-2-296.89.26 Fax: +32-2-299.41.53 cristina.camaiani@ec.europa.eu

or Ms. Natascha Sander

3 Official Journal L 8, 12.1.2001.

19

European Commission Directorate-General for Education and Culture EAC/C-1 MADO 11/03 B-1049 Brussels Tel: +32-2-296.71.39 Fax: +32-2-299.82.92 Natascha.Sander@ec.europa.eu

Annexes:

1. The NARIC mandate

2. List of addresses of the NARIC network

ANNEX 1

NARIC Network mandate

1. To enhance European dimension in recognition and to contribute to policy development of recognition on the European agenda

2. To establish benchmarking, setting best practices, development of methodologies, provide umbrella for amicable settlement of disputes

3. To provide and disseminate information on educational systems and recognition procedures

4. To improve knowledge about other network partners' systems, qualifications, working methods and procedures

5. To promote cooperation between members of the network partners in the field of recognition

6. To ensure coherence and interactivity with other partners and networks in related fields

--------------------------------------------------------

21

ANNEX 2

LIST OF National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARICs)

AUSTRIA DR. HEINZ KASPAROVSKY, HEAD ENIC/NARIC AUSTRIA BUNDESMINISTERIUM FÜR WISSENSCHAFT UND FORSCHUNG(FEDERAL MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND RESEARCH) TEINFALTSTRAßE 8 A-1014 WIEN TEL: +43-1-53120-59.22 FAX: +43-1-53120-81-78.90 E-MAIL: HEINZ.KASPAROVSKY@BMWF.GV.AT WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.BMWF.GV.AT/NARIC

BELGIUM FR

Kevin GUILLAUME, Attaché Ministère de la Communauté française Direction générale de l'Enseignement non obligatoire et de la Recherche scientifique Rue Adolphe Lavallée, 1 B - 1080 Bruxelles Tel. : + 32 2 690 87 02 or 87 47 Fax : + 32 2 690 87 60 E-mail: kevin.guillaume@cfwb.be Website: http://www.enseignement.be/infosup/

BELGIUM NL

Daniël De Schrijver ENIC/NARIC-Vlaanderen Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap Hendrik Consciencegebouw Toren 7A Koning Albert II-laan 15 B- 1210 Brussel Tel: +32-2-553.98.08 Fax: +32-2-553.98.05 E-mail: naric@vlaanderen.be

BELGIUM DE

Jörg VOMBERG Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft Belgiens Abteilung Unterricht, Ausbildung und Beschäftigung Gospertstraße 1 4700 Eupen Tel: +32 87 596300 Fax: +32 87 556475 E-mail: unterricht@dgov.be

22

Web site(s): www.bildungsserver.be BULGARIA Ms Vanya GRASHKINA

Bulgarian ENIC/NARIC National Center for Information and Documentation (NACID) 52 A, G.M. Dimitrov Blvd. BG-1125 SOFIA TEL: +359-2-817 38 24 FAX: +359-2-971 31 20 E-MAIL: grashkina@nacid.bg WEBSITE: http://www.nacid.bg/

CYPRUS Marios ANTONIADES Executive Director KYSATS (Cyprus Council for the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications) P.O. Box 12758 2251 Nicosia, Cyprus Tel: +357-22-40.24.72 Fax: +357-22-40.24.81 E-mail: antoniades@kysats.ac.cy Website: www. kysats.ac.cy

CZECH REPUBLIC

ŠTĚPÁNKA SKUHROVÁ, HEAD STŘEDISKO PRO EKVIVALENCI DOKLADŮ O VZDĚLÁNÍ CZECH ENIC/NARIC CENTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION STUDIES (CSVS) U DVOU SRPŮ 2CZ- 150 00 PRAHA 5 TEL: +420-257.011.335 FAX: +420-257.531.672 E-MAIL: SKUHROVA@CSVS.CZ WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.NARIC.CZ

DENMARK Ms. Bente Olsen, Head of Division CIRIUS Bredgade 36 DK- 1260 København K Tel: +45-3395.7037 Fax: +45-3395.7001 E-mail: cirius@ciriusmail.dk Website: http://www.ciriusonline.dk/recognition

ESTONIA Gunnar VAHT, Head of Estonian ENIC/NARIC Academic Recognition Information Centre Foundation ARCHIMEDES L. Koidula 13A 10125 Tallinn Tel: +372 6962 415 Fax: +372 6962 419 E-mail: gunnar@archimedes.ee Website: http://www.archimedes.ee/enic

23

FINLAND Dr. Carita Blomqvist Finish ENIC/NARIC Finnish National Board of Education PL 380 Hakaniemenranta 6 SF- 00531 Helsinki Tel: +358-40-34 87 128 Fax: +358-9-77 47 78 69 Email: carita.blomqvist@oph.fi Website: http://www.oph.fi/recognition

FRANCE Mme Myriam Leroux ENIC-NARIC France Centre International d’Etudes Pédagogiques (CIEP) 1 avenue Léon Journault F- 92318 Sèvres Cedex Tel : +33-1-45-07-63-09 Fax : +33 -1-45 07 63 09 E-mail: profit@ciep.fr Website: http://www.ciep.fr/enic-naricfr

GERMANY MRS. BARBARA BUCHAL-HÖVER HEAD OF GERMAN ENIC/NARIC ZENTRALSTELLE FÜR AUSLÄNDISCHES BILDUNGSWESEN IM SEKRETARIAT DER KULTUSMINISTERKONFERENZ LENNÉSTRAßE 6 D- 53113 BONN TEL: +49-228-501.241 FAX: +49-228-501.229 E-MAIL: ZAB@KMK.ORG E-MAIL: B.BUCHAL-HOEVER@KMK.ORG WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.KMK.ORG/ZAB/HOME1.HTM

GREECE Ms Bessy Athanasopoulou DOATAP (Hellenic NARIC) 54 Ag. Konstantinou Str. GR- 10437 Athens Tel: +30-210-528 10 00 Fax: +30-210-523 95 25 E-mail: information_dep@doatap.gr Website: www.doatap.gr

HUNGARY Mr. Gabor MESZAROS, Head of Unit Educational Authority – Hungarian ENIC/NARIC Bathory u. 10. H- 1054 Budapest Tel: +(36-1) 374-2201 Fax: +(36-1) 374-2492 E-mail: recognition@om.hu Website: www.naric.hu

24

IRELAND Ms Niamh LENEHAN NARIC Ireland The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland 5th Floor Jervis House Jervis Street IRL- Dublin 1 Tel: +353-1-887.1500 Fax: +353-1-887.1595 E-mail: info@qualificationsrecognition.ie Website: www.qualificationsrecognition.ie

ITALY Carlo FINOCCHIETTI, Director (French speaking) Luca LANTERO, Deputy (English speaking) CIMEA 36, Viale XXI Aprile I - 00162 Roma Tel: +39-06-86.32.12.81 Fax: +39-06-86.32.28.45 E-mail: cimea@fondazionerui.it (C. Finocchietti) E-mail: l.lantero@fondazionerui.it (L. Lantero) Website: http://www.cimea.it

LATVIA Ms. Baiba RAMINA, Director Academic Information Centre (Latvian ENIC/NARIC) Valnu street 2 LV- 1050 Riga Tel: +371-672.25.155 Fax: +371-672.21.006 E-mail: baiba@aic.lv Website: http://www.aic.lv

LITHU-ANIA

Ms Aurelija Valeikiene, Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education Goštauto g. 12 LT-01108 Vilnius Lithuania Tel: +370-5-210.47.72 Fax: +370-5-213.25.53 E-mail: enicnaric@skvc.lt Website: http://www.skvc.lt

LUXEM-BOURG

Ms Désirée Reisch Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche 18-20, Montée de la Pétrusse L- 2912 Luxembourg Tel.: +352-478.66.39 Fax: +352-26-29.60.37 E-mail: cheryl.colbert@mesr.etat.lu

25

MALTA Dr. Joachim James CALLEJA, Director Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport 16/18 Tower Promenade St. Lucia Malta Tel: +356-21-80.14.11 Fax: +356-25-98.23.40 e-mail: james.j.calleja@gov.mt website: http://www.education.gov.mt/

THE NETHER-LANDS

Ms. Lucie DE BRUIN Head, International Recognition Department Nuffic Postbus 29777 (Kortenaerkade 11) NL- 2502 LT Den Haag Tel: +31-70-4-260.276 Fax: +31-70-4-260.395 E-mail: lbruin@nuffic.nl Website: http://www.nuffic.nl

POLAND MS. HANNA RECZULSKA Department of Higher Education Organization and Supervision Ministry of Science and Higher Education ul. Wspólna 1/3 PL-00-529 Warsaw Tel. +48-22-628 67 76 Fax +48-22-628 35 34 E-mail enic-naric@nauka.gov.pl Website:www.buwiwm.edu.pl

PORTU-GAL

Dr. Manuela PAIVA Head of NARIC Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education Directorate General for Higher Education Av. Duque d’Ávila 137 P-1069-016 Lisboa Tel.:+351-21-3126098 Fax:+351-21-3126020 E-mail:manuela.paiva@dges.mctes.pt Website: www.naricportugal.pt

26

ROMANIA Mr. Corneliu MUNTEANU Romanian ENIC/NARIC CNRED - National Centre for Recognition and Equivalence of Diplomas Granted Abroad 28-30, Gén. Berthelot Str. Sector 1 RO- 70738 Bucharest Tel: +40-21-317 85 17 Fax: +40-21-405 63 43 E-mail: cornelmun@yahoo.com Website: http://www.cnred.edu.ro/

SLOVAKIA Ms. Eva Kaczová Director of ENIC/NARIC Slovakia Ministry of Education Stromova 1 SK- 81330 Bratislava Tel: +42-12-59.23.81.21 Fax: +42-12-59.23.81.24 E-mail: eva.frayova@minedu.sk Website: http://www.minedu.sk

SLOVENIA Anita JESENKO Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology Education Recognition Office, ENIC/NARIC Kotnikova 38 SI-1000 Ljubljana Tel: +386-1-478.47.54 Fax: +386-1-478.47.24 E-mail: naric.mvzt@gov.si Website: http://www.mvzt.gov.si/index.php?id-345

SPAIN Mr. Juan Carlos Parodi Román Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia Subdirección General de Titulos, Convalidaciones y Homologaciones Paseo del Prado, 28 E- 28014 Madrid Tel: +34-91-506.55.93 Fax: +34-91-506.57.06 E-mail: naric@educacion.es

SWEDEN Mr. Lars Petersson Swedish National Agency for Higher Education (Högskoleverket) P.O. Box 7851 S- 10399 Stockholm Tel: +46 8-56 30 86 67 Fax: +46-8-5630.86.50 E-mail: hsv@hsv.se Website: http://www.hsv.se/

UNITED Ms. Cloud BAI-YUN, Head of UK NARIC

27

KINGDOM UK NARIC. Oriel House Oriel Road Cheltenham UK- Gloucestershire GL50 1XP Tel: +44 (0) 1242 258618 Fax: +44 (0) 1242 258611 E-mail :cloud.baiyun@naric.org.uk http://www.naric.org.uk

EFTA/EEA COUNTRIES

SWITZERLAND

Ms. Christine Gehrig Head of Swiss ENIC Swiss ENIC – Recognition Information Centre Rectors' Conference of the Swiss Universities Postfach 6 07 CH-3000 Bern 9 Tel. +41-31-306 60 32 Fax +41-31 306 60 20 Email: christine.gehrig@crus.ch Website: http://www.enic.ch/

ICELAND THORDUR KRISTINSSON DIRECTOR/SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE ICELANDIC RECTORS CONFERENCE UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND SUDURGATA IS- 101 REYKJAVIK TEL: +354-525.43.60 (T. KRISTINSSON) FAX: +354-525.43.17 (T. KRISTINSSON) E-MAIL: THORDKRI@HI.IS (T. KRISTINSSON) WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.HI.IS

LIECHTENSTEIN

Helmut KONRAD, Head of the Higher Education Division Office of Education Austrasse 79 FL- 9490 Vaduz Tel: +423-236.67.58 Fax: +423-236.67.71 E-mail: helmut.konrad@sa.llv.li Website: http://www.sa.llv.li http://www.liechtenstein.li/

28

NORWAY Ms Ida LØNNE Deputy Director General Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) P.O. 1708 Vika N- 0121 Oslo Visiting adress Kronprinsensgate 9, 4th floor N- 0251 Oslo Tel: +47-21021872 Fax: +47-21.02.18.02 E-mail: ida.lonne@nokut.no Website: http://www.nokut.no/

ASSOCIATED COUNTRIES

CROATIA Prof. Katarina Šimić Croatian ENIC/NARIC office Donje Svetice 38/5 HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Tel. +385 1 627 48 88 Fax. +385 1 627 48 89 Email: enic@azvo.hr Website: http://www.azvo.hr/Default.aspx?sec=110

TURKEY MS. ARMAGAN ERDOGAN, PH.D., ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT HEAD OF ENIC-NARIC TURKEY EUROPEAN UNION AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE (EUIRO) THE COUNCIL OF HIGHER EDUCATION (YOK) BILKENT, ANKARA 06539 TURKEY PHONE: + 90-312 298 72 42 FAX: + 90 312 266 4744 E-MAIL: ARMAGAN.ERDOGAN@YOK.GOV.TR