Leonardo da Vinci programme

Leonardo da Vinci ( Leonardo short ) is a program of the European Commission for the promotion of education and training, in particular the cross-border training. The projects are not organized by the EU itself but by institutions or organizations in different countries. In Germany, for competent institution is the National Agency Education for Europe at the Federal Institute for Vocational Training ( BIBB ), in Austria, the National Agency for Lifelong Learning.

The Leonardo program (besides Comenius for school and kindergarten, Erasmus for higher education and Grundtvig for general adult education) is one of four main programs of the EU Lifelong Learning Programme. All of these programs will be continued along with other EU exchange programs since 2014 under the name of Erasmus .

History

The program was launched in 1995 for the development of pilot projects and innovative actions in the field of vocational education and training in the EU Member States. In 1998, however, got the program by the investigations of the whistleblower Paul van Buitenen into the twilight.

In a second phase of the program (Leonardo II 2000-2006) focused on improving the skills and employment prospects of young people in particular through vocational training in the foreground. Of the projects funded under this much broader program phase 21,000 projects accounted for the majority ( more than 19,000 ) on mobility projects with a total of 367,000 student placements of individuals. The budget had a volume of 1.45 billion euros.

A predominantly positive evaluation of Phase II showed some weak points. It was found that the professional exchange on the personal benefit of the individuals involved also provided little tangible transfer effects and results, including because of the low involvement of the social partners that the direct transnational communication between the participating partner institutions mostly remained weak and that the effektivierte as a result of the scandal of 1998 management and budget control had proved to be too rigid and inflexible.

2007, a new program was launched, which runs until 2013.

Objectives and target groups

Target groups of the program are:

• Instructors at vocational institutions and in enterprises
• Trainees who are in the initial training for a professional qualification
• Students, provided that their study of Procedure provide for an internship
• Young workers who have just completed a professional training or study ( up to 1 year after completion ). Instead of completing your training range, two years of professional experience. Unemployed persons meet this criteria may participate in projects.

Indeed, social partners, associations and chambers can participate in projects.

Participation is not tied to the German citizenship or EU citizenship. It is sufficient to have his permanent residence in Germany (or any other EU country ).

Cross-border projects and partnerships between at least three countries, the exchange of trainers, trainees, students and young workers (or unemployed young people ) are encouraged to organize for the purpose of training, eg Internships or vocational training in enterprises or educational institutions in the broadest sense. In addition, other measures are supported, eg Research projects, the development and the international transfer of teaching and learning materials, cross-border thematic networks or preparatory visits to initiate international cooperation.

Applications

Applications must be on the National Agencies - will be provided - in Germany via the National Agency Education for Europe at BIBB. The partners are preferably from the EEA countries - to choose and EU associated countries - ie from the EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland.

Individuals - including the unemployed - who want to organize individual visits abroad must apply at the national institutes of vocational training. The BiBB provides a way to search on the Internet.