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5.5. Estonia
I. Consolidation of national higher education reform in Estonia.

Projects should aim at further development and implementation of internal and external quality assessment system and mechanisms related to evaluation of study programmes, courses, curricula, staff development, etc. at university/higher education system level contributing thus to international recognition of Estonian higher education institutions.

II. Preparation for participation in EU educational programmes such as Socrates, Leonardo.

University management JEPs should aim at restructuring of existing and/or creation of new academic study and university management structures in accordance with the development strategies of institutions concerned.

Projects are expected to contribute to the development of structures responsible for international cooperation, implementation of ECTS, development of institution’s European strategy, academic exchange and academic recognition of student mobility, etc.

III. Preparation for accession to EU through Institution Building.

Academic JEPs should aim at establishing new short intensive courses or continuing education courses for training in EU policies such as structural funds, approximation of legislation, fiscal policy, etc. The courses should contain an important element of training in EU languages.

The target public should comprise both public and private sector (ministries, regional and local authorities, Chamber of Commerce, professional associations, etc.).

Preference will be given to the proposals which:

have Estonian coordinator and contractor

involve more than one Estonian higher education institution

demonstrate their complementarity to Phare programmes and policies in Estonia (information can be obtained in National Tempus Office and in Phare Assistance coordination unit, Ministry of Finance)

have clear evidence of additional financial support from source other than Tempus (applies to the third priority)

incorporate relevant national bodies, e.g. Higher Education Quality Assurance Council (applies to the first priority).

General criteria:

maximum of 100,000 ECU Tempus support per year (applies to the first and second priority).

maximum of 75,000 ECU of Tempus support per year (applies to the third priority).

In addition to the national priorities the national authorities of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have also agreed on a set of common regional priorities:
I. Development of projects which aim to facilitate the pre-accession process in the Baltic countries:

i) University management projects for the creation and/or strengthening of networks of centres of excellence which implement common quality assurance mechanisms in line with the Baltic higher education cooperation guidelines and European agreements. This would allow for the creation of centres/institutes which are located in several Baltic states and which, taken together, cover a certain discipline in a way that each of the participating institutions is specialised in a different area. Cooperation may be possible through the use of relevant technology or academic exchange. This is seen as an essential contribution to the preparation for accession to the EU. For this reason, ENIC/NARIC Units are encouraged to participate in the projects. Projects in this priority area must involve all three Baltic countries and may cover any subject area.

ii) Academic projects which support integration of the Baltic countries into the EU. Subject areas are European Studies, the EU regulated professions. In case of already accepted national Tempus projects in these areas, proposals must avoid a repetition. The National Tempus Offices are prepared to provide a list of such projects. Each application must include at least two Baltic countries.

II. Projects to support Institution Building

Academic projects which support the acquisition of skills in the public administration for the implementation of the "acquis communautaire". Areas that can be targeted are public administration and law. In case of already accepted national Tempus projects in these areas, proposals must avoid repetition. The National Tempus Offices are prepared to provide a list of such projects. Each application must include at least two Baltic countries.