Opening Pandora’s Box on Grundtvig 2

1. Opening Pandora’s Box on Grundtvig 2 Pandora was given a box which she was forbidden to open as a gift by the Father of all Gods.But, its unknown contents plagued Pandora. One day she could stand the temptation no longer and lifted the lid to peek inside. Out swarmed all the calamities of mankind! It was too late to stop them as they spread out through the window and across the world. Pandora dropped the lid back in time to prevent the escape of the final occupant of the vessel. This was Hope, and no matter how bad things became for people there was always hope remaining. Claudine Dalmas: Malta NA

2. The Application Form format vs. the real dynamics of a Learning Partnership. Is the application procedure and the application form conducive to what ideally should a good learning partnership be? • What are the dynamics of a Learning Partnership? Claudine Dalmas: Malta NA

3. A Learning partnership: A possible Definition- • Be fit for the purpose of education and training quality. • Have available all the required competencies for achieving the set objectives. • Partners who have complementary expertise. • Have all decision making arrangements agreed. • Clearly defined partner’s duties and contributions. • Effective communication mechanisms. Claudine Dalmas: Malta NA

4. Possible arising difficulties vis-à-vis Learners. The partnership must underline quality education and training for: (1) staff involved (2) learners/ target group Reflections: • How can we evaluate how much are the learners involved? • If an application shows 5 mobilities for staff only with no learner involvement is the process going to touch the learners? Claudine Dalmas: Malta NA

5. Mobilities • Are 5 or more mobilites in one year really necessary to reach the set objectives? • Do the staff of the participating organisations really need to hold 5 meetings a year when use of ICT should be encouraged? • Is the travelling opportunity the main incentive for applicant organisations? • Can some mobilites be avoided if the partnerships plans for more effective means of communications? Claudine Dalmas: Malta NA

6. Application and Selection rate Reflections:- • Is selection based on quality evaluations or on Budget availability, given Na’s are able to put applications on the Reserve because of lack of funds? • What procedure do Reserve applications go through? • How do we consider success rate, by the number of applications submitted or by how many applications we are able to fund? Claudine Dalmas: Malta NA

7. Grants requested. • The NA budgets are limited, but is there no limit in the Variable amount request in the application? • In the Variable amount of one application only, the applicant requested more than the entire Malta budget for Grundtvig 2. It may make sense to the applicant but not to the agency! • Is there no limit to the number of mobilities for which an applicant can apply? • Is the largest part of the partnership budget going for the planned travelling? Any research available in the field? • It often happens that larger countries or normal countries with limited applications can afford to fund more or higher mobility grants. Smaller Na’s with limited budget and many applications cannot afford the same measures. Claudine Dalmas: Malta NA

8. Possible arising difficulties vis-à-vis Partners. • Are all the partners planning the project together or are all joining what one coordinator has decided to do? • Who is preparing Section C of the application. The entire partnership or just the coordinator? 3a. Project idea from coordinator,discussion via email/fax/telephone (costs!), then no application submitted by some partners. 3b. How can a partnership prepare a project plan together and then some do not even submit the application? 4. Are coordinators just after partner organisations to include in the partnership for the sake of the application requirements,or after a real strong partnership? 5. What happens to the role and tasks of a partner organisation when it is not funded to participate? Claudine Dalmas: Malta NA

9. Reporting! • If an applicant requests 40,000 Euro and is awarded 7,000 Euro, does the financial report need to prove the expenditure of 40,000 or 7,000 Euro? Claudine Dalmas: Malta NA

10. Possible suggestions (1) • Demand that learners are involved in at least one of the mobilities applied for. • Set a maximum limit of mobilities which can be applied for or set a maximum Variable amount. • Include specific narrative questions about the planning of mobilities to obtain information about the real objectives of these. • Request more use of ICT and other effective communication methods other than travelling. Claudine Dalmas: Malta NA

11. Possible suggestions (2) • Perform a first matching list before the national selections, so that it is immediately identified where some project partners do not submit an application. • Set a definite consultation procedure for Reserve applications. • Request an Interim financial report before funding renewal application so that if there is remaining unspent funds, the same organisation will not receive a higher grant at the detriment of other applicants. • Structure the application form in a manner by which all partners would need to fill in parts of project plan in Section C to avoid uninterested partners being indicated as key players. Claudine Dalmas: Malta NA