Progress Programme New Call for Proposals

Call for Proposals on Exchange of Good Practices

The call for proposals n.  VP/2011/010 – Budget line 04-04-01-01 Projects Contributing to Exchange on Good Practices has recently been published in the framework of the Progress Programme.

The present call for proposals will cover two different policy domains. The main objectives are to encourage mutual learning at all levels and enhance transferability of the most effective policies to: 1) implement the skills dimension of the flagship initiative "An Agenda for New Skills and Jobs" and 2) implement the flagship initiative "Youth on the Move".

Domain 1) Implement the skills dimension of the flagship initiative "An Agenda for New Skills and Jobs"
The objective of domain 1 of this  call for proposals published in the framework of the Progress programme  is to support the implementation of the flagship\'s objectives and to collect examples of concrete support measures. This can concern inter alia best practices that result in:
- Developing early-warning and forecasting systems to improve the matching of skills supply and demand
- Supporting the development and exchange between public employment services, education and training providers and companies on lifelong learning and guidance to help people make choices regarding careers as well as education & training
- Close involvement of social partners both at EU and national level, in actions that can help equip people for employment with the right skills and help employers to find the skills they need
- Supporting the strategic dialogue with private and third-sector employment services on strategies addressing skills development
The best practices could also integrate the following items:
- Close involvement of regional authorities on strategies addressing skills offer and employment demand
- An understanding of mechanisms which exist at national and regional level to bridge the worlds of labour and of education and training
- An understanding of the transmission mechanisms and use made of skills forecasting/foresight intelligence, in particular by public authorities such as qualification authorities, education and training providers, employers and workers and their representatives
-Strategic human resources development, in particular addressing the specificities of Small and medium sized enterprises
-Supporting effective collaboration between sectors, education and training providers and public authorities in the field of skills transferability
-An understanding of existing co-investment mechanisms between employers and educational and training providers to support activities in the field of education and training.

Domain 2): Implement the flagship initiative "Youth on the Move"
The objective of the present call published in the framework of the Progress programme is therefore more focused and concentrates on the need to facilitate the first transition for youth from education to the labour market.
This would result in the collection of examples of concrete policy measures implemented at local, regional and national level leading to the provision of quality career guidance services and vocational orientation, where possible building upon skills forecasting and anticipation systems.
Projects need to structure the collection exercise so that all involved partners in the different.  Member States can learn from each other which policies work best, and in what contexts, as well as which measures have proven unsuccessful, and for what reasons.

Priority areas for co-operation for both domains:
Among priority areas for cooperation are activities mentioned (the below list is not
exhaustive):
– workshops on benchmarks, supporting good practices on equipping people with the right
skills for employment addressing different aspects of policy formulation, decision making
and policy execution;
– organisation of seminars, round-table events, study visits, staff exchange and
communication activities to publicise the results of sharing of experiences in the policy
fields covered by this call;
– focused information campaigns and awareness raising efforts targeting key stakeholders
and other relevant groups;
– reinforcing existing or new networks devoted to the advancement of the targeted policy
issues and practices.
These activities may possibly be combined with the following:
– small-scale studies in order to gain greater knowledge on improving the first transitino from education to work for young people and supporting good practices on equipping people with the right skills for employment;
– literature and desk reviews in the policy fields covered by this call, where such are not already available.

The total available budget for this call published in the framework of the Progress Programme is € 2.000.000.
The Union\'s financial contribution will not exceed 80% of the total eligible costs of the activities involved.

The deadline for the submission of projects is 29 July 2011

Further information on this call for proposal is available on the EC’s Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion web site at: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=327&langId=en&callId=306&furtherCalls=yes