Nordplus overview - Application round February 2021

Nordplus overview Application Round February 2021 Presented by Rannís - The Icelandic Centre for Research

Table of Contents Summary of overall results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Number of applications and grants applied for 2017-2021 . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Success rates 2021 – rejections and reductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Country participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Total number proposed 2017-2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Newcomers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Quality and funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Highlight on digital competences 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Overall budget result 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Annex: Additional tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

3

Summary of overall results The overall result of the Nordplus application round February 2021 is a total of 331 applications applying for a total grant of 14.838.976 €. This is a 33% decrease from previous years but not unexpected due to the Covid19 pandemic. This is a similar results as other international programs like Erasmus+ have experienced. It is therefore difficult to compare the statistics/figures in 2021 to other years. But let us look at the outcome of the 2021 application process.

The result of the administration’s assessment is that 256, or 77% of the applications, are proposed for funding, making for a total amount of 8.548.234 € or 54% of the applied amount.

Applications

Grant

400 300

20.000.000 15.000.000

331 256

200

10.000.000

100

14.838 8.548

5.000.000

0

0 Submitted

Proposed

Applied

Proposed

The 331 applications involve a total of 2.254 organizations and with 256 applications proposed for funding; 1.906 of these organizations will be able to proceed with their planned activities.

Due to the high number of mobilities within the Higher and Junior programs they took a harder blow due to the Covid-19 pandemic than the other sub-programs as shown in this table.

Nordplus results 2021 v.s. 2020

2020

2021

%

Higher

208

131

63%

Junior

132

68

52%

Adult

93

79

85%

Horizontal

38

31

82%

Nordic Languages

29

22

76%

500

331

66%

Total

4

The two programs were therefore able to transfer some funds to the Adult program and put some money aside for the next application deadline. In addition, the Junior program proposes to open up an extra call open for all activities in the autumn of 2021. A certain buffer can also reduce the negative effect of the expected decrease in the Nordplus program budget. For further details please consult the sub-programs individual Grant Proposal Notes. It is also worth mentioning that Nordplus got one application with a partner from Syd-Schleswig this year.

This year´s the total budget of €12.406.140 is unusually high because the individual programs have received extra funding from unused funds from the previous program period. This is the amount the individual sub-programs received including the unused funds from 2020.

TABLE A.3. € Nordplus Adult

1.291.377

Nordplus Higher

5.310.749

Nordplus Horizontal

1.372.500

Nordplus Junior Nordplus Nordic Languages Total

3.617.744 813.770 12.406.140

The Nordplus allocation is based on the cash-flow principle. The oldest funds are used first so the program can stay within the Nordic Council of Mininsters 3-year rule of using the funds.

In addition to the allocation of the February 2021 application round, the administration proposes an allocation of 1.882.620 € for the application rounds in the autumn of 2021 for Nordplus Junior, Nordplus Adult and Nordplus Nordic Languages. The amount reserved is unusually high due to the fact that Nordplus Junior has proposed to have an extra Call in the autumn of 2021. Additionally the sub-programs have prepared themselves for some decrease in the Nordplus budget in the coming years. For further details please consult the sub-programs individual Grant Proposal Notes.

With these allocations, the Nordplus grant budget for 2021 is fully allocated.

5

Number of applications and grants applied for 2017-2021 The overall number of applications and the amount applied for has been as follows over the past five years: Number of applications submitted 582

567

Grant applied for 24,8

503

24,1

500

21,5

21,4

14,8

331

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

The amount applied for in 2021 is approx. 31% lower than in 2020 and 33% lower in the number of applications. This is not unexpected due to the pandemic. However what is positive is that the three smaller sub-programs have done relatively well.

Table B.3.

Number of applications

Grant (mio €)

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

81

93

80

93

79

2,7

3,5

3,0

3,8

3,4

Nodplus Higher Education

242

233

209

208

131

12,1

11,1

10,1

9,6

6,1

Nordplus Horizontal

49

46

33

38

31

3,7

2,4

2,1

2,6

1,7

Nordplus Junior

193

173

146

132

68

5,4

5,8

4,2

4,1

2,0

Nordplus Nordic Languages

17

22

35

29

22

0,9

1,3

1,9

1,5

1,6

582

567

503

500

331

24,8

24,1

21,4

21,6

14,8

Programme/year Nordplus Adult

Nordplus applied total

Horizontal, Adult and Nordic languages ​​all maintain their position quite well despite this special year. Nordic languages, for example, has a similar number of applications as the average for recent years. Junior and Higher faced an up-hill battle as expected. We are however optimistic that next year will be a good one based on the feedback we are getting from our applicants. For a more detailed description of the trends please consult the individual Grant Proposal Notes.

6

Success rates 2021 – rejections and reductions The success rates 2021 for each of the Nordplus programs are as follows: Table C.1

Application submitted

Application proposed

Success rate

Amount applied for (mio.€)

Amount proposed

Success rate

Nordplus Adult

79

44

56%

3.396.760

1.813.215

53%

Nordplus Higher Education

131

111

85%

6.130.700

3.055.525

50%

Nordplus Horizontal

31

25

81%

1.720.780

1.308.826

76%

Nordplus Junior

68

60

88%

1.974.940

1.572.395

80%

Nordplus Nordic Languages

22

16

73%

1.615.796

798.273

49%

Total

331

256

77%

14.838.976

8.548.234

61%

The overall success rate is 77% for the number of applications, and 61% for grants, which is higher than the previous three years (2020: 72-48%; 2019: 74-47%; 2018: 65-39%; 2017: 69-41%;).

The overall success rate in 2021 reflects differences between the programmes. The success rate in applications ranges from 56% for Nordplus Adult to 88% for Junior; while for grants the success rate extends from 50% for Nordplus Higher to 80% for Nordplus Junior. But due to the special circumstances this year, the year 2021 is not completely comparable to previous years. Due to the transfer of funds, Adult is for example unusually high this year, both in the number of applications that can be funded and the funding of projects.

7

Country participation The institutions/organizations forming the partnerships or networks within a Nordplus application must represent at least two (mobility) or three countries (networks/projects).

The overall country participation for all applications across all programs submitted and proposed is as follows: D.1 - 2.254 Proposed in 2021 Åland Islands 1% Denmark 14% Sweden 18% Estonia 7% SydSlesvig 0%

Faroe Islands 2%

Norway 16% Finland 17% Lithuania 7% Greenland 2% Latvia 8% Iceland 8%

D.2 - 1.906 Proposed in 2021 Åland Islands 0,6% Denmark 14% Sweden 18% Estonia 7% SydSlesvig 0%

Faroe Islands 2%

Norway 16% Finland 18% Lithuania 6% Greenland 2% Latvia 6% Iceland 8%

*The numbers do not represent unique institutions/organizations, thus institutions/organizations involved in two different applications are counted twice etc.

8

Total number proposed 2017-2021 2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

3.115

2.998

2.776

2.785

1.906

A total of 2.254 organizations are involved in the applications submitted, which is a decrease of 33% compared to last year. When it comes to organizations funded, then the number 1.906 is 32% lower than the number funded in 2020.

All countries are represented in all the programs and, as has been the case previously, the overall representation of the countries reflects the relative size of the country´s population.

In this same context, the autonomous regions Åland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands appear over-represented as has also been the case in previous years. And Syd-Schleswig has again a representation in the call.

The participation by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania is collectively on par with the relative size of the Baltic population, and of the Nordic countries, Iceland, is clearly above par in relation to its relatively small population size.

The overall country participation for “applied” shows a similar pattern as the overall country participation for “proposed”.

Behind this overall picture you find different country compositions in the different programs - see the proposal notes for further information on country participation within the individual programs.

9

Newcomers Every year the administration examines the level of newcomers in the applications submitted. Participating institutions and organizations are considered “newcomers” if they have not participated in any application within the individual program during the past three years, i.e. the period 2018-2021.

For the three programs Nordplus Junior, Nordplus Adult and Nordplus Horizontal, the level of newcomers varies between 51% and 68%, which is a rather low difference between the different sub-programs.

In 2021 the level of newcomers for the five programs is: • Nordplus Adult • Nordplus Higher Education • Nordplus Horizontal • Nordplus Junior • Nordplus Nordic Languages

51% 20% 68% 55% 62%

The level of newcomers in all the sub-programs, except in Higher Education due to the special nature of the program, was high so it is positive to see that many organizations saw an opportunity to apply for Nordplus funding! This is a good sign.

In 2020 the level of newcomers varied between 38-66% which was an unusually high fluctuation. In 2019 the level of newcomers varied between 53-63%; in 2018 the level of newcomers was between 60-70%, which was quite high; in 2017 it varied between 48-68%.

In Nordplus Higher Education, activities take place in permanent networks of HEinstitutions forming a steady framework for new student and teacher exchanges and spreading project initiatives over years. This, and the fact that a very large percentage of the HE-institutions in the countries are involved in Nordplus networks, leads to another approach to newcomers. For example, a network is defined as new if it as a network has not applied during the last three years. This means that the participating institutions individually are not necessarily new in the programs.

However, a big majority of the networks that applied in 2021 are those who uses Nordplus strategically and the program is essential for their Nordic/Baltic cooperation.

These networks have been active in Nordplus for a long time and their past performance is also very good.

By applying also in 2021, the networks imply that they have concrete plans of collaboration after the pandemic and seems to be optimistic about restarting the mobility of students and teachers as well as the joint projects..

10

Quality and funding The administration observes the quality of the applications and the extent to which good or acceptable applications are rejected due to a limited budget.

The result differs from program to program as the competition in terms of total grant requested vis-à-vis the program budget available differs from sector to sector. In terms of the quality categories, i.e. good, acceptable and weak, the scores for the five programs are as follows: The quality of the applications was similar to the previous calls as the success rate (52% of all applied projects were good/very good and so proposed for funding) indicates: Table G.1.

A. Good

B. Acceptable

C. Weak

Nordplus Adult

43% (34)

13% (10)

44%(35)

Nordplus Higher Education

57% (70)

23% (28)

20% (24)

Nordplus Horizontal

58% (18)

23% (7)

19% (6)

Nordplus Junior

72% (49)

16% (11)

12%(8)

Nordplus Nordic Languages

64% (14)

18% (4)

18% (4)

52% (188)

19% (63)

29% (80)

Total

The figures point to a general tendency that roughly half of the applications are considered good, while one-fifth are considered acceptable and just under one-third are deemed weak. The good category was similar to last year, while the weak sector has gone down by 4%.

The question of funding available vis-à-vis the quality of the applications is addressed in three categories: (1) Good/acceptable applications proposed for funding; (2) Good/ acceptable applications proposed for rejection due to budget limitations; and (3) Weak applications proposed for rejection.

For applications of sufficient quality (applications of good or acceptable quality) not funded due to limited budget, the results of the programs are: Good applications proposed for rejection due to limited budget

Nordplus Adult

Nordplus Higher Education

Nordplus Horizontal

Nordplus Junior

Nordplus Nordic Languages

2021

0%(0)

23% (28)

0% (0)

0% (0)

4,5% (1)

2020

9% (8)

21% (39)

21% (8)

0%

0%

2019

9% (7)

17% (30)

0,3% (1)

0%

17%

2018

23% (21)

32% (59)

37% (17)

17% (30)

0%

2017

14% (11)

35% (75)

22% (11)

9% (17)

0%

11

The level of rejection is hardly compatible between years due to the specific situation on the market in this application round. For the record, it may be mentioned that the rejection rate was 2% in 2020 compared to 9% in 2019, 25% in 2018, and 21% in 2017.

The level of rejection due to budget limitation for Nordplus Higher Education has been quite stable from year to year and thereby indicates consistency in demand and quality, which might be explained by the fact that the program is applied to by consistent networks of HE-institutions. It is also worth while pointing out what the main administrator of the Higher Education sub-program mentions in his Grant Proposal that the quality of the applications was higher than in previous calls as the success rate (57%) of all applied projects were good/very good and so proposed for funding indicates.

12

Highlight on greener future 2021 In 2021 and 2022, Nordplus welcomes applications for the program having the theme ”Enhancing educational cooperation and preparing pupils, students and adults for a greener future.” This Nordplus highlight/emphasis relates to all Nordplus programs and to all sectors within the field of education and training. The focus relates to themes, not only in a technical sense, but in a broad societal way. Integrated with this theme is also the Nordic competitiveness based on knowledge, innovation, mobilities and digital integration.

The aim of the highlight concept in Nordplus is to draw attention to the issue of this theme in education without giving formal priority to the applications addressing this.

The highlight is presented on the Nordplus homepage www.nordplusonline.org and in the Nordplus handbook.

The highlight applications are found across the themes of section B.7 “Participation by theme as presented in the Grant Proposals from all the sub-programs. Obviously, they are found under the theme Green growth, climate change and sustainable future, but also under the themes of, for example, educational methods and pedagogical tools, active citizenship and entrepreneurship.

As part of the assessment procedure, evaluators are asked to identify all applications related to this year’s highlight. The topics of the applications show that the understanding and relevance of the green highlight is very broad. Thus, the topics range from agrobiodiversity and urban gardening to eco-tourism to green financing, green mathematics and food-waste.

Nordplus received 96 applications under this theme and the administration has proposed to fund 69 such projects. In the Nordplus performance targets for 2021, the aim was to have at least 30 approved applications within the green highlight. This target has hereby been met.

The result for each program is presented by the main administrators in the proposal notes.

13

Overall budget result 2021 With the administration´s proposal the overall budget is fully allocated: Total Budget 2021

12.406.140*

100%

Proposed February 2021

8.589.084

70%

Unused funds and restricted calls fall 2021

3.653.027

29%

164.029

1%

0

100%

Proposed for Prep.visits in the fall 2020 Balance 2021 *Could fluctuate somewhat due to exchange rate.

The budget result relates to the regular Nordplus budget and the allocation from returned and unused funds from previous years.

The total budget of 12.406.140 € proposed for the 2021 round includes the amount reserved for the restricted call in the fall, reserve amount for future calls and for possible access grants in the Nordplus Higher Education program.

In addition to the allocation of the February 2021 application round, the administration proposes an allocation of 164.029 € for the application for Preparatory visits in the fall of 2020 for Nordplus Junior, Nordplus Adult and Nordplus Nordic Languages.

Besides these allocations, another 19.196 € is allocated for participation by a school in South Schleswig funded by the Danish authorities.

14

Annex: Additional tables

Table 1a Countries applied No.organisations

Higher Education

Junior

Horizontal

Adult

Nordic Languages

Total

%

6

1

1

1

2

11

0,5%

209

33

17

40

8

307

13,8%

Estonia

78

19

36

32

2

167

7,5%

Faroe Islands

31

6

1

7

7

52

2,3%

288

22

34

28

6

378

17,0%

33

8

0

7

2

50

2,2%

Iceland

106

15

15

21

12

169

7,6%

Latvia

56

39

17

69

1

182

8,2%

Lithuania

58

29

18

52

2

159

7,1%

Norway

267

17

25

31

12

352

15,8%

Sweden

316

16

13

41

11

397

17,8%

0

0

0

0

1

1

0,0%

1448

205

177

329

66

2225

100,0%

Higher Education

Junior

Horizontal

Adult

Nordic Languages

Total

%

6

1

2

1

2

12

0,7%

Denmark

195

26

23

23

6

273

14,4%

Estonia

63

17

36

22

2

140

6,9%

Faroe Islands

30

5

1

3

4

43

2,1%

Finland

260

20

40

17

5

342

18,1%

Greenland

31

8

0

6

2

47

2,3%

Iceland

97

12

16

10

9

144

7,4%

Latvia

48

36

19

34

1

138

6,4%

Lithuania

50

26

21

28

1

126

6,4%

Norway

240

14

29

16

6

305

16,2%

Sweden

288

12

19

23

10

352

19,0%

0

0

0

0

1

1

0,1%

1308

177

206

183

49

1923

100,0%

Aaland Denmark

Finland Greenland

South Schleswig Total

Table 1b Countries approved No.organisations Aaland

South Schleswig Total

16

Table 2 Nordplus Junior - Participation by type of organisation Applied

Approved

Type of organisation

No.

%

No.

%

Primary/secondary schools

84

41%

77

44%

Upper secondary schools

50

24%

39

22%

Vocational schools/apprentice programs

32

16%

31

18%

Preschools

15

7%

15

8%

Cultural schools

6

3%

5

3%

NGOs

4

2%

2

1%

Other

14

7%

8

5%

Total

205

100%

177

100%

Table 3 Nordplus Junior - Participation by subject areas Applied

Approved

Subject areas

No.

%

No.

%

Green growth, climate change and sustainable development

22

32%

20

33%

Educational methods and pedagogical tools

10

15%

9

15%

ICT and digitalization in education

3

4%

2

3%

Basic skills/key competences

6

9%

6

10%

Nordic languages

5

7%

6

10%

Active citizenship and democratic participation

5

7%

5

8%

Early childhood education

2

3%

2

3%

Teacher education and teacher competences

3

4%

3

5%

Education and work life

6

9%

5

8%

Entrepreneurship

2

3%

2

3%

Inclusion

0

0%

0

0%

Welfare education

1

1%

0

0%

Integration and refugees

1

1%

0

0%

Other and blank

2

3%

0

0%

68

100%

60

100%

Total

17

Table 4 Nordplus Higher Education - Participation by type of organisation Applied

Approved

Type of organisation

No.

%

No.

%

University

1.147

79%

1.035

79%

University College

274

15%

249

15%

Other

27

2%

24

2%

Total:

1.448

100%

1.308

100%

Table 5 Nordplus Higher Education - Participation by subject areas Applied

Approved

Type of applications

No.

%

No.

%

Agricultural Science

0

0%

0

0%

Engineering and Technology

9

7%

6

5%

Humanities

29

22%

26

23%

Mathematics and Natural Science

6

5%

5

5%

Medical Science

29

22%

27

24%

Social Science

58

44%

47

42%

Total

131

100%

111

100%

18

Table 6 Nordplus Adult - Participation by type of organisation Applied Type of organisations

Approved

No.

%

No.

%

Actors within informal learning

4

1%

0

0%

Centre for adult learning

31

9%

14

8%

Evening school/Adult education Centres

0

0%

0

0%

Folk High School

16

5%

10

5%

Foundations

5

2%

3

2%

Governmental organisations

17

5%

9

5%

NGOs

110

33%

65

36%

Private enterprises

30

9%

14

8%

Public enterprises

11

3%

6

3%

Universities

24

7%

15

8%

University colleges

10

3%

6

3%

Vocational schools/apprenticeships

18

5%

15

8%

Other

53

16%

26

14%

Total

329

100%

183

100%

Table 7 Nordplus Adult - Participation by theme Applied

Approved

No.

%

No.

%

Educational methods/pedagogical tools

15

5%

9

20%

Education and work life

4

1%

4

9%

Green growth/climate change

16

5%

9

20%

ICT/digitalization in education

8

2%

3

7%

Entrepreneurshíp

7

2%

4

9%

Active citizenship/democratic participation

7

2%

4

9%

Basic skills/key competences

3

1%

1

2%

Inclusion

2

1%

1

2%

Other

7

2%

4

9%

Integration of refugees/immigrants

2

1%

1

2%

Teachers´ education/competences

2

1%

0

0%

Guidance

3

1%

2

5%

Validation/recognition

3

1%

2

5%

Total

79

24%

44

100%

19

Table 8 Nordplus Nordic Languages - Participation by type of organisation Applied Type of organisation

Approved

No.

%

No

%

Primary/secondary schools

5

8%

3

6%

NGOs

11

17%

9

18%

Research centres

4

6%

2

4%

Universities

26

39%

20

41%

Governmental organisations

4

6%

3

6%

Private enterprises

4

6%

3

6%

Centres for adult education

3

5%

1

2%

Other

9

14%

8

16%

Total

66

100%

49

100%

Table 9 Nordplus Nordic Languages - Participation by subject areas Applied

Approved

Target language

No.

%

No.

%

Danish

10

14%

8

14%

Faroese

8

11%

6

11%

Finnish

5

7%

4

7%

Greenlandic

4

6%

4

7%

Icelandic

9

13%

8

14%

Norwegian

12

17%

8

14%

Swedish

14

20%

11

20%

Other (Baltic, Sami)

9

13%

7

13%

Total

71

100%

56

100%

20

Table 10 Nordplus Horizontal - Participation by type of organisation Applied Type of organisation

Approved

No.

%

No

%

Centre for adult Learning

5

2%

5

3%

Cultural school/Folk high schools

0

0%

0

0%

Foundations/Associations

4

2%

3

2%

Govermental organisations

5

2%

5

3%

40

19%

33

19%

Preschools

4

2%

4

2%

Primary/secondary schools

22

11%

19

11%

Upper secondary schools

8

4%

8

5%

Vocational schools/apprentice programmes

2

1%

2

1%

Private eEnterprises

22

11%

22

12%

Public enterprises

5

2%

3

2%

Trade Unions

5

2%

5

3%

University

63

31%

56

32%

University college

10

5%

7

4%

Research centres

4

2%

4

2%

Other

7

3%

1

1%

Total

206

100%

177

100%

NGOs

21

Table 11 Nordplus Horizontal - Participation by theme Applied Subject areas

Approved

No.

%

No.

%

Active citizenship and democratic participation

3

10%

2

8%

Drop out

0

0%

0

Basic skills/key competences

1

3%

1

4%

Education and Work Life

6

19%

3

12%

Educational methods and pedagogical tools

8

26%

7

28%

Entrepreneurship

3

10%

3

12%

Green growth, climate change and sustainable development

7

23%

7

28%

Guidance

0

0%

0

0%

ICT and digitalization in education

1

3%

1

4%

Integration of refugees and immigrants

0

0%

0

0%

Nordic languages

1

3%

0

0%

Career guidance

0

0%

0

0%

Other

1

3%

1

4%

Total

31

100%

25

100%

22