professional & students mobility the comett experience & lessons as a food for thoughts

© 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions

Professional & Students mobilitythe COMETT experience & lessons

as a food for thoughts

Yves Boisselier

MAC-Team aisbl

Intl Association for the Multi-Actors Cooperation


COMETT in a nutshell

Ancestor of Leonardo programme: C I : 86 – 89 / C II : 90 – 94Cooperation University-Enterprise: COMETT II

Networks = 205 UETPs Mobility =

– Student placements: • CII: 32,000 Students - 80MECU - 17,000p.yr - 6mth - 430ECU/mth• Leverage: 36,000 Students – 120 MECU – 19,000p.yr

30,000 Enterprises (1/2 SMES)– Young graduate students– Staff mobility

Vocational Training seminars/curricula Accompanying measures positive actions

2EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts


Context to remember

Starting point of mobility schemesBorders and even-more incompatible legal-social

systemsVery low or inexistent student placement culture:

In enterprisesIn educational environment (as well, was not general)In institutional structures (social security, visas, working

permit, fiscal matters, ...)Slow communication modes



9 C.II mobility recommendation axes

1. Protection of the experience & the “Acquis”

2. Field structures & Network

3. Pool system

4. Programme animation

5. Curricula: duration, linguistic + cultural +... preparation

6. Contractual management

7. Financial issues

8. Complementarities and synergy between programmes

9. Removal of mobility barriers4EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts


1. Protection of the experience & the “Acquis

Implementing a natural behaviour towards European placement takes time

Not “destructuring” existing networks & structures used to it or mastering it from scratch again!! Roles of institutional + EC to sustain and support

experience developed on previous actions Valorisation des Acquis



2. Field structures & Network

Need to create/relay on an efficient network motivated on student mobility management.

This network: Quick reaction at field level + tools/actions + sufficient

autonomy. Open structures + proof of animation & management of wide

European mobility. Mobility actions = NOT the only activity of this network. Not

only mobility for the sake of mobility. Privileged access to complementary initiatives.



3. Pool system

To be preferred and encouraged: nearly impossible to identify flows 6/12mths ahead optimising the volume of information

(at EU + region + country levels) with time reaction.Too rigid initial definition blocking factor +

impede quality.Quick anwser/reaction to field needs level.Better service offer to Enterprises easier penetration

in Enterprises/Enterprise language/concerns



4. Programme animation

Based on “positive actions” resultsMutual understanding of the network + regular F2F

meetings/networkingNetwork image “house-style”Communication & management tools

right from the start of a programme unify before organisations invest independently & massively

Could also be used for project submission + results dissemination + contractual managemen: ↗ Quality

Training: management + good practices exchange



5. Curricula: duration, +... preparation

Enterprise survey: best ROI 6mths could be up to 12 mths. flexibility: In 2 periods + part mandatory curricula. flexibility: combine periods in home or other countries

Linguistic & cultural training:Ensure basic linguistic/cultural knowledge/levelInclude administrative & practical knowledge before

Technical/sector/business preparationCombine remote support and link U-E



6. Contractual management

On-going amendments + adaptation embed flexibility

New comers: stronger accompaniment + empowerment

Pool management to be encouragedCustomized sized of individual grants To manage contracts over 2 years academic years

at least



7. Financial issues

Keep grant level – no spreading out (quality placement linked to life conditions)

Paying the total subvention at the beginningInstitutional costs possibility on each placementCo-funding & leverage effect

+50% and spontaneousProof of interest from students & enterprisesNeed for EU support recognised coordination point.



8. Complementarities & synergy between programmes

Links with RTD programmes especially to ↗ and accelerate transfer to SMEs/SMIs

Other programmes deal with mobility networks synergies at field operators (not to create a unique operator to optimise & increase dissemination +)

Links with national or regional programmes: leverage effect + increase consistency with EU and between countries/region



9. Mobility barriers

Several studies on barriers to mobilityTo encourage Member states to implement solutionsWith the support of the field operators/structures

Several cases of law adaptation + MPs involvment to work on a European student status↘ legal or social risks

Explore possibilities of Alumni



Other mobility: Young graduate

6 to 24 mths – industrial project – studies endedOnly 1 call: 14 placements – 6850 ECUavg.10/14 in SMEs – 10mths avg. 6/14 employed85% links U-E sustained beyond the placementHigh North-South transfer100% projects: exploitable & positive results for the

EnterpriseDifficulties/recommendation:

Lack of information No pool procedure Should allow application of students ending their studies Encourage preparation of PhDs/Thesis in enterprises.



Other mobility: Staff exchanges

UE or EU – 2to 12 mths – technology related800/1800 staff exchanges – 4.5mths – 7,500 ECU68% from Universities65% SMEsDifficulties:

Lack of informationMinimum duration too long for EUAdministrative costs for placement search + replacement



Which model for the placements? Clear accompaniment for the U and for the E?

How? Does size of the Enterprise matters?What to “mutualise”? Which competences and where?

Towards standard regulations? Optimal duration (points of view of students & enterprises) Sandwich placements? Types of placements? Sabbatical? Pool managed by large companies, federations, unions, alumni? Role/objectives of the placement? Contributions to ECTS/ECVET or validations? VAE of U & E accompanist? VAE of Students? Links with career development? Multi-periods? Market & business support? U(s) support to business content?

E(s) support to U/Curricula development? ...

EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts 16

© 2006, Tod O’ Dot Productions EUE-Net - Feb 08 - MAC-Team - Student placements, Lessons from COMETT - food for thoughts 17

Thank you for your attention!

MAC-Team aisblInternational non-profit Association for the Multi-Actors CooperationYves BoisselierPresident+32 485 800 009 [email protected]

professional & students mobility the comett experience & lessons as a food for thoughts

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