Training courses

Call for Pianoforte courses

1. General description
   • Under Task 4.1 of the WP4 of PIANOFORTE, there are annual calls for proposals to host short training courses.
   • The call is open to PIANOFORTE partners. The purpose of the training courses is to provide Education and Training covering all aspects of the scientific research areas relevant to PIANOFORTE in order to develop expertise in the field.
   • The training courses are primarily directed towards PhD students, early career researchers and young professionals and are open primarily but not exclusively to researchers working in the European Union and Associated States.
   • A training course may be based completely on the financial support provided by PIANOFORTE or include a participation fee.
   • Proposals will be assessed by the Education and Training Committee (ETC), consisting of the members of task 4.1 on the basis of:
     • Relevance and value of the topic and coverage to the aims of PIANOFORTE
     • Quality of course program and expected learning outcomes
     • Expertise of the host institution
     • Practicality of the course arrangements
   • If the number of proposals exceeds the number that can be funded an objective points system (giving equal weight to the above categories) will be used to prioritise the applications.
   • Applicants are encouraged to incorporate the use of European infrastructures within the course, or include a session on their applicability and use, as appropriate within the discipline of the course topic
     
     
2. Series 1 short-term training courses: invitation for proposals for 2025
   • Applications are invited for financial support to organise and teach a short training course of max. two weeks to be delivered between January 2025 and December 2025. The scheduling of the successful training courses will be decided following the decision on the proposals so that an overlap of the courses is minimized.
   • A proposed training course may be either focused intensively on a single topic or be more comprehensive (for the purpose of extending the range of student research skills and promoting cross-discipline collaboration). The length of the course should be justified by the content and purpose.
   • Teaching and training should be at the level of a Master of Science course or PhD training program. A training course (sub-module) could consist of lectures, tutorials and practicals and should be typically designed for between 12 and 20 students.
   • If possible European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits should be awarded to participants on successful completion of a training course. However, this is not mandatory.
   • The possibility of holding a training course via the internet should be highlighted.
   • Applications must be made using the template annexed to this document (Annex I). Please make sure you use the most recent version of the template.
     
     Timetable and submission of applications:
     • The date for submitting application will be announced in Autumn every year. The proposal should be made by completing the proposal form including annexes I-II, following the instructions given on the template, and submitted to pianoet.mbw@su.se. The deadline for applications is 30^th November 2024. All applicants will receive a receipt as acknowledgment of their application.
       
       
     • Annex I. and Annex II. to download (1 document docx)
       
       
3. Financial details
   Financial support from PIANOFORTE will be available for personnel (additional PM of a PIANOFORTE beneficiary and/or honoraria and expenses of lecturers), use of facilities and consumables, travel and accommodation of external lecturers, and may offer reimbursement for travel and provision of accommodation for participants.
   
   The funding will be on the following basis:
   • Actual eligible costs, as per application template;
   • Total budget will be funded at a rate of 60% PIANOFORTE funding, 40% co-fund to a maximum of €7,500 EC contribution per week when there is no laboratory work; to a maximum of €10,000 EC contribution per week when the course includes laboratory work (as costed by the applicant);
     additional funding (own resources) beyond the maximum PIANOFORTE contribution by the course organiser is welcome
   • Maximum of €180,000 PIANOFORTE contribution is available for this course series.
     
     This distribution will be used as a reference and Task 4.1 members (the decision taking body) are not confined to follow these amounts strictly when deciding on funding courses. Task 4.1 members reserve the right to adjust the sums according to the proposals. The applicants must fill in and attach to their proposal the budget templates (Annex I to the proposal form). If a common proposal with several partners is prepared, separate budgets for each partner that will have costs are required. The budgets cannot be overlapping with each other if a common proposal is concerned.
     
     
4. Reporting
   Successful applicants will be required to submit a report on the training course (including the feedback of the participants – see Annex I for an exemplary template) within 1 month after the course end. Also, they are encouraged to share their experience on PIANOFORTE website and available social media channels. To this end please Contact us.
   
   
5. Considering the European Green Deal
   When planning the course please consider the possibility of reducing the carbon footprint. Actions to be considered include planning distant teaching to reduce travel, preferential choice of train transportation and minimizing printing of paper material.