EIT Label for Non-degree education and training - Call for Applications 2022

The EIT is welcoming applications for Knowledge and Innovation Communities’ Non-degree education and training to be awarded the EIT Label.

In addition to degree (Masters and Doctoral) programmes, EIT’s education and training offer comprises a rich portfolio of non-degree courses and programmes, including professional education, based on partnerships between universities and other education providers, companies, public bodies, NGOs, and research centres that collaborate closely to offer leading-edge hands-on education and training in innovation and entrepreneurship.

The purpose of this call is to award EIT Label model as a certificate of quality  to Non-degree courses, programmes and trainings that have a strong focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and leadership and are based on the knowledge triangle paradigm - the integration of business, education and research.

The information below outlines the main characteristics of the process for preparation, submission, evaluation, and selection of proposals in response to the 2022 assessment call launched by the EIT for awarding the EIT Label to its education programmes.

The basis for awarding the EIT Label

The EIT QALE system is based on a set of quality indicators (Qi1-Qi4), divided into different assessment fields.

• Only two indicators – Qi1 and Qi2 – are used for the labelling of new programmes.
• The first quality indicator (Qi1) differs in that it addresses a number of compulsory requirements on a yes/no basis whereas the quality indicator Qi2, is evaluated on a three-grade scale.

Submission of applications: general rules

All submitted applications shall comply with the provisions and requirements set by the EIT Label Handbook for Quality system for non-degree education and training and EIT Competence Certification Model. Please make sure you read the handbook before and during the preparation of your application.

Registrations and proposals can be submitted through the designated Innovation Community's Single Point of contact (S.P.O.C.).

1. Each application must consists of:
   • KIC applicant details,
   • basic description,
   • contextual information,
   • a self-assessment report, in line with the requirements in this Handbook,
   • basic background material for the competency assessment or certification system,
   • a list of attachments for supporting evidence, and
   • the attachments that document fulfilment of particular requirements.
2. The applicant details comprise: (a) the title of the KIC’s quality system in non-degree education and training and, where relevant, competency certification (b) administrative information: name of the KIC, contact details of the KIC staff; (c) identification of the level, format of education and training: school, VET, adult, professional, executive, other non-degree education; and (d) identification of the key delivery partners, and where relevant the certification agency/-ies, each followed by the country code and a link to the website.
3. Basic description covers: (a) aims and objectives; (b) themes, priorities and market demand; (c) vision and philosophy; (d) role of the partners and third party actors; and (e) structures and mechanisms.
4. The contextual information (3-5 pages) shall cover (a) the long-term vision of the KIC’s quality system of non-degree education and training, and where relevant, competency certification, (b) expected impacts; (c) evidence of market sustainability; (d) financial model and sustainability, and (e) a risk analysis and mitigation plan. This information shall not be part of the formal assessment of the quality. The review team is invited to provide their brief informal recommendations how the KIC can best make progress in the contextual aspects. Please note that the application file includes only short summary, however KICs are required to develop a full scale market analysis and financial model in the planning stage.
5. The self-assessment report shall be structured according to the EIT requirements. The main working tools are the template Qi1 and Qi2 which outlines the EIT requirements. Applicants must address all requirements by providing a narrative answer as well as supporting documents as evidence.
6. Where labelling is applied for the competency certification, in addition to the self-assessment report, the Applicant shall also provide the following basic competency certification background material for application:
   • an organisational chart and description of the quality system for non-degree education and training and competency certification (max 3 pages),
   • a description of the organisation and staff involved in quality system and competency certification (1 page),
   • the strategy for non-degree education and training and competency certification,
   • a quality manual and certification manual or a brief description,
   • a description of the development trajectory of the KIC’s quality system (1 page),
   • a SWOT analysis of the KIC’s quality system (1 page),
   • Instructions for the Recognition of Prior Learning.
7. The selection of the supporting evidence is based on the portfolio principle: the Applicant should provide sufficient, but concise evidence for each requirement in response to the questions in the templates. In addition to text documents, the supporting evidence may consist of different visuals (figures, infographics, vide/o clips, YouTube testimonials, photos, infographics etc.)
8. Applications shall include a list of the attachments. Applicants shall clearly indicate where the relevant supporting information can be found in the annexes and rename each supporting document in a consistent way. Where appropriate, hyperlinks can be used.

Deadline and timeline for 2022 assessment

The full application file for new programmes (Qi1, Qi2) must be submitted by Monday 10 October EOB.

Timeline and milestones

The assessment process and responsibilities of the parties

• The EIT Label application for non-degree education and training and EIT Competence Certification Model is produced by the KIC together with their education partners (normally Higher Education Institution (HEI).
• The EIT Label application must include a self-assessment report, produced by the KIC, in accordance with the requirements stipulated in this Handbook and in line with the provisions foreseen in the EIT Label Framework that sets the general guidelines.
• The application file should be structured according to the quality indicators (Qi1 and Qi2) and accompanied with relevant supporting evidence. The main working tool for both processes are the templates. The templates include a list of the assessment fields which represent requirements for a programme to be awarded the Label.
• Annual application rounds are established by the EIT, and the applicants are expected to submit their applications by the deadlines announced by the EIT.
• The EIT Label application, including the accompanying documents, is submitted through the available online tool (EIT Cloud or other online form decided by the EIT).  
• The EIT selects a panel of independent experts to review the applications for the award of the EIT Label. KICs’ representatives in the EIT Education Panel are informed about the selected experts in advance. The review team is briefed and instructed by the EIT. EIT makes sure that experts have access to the application files and all accompanied evidence as provided by the applicant(s).
• The evaluation of the application is conducted remotely. However, the EIT might – after consulting with the KICs who submitted the applications – suggest an online discussion(s) (hearing) involving the representatives of the applicants, the KIC and the review team. In such case, the review team will submit specific question for the discussion in due time (ideally not later than one week before the meeting) as a basis for the discussion. They can be also held online.
• The review team first confirms the compliance by answering “Yes” to all Template Qi1 criteria before proceeding to the review based on the Templates for Qi2.
• The review team submits their individual as well as consolidated evaluation reports to the EIT through the available online tool (EIT Cloud or other online), and the EIT forwards them to the respective KIC for information.
• After having considered the evaluation reports of the review team, the EIT Director decides on the initial award of the EIT Label for each non-degree education and training.
• The EIT reports on the outcomes of the EIT labelling process to the KICs, informing any conditions underlying the granting of the EIT Label provisionally.
• In case of awarding provisional Label (Option 2), requirements for specific improvement measures are forwarded to the relevant applicant(s). Applicant(s) shall submit the status report addressing the requirements at latest 3 months before the expiry of the duration of the provisional Label set in the awarding decision (up to 2 years). The EIT Officer in charge of the Label, having consulted the review team, reports on the progress in addressing the requirements to the EIT Director who consults with the EIT Education Panel and decides whether to the award the full Label, or not.
• The EIT updates the information on the EIT’s website regarding the EIT Label awards on the basis of the outcome of the given evaluations.
• All learners graduating/being admitted within the validity period of an EIT-labelled non-degree education and training and EIT Competence Certification Model (irrespective of whether the period of study was commenced prior to/completed after the validity period) can be awarded an EIT Label certificate.

Guidelines and supporting documents

For further description of the EIT Label and the awarding procedure, see the EIT Label Handbook for EIT Label Handbook for Quality system for non-degree education and training and EIT Competence Certification Model, and the EIT Label Framework.

Submission Templates

• Applicant details
• Contextual information template
• Background material for competency certification
• Qi1 template (self-assessment)
• Qi2 template (self-assessment)

Recording of personal data

All personal data are processed by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data.

To find out more about data protection, please visit our page at: eit.europa.eu/who-we-are/legal-framework/data-protection.