The European Commission’s DG Education and Training has recently launched a call for proposals on a “European Policy Network on the education of children and young people with a migrant background” in the scope of the Lifelong Learning Programme. The indicative budget available is EUR 500.000. The deadline for submission of applications is 14 October 2011. This call targets EU Member States, and also,  Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland (EFTA countries) and Turkey (EU candidate) and Croatia (CEFTA and EU candidate) (i.e. all 31 countries participating in the EU's Lifelong Learning Programme). 

For more info explore http://ec.europa.eu/education/calls/doc2976_en.htm

A brief summary:

a)      Eligibility
 
The call for proposals is open to Ministries of education, public bodies, Research centres and universities, Foundations and Associations. IOM is eligible as an applicant.
Proposals must be submitted by partnerships of organizations from 12 different eligible countries. Preferably two organizations from each country should be part of the network, including a relevant national or regional education authority (education ministry or other public authority or agency with responsibility in the area).
 
b)      Available budget and duration

• The total budget is EUR 500.000, to cover the activity of the network in 2012. The budgets for the two subsequent years will be determined by the Commission on an annual basis.

• Co-funding:  the financial contribution from the Commission cannot exceed 75% of the total eligible costs

• Project duration is 2012-2014, subject to the availability of funds

 
c)       Beneficiary countries:

• EU Member States

• EFTA and EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland

• Candidate countries: Turkey, Croatia

 

d)      Overall/global and specific objectives
 
Global objective: 
The establishment of a Europe-wide network of relevant organizations to exchange experience and to develop advice on effective policies and practices for raising the educational achievement of children and young people with a migrant background
 
Specific objectives: 

• Identify good policy practices in the education of children and young people with a migrant background

• Analyze the main challenges in the implementation and coordination of national and regional policies addressing this target group

• Provide a clearing house for relevant policy designs, programmes and initiatives in this area

• Stimulate and disseminate innovative policies and practical programmes

• Provide innovative ideas for trans-national cooperation in the area

• Influence policy development in participating countries

 
e)      Expected activities
 

• Developing and managing a platform to facilitate transnational exchange and contacts between national and regional policy makers, practitioners, researchers and other stakeholders

• Exploring innovative forms of cooperation between authorities in the countries or regions of origin and host countries or regions

• Analyzing the effectiveness of policies and practices in the education of children and young people with a migrant background, anticipating future challenges both at national/regional and European level, identifying and disseminating innovative policy, practice and programmes in the countries, supporting the transfer of successful models

• Analyzing and reporting on participating countries’ progress in the implementation of relevant Council conclusions and identifying gaps in implementation or coverage of national policies

• Disseminating a wide range of relevant information in a timely, accessible and useable form to policymakers, practitioners and relevant stakeholders
  

 

 
f) Target group:

Children and young people with a migrant background. This includes first and second generation children and young people, irrespective of nationality. The network  should focus primarily on initial education (ISCED levels 0-3).