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Network – Fact box

A Nordplus project can be a one-off collaboration between institutions that typically runs for 2-3 years, but it can also be a long-term kind of collaboration that is set up as a network.

Common features of the education networks that typically seek project support from Nordplus:

  • The organisation can be formalised with a written framework of shared statutes, a board of directors, membership fees and its own website, but it can also be a looser network structure.
  • Nordplus can provide support for network meetings, but this is mostly for newly established networks.
  • The network can be structured in many ways. There are different rules within the five programmes (Higher education, Junior, Adult, Language and Horizontal). Check the rules and instructions thoroughly before starting the application.
  • For the most part, networks can be set up as follows:
    - at the same level (e.g. universities only or further education only)
    - across the board (e.g. universities, schools, continuing education)
    - within the same branch (e.g. art and design education)
    - within a certain geographical area (e.g. around the Baltic Sea)
  • The partners in the network can have representatives from all the Nordic and Baltic countries, but the network can also have only a few nationalities/autonomous regions (between 2-3 partners). Note: there are individual rules for support for mobility and for projects respectively, depending on which programme is applied for.
  • In some networks there are several institutions of the same nationality, while others have only one partner from each country.
  • Nordplus recommends that the network is also active in other areas of international educational collaboration, such as Erasmus and others. It may be the case, for example, that mobility activities are financed via Erasmus, while the development of, for example, new teaching material is funded via Nordplus.
  • Valuable elements in an educational network:
    - the partners meet annually and develop new project ideas
    - the partners have clear points of common interest (professional, theme, subjects, etc.)
    - there is management support to meet up for purposes additional to the projects
    - the management sees participation in the networks as an important element for the institution
    - when lecturers, teachers, managers, etc. change job, the institution has a tradition of handing the baton over to newcomers, so that representation and engagement in the network is maintained.

Examples of networks:

Articles about Nordplus projects applied for via an education network: