Dr Tony Daniels, Business Development Manager for the Faculty of Media, Humanities and Technology, attended day one of a two-day conference on the EU’s MEDIA programme. The event included presentations and information sessions on both of the MEDIA training programmes (initial and continuous training) as well as the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP). A common theme across all presentations was the need to increase the number of Media (Audio-Visual) applications for EU programmes.
The following is a summary of notes taken by Tony during the conference which may be useful to those with an interest in this area or anyone considering developing an application to any of these schemes.
EU MEDIA – Training
This was a relatively short presentation and Q&A session (approximately 1.5 hours).
• Mobility and Exchange are key themes for all applications.
• The scheme has currently seen 1000 students benefit from training at a cost of €5.5million (since its inception 5-6 years ago).
• Successful groups will sign a 3 year partnership agreement:
o Detailed for Year 1
o Costs must be included for Year 1 but not successive years.
o Less detailed for years 2-3
o Ability to evolve during years 2-3 and also possibility of adding new partners
• One specific area highlighted as requiring immediate training support was the development of 3D content across the EU (video and animation).
• Expensive productions within the Eurozone generally require collaborative production effort and expertise is often ‘bought in’ from the US. In particular, scriptwriting for longer films was highlighted as a shortage area.
• General view across panel was that successful projects often included input from Business Schools in order to provide a commercial focus to training courses
• Over the previous 3 years, the EU MEDIA – Training programme has:
o Funded 18 projects
o Included partners from 19 countries
o Provided funding for 100 trainers
o Trained 200 students per year (on average)
• The Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) required between each project partner is not a financial commitment for the full 3 year tenure of the funding.
• Each year, the project will submit finances for the following year which are then negotiated with the MEDIA committee.
• The FPA will include a global action plan for 3 years – which sets out the plans and objectives of the consortium during that period but only details finances for year-1.
• The overriding requirements of a successful bid are not related to the number of partners or the number of students trained etc. They are:
o Projects MUST demonstrate that they meet the needs of Industry AND Student.
o Projects ABSOLUTELY MUST be cost effective.
o The Consortium MUST be coherent and complimentary. Consequently, the bid must explain why partners decided to work together.
o HOWEVER – Consortia (and resulting budget requirements) can evolve in years 2 and 3 to include new members and lose groups that can no longer provide commitment.
• Although the application process is rather lengthy, it was stated on several occasions that the paperwork for years 2 and 3 was far less onerous.
• If there are specific questions that lead organisations need to ask then the 2 key contacts for the programme are:
o Aurelie Varin (Aurelie.Varin@ec.europa.eu)
o Arnaud Pasquali (Arnaud.Pasquali@ec.europa.eu)
• A key European theme at present is the ‘Development of new skills for new jobs’ and also movement toward successful implementation of the Bologna Agreement. The specified objectives of the latter were listed as:
o the adoption of a common framework of readable and comparable degrees, “also through the implementation of the Diploma Supplement”;
o the introduction of undergraduate and postgraduate levels in all countries, with first degrees no shorter than 3 years and relevant to the labour market;
o ECTS-compatible credit systems also covering lifelong learning activities;
o a European dimension in quality assurance, with comparable criteria and methods;
o the elimination of remaining obstacles to the free mobility of students (as well as trainees and graduates) and teachers (as well as researchers and higher education administrators).
• The Bologna Agreement was only offered as a guide but any project that demonstrated inclusion of any of the key objectives listed above would be treated favourably.
• Although the hope is that projects will not change hugely in successive year/s, it is definitely possible to implement changes that correct any issues identified during previous year/s.
• If there are any plans already in place for years 2/3 (i.e., agreements already made with partners) then it is essential that these are documented during the application process as this will help demonstrate a more stable partnership.
MEDIA – Continuous Training
• Supports creation of pan-European training networks to help professionals in the audio-visual industry enhance their competence in the international market.
• Currently more than 60 training courses supported by MEDIA for European professionals which include:
o Producers
o Distributors
o Operators
o Scriptwriters
o Directors.
• The EU have produced a guide that can be accessed at: http://ec.europa.eu/culture/media/programme/training/guide/docs/guide2011.pdf
• The intervention rates are relatively low(50/60%) and therefore only suitable as a subsidy for projects that would have taken place anyway but could benefit from a broader EU remit.
• The annual budget is €7million
• Next application date: Soon!
Erasmus – Life Long Learning Programme
‘Erasmus’ is an Education and training programme which supports 200,000 ‘people’ (see below) to study and work abroad each year:
• Also funds co-operation between higher education institutions across EU.
• Supports: students, academics and business staff.
• Designed to:
o Enrich participant’s lives in academic and professional fields
o Improve language learning
o Improve intercultural skills, self-reliance and self-awareness.
• Main Contact: Gilles Gervais – Erasmus Project Manager (gilles.gervais@ec.europa.eu)
• There are currently serious issues with ‘early school leaving’ across the EU, which is producing a poorly educated and trained workforce!
• The EU aim is to have educated 40% of the workforce within an HEI by 2020.
• Currently, Erasmus sees VERY FEW projects in the Audio-Visual sector. The plea from Gilles was for MANY MORE, as this is becoming a significant employer across the EU.
• Erasmus is designed to promote mobility between EU states.
• Typically, this involves 1-6 month placements within an institution/company in a partner country (EU).
• Following on from the last point, it is important to note that a key theme of the programme is promotion of cooperation between HEI’s and Enterprise.
• Erasmus also seeks to support the on-going EU priority of modernisation across member HEI’s and wider support for the Bologna Agreement (see earlier). Consequently, typical project themes include:
o Sharing Knowledge and best practice.
o Discussing teaching and learning methodologies.
o Assessing industry training requirements.
o Developing cooperative best practice.
o Removing barriers to Higher Education within EU member states.
• Intervention rates are up to 75%, but only if project partners include members from one of the UE accession states.
• The EU predicts that by 2020 40% of the jobs that will exist do not exist now. Consequently, training and education are key to ensuring a ready supply of skilled workers.
Leonardo da Vinci Programme
‘Leonardo’, like ‘Erasmus’, is Part of the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme and funds many different types of activities of varying scales. These include ‘mobility’ initiatives enabling people to train in another country, co-operation projects to transfer or develop innovative practices, and networks focusing on topical themes in the sector:
• Applicable to:
o Trainees in initial vocational training;
o People who have already graduated;
o Vocational Education and Training (VET) professionals;
o and anyone from organisations active in this field.
• Leonardo da Vinci enables organisations in the vocational education sector to:
o Work with partners from across Europe;
o exchange best practice;
o and increase their staff’s expertise.
• Its objective is to make vocational education more attractive to young people and, by helping people to gain new skills, knowledge and qualifications, the programme also boosts the overall competitiveness of the European labour market.
• Innovation is key to the programme – to improve the quality of training systems by developing and transferring innovative policies, courses, teaching methods, materials and procedures.
• The programme funds travel and subsistence costs for those involved in an exchange programme.
• Applications are made via national bodies and assistance in the UK can be sought from UK Media Desk: http://www.mediadeskuk.eu
• There will be a new call in October 2011!
Erasmus Mundus
‘Erasmus Mundus’ is a variant of the ‘EU Erasmus’ programme but the key differences/features are:
• Allows exchange between institutions worldwide rather than merely EU.
• Subsistence allowances are higher: €1500 – €2500 per month.
• Travel costs are also included.
• There have been NO AUDIO VISUAL Erasmus Mundas exchanges so far.
Media Mundus
Cooperation with the European audio-visual industry is in strong demand around the globe and the new MEDIA Mundus programme is designed to capitalise on this growing interest and the opportunities offered by global cooperation:
• The first call has a €5million budget and focuses on:
o Training;
o Market access;
o Distribution;
o and Circulation of audio-visual works.
• There is likely to be a new call in 2011.
• Provides specific opportunities for Media schools to collaborate with International organisations on the development of joint programmes. This can include joint awards (i.e., MA) or even smaller projects.
• It DOESN’T support production but DOES support all other activity!
• Designed to aid development of Media Industry as this is a sector that is growing fast but which historically doesn’t apply for EU funding support!