Prime Minister’s Initiative 2

FE Partnerships’ Fund 2009-10

Marguerite HoggInternational Contracts Manager

Association of Colleges

Schedule

• Background to PMI2

• Distinctions between the two Measures

• ‘Call’ timescales, the application form and quality criteria

• Funding, eligible and ineligible costs

• What is the assessor looking for?

• Practitioner Case Study

• Examples of good practice

• Q&A opportunity and networking lunch

Background and context

• The Prime Minister’s Initiative for International Education (PMI2) is the successor strategy to the Prime Minister’s Initiative to Attract More International Students to the UK (PMI1, 1999–2005).

• PMI2 launched April 2006 - 5 year strategy continued success in attracting overseas students will depend on the * reputation and standing of UK education internationally* the UK’s contribution to global development and* the strength of its international partnerships.

Programme Aims & Objectives

• Building strategic FE partnerships and alliances

Trends indicate that substantial changes to the international education landscape are likely in next few years.

Success for the UK depends on forming strong, sustainable, partnerships with education providers and industry overseas.

Activities under this strand include international partnership projects, inward and outward visits and ministerial delegations: demonstrating commitment to engagement with the lifelong learning and CPD agenda.

Target Outcomes

Programme targets to 2011 are currently:

• An additional 100,000 international students in the UK (70,000 HE and 30,000 College/FE)

• Achievement of significant growth in the number of partnerships between the UK and other countries

• Achievement of demonstrable improvements to international student satisfaction ratings in the UK.

Key objectives

• To ensure a substantial focus on vocational skills and non-traditional routes to HE within PMI2, in accordance with government policies in a number of the partner countries

• To facilitate the role of colleges as key contributors to ‘global skills, world class learning’ and to TVET reform agendas in specific PMI2 countries

• To support colleges in positioning themselves effectively within the changing landscape of international education and training and broadening the scope of their global/international activities

• To support development of international partnerships which will result in innovative approaches to the design and delivery of training and education programmes

Distinction between Measures 1 & 2

The two Measures

• The PMI2 FE Partnerships Fund is managed jointly by the British Council and Association of Colleges (AoC)

However, at operational level:

• Measure 1 - managed by AoC: provides pump-priming for a variety of entrepreneurial partnership activities. These either have short or medium term commercial outcomes. In all cases, applicants are required to demonstrate that the activities would be sustained/sustainable after the PMI2 grant period.

• Measure 2 - managed by British Council: provides grants to support the contribution of international partnerships (between UK colleges and colleges or other relevant agencies overseas) to education development and reform agendas in a discrete number of PMI2 countries.

Differences between the MeasuresMeasure 1

• Measure 1- Managed by the AoC – pump-priming for entrepreneurial international partnership activities

• Consortia or individual colleges• Commercial outcomes or result in other mutual benefits for the

partnership• Must demonstrate contribution to aims and targets of PMI2• Partnership projects must reflect the UK partner’s institutional strengths

(Relevant national kite marks, Beacon status, inspection reports)• Supports development undertaken by colleges that are:

- well experienced in international activities;- offering high quality learning opportunities or:- that have piloted innovative approaches in the UK (knowledge transfer)

• FE Partnerships Fund (M1 or M2) will not support projects which have the primary aim of direct recruitment of international students etc

• Funding is for one year

Project ideas for Measure 1

• Development of joint programmes/modules and related staff development and capacity building

• Cross-mapping of curriculum/programme elements in preparation for the above design of courses to precede study on UK programmes

• Joint development of learning materials• Development of models for apprenticeship• Development of transnational ‘blended learning’ programmes• Activities linked to the delivery of UK qualifications overseas or the

development of joint awards• Development of specialist provision to meet identified industry needs• Creation of customised products to meet specific client requirements• Transfer of good and innovative practice which result in measurable

benefits for both parties• Student exchanges or placements• Staff exchanges linked to the aims and objectives of the project

Measure 2

• Measure 2- Managed by the British Council in partnership with the AoC

• Consortia or individual colleges

• Open to all UK colleges

• The objectives concern the contribution of international college partnerships to education development and reform agendas with VET/HE institutions, employers, industry in specific PMI2 priority countries

• Measure 2 programmes are not purely commercial in nature and awards are aimed at pump-priming sustainable strategic partnerships

• Applications invited further to Call for Proposals targeting specific PMI2 countries

Project ideas for Measure 2

• Awards under this measure will be linked to specific activities arising from government to government/national agreements focusing on developments in agreed areas

• Individual colleges or consortia of colleges may submit proposals to develop international partnerships in a range of areas in which they have identified opportunities for international collaborative activity, linked to PMI2 aims and objectives

NB. Proposals must target the PMI2 countries listed for each call and accord with the specific criteria relating to each country

Timescales, application form and quality criteria

Call for interested UK colleges published beginning April 2009Call for interested UK colleges

published beginning April 2009

Interested UK colleges complete application & submit by 20th May

Interested UK colleges complete application & submit by 20th May

Successful colleges informed and grant letters posted by beginning

of July

Successful colleges informed and grant letters posted by beginning

of July

Applications reviewed and rated by assessment panel 17th/18th June

Applications reviewed and rated by assessment panel 17th/18th June

Unsuccessful colleges informed by beginning of

July

Unsuccessful colleges informed by beginning of

July

1st instalment of grants paid end of July

1st instalment of grants paid end of July

Key Milestones

In addition:

• 31st January 2010 – Interim reports due for all M1 and M2 projects

• Mid February 2010 – Second instalment of grants paid (on approval of interim reports)

• 30th June 2010 – Deadline for submission of final reports from current year projects (M1/M2)

• Mid July 2010 – Final instalment of grants paid (on approval of final reports)

• 1st July 2010 – Grants for new/continuing projects issued (1st instalment)

Please consider

• Proposals must target one or more of the stated PMI2 countries

• Projects may result in commercial or non-commercial outcomes but must demonstrate added value of partnership (dependant on Measure)

• Proposals must show how the partnership and anticipated outcomes will be sustained at the end of the funding period

• Proposals may relate to a request for funding for existing partnerships but must demonstrate how the activity builds on previous achievements and why the activity could not have taken place without PMI2 funds

Funding, eligible and ineligible costs

Funding

• Match funding may be cash or ‘in-kind’

• Standard staff rates for match funding must be used

• Daily accommodation and subsistence rates for UK staff visiting PMI2 target countries (receipts not required but proof of travel for each person claiming subsistence required)

• Travel expenses (Airfares, taxis and/or trains) will be reimbursed on an actual cost basis (tickets/receipts with name of participant must be produced in support of the claim)

• United Kingdom subsistence rates for visiting international partners (accommodation, subsistence and incidental expenses)

Eligible costs

• Further Education and Sixth Form Colleges (funded)

• UK partner organisations (non-funded)

• Applicant institution or applicant consortia must have robust experience of international activities

• Travel for staff of FE/sixth form colleges to the target country

• Accommodation and subsistence costs for staff of FE/sixth form colleges in target country

• Hospitality costs related to the hosting of target country partner organisations when in the UK (meeting rooms and refreshments)

More eligible costs

• Travel costs of international partners from target country to UK

• Accommodation and subsistence costs for international partners from target country whilst in the UK for project business

• Travel, accommodation and subsistence costs for students of English/international partners relating to visits or exchanges

• Design and/or printing costs if undertaken by external company

• Translation/interpretation costs if undertaken by external company or individual or is subject to internal charging within the institution

• Costs relating to specialist consultancy if deemed essential to the project (prior agreement with the AoC)

• UK dissemination costs

• Other project costs (by negotiation, which are not listed as an ineligible cost)

Ineligible costs

• Costs relating to participation in trade fairs, exhibitions or conferences

• Costs relating to promotional activities solely for international student recruitment purposes

• Cost of travel by any class other than economy

• Hospitality costs incurred by international partners while hosting UK visitors

• Costs relating to research (minor exceptions – see guidelines)

• Staff costs of UK colleges

• Administration and overheads in UK colleges

• Staff costs of international partners

• Administration and overheads in international partner colleges

Ineligible costs

• Consultancy costs (other than by prior agreement with AoC)

• Costs relating to the participation of ‘other’ UK partners

• Costs relating to activities which have already taken place at the start of the project contract period

• Costs which would otherwise have been met by an alternative source of funding

• Cost of travel insurance

• Costs relating to the purchase of capital equipment

• Costs relating to the purchase of software (unless by prior negotiation)

• Costs relating to items or services not directly related to the PMI2 project

• Costs relating to bank charges or transfers

NB. The cost of staff time of UK colleges or UK partner organisations and costs relating to production of materials for the project may be used as match funding

What is the assessor looking for?

What are we looking for?

Project proposals which:• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the education/skills/economic

issues in the target country and the contribution the project will make• Clearly explain the need for the project and provide concrete information

on the preparatory work which has been undertaken• Detail the aims and objectives, the anticipated outcomes and the benefits

to both the international partners and the UK• Include a comprehensive work-plan which links to the projected

achievements• Explain how the project and/or the outcomes will be sustained beyond

the PMI2 funding period• Clearly detail the role and contribution of all funded and non-funded

partners and other contributors• Explain how the project will be managed, evaluated and disseminated

Primary Assessment Criteria

• A robust rationale for the activities in the context of the proposal

• Clear objectives

• Evidence of having undertaken appropriate preparatory work and having obtained the commitment of the international partners

• Appropriate quality indicators in relation to the target provision

• Evidence of previous experience of relevant international activity and partnership work (in the UK or overseas)

• Tangible projected outcomes and scope of potential impact

Primary Assessment Criteria

• A comprehensive and realistic work plan and budget

• Clear arrangements for managing and monitoring the activities

• Realistic plans for sustaining/extending the partnership and/or the activities as appropriate

• Mutuality of benefit

• Value for money

• Arrangements in place for dealing with intellectual property rights

• Clear plans for evaluation and dissemination of any innovatory or replicable features

Secondary Assessment Criteria

• Project utilises or develops innovatory approaches to the target activities

• Project engages support from other relevant stakeholders

• Procurement of sponsorship or supplementary funding from the outset which will contribute to the extension of the project’s achievements or its sustainability

• Potential for wider impact of the project at regional, sectoral or policy level.

PMI2 Hits the headlines!

Documentation

Please check the following websites where all the Call documents will be available shortly….

http://www.aoc.co.uk/en/Policy_and_Advisory_Work/aoc_international/funding_and_partnership_opportunities.cfm

http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-pmi2-connect.htm

GOOD LUCK!