The Leonardo da Vinci (LdV) is one of the three education programmes of the European Union implemented in Poland which contribute to the implementation of its vocational education and training policy. The overriding aim of the programme is to promote activities focused on upgrading the quality of VET systems and adapting the system of education to the labour market needs. The programme provides a framework for transnational cooperation in the sphere of raising quality, fostering innovation and promoting a European dimension in vocational education and training systems, approaches and practices.

The programme was established by the Council Decision of the European Commission in 1994. Initially, it was open to the participation of the member states of the European Union and EFTA, and subsequently extended to include the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Cyprus, Malta and Turkey (currently under preparation). In all, 31 countries participate in the Programme. Poland joined the LdV in 1998, based on the decision of the Association Council. Currently, the second programme phase for the years 2000 - 2006 is under way.

At the Community level, the programme is managed by the European Commission, and at the national level - by National Agencies set up in each of the participating countries. Participation in the programme is based on proposals selected in the calls published annually by the European Commission and the National Agencies. Leonardo da Vinci provides co-financing to projects which have been jointly prepared by organisations from several countries, with at least one of them originating from the EU member states. Proposals may be submitted by all bodies having legal personality. Individuals (i.e. natural persons) cannot submit proposals independently. The proposals are subject to evaluation by national and EU experts.

Varied groups of participants are eligible to participate in the projects carried out under the programme, ranging from pupils and students to workers, trainers, managers and the unemployed.

Under Leonardo da Vinci, six types of projects eligible for the Community co-financing may be implemented:
- mobility,
- pilot projects, including the so-called thematic actions,
- language competences,
- transnational networks,
- reference material,
- joint actions.

Mobility

These projects are aimed to promote international mobility of those who participate in vocational training schemes. In particular, they focus on the organization of training programmes which facilitate vocational development. The main assumption underlying mobility projects is the combination of theory and practice and, as a result, strengthening the linkage between the world of education and that of work. Co-financing is offered to placements for pupils, students, young workers and school leavers, as well as to exchanges for teachers and trainers, vocational counsellors, HR managers, organizers of training, as well as foreign language teachers.

Pilot projects

These projects are aimed to raise the quality of vocational education, training and guidance. Of particular interest are proposals to develop educational products involving innovative teaching methods, using modern technologies.

The so-called thematic actions are a separate group of pilot projects. They deal with themes of particular interest at Community level and include activities aimed at upgrading the quality of VET systems and practices, fighting exclusion, raising intercultural awareness, and projects addressing the specific training needs of migrant people/workers.

Language projects

Such projects aim to promote foreign language competencies and the knowledge of European cultures and cover both the development of teaching methodologies (including innovative projects adapted to the needs of different sectors), the evaluation of progress in acquiring language skills and procedures of assessing language needs. Grants may also be awarded to promoters of projects involving less popular European languages.

Transnational networks

The Leonardo da Vinci programme promotes the development of transnational institution networks providing an infrastructure for the dissemination of knowledge and experiences at European level. Such networks should contribute to the implementation of the following three tasks:
– to assemble, pool and build on European expertise and innovatory approaches;
– to improve the analysis and anticipation of skills requirements in the context of knowledge and skills of workers in different branches;
– to disseminate the network outputs and project results throughout the Union in the appropriate circles.

Reference material

Analysis and updating of databases, research materials and analyses relating to the issues of vocational education and training can also be covered by projects eligible for co-financing under the LdV II programme. Of relevance are projects facilitating broadly understood exchange of information. The outputs of such projects will demonstrate the changes occurring in the national VET systems.

Joint actions

The joint actions offer a possibility provided for in the decisions establishing the Socrates (education), Leonardo da Vinci (vocational training) and Youth programmes to implement joint projects in order to encourage synergy.
Overall, the joint actions aim to promote a "Europe of knowledge" and should focus on themes that by their very nature do not belong to one single domain - education, training and youth. They call on reinforced cooperation between actors from different sectors and fields of knowledge.

Background

The second phase of the Leonardo da Vinci programme is a seamless continuation of Community action that has been undertaken for twenty years in the vocational training field.

Following-on directly from the aims laid down for the first phase of the programme, this second phase seeks to support and supplement action taken by the Member States, while fully respecting their responsibility for the content and organisation of vocational training, and their cultural and linguistic diversity. It does this by supporting transnational co-operation projects in the field of vocational training.

There are other Community programmes and initiatives which provide support for projects in associated fields. The Commission and the Member States are mindful of the need to ensure the consistency and complementarity between the Leonardo da Vinci programme and these related programmes; they also have regard to the priorities set out in the employment guidelines. The Commission, in partnership with the Community social partners, is making efforts to develop co-ordination with the European social dialogue including efforts at sectoral level.

Objectives

The programme has three general objectives:

A. to improve the skills and competencies of people, especially young people, in initial vocational training at all levels; this may be achieved inter alia through work-linked vocational training and apprenticeship with a view to promoting employability and facilitating vocational integration and reintegration;
B. to improve the quality of, and access to, continuing vocational training and the lifelong acquisition of skills and competencies with a view to increasing and developing adaptability, particularly in order to consolidate technological and organisational change;
C. to promote and reinforce the contribution of vocational training to the process of innovation, with a view to improving competitiveness and entrepreneurship, also in view of new employment possibilities; special attention will be paid in this respect to fostering co-operation between vocational training institutions, including universities and undertakings, particularly SMEs.

Under the first two objectives, innovative counselling and guidance approaches are of particular importance.
In implementing the three objectives, special attention will be given to proposals addressing:

• the development of practices to facilitate access to training for people most at a disadvantage in the labour market, including disabled people;

• equal opportunities for women and men, with a view to combating discrimination in training provision.

For the realisation of the programme’s objectives, calls for proposals are published which set out specific priorities. As regards, in particular, Call for proposals 2005-2006, the following priorities are established (they are applicable to all measures but Thematic actions):

1. Promoting transparency of qualifications
2. Developing the quality in VET systems and practices
3. Developing relevant and innovative E-learning content
4. Continuous training of teachers and trainers.

For more information, please refer to the text of the current Call, available in the Leonardo da Vinci Website at the following address:
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/leonardo/new/leonardo2_en.html

Transnationality

Proposals submitted under the Leonardo da Vinci programme must be designed and implemented in line with the programme objectives and with the involvement of partners from several participating countries (and must comply with the formal eligibility conditions set out in section VI). The underlying aim is to stimulate joint work into new approaches to training and new ways of acquiring knowledge and skills, at the same time focusing on the exchange and transfer of good practices and innovation in training.

The programme supports transnational networks of European expertise and dissemination. These networks undertake three functions:

• assembling, distilling and building on European expertise and innovatory approaches;

• improving the analysis and anticipation of occupational skills requirements;

• disseminating the networks outputs and project results throughout the Union in the appropriate circles.

See also:

"Promotion and extension of innovation range in the process of vocational training..."