Setting up international research and education projects has the potential to boost and positively impact your academic activities. But how to get started?

On 8 November 2022, the DOWA International Relations Office and the DOZA Research Coordination Office collaborated to organize a series of sessions and workshops on maximizing the use of external funding opportunities.

These sessions address a number of questions and challenges related to external funding for research and education, such as how to tap into and create synergies between different funding sources.

Sessions also focus on international education project opportunities under the Erasmus+ Programme, providing key insights into how to prepare a solid proposal, as well as a sound budget under the newly introduced lump sum funding model. One session specifically focuses on setting up a Blended Intensive Programme.

This event was organized within the framework of the Ghent University Funding Academy.

Programme

The event took place in Het Pand (Onderbergen 1, 9000 Gent), on 8 November 2022, from 9.00 to 13.00, followed by a networking lunch. The event was held in English.

Participants were invited to join multiple sessions. The event was organized as follows:

Abstracts, speakers and presentations

Welcome and General Introduction

Speakers:

• Mieke Van Herreweghe, Vice Rector, Ghent University
• Frederik De Decker, Head of International Relations Office DOWA, Ghent University
• Dirk De Craemer, Head of Research Coordination Office DOZA, Ghent University

[Presentation]

Session 1: How to prepare a solid Erasmus+ project proposal: Do’s and don’ts in the project design and planning phase

Are you interested in setting up an international education project under Erasmus+, but do you wonder how to get started? This workshop is there to support you in the application / writing process. It will be offered by EUF, the European University Foundation. This institutional network, of which UGent is member, has vast experience in writing and implementing Erasmus+ education projects. We will a.o. dive into the project design and planning phase with practical tips and tricks on how to, for example, define your objectives in line with the action of your choice, on how to frame your project within the Erasmus+ policy framework, or on how to compose the work packages. These elements also strongly interact with the budgeting exercise that comes with preparing project applications, as will be discussed during the session on lump sum-funding.

Speaker:

• Līga Kuzmane, Project Coordinator, European University Foundation (EUF)

[Presentation]

Session 2: Boosting research activities through global funding for international collaboration

Are you looking for new, untapped sources of funding to further boost your academic activities and collaborate with international partners?

Do you wonder how to create synergies through funding within and between the fields of research and education?

To get a flavor of the benefits such collaborations can bring, we have invited several professors from different faculties to share their story with you. They will provide you with key insights in how they started their network and used several kinds of funding mechanisms to realize their objectives.

Beyond this event, the Global Funding experts of Ghent University’s Funding Academy are available to advise researchers wishing to collaborate with global partners from all over the world, combining different funding schemes from various international, European and national funders.

Speakers:

Introsession

• Sylvia Burssens, EU Account Manager Food & Agriculture, Research Coordination Office, DOZA, Ghent University
• Nancy Terryn, Head of Partnerships Global South Unit, Research Coordination Office, DOZA, Ghent University

[Presentation]

Case studies

• dr. Lieve Van Hoof, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, Department of History [Presentation]
• dr. Bruno Levecke, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health [Presentation]
• dr. Sarah De Saeger, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Bio-Analysis
• dr. Danny Haelewaters, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology
• dr. Carl Lachat, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health
• dr. Koen Vlassenroot, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, Department of Conflict and Development Studies [Video presentation]

Panel debate

Moderator: Barbara Claeys, Policy Advisor, International Relations Office, DOWA, Ghent University

Session 3: The new lump sum funding model: general introduction and impact on Erasmus+ projects

The Lump Sum funding model was first introduced as a pilot in a number of Horizon 2020 projects, and is since being rolled out more broadly in both Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. This funding model differs from the more traditional funding models (such as unit costs or budget-based), as it aims to remove administrative burden linked to financial reporting, shifting the focus to the content of projects and the completion of activities. However, this shift requires a rather different approach when drafting the project budget. It is important to take into account the impact of the new funding model on the composition of the project, while still respecting the strategic objectives of the calls under the Erasmus+ Programme (as covered during the EUF session).

In this session, we offer a general introduction to this new funding model, across EU funding programmes for research and education. We then expand on the impact of Lump Sums on Erasmus+ education projects in particular, sharing tips and tricks on how to prepare a sound project budget framed within your project application.

Speakers:

• Geert Van Damme, Financial Advisor International Relations Office DOWA, Ghent University
• Klaas Portier, EU Project Advisor International Relations Office DOWA, Ghent University
• Lotte Laenen, EU Project Advisor International Relations Office DOWA, Ghent University
• Jakob Kuhs, EU Account Manager Climate, Energy & Mobility, Research Coordination Office DOZA, Ghent University

[Presentation]

Session 4: Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes – introduction and best practices. 

A blended intensive programme (BIP) has to be developed and implemented by at least 3 higher education Erasmus+ institutions (HEIs) coming from at least 3 EU Member States. The BIP may include challenge-based learning where different  teams of students or staff work together to tackle challenges. The aim is to reach all types of students from all backgrounds and study fields. There must be a virtual and a physical component but most important… there is funding available for this new Erasmus+ action. You can learn more about this during the session.

Speakers:

• Geneviève Cochez, Deputy Head of International Relations Office DOWA, Ghent University [Presentation]
• Annelies Huysentruyt, Head of Educational Quality Assurance Office DOWA, Ghent University [Presentation]
• Elise Meerburg, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology [Presentation]

Contact

If you have any questions related to EU-funding for education projects and the Erasmus+-programme, do not hesitate to contact the International Relations Office (DOWA/AI) via eu-educationprojects@ugent.be.

If you have any questions related to EU-funding for research projects, do not hesitate to contact the EU-team (DOZA) via eu-team@ugent.be.

If you have any questions related to Development Cooperation and Partnerships with the Global South, do not hesitate to contact Nancy Terryn (DOZA) via nancy.terryn@ugent.be.