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How to benefit from the LLP opportunities?

Marion KILHOFFER, Life-Long Learning Programme (LLP) specialist at Welcomeurope

LLP (for Life-Long Learning Programmeme ) is one of the largest community programmes in terms of budget.

Could you summarize its specificities and objectives, in a few words?

LLP, which has a global budget of almost 7 billion EUR for 2007-2013 is the most significant programmeme of the Commission in the field of education. It is includes 4 sub-programmes covering different strands of education and training, as well as a transversal programme organized around specific themes. The Jean Monnet Programme for research on European integration is also part of the LLP.

The aim of the LLP is to promote mobility and exchanges in Europe as part of educational backgrounds, and allow European citizens to benefit from training abroad. The programme is thus one of components of the Commission’s strategies for Development of the knowledge economy, improving vocational training or multilingualism.

The 4 sub-programmes are:



Comenius, which covers education until the end of the secondary school
Leonardo Education and Vocational Training
Erasmus for higher education
Grundtvig for adult education.




Could you give a specific example of projects which can be eligible for grants or fellowships under the programmeme?



The Erasmus programmeme is the best known one among all LLP components. Its aim is to foster the individual mobility of students and teachers. Since its creation in 1987, more than 2 million students have benefited from it throughout Europe.



Other programmes fund more various projects. For instance, individual mobility projects, including internships, are also funded under the Leonardo or Grundtvig components. More importantly, these programmes help develop partnerships between schools. These can be medium-scale partnerships, involving at least 3 institutions that decide to implement a programme of joint activity over 2 years, or greater collaboration through \\\\\\\"multilateral projects\\\\\\\" designed with the aim of developing new training methods or new modules.



Partnerships are a very interesting initiative for schools. They bring together pupils from different countries and make them discover other cultures. More particularly, the Comenius programme which addresses a wide audience from kindergarten to high school can set up projects with a strong cultural aspect through which language learning can be facilitated and students discover the culture of their European neighbours.




A general call for proposals has just been launched under the LLP. As a specialist in this programme, what would be your advice to people willing to apply?



Most part of the LLP calls are managed on the Member State/ national level. The project coordinators and all interested individuals must refer to their National Agencies (the Education and Training Agency in Bordeaux for France) to learn priorities for 2010 and get application forms. National Agencies are also can help with overall information about the programme and its practical functioning, which is very important for applicants. It is strongly recommended that project leaders present their ideas and plans to the Agency, in order to see if they fall within the priorities of the programme for the year concerned.
Furthermore, the LLP allows applying for preparatory visits of short duration, where potential partners of a project can be met before implementing it. I would recommend using this possibility to build partnerships and continuous collaboration. So, if you are willing to benefit from LLP in 2010, do not hesitate to visit the web site of National Agencies.