M odule: Research 45

Unit 5 Tempus programme - Project overview

1.Introduction

1.1 Read the text title and hypothesize what the text is about. Write down your hypothesis.

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1.2 What do you know concerning this issue? List your ideas in the table left column “I know”.

I know	I have learnt

1.3 Do you know answers to these questions? Write down your short answers in the space given after each question.

1	What budget are Tempus funds included in?
2	What is the proportion of Tempus funds allocated to each project type?
3	Does the budge of JEPs depend on their duration?
4	What are Joint European Projects aimed to?
5	What are structural and complementary measures?
6	What are Individual Mobility Grants aimed at?
7	Does IMG enable discussion and cooperation between participants in member states and partner countries?

1.4 Circle in the list the words and expressions you know. Write down their translation in the table and calculate the percentage of your lexical competence.

1	allocate		9	purchase
2	relevant		10	assurance
3	indicative		11	framework
4	complementary		12	intervention
5	ceiling		13	converging
6	implement		14	disseminate
7	enhance		15	available
8	governance		16	update

Tempus funding

Indicative Funds for each partner country

Tempus funds are included in the budget allocated to each partner country, in the framework of cooperation programmes financed by the European Union. Indicative funds available per partner country can be consulted.

Availability of funds is always subject to the conclusion of the relevant Commission procedures and the signature of Financing Agreements between the Commission and the partner countries covered by the Cards, Tacis and Meda programmes.

Proportion of Tempus funds allocated to each project type

As a general indication, 80% of the Tempus operational budget is allocated to Joint European Projects, 17% to Structural and Complementary Measures and 3% to Individual Mobility Grants. However, the final allocation of funds per type of projects depends on the quantity and quality of demand for the various types of projects, on the Tempus national budget available, so these percentages may vary considerably as a result of the actual selection process.

Project funding ceiling by project type

• Joint European Projects (JEPs) have a duration of two or three years with a maximum budget of 300 to 500.000 € (depending on their duration) that has to be co-funded for at least 5% of its total amount.

• Structural Measures have a duration of one year with a maximum budget of 150.000 € that has to be co-funded for at least 5% of the total amount.

• Complementary Measures have a duration of one year with a maximum budget of 150.000 € that has to be co-funded for at least 5% of the total amount.

Joint European Projects

Joint European Projects aim to increase cooperation and network-building between actors in higher education in EU Member States and partner countries, and help the higher education sector propagate its knowledge outside academic institutions.

Projects can support universities in applying the principles of the 'Bologna Process', for example by implementing the new two-level education system, and the European Credit Transfer System.

JEPs for curriculum development to create new or update existing courses and enhance the skills of teaching staff; develop updated modern teaching and learning materials; provide material aid in purchasing computers and other teaching material.

JEPs for university management focus on the restructuring of universities and their internal management and administration; strengthening of managerial capacities, university governance and finance; strengthening central university services e.g. libraries, human resources management, student services; introducing management information systems; developing quality assurance system; promotion of stronger links between universities and their environment.

JEPs for training courses for institutions building concentrate on developing the administrative and institutional structures of the partner countries through the provision of short-term courses aimed at upgrading the skills of non-academic staff from public and private institutions who may play a key role in the transition process.

Structural and Complementary Measures (SCM)

Structural Measures are short-term policy advice interventions, aimed at supporting reform processes in higher education, and developing higher education strategic frameworks.

Such projects typically address issues linked to the Bologna process quality assurance, and related accreditation systems, credit systems, and restructuring of the qualification frameworks to create a converging and transparent European system, whereby different national education systems would use a common framework.

Complementary Measures are designed to disseminate and transfer good practice in particular, good quality education programmes or effective management practices.

They provide lower level support in areas that are central to the higher education reform processes.