Call for Application

Across Seasonal School
Fund 2023

The call for applications for the next series of Across Seasonal Schools is open! The European University of Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing “Across” provides organizational and financial support to researchers, lecturers and students from Across partner universities who organise the Seasonal School 2023 in Chemnitz/Germany.

Across is an exceptional collaboration project of 10 European universities and one associated partner driven by the mission to establish an European University Alliance collaborating at all university levels:

• Bialystok University of Technology (Poland)
• Chemnitz University of Technology (Germany)
• University of Craiova (Romania)
• University of Girona (Spain/Catalonia)
• University of Lleida (Spain/Catalonia)
• University of Nova Gorica (Slovenia)
• University of Perpignan (France)
• Rēzekne Academy of Technologies (Latvia)
• University of Ruse (Bulgaria)
• University of Udine (Italy)
• Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (Ukraine; associated partner)

Across strives to identify solutions to challenges in Europe’s cross-border regions in four focus areas:

• Education in cross-border contexts
• Culture, language, identity and heritage
• Economic, public policy, and social Development
• Management of natural resources in the face of global changes (environment, energy, and climate)

1. Aim of the across Seasonal School Fund

Seasonal Schools can be organized by all members of Across universities (academic staff, non-academic staff, and students). The aim of the Seasonal School Fund is to bring together university members from Across partners by supporting summer and winter schools, offering a blend of academic education and enrichment activities to strengthen the collaboration in teaching and research and at the administrative level. Successful applications, event outcomes, and further actions will be promoted within the Across alliance. Thus, it is a unique opportunity to expand the network of existing collaborations.
The funded seasonal schools are not limited to specific disciplines or topics. Repetitions of previously held Across Seasonal Schools are explicitly encouraged.
The programme is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

2. Requirements

For a Seasonal School to be eligible for funding, the following criteria must be met:

a. The seasonal school must be carried out by at least two members from two different Across universities located in different countries—participation of more Across universities is recommended.
b. The programme of the Across Seasonal School covers a minimum of one week and no more than two weeks.
c. Topics should be related but are not limited to the Across focus areas
d. The summer school must be open to students from all 10 Across universities and the Ivan Frank National University of Lviv. Participation of students from other universities is possible but no funding can be granted; remote participation can be an alternative.
e. The summer school has to be held in English or it has to be guaranteed that all students can participate in an appropriate manner, and no one will be disadvantaged due to language barriers.
f. Gender balance needs to be taken into consideration for the selection of funded participants.
g. Seasonal Schools need to take place in Chemnitz/Germany due to funding regulations by the DAAD.
h. The Seasonal Schools 2023 must have taken place by October 31 at the latest.

Events funded by the Across Seasonal School Fund are not limited to any specific disciplines as long a connection to the key areas is recognizable. Submissions by interdisciplinary teams of researchers from a broad range of Across partners are encourage.

3. Selection Criteria

The submitted proposal for Across Seasonal Schools are selected by a dedicated international selection committee based on the following criteria:

Relevance (up to 10 points)	– Are the topic of the Across Seasonal School and the outcomes clearly described? – Why is the topic of the Across Seasonal School relevant and how does it relate to the focus areas of Across or overlapping fields of activity (research and education) of Across universities.
Implementation (up to 20 points)	– Are the overall educational programme and the employed educational methods sound? – What is the role of the participating institutions/persons? – How will students be supported before/during/after their participation? – Will students receive ECTS for their participation? – Is recognition of participation in the participants study programmes ensured?
Implementation (up to 20 points)	– Are the overall educational programme and the employed educational methods sound? – What is the role of the participating institutions/persons? – How will students be supported before/during/after their participation? – Will students receive ECTS for their participation? – Is recognition of participation in the participants study programmes ensured?

4. Venue, Time and logistics

Venue

Seasonal schools are planned to take place at Chemnitz University of Technology. Enabling remote participation is welcome.

Time and logistics

Dates of the seasonal school can be decided individually. The duration and amount of the provided scholarship of the seasonal school is calculated for five working days and will be adapted according to the planned programme. Administrative support will be provided by Chemnitz University of Technology.

5. Eligible Costs

Each Seasonal School Organising Team will receive a maximum grant of 10.000€.

The funding is intended to cover 15 scholarships for funded participants. Depending on the number of applications and the availability of funds, an additional request may be granted. Scholarships can only be given to participants from Across partner universities. They are intended to cover mobility, accommodation, and sustenance costs. Participants with special needs can ask for additional funds (not counting towards the funding of the project). The relevant application must be submitted at least two months before the start of the summer schoolScholarship rates differ depending on the country of origin. Please use the following numbers for financial planning (representing 60% to 100% funding of stipends):

Bulgaria	390 – 650
France	345 – 575
Germany	–
Italy	375 – 625
Latvia	375 – 625
Poland	330 – 550
Romania	360 – 600
Slovenia	375 – 625
Spain	390 – 650
Ukraine	360 – 600

Summer School Organizers from within the European Union are eligible for Erasmus Staff Mobility funds by the home institution.

Further eligible costs are:

Infrastructure will be provided by TUC.

6. Application Process

Interested groups of organizers can apply by uploading the following documents as one PDF file until 14 May 2023:

• Proposal Template
• Preliminary programme (Annex)

A decision will be made by a selection committee taking into account the above-mentioned selection criteria on 23 May 2023. Please upload your application here.

Questions can be directed to the Across DAAD-project coordinator:
Ariane Korn
Ariane.korn@iuz.tu-chemnitz.de