Nordplus Junior

Henrik Neiiendam Andersen, Danish Agency for International Education

Vilnius 19 January 2012

Why should we internationalise in primary and secondary, isn´t it just for higher education, the universities?

Make use of Nordplus as a driving force for your international work at school:

• financial support for mobility, networking and projects• the international dimension directly into the class room• gives students an intercultural experience based on subject work• inspires new ways of teaching/working, a new ”pedagogic”• professional development and inspiration for teachers• an integrated part of the schools teacher training effort• an integrated part of the quality assurance at school

Why Internationalisation?

The Nordplus programmes 2012-2016

NORDPLUS HORIZONTAL

0.9 mio euro- collaboration across educational sectors

NORDPLUS HIGHER

EDUCATION

4 mio eurohigher education

NORDPLUS

JUNIOR

2.4 mio europrimary and

secondary education

NORDPLUS VOKSEN

1.1 mio euro

Adult learning & liberal education

NORDPLUS SPROG

0.6 mio euro

Language teaching within all educational sectors

Total budget 9 mio euro per year in 5 years

Countries in Nordplus

• The Nordic CountriesIsland, Norge, Sverige, Finland og Danmark

• The Baltic countriesEstonia, Latvia and Lithuania

• The autonomous regions Aaland, Pharoe Islands and Greenland – as independent countries

Profile of Nordplus Junior

• 2.4 mio euro available for grants each year

• grants for mobility, network and projects

• no formal co-financing for mobility

• min. 25% co-financing for network and projects

• 2 deadlines for submission of applications each year: 1 March and 1. October - only for preparatory visits

• succesrate of 65% (including reductions)

Objectives for Nordplus Junior

• Developing co-operation and creating networks of schools in the participating countries

• Promoting the development of quality, creativity and innovation in education

• Learning for all; to promote equal opportunities in inclusive education

• Promoting knowledge and understanding about Nordic and Baltic cultures, languages and ways of life

• Promoting cooperation between schools (including pre-schools) and working life.

Target groups of Nordplus Junior

• kindergardens

• primary schools

• secondary schools

• vocational colleges

• schools for pupils with special needs

• organisations working with or having strong interests in school education

- individuals can not apply!

Actions in Nordplus Junior

Mobility (exchanges)• preparatory visits • class exchanges• pupil exchange and work experience (individual stays, only for upper secondary and includes work placements)• teacher exchange (and other pedagogicial staff)

-min. 2 schools from min. 2 countries

Projects• Network – network building around a theme or issue, long term• Projects – development of teaching materials etc.

- min. 3 schools from min. 3 countries

Themes in Nordplus Junior- examples

Class exchanges, e.g:• second world war/the cold war• youth culture• myths, religion, traditions• climate/environment

Networks, projects/teacher exchanges, e.g.:• integration, bullying, parental cooperation, drop out• quality assurance, evaluation• new predagogical and didactic methods, curriculum development• IT in teaching

Finances in Nordplus Junior- mobility, maximum set rates

Travel for pupils, teachers etc.• to/from Greenland 1.300 euro• to/from Pharoe Islands and Iceland 660 euro• between other countries 330 euro

Accomodation• per day per person 70 euro• per week 355 euro• per month 1.065 euro

- the lump sum principle- no formal co-financing

Finances in Nordplus Junior- projects, budgets

Budget• direct, actual expected costs• all costs - costs to be covered by Nordplus as well costs to be covered by the co-financing• max. financing by NP Junior is 75% of budget• min. co-financing is 25% (e.g. time)• types of costs: travel & accomodation for project meetings, 5% administration and ”other costs”• other costs can be: information and dissemination, printing, materials, web site, seminars and conferences etc.• time used in the project can part of part of co-financing

- no overhead (indirect costs)- no buying of IT equipment

A few advises on class exchanges

• transparent description of objectives, activities and expected results with a realistic budget• a common project with a common theme, subject or issue and parallel activities• a common activity plan for the whole school year – before, in between and after the visits• direct dialogue and cooperation between the pupils• the visits must also focus on the project as well – here the pupils have the opportunity to interact, work together, present thir work to each other

- start the planning in time - make use of preparatory visit- make use of the partner seach database

The steps to take

• find partner school(s)• make us of the Nordplus Partner search Database• make use of Preparatory Visit action• develop a project together with your partner(s)• submit a common application through the online application system, ARS• deadline for submission is 1 March 2012• answer to your application appr. 1 June 2012• activities take place in the school year 2012/13

- preparatory visits can be applied for 1 March as well as 1 October 2012 for preparation of full application to the future deadline 1 February 2013

- contact seminars might be arranged – announcement will be disseminated through your national Nordplus Agency, EESF.

If you want to know more

• the Nordplus web site: http://www.nordplusonline.org/

• Nordplus Handbook 2012

• Nordplus Partnersearch Database

• the online application form, ARS