Workpackages

Oxford Brookes University

Objectives

Project management will ensure a smooth flow of the project activities in order to schedule and complete them efficiently, within the agreed time and allocated budget. This work package will ensure effective communication between the consortium partners, the European Commission and all interested parties. It will also ensure the overall legal, contractual, financial and administrative management of the project consortium.

Description of work and role of partners

Task 1.1 Project Co-ordination

Project coordination involves strategic management comprising activities related to coordination of the project at all levels (European Commission, consortium, WP Steering Groups, External Advisory Board) to achieve project objectives, realization of project deliverables in time, in required quality and within the budget, and ensuring successful completion of the project. This task includes control of work progress and budget allocation, supervising the work plan and its adjustment if necessary, preparation of progress reports and final report to the European Commission.

Task 1.2 Technical Management

This task includes activities of day-to-day management of the project such as administration and evaluation and monitoring, reporting, organization of project meetings, contractual issues and payments. All partners are  involved in this task, with Oxford Brookes University (OBU) co-ordinating activities in this WP (including Annual Reporting and managing an independent evaluator).

Task 1.3 Quality Management

Quality management activities include recruitment of external advisory board members, who are actively involved in the project, approving the quality of the project outputs, including deliverables and dissemination, and supporting the consortium in key decisions taken within the project, while maintaining their independence.

Task 1.4 Kick-off and Regular Meetings

The project started with a Kick-off meeting in order to gain a common understanding of the project work plan and discuss the key issues related to the first stage of the project. Regular meetings take place twice a year in order to monitor, coordinate and assess the progress of activities, agree upon changes and re-arrangements of the work plan and take decisions. Telephone and audio conferences are organized in the periods between the meetings to guarantee smooth project execution and reaching the project deliverables according to the work plan.

SPAN Newsletter 1
SPAN Newsletter 2
SPAN Newsletter 3
SPAN Newsletter 4
SPAN Newsletter 5
SPAN Newsletter 6

National University of Ireland, Galway

Objectives

The objective of the dissemination and communication work package is to raise the awareness about the outcomes of the project and the developments that have been achieved within the Science for Prevention Academic Network. Within this work package, all key stakeholders such as public administrations, academics, relevant enterprises and research institutions, scientific and industrial experts are involved, in order to foster the impact of the project activities and results. This work package shall ensure that the project objectives, activities and methodologies developed within the project are widely promoted to the target groups defined by the dissemination and communication plan on European level and beyond.

Description of work and role of partners

Task 2.1 Development of Dissemination Plan

This task is devoted to development of effective dissemination and communication strategy and coordination of the dissemination activities within the project consortium partners. The aim of this task is to identify and structure the activities leading to the promotion of the project’s activities and results. The plan shall define the target groups, key messages, media channels and responsibilities. Measurable criteria of the dissemination efforts shall be selected in order to effectively evaluate each dissemination activity. The dissemination plan shall define principles to be followed by all dissemination activities in order to avoid confusion and misconceptions and to foster the quality of project communication.

Task 2.2 Realization of Dissemination Plan

This task shall be devoted to development of the project logo, promotional material, press releases, articles, leaflets, newsletters, videos, etc. Prevention Science awareness raising activities shall be linked to activities of the European Society for Prevention Research Conference (EUSPR), the European Public Health Association (EUPHA), European Institute of Studies on Prevention (IREFREA), European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the active participation in top prevention related conferences, trade fairs and brokerage events (e.g. FP7 Proposers’ Day). All dissemination activities shall be monitored and recorded during the project execution.

Task 2.3 Final Conference

Final project conference held in Brussels shall be organized informing about the project results, impact and future activities. The target audience shall include prevention relevant enterprises and research institutions, policy and decision makers, clusters, scientific and industrial experts across Europe.

Hogeschool Ghent

Objectives

The objective of this work package is to map the scope and focus of existing Prevention Science learning programmes, curricula, qualifications, paedagogies, learning outcomes and competencies currently being delivered across the tertiary education sector in Europe. As a minimum, all the partners in the project will be involved in providing knowledge and information which will support the project to develop a detailed market map of the available Prevention Science courses across Europe, organising these into a coherent set of qualifications (using the Bologna cycle descriptors), identifying those that are already using ECTS, identify opportunities to align standards, and identify potential gaps in provision/progression routes.

Description of work and role of partners

Task 3.1 Establishment of Education and Training Steering group

As the first part of this work package, we will establish an Education and Training Steering group, to act as a ‘task and finish’ group for the education and training research element of this project. This task and finish group will be chaired by the work package leader, who will also have responsibility for reporting progress of the groups work to the board. Establishing a working group to oversee this research element ensures we are able to co-opt members to the group with significant experience of qualification frameworks, ECTS and ensure suitable geographic coverage across Europe.

Task 3.2 Development of a Database of Survey Respondents

As the second part of this work package, we will develop a comprehensive database of Prevention Science academics across Europe and the relevant learning programmes they input into. In addition to including the core partners participating in the project, this research will extend into other institutions and countries not presently covered in the partnership.

Task 3.3 Development of Research Methodology

Next, we will develop a standard methodology for researching the current scope and impact of Prevention Science Education and Training across Europe, which will cover collating information about the scope; focus; workloads; availability of ECTS key documents; curricula; cycles; qualifications; qualification descriptors; reference points; pedagogies; learning outcomes; and competencies of various provision.

Task 3.4 Research Analysis & Collation

Following agreement about the standard methodology, we will undertake the research and collate the resultant data required to analyse the incidence of, and approach to, the delivery of Prevention Science Education across Europe.

Task 3.5 Analysis of Complementarities/Gaps

Following the collation of the data, we will identify complementarities between the various courses and qualifications, and identify any gaps in provision. In undertaking this analasis, we will use the ECTS framework and approach as a model for analysng provision, with a view to synthesising the data into a simple matrix to illustrate how the various courses across Europe might integrate with each other.

Task 3.6 Report Production

The final task in this work package will be the production of the final research report, summarising the research findings. This report will be circulated fully within the partnership, to inform the other WP’s.

Inštitut za raziskave in razvoj

Objective

The objective of this work package is to develop a robust understanding of the workforce skills needs of current employers of prevention workers across Europe (including scientists, researchers, practioners etc). This research will survey the needs of a range of Prevention Science policy specialists, research organisations and organisations delivering prevention support programmes, to identify any particular areas of course delivery that need to be developed in order to address the current needs of employers.

Description of work and role of partners

Task 4.1 Establishment of a Workforce Skills Steering group

In order to guide this research, we will establish a Workforce Skills Research ‘Task and Finish’ Group, which will be chaired by the WP Leader, who will report back to the Project Management Group at regular intervals. This group will comprise a mix of partners with expertise in conducting employer surveys.

Task 4.2 Development of a Employer Database

In order to identify potential targets to survey, we will build an employer database, which will include known contacts of the partners and third-party, bought in data. This database will comprise a variety of employers from across Europe.

Task 4.3 Development of Research Methodology

Having established the Workforce Skills Steering Group and built the employer database, the Steering Group will agree a standard methodology for assessing employers skills needs. This methodology will produce a standard methodology that will be capable of being implemented across all member states and delivering a pan European analysis of the skills needs and gaps being expressed by employers.

Task 4.4 Research Analysis & Collation

Following agreement about the standard research methodology, we will undertake the research and collate the resultant data, which will enable us to better understand employer skills needs and gaps.

Task 4.5 Analysis of Synergies/Gaps

Following the collation of the data, we will identify synergies between the various employer responses, and identify any skills gaps and and/or potential gaps in provision. This analysis will shape and inform a discussion and debate about best practice in prevention science course design.

Task 4.6 Report Production

The final task in this work package will be the production of the final research report, summarising the research findings. This report will be circulated fully within the partnership, to inform the other WP’s.

Karolinska Institutet

Objective

Mapping relevant funded Research and Development (R&D; often referred to as RTD: Research and Technological Development) projects, Stakeholders, Events and Conferences – the objective of this work package is to develop a detailed understanding of what current and previous funded RTD exist which have sought to address Prevention Science issues and to develop a database of relevant events, conferences, researchers, public policy specialists, funding agencies and officials that might potentially interested in developing links with the SPAN initiative

Description of work and role of partners

Task 5.1 Establishment of a Research/Events/Stakeholders Steering group

The first task in this work package will be to establish a steering group to guide the research into the relevant RTD project, events/conferences and stakeholders that could be interested in establishing links with the SPAN initiative. This steering group will be chaired by the Work Package Leader and be given a remit for establishing stronger links between to the prevention science researcher community.

Task 5.2 Development of Research Methodology

Following establishment of the Steering Group, the members will agree a methodology for mapping the key RTD projects that should be of interest to SPAN, the relevant conferences and events with which SPAN should develop links and the key Prevention Science stakeholders across Europe (within the EU, national agencies, funding bodies etc).

Task 5.3 Research Analysis & Collation

Following agreement on the methodology, the Steering group members will be responsible for undertaking the research analysis, collating and discussing the data.

Task 5.4 Data Presentation

Following the collation of the key data, the partners will be responsible for presenting the data, in the form of a Research Study, highlighting the key past/present RTD projects and three databases of RTD contacts, prevention science stakeholders and annual events/conferences which may be of interest to the SPAN Network.

Development of a quality plan

Univerzita Karlova V Praze

Objectives

The objective of this work package is to develop a quality plan, which sets out the tasks required to improve the integration of Prevention Science degree/quality assurance standards, methods and approaches in the field of Prevention Science Higher Education across Europe. This quality plan will build on the Prevention Science Education and Training Research to make concrete recommendations about what individual institutions need to do to implement a consistent quality framework, which is underpinned by the European and Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Description of work and role of partners

Task 6.1 Establishment of a Quality Plan Steering Group

At the outset of this Work Package, we will establish a ‘Task and Finish’ Group who will be responsible for overseeing the management of this work package. The Chair of the Steering Group will be the work package leader. The role of the Steering Group will be to agree a framework for implementing a quality plan; developing the DRAFT quality plan; consulting with partners; and producing the final plan.

Task 6.2 Development of the Quality Plan Framework

Following receipt of the Prevention Science Education & Training Research Study, the Quality Plan Steering Group will use the research to develop a framework for developing and implementing a range of activities which are designed to improve the integration of Prevention Science standards, methods and approaches in the Higher Education Sector, across Europe. The actions proposed will be a direct response to the findings of the research, but will likely include measures to implement an ECTS famework across the partners, including encouraging individual partners to review their course design/learning outcomes, encouraging partners to develop the necessary ECTS framework documents etc. This plan will take the form of an action plan, which will set out what steps each partner needs to take to implement ECTS in their own institutions and to develop the desired consistency/transparency in standards across the EU.

Task 6.3 Development of DRAFT Quality Plan

Having agreed the framework, the Steering Group will assign various tasks in the quality plan to various partners to author. Following collation, the draft quality plan will be produced for partner consultation. This draft Quality Plan will be produced as a word/pdf document capable of being circulated to partners.

Task 6.4 Partner Consultation

Following production of the DRAFT quality plan, and approval by the Project Management Group, the Work Package Leaders will be responsible for consulting with all the partners on the content of the plan, securing widespread agreement to its contents and agreeing any amends/changes. During this process, the work package leader, and the steering group members will be involved in a relatively in-depth dialogue with partners, negotiating any required amends/developments.

Task 6.5 Production of the final Quality Plan

Following the consultation phase, the Steering Group will produce a final version of the Quality Plan, which will be the plan which is used in subsequent elements of the project, to implement the required changes/developments.

Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

Objective

The objective of this work package is organise an Annual Conference in Prevention Science through which the partners in the project, and other organisations with an interest in this field come together to exchange best practice and share knowledge and learning on current practices in the sector. As part of this activity, we will also organise a Network of Young Researchers (Doctoral and Postdoctoral students) and develop links with relevant Research Networks (like Networks of Excellence funded by the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for Research, Technology Development and Demonstration Activities) and improve the link between education and society, bringing together public and private sector, scientific and professional players, thereby contributing to Europe’s innovation capacity;

Description of work and role of partners

Task 7.1 Establishment of Conference/Research Network Steering group

As the first stage of this work package, we will establish a Conference/Research Network Steering Group, which will be led by the Work Package Leader. This ‘task and finish’ group will be responsible for implementing this work package and reporting to the PMG.

Task 7.2 Development of Event Brief

Following establishment of the brief, the Steering Group will be responsible for agreeing a conference brief for the Annual Conference/Young Researchers Network. This brief will include details of the timing, programme, speakers, venue, accommodation etc. Following the agreement of the PMG, the Steering Group will then set about organising the event.

Task 7.3 2013 Conference/Research Network Organisation

Following agreement of the brief, the Steering Group will be take on responsibility for organising the 2013 SPAN conference and Young Researcher’s meeting alongside the annual EUSPR meeting. This first Conference/Meeting will be held in the Paris, and will comprise a two day conference/meeting to run networking and career development workshops with a focus on young researchers, discuss the progress of the project, receive presentations from the various work package leaders and discuss any related Quality Assurance, Mobility, Lifelong Learning issues.

Task 7.4 2014 Conference/Research Network Organisation

Following a review of the first years’ conference, the second Annual Conference will develop and deliver plans to organise the second Annual Conference (which will be held in Italy). This conference will follow the same structure.

Task 7.5 2015 Conference/Research Network Organisation

Following a review of the first years’ conference, the second Annual Conference will develop and deliver plans to organise the third Annual Conference (which will be held in Portugal). This conference will follow the same structure but will have a stronger emphasis on sustainability, as this will be in the final year of the project.

Verwey-Jonker Instituut

Objective

The objective of this work package is to establish a public facing website and a Virtual Learning Environment, through which the various activities and outputs from the project can be shared and the partners can build a useful online resource of teaching material, contacts etc.

Description of work and role of partners

Task 8.1 Establishment of a Virtual Networking and Learning Steering Group

The first task in this work package will be to establish a Virtual Networking and Learning Steering Group to oversee the development and implementation of the virtual workspace/website for the project. This Steering Group will be led by the Work Package Leader, who will provide regular updates to the PMG.

Task 8.2 Development of a Functional Specification for the Virtual Networking/Learning Environment

The Work Package Leader for this task will be responsible for working with the Virtual Networking and Learning Steering Group to develop a functional specification for the virtual workspace/project website, which will be used as the framework for developing the virtual presence for the project.

Task 8.3 Development of the Virtual Networking & Learning Environment

The project ‘website’ will be developed near the beginning of the project, and shall also contain a password protected area for the project partners allowing a common working space. The Virtual Networking and Learning Environment will contain the presentation of the project, its activities and results, news, conference and workshops announcements, public project reports and other relevant material.

Task 8.4 Training for Partners

Following the launch of the Virtual Networking and Learning Environment/Website all the partners will be trained in how to use the tool.

Task 8.5 Handover of the Project Website to the Dissemination Work Package Leader

Following completion of the training, the responsibility for maintaining the Virtual Networking and Learning Environment will be handed over to the Dissemination Steering group. They will be responsible for maintaining content and ensuring the virtual presence is maintained.

Pan-European Prevention Science Framework | Workpackage 9: ECTS RECOGNITION AND AWARD

University of Malta

Objective

The objective of this work package is to implement the recommendations contained in the Quality Plan (WP 6), by encouraging institutions to develop their internal quality assurance procedures, create credit allocations for their programmes, or components, to validate them according to their national and/or institutional rules and to monitor the credit allocations to establish whether the estimated workload is realistic.

Description of work and role of partners

Task 9.1 Partners implement individual action plans to implement ECTS in their own institution

Following the production of the Quality Plan, each partner will be responsible for implementing their own ECTS action plan, by reviewing the outcomes of the quality plan, reviewing their own curriculum design, reviewing their learning outcomes, calculating/re-calculating their credit allocation, calculating/re-estimating workloads, and reviewing course documentation (Course Catalogue, Student Application Form, Learning Agreement and Transcript of Records). The culmination of this task will be the preparation of an ECTS Information Package by each learning provider involved in the project. In completing this task partners may also take advantage of ECTS Helplines and the ECTS Counsellors programme.

Task 9.2 External Peer Review of ECTS proposals

Where appropriate, and desirable, project partners will support the partners implement the ECTS locally, by providing peer-peer mentoring support to institutions.

Task 9.3 Development of a pan-European Prevention Science ECTS framework

Upon completion of the individual action plans to implement the ECTS in their respective institutions, the project will produce a pan-European Prevention Science ECTS framework, to promote improved progression and increased student mobility. This pan-European Prevention Science ETCS framework will provide students with a clear and transparent guide as to how various qualifications and qualification frameworks integrate with each other.