Description

Overview

Objectives

The primary objective of this call is to support the design and delivery of higher education programme(s), such as bachelor’s and master’s leading to a degree (at ISCED levels 6, 7 or equivalent - hereafter programmes) and to develop related selfs-tanding modules (online, hybrid or in-person) leading to a certification. 

The proposed project(s) must address at least objective 1 and one or more of objectives 2-4:

1. Designing and delivering programme(s) and self-standing module(s) that provide students with the necessary theoretical and practical advanced digital skills and knowledge to contribute to the design, deployment and use of the current and future generation of digital technologies and equip users of advanced digital technologies in non-ICT sectors with the necessary advanced digital skills;
2. Attracting qualified teaching staff and students;
3. Upgrading participating higher education institutions with digital solutions, equipment and infrastructure, with a special focus on interoperability of IT systems;
4. Establishing structural and sustainable partnerships between the members of the consortium. 

Activities/actions supported

Proposals must address the design and delivery of at least one of the following types of programmes:

• Type 1: Programme(s) to build up advanced digital skills in one or in a combination of the following key digital areas (please see a non-exhaustive list in the text of the call)
• Type 2: Interdisciplinary programme(s), targeting at the acquisition of advanced digital skills in specific sectors (please see a non-exhaustive list in the text of the call)
• Type 3: Conversion programme(s) for students graduated from a bachelor’s programme from non-ICT fields to access specialised master’s programmes (please see more detail in the text of the call)

Institution providing the funding

European Commission

Size of funding

€30,000,000

Anticipated outcomes

Actions funded under this topic will contribute to the target of 20 million ICT specialists in the EU by 2030, as set in the Digital Decade Policy Programme. These actions will also contribute to closing the digital skills gap, as currently, the EU has a significant and systemic gap between market needs and what is offered in terms of skills related to advanced digital technologies.

Conditions

Overview of eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

• be legal entities (public or private bodies)
• be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.: EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)); non-EU countries: listed EEA countries and countries associated to the Digital Europe Programme

The consortium is highly recommended to include at least three degree awarding higher education institutions from three different eligible countries which are part of  the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE). Higher education institutions established in other eligible countries which are not part of the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education can also be included in the consortium. In this case, the consortium has to prove that the specific higher education institution is recognised by the competent national authority and offers full study programmes leading to higher education degrees and recognised diplomas at tertiary education qualifications levels.

In addition to this, it is highly recommended for consortia to include a minimum of two industry partners whose headquarters are located in two different eligible countries. The consortium is also encouraged to particularly involve small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as start-ups.

The consortium is also encouraged to include at least one additional independent research organisation/hub or competence/excellence centre.

Overview of award criteria

The award criteria are the following: 

• Relevance (5 points)
• Impact (5 points)
• Implementation (5 points)

Maximum points: 15 points. Overall threshold: 10 points.

Procedures

Application procedures

Applications must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission system (accessible via the topic page in the Search Funding & Tenders section). 

Application support available

For help related to this call, please contact: https://european-union.europa.eu/contact-eu/write-us_en

Link to funding opportunity

Link to the programme for more info