Learning EU initiatives will support schools & Vocational education and training institutions (VETs), ISCED 1 – 4, enabling them to provide specific content on EU based subjects (democracy,  EU history, how the EU works, cultural diversity – among others). Activities should be taught during the school year and could include project weeks, study visits, and other immersive activities.

Activities will be offered by schools and VETs (ISCED 1 – 4). They may design and deliver content on EU issues and  create learning experiences themselves or with the support of higher education institutions or other relevant organisations (NGOs, Associations, etc.). Activities organised under this section will boost learning about the European Union in ways that inspire. They will help students to strengthen their sense of belonging to the EU, the impact it has on their lives and their understanding of EU mechanisms and policies.

Objectives of the Action

Jean Monnet Learning EU initiatives will foster the introduction of a European Union angle in the educational culture of schools and VETs (ISCED 1 –4) and contribute to strengthen European identity and active citizenship among students and teachers.

• To empower teachers to teach about the EU using engaging methods and to bring facts and knowledge about the European Union to their learners;
• To improve learning outcomes on EU matters;
• To strengthen EU literacy in schools (ISCED 1- 4);
• To create interest in the European Union and constitute a basis to enhance participation of pupils and students in the democratic process and leave them better equipped to become active citizens.

Which are the criteria to be met to apply for Jean Monnet Learning EU initiatives?

Eligibility criteria

Who can apply?

One school or one vocational education and training institution (VET)

ISCED 1 – 4 established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme.

Duration of project

3 years

A Jean Monnet Learning EU initiative must be implemented for a minimum of 40 hours per school year for three consecutive years on EU based subjects.

Where to apply?

To the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)

Call ID: ERASMUS-JMO-2022-OFET-LEARNING-EU

When to apply?

Applicants have to submit their grant application by 1 March at 17:00:00 (Brussels time)

Setting up a project

Jean Monnet Learning EU initiatives specifically targets schools and vocational education & training institutions (VETs) (ISCED 1 – 4). Jean Monnet Learning EU initiatives must respect one or more of the following:

• teaching on European Union matters officially embedded in the curricula (teaching in one or more existing subjects)
• learning experiences on European Union subjects which complement already existing courses: collaborative learning, co-teaching, among other subjects
• extracurricular seminars, study visits,  other kinds of EU experiences involving other organisations

For the purpose of the action, a teaching hour is understood to be an hour of learning experience in the context of school or VET activities. It can be classroom or not classroom learning (i.e workshops, meetings with experts, study visits) but needs to be linked to concrete learning outcomes and to  EU studies / EU values.

Expected impact

Quantitative

• an increased number of schools and VETs (ISCED 1 –4) teaching European Union issues by EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme.
• an increased number of classes in schools and VETs (ISCED 1 –4) involved in learning experiences on European Union subjects
• increased number of key subject areas, or extra-curricular activities, where the EU is being taught in schools and VETs (ISCED 1 –4) for each EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme.
• an increased number of teachers to engage with the improvement of EU literacy

Qualitative

As regards participants directly involved in the actions, the Jean Monnet Learning EU initiatives will produce positive and long-lasting effects on schools and VETs (ISCED 1 –4), for learners and teachers, including through:

• increased quality of EU innovative teaching and learning methods, with particular attention to the EU priorities1
• an increase in opportunities for teaching staff in terms of professional development
• improved learning results about the EU of students who are better equipped with knowledge and understanding of the EU, its history, values, objectives  as well as the institutions, decision making processes which influence the daily lives of young Europeans
• strengthened critical thinking on EU through delivery of facts & knowledge in classroom situations and other school activities such as study visits, exchanges, projects, to illustrate the importance of EU citizenship and rights

As regards participating organisations, the Jean Monnet Learning EU initiatives will enhance a new dynamic and:

• increase and systematise their capacity to teach on European Union subjects with a multi-disciplinary approach
• attract more and new teachers and learners interested in acquiring facts & knowledge about the EU

Award criteria

Projects will be assessed against the following criteria (please respect the structure of the bullet points for each of the criteria):

Relevance of the project - (maximum score 25 points )

The proposal has to demonstrate relevance against the objectives of this action and among other, relevance will be considered, through:

• the type and number of  EU subjects proposed for the project
• innovation and creativity in the proposal
• use of digital methodology – where possible
• new teaching and learning methodologies in order to make the European Union subjects more attractive and tailored to the needs of pupils and students

Quality of the project design and implementation - (maximum score 25)

In terms of quality the proposal should illustrate:

• the quality and feasibility of the methodology proposed
• teaching methodologies used including group lectures, seminars, tutorials, distance-learning but not individual instruction
• evidence of clarity and substance of the work programme proposed, in all its phases (preparation, implementation, evaluation and follow-up)

Quality of the partnership and the cooperation arrangements - (maximum score 25)

The project proposal should provide:

• evidence of clear commitment of school / VET management
• evidence of clear commitment in  support of teachers in the preparation of content as well as in their teaching activities
• evidence of monitoring of activities and visibility of the results obtained by staff involved in this initiative
• evidence of involvement of staff with the relevant pedagogical skills

Impact, dissemination and sustainability - (maximum score 25)

The project proposal should provide:

• evidence  of appropriate measures and resources to ensure that the results and benefits will be sustained beyond the project lifetime
• clear description of the dissemination strategy within the institution and beyond
• explanation of  the impact expected on the schools and VETs (ISCED 1 –4), on the pupils, students and teachers benefiting from the activities

To be considered for funding, proposals must score at least 70 points in total and at least 15 points in each award criterion. The ex aequo proposals within the same topic will be prioritised according to the scores they have been awarded for the award criterion “relevance of the project” and then “impact”.

What are the funding rules?

This action follows a lump sum funding model. This funding scheme would allow putting focus on the outputs rather than the inputs, thereby placing emphasis on the quality and level of achievement of measurable objectives. The maximum EU grant per project is 30.000 euros.

The lump sum contributions will cover staff costs, travel and subsistence costs, equipment costs and subcontracting as well as other costs (dissemination of information, publishing, translation).

Applicants must request the predefined amount of the single lump sum indicated, corresponding to country, as indicated in the table below. Note that the lump sum per country reflects the total number of teaching hours over 3 years. The amounts in the table represent the final EU contribution at a 80 % co-financing rate.

• 1 Information about the European Commission priorities for 2019-2024 are available here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024_en