The main objective of the Program Education is to reduce economic and social disparities within the European Economic Area (EEA) and to strengthen bilateral relations between Poland and the Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) at all levels of education.

DONOR PROGRAM PARTNERS

• Iceland: The Icelandic Centre for Research | RANNIS

• Liechtenstein: The National Agency for International Education Affairs | AIBA

• Norway: The Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education | DIKU

Program implementation implies open calls for all four components  and the activities within them, namely:

• Professional Development of staff:

• study visits for persons working in the field of formal and non-formal education;

• intensive training for education staff, organized in Poland and conducted by experts from the Donor States;

• Mobility Projects in Higher Education:

• for students – mobilities and practices;

• for staff members, in the visiting countries – teaching assignments; participation in seminars, training, workshops and conferences; job shadowing;

• Institutional cooperation for the enhancement of quality and relevance of VET and Continuing Education through:

• development or modernization of the educational offer of VET/continuing education establishment, including redesigned curricula;

• exchange of experience, organization of joint initiatives by Polish and DS institutions;

• development or modernization of local/regional/national strategies/policies for VET and continuing education.

• Institutional cooperation for the enhancement of quality and relevance of education at all levels and forms (excluding VET and continuing education) through the activities corresponding to those listed under the 3. component, wherein, for the final point, eligible can be the strategy of the development of the education system.

At the same time activities corresponding with the previously undertaken initiatives will be favourable – implemented both under the Education Program, as well as those financed from other funds.

The Education Program has an overall budget of over 23 mln €, where 20 mln € is an EEA Grant contribution and the rest is acquired through domestic funding.

Bilateral cooperation: The strengthening of bilateral relations between Poland and Donor Countries remains vital to the present financial perspective (2014-2020). This goal will be achieved by, among others, building partnerships with partners from the Donor States. Thus, Program Operator will undertake efforts aimed at establishing partnerships between Polish Beneficiaries and institutions from the Donor States. Moreover, the fund for bilateral relations assigned to the Program will support the implementation of preparatory visits, which should, later on, streamline the preparation of project proposals in partnerships with the Donor States.