Tips & Tricks for your project application

Ildiko Mazar, Deputy Secretary General, EDENBratislava, 1 June 2016

The largest active and developing professional community of

open, distance and e-learning in Europe

The most comprehensive European not-for-profit non-governmental association of its kind, established in 1991

Platform for professional co-operation and information exchange

Open for all levels and sectors of education and training Open for institutions, individuals and networks Registered in the UK, Secretariat in Hungary since 1997

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EDEN Annual Conferences since 1992 Budapest, 14-17 Jun 2016

Open Classroom Conferences Since 1995

Research WorkshopsOldenburg, 4-7 Oct 2016

Synergy WorkshopsSpecific strands since 2013

The EDEN Conferences

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EDEN’s EU projects TALOE ARMAZEG Carer+ EMPORT E-SOLVE STAY-IN EduWorks Revive-VET POERUP

eLene2learn NEST MOVE-ON SEVAQ+ EquNet HEXTLEARN Learnovation eTTCampus Rural Wings

OpenPROF D-Transform eLene4wor

k OBN DigiSkills T-MAIL LACE LeHo ODS

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What to keep in mind How to identify the right call? How to assemble a solid partnership? What makes an application a winner? How to define key performance indicators? What is dissemination and exploitation anyway? Managing time Human resources Financial planning

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Find the right call

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Project partnership

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Diversity of skills and competences Vested interest and commitment Wide geographical representation Know 75% of your partnership Seek new collaborators Find new partners by personal

recommendations Establish a second line of supporters

(Associate Partners, Board of Experts)

Application writing

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Are you eligible to apply? Are you registered on the

Participant Portal? Get a PIC No. Make a time plan and check list

(DoWs, LoMs, DoHs, etc.) Address key objectives and

priorities Lead but collaborate

What will you achieve? Determine qualitative and quantitative indicatorsWe’ll print 5000 leaflets We’ll engage 500 teachers Set attainable goals10000 web page views 10 newsletters reach X readers Assign reasonable deadlinesWeb portal ready by M2 Regular revision of Dissem. Plan Thought experimentation: What’s your main message?

How many stakeholders can you potentially reach? How many can you engage? How many can you ‘convert’?

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Dissemination, sustainability Have a clear vision and mission statement Have it agreed within the partnership – work together Identify your key primary and secondary target audiences Identify key messages and services of benefit (SHA) Push information, pull contribution from target audiences Use social media wisely and effectively Be genuine, human, try to support instead of promote Find incentives to increase participation, reward support Record your achievements as you go Start planning your project’s afterlife at the start

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Time and HR management

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Make a time plan Coordinate the work by 1 person Start with the big picture Identify the building blocks,

proceed stage by stage Assign sections to partners Work together in a transparent way Leave time for streamlining and

proofreading

Financial planning

Be creative and flexible, but always precise Identify compulsory and optional cost items Separate intellectual work (staff cost, IOs) from operation Have suggestions first, then discuss them with partners Use real rates (salaries, production, room/tech hire, etc.) Have low cost alternatives (e-newsletters and downloadable

publications instead of print, combine PM & public events)

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Final steps

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Ask a knowledgeable colleague to play external evaluator Check your boxes and save back-ups Sleep on it and still aim to submit days in advance Make sure your submission was successful – have you

received a confirmation? Thank your partners for the collaboration and send them a

copy of the final application and submission confirmation Read the evaluation report and discuss it with your partners Appreciate and learn from evaluator feedback

www.eden-online.org

Thank you for your attentionGood luck with your applications

More information on EDEN, its services and projects:

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