The Role of National Agencies in the New Generation of EU Programmes

Hague/Scheveningen, 18 November 2005

Theme

The new “Integrated Action Programme in the field of Lifelong Learning”, will be operational in January 2007, that is, if everything goes well and the EU budget is approved on time. But even if the programme start is postponed, the programme architecture will remain a hot topic in the months to come.What will the new generation of programmes bring to National Agencies? Some concepts implemented by the Member States may have to be revised to match the new programme architecture, others may already be the Commission’s “star pupils” and fulfil all requirements. Even under the new programme, different approaches and interpretations will be valid. There are however questions that need to be discussed in the preparation phase of the programme.

The seminar provided a forum for the identification of important issues and for the sharing of knowledge among ACA members, as well as between ACA members and representatives of other National Agencies. Present approaches as well as ideas for future models were presented and discussed:

Status and concept of National Agencies; legal and financial regulations
How governmental can a “non-governmental agency” be?
Establishing an agency: appointed by the government or through a (national or Europe-wide) tendering procedure
One integrated agency for an integrated programme or different agencies for each of the programme pillars (school education, higher education, vocational training, adult education)?
Beyond EU programmes: chances and risks of an integrated management of EU programmes, national and (non-EU) international scholarship programmes, higher education marketing, etc. How do different National Agencies manage to connect the management of EU programmes to a wider range of activities?
Tied to the apron strings of Brussels – who decides what? How far goes decentralisation and hence competencies of the National Agencies? Who is responsible for selection? Are National Agencies Brussels’ servants or advocates of their “clients”, i.e. higher education institutions and other programme beneficiaries?
What are quality standards/requirements on the National Agencies under the new programme? What should an operating framework to be agreed upon by National Agencies, national authorities and the European Commission look like? Should there be quality standards for the European Commission and the Executive Agency?
The role of the new Executive Agency – an old shoe with a new name?
Cooperation between different National Agencies, an un(der)used potential?

This seminar was kindly hosted by ACA member Nuffic. Participation was on invitation only.

Programme

Thursday, 17 November 2005

19:00 Welcome dinner hosted by ACA

Friday, 18 November 2005

10:00	Registrations and coffee
10:45	Welcome address Sander van den Eijnden, President, Nuffic
11:00	Plenary Session: Setting the scene New paradigms for the management of European programmes? The status of National Agencies Bernd Wächter, Director, ACA
11:15	Overview of different concepts of National Agencies Chair: Franziska Muche, Senior Officer, ACA Short presentations (10 minutes each):
	Several agencies for the different programme strings with one major agency for higher education that goes beyond EU programmes Hanneke Teekens, Nuffic, the Netherlands
	A segmented structure: separate agencies for EU programmes, national programmes and other internationalisation activities Bertrand Sulpice, Égide, France
	One agency serves all programme strings Mikko Nupponen, CIMO, Finland
	The National Agency as part of the ministry Anne-Marie de Jonghe, VLIR, Belgium
	Meeting the new requirements: the setting up of a Swiss agency Verena Weber, Federal Office for Education and Science Mathias Stauffacher, CRUS, Switzerland
12:30	Lunch break
13:30	Plenary session: Issues at stake Governance and status of the National Agency Questions to be addressed: – Status and concept of National Agencies; legal and financial regulations – How governmental can a “non-governmental agency” be? – Establishing an agency: appointed by the government or through a (national or Europe-wide) tendering procedure? Chair: Hanneke Teekens, Nuffic Input statements (7 minutes each): Danusa Pasiaková, CSVS, Czech Republic Sue Ling, British Council, UK
14:30	Plenary session: Issues at stake Concept and design of the National Agency Questions to be addressed: – One integrated agency for an integrated programme or different agencies for each of the programme pillars (school education, higher education, vocational training, adult education)? – Beyond EU programmes: chances and risks of an integrated management of EU programmes, national and (non-EU) international scholarship programmes, higher education marketing, etc. How do different National Agencies manage to connect the management of EU programmes to a wider range of activities? – Cooperation between different National Agencies, an un(der)used potential? Chair: Judith Hemery, British Council, UK Input statements (7 minutes each): Siegbert Wuttig, DAAD, Germany Rait Toompere, Archimedes Foundation, Estland
15:30	Coffee break
16:00	Plenary session and final discussion Cooperation between National Agencies, national authorities and the European Commission Questions to be addressed: – Tied to the apron strings of Brussels – who decides what? How far goes decentralisation and hence competencies of the National Agencies? Who is responsible for selection? Are National Agencies Brussels’ servants or advocates of their “clients”, i.e. higher education institutions and other programme beneficiaries? – What are quality standards/requirements on the National Agencies under the new programme? What should an operating framework to be agreed upon by National Agencies, national authorities and the European Commission look like? Should there be quality standards for the European Commission and the Executive Agency? – The role of the new Executive Agency – an old shoe with a new name? Chair: Mikko Nupponen, CIMO, Finland Input Statements (7 minutes each): Neza Pajnič, CMEPIUS, Slovenia Siegbert Wuttig, DAAD, Germany John Stringer, Expert on EU funding and project management, Belgium
17:30	Closing remarks and farewell Peter Scott, President, Academic Cooperation Association
17:45	End of seminar
19:30	ACA dinner hosted by Nuffic

Venue

Steigenberger Kurhaus Hotel
Gevers Deynootplein 30
2508 GR Den Haag