National Agency Ireland application forms and guides

Which Agency is handling Student Work Placements?

Changes to trainee/student work placement projects, previously under the Leonardo da Vinci Programme.

The new Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) commenced on 1 January 2007. It is essentially a merger of the former Leonardo da Vinci II – VET programme and Socrates II (inc. Erasmus, Grundtvig & Comenius) - Education programme. Although the Socrates label is being allowed to fade away, within LLP the Leonardo, Erasmus, Grundtvig and Comenius labels are being retained to denote sectoral programmes with particular target groups. The National Agencies for LLP in Ireland are the HEA (Erasmus) and Léargas (all other sectoral programmes).

Former LdV student work placement projects at ‘advanced’ level will now come under an expanded Erasmus sectoral programme within LLP. The National Authorities for LLP have utilised the NQAI’s Qualifications Framework (see above) to distinguish for 2007 which trainees/student work placements will remain within the Leonardo da Vinci sectoral programme and which student work placements will now fall under the expanded Erasmus sectoral programme. If an applicant institution is uncertain at which level the award being studied for is situated in relation to the framework, in order to apply within the correct sectoral programme (LdV or Erasmus), it will be necessary to clarify with the NQAI before applying for a work placement project.

For projects involving trainees/students registered for a course leading to an award from levels 1 to 5 inclusive or at FETAC level 6, institutions will continue to apply to the Leonardo da Vinci National Agency at Léargas

For students registered for a course leading to an award from HETAC/DIT at level 6 or from level 7 upwards, institutions will now apply to the Higher Education Authority (mmay@hea.ie). Please note that those institutions currently holding the Erasmus University Charter need to reapply for a new charter (extended to include the former LdVII student work placements) via the HEA by the deadline of 28 February 2007.

Please note that the LdV National Agency at Léargas will continue to receive mobility project applications in relation to the remaining target groups – persons on the labour market, inc. graduates (PLM) and VET professionals, formerly staff exchanges (VETPRO) – and will continue to co-ordinate all LdVII mobility projects funded under that programme.

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