Quality Control Plan Sample
Quality Control Plan Sample
FROM THEORETICAL-ORIENTED TO
PRACTICAL EDUCATION IN AGRARIAN
STUDIES / TOPAS
2018
TOPAS Quality Control Plan, Version: v 0.2 , Date: 10/06/2018
1
From theoretical-oriented to practical
education in agrarian studies (TOPAS)
585603-EPP-1-2017-1-DE-EPPKA2-
CBHE-JP
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY………………………………………………... 8
1. PROJECT SCOPE AND OUTCOMES OVERIVEW
1.1. Introduction……………………………………………………………. 9
1.2. Project scope……………………………………………………………. 9
1.3. Work package structure, deliverables and indicators of progress………. 12
1.4. Deliverable Preparation and Peer Review Process……………………... 19
1.5. Deliverable Reviewers List…………………………………………….. 20
1.6. Due process of deliverable preparation…………………………………. 22
1.7. Follow-up Indicators Chart (FIC)……………………………………… 24
1.8. The consortium structure………………………………………………. 27
1.9. Impact of the project………………………………………………….. 29
2. PROJECT MANAGEMENT APPROACH
2.1. Introduction…………………………………………………………….. 34
2.2. Overall management strategy………………………………………… 34
2.3. Project management structure/approach………………………………. 35
2.4. Management procedures……………………………………………….. 40
3. COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT PLAN
3.1. Introduction……………………………………………………………. 42
3.2. Communications management approach……………………………… 42
3.3. Communication channels……………………………………………….. 43
3.3.1. Project Meeting Matrix……………………………………………... 43
3.3.2. Dissemination, Pilots, Validation and Training Events Matrix………. 44
3.3.3. Project Report Matrix……………………………………………...…. 45
3.4. Communication guidelines……………………………………………. 47
3.4.1. Meeting Guidelines…………………………………………………… 47
3.4.2. Dissemination Guidelines……………………………………………. 48
3.4.3. Communication Tools Guidelines……………………………………. 50
4. EFFORT AND COST MANAGEMENT
4.1. Introduction…………………………………………………………….. 52
4.2. Effort and costs management approach………………………………… 52
4.3. Reporting Effort and Budget Consumption…………………………….. 53
4.4. Guidelines for Unplanned Expenses……………………………………. 53
4.5. Measuring project effort and costs……………………………………… 54
4.6. Effort and cost variance response process……………………………. 54
5. PROCUREMENT………………………………………………………. 55
List Of Abbreviations
ABC Advisory Board Committee
DET Dissemination and Exploitation Team
D Deliverable
DL Deliverable Leader
DMS Document Management System
ECQIP European Quality Charter on Internships and Apprenticeships
EMU Executive Management Unit
EU European Union
KA Key Action
LFM Logical Framework Matrix
MxYx Meeting X Year X
Мх Month Х
OD Other Deliverable
PC Project Coordinator
PCo Partner country
PU Public
QA Quality assurance
QC Quality Control
QMT Quality Leading Team
TSC TOPAS Steering Committee
WP Work Package
WPL Work Package Leader
WPS Work Package Structure
Table of Figures
Table of Tables
Table 1: Work packages and deliverables………………………………... 13
Table 2: Some others deliverables mentioned throughout the DPD
(outside part H - part with description of deliverables)…........ 15
Table 3: Indicators of progress……………………………………............ 16
Table 4: TOPAS‘ outputs (tangible) and outcomes (intangible) results…. 17
Table 5: Indicators of progress by work packages……………………….. 18
Table 6: Deliverable Preparation Process…………………………........... 19
Table 7: List of Deliverable reviewers……………………………............ 20
Table 8: Follow-up Indicators Chart……………………………………... 25
Table 9: Roles of the Consortium partners in various WPs………............ 29
Table 10: Overview of short term impact indicators………………………. 31
Table 11: Overview of long term impact indicators………………………. 32
Table 12: Table of Roles and Responsibilities…………………………….. 36
Table 13: Project Meeting Matrix…………………………………………. 43
Table 14: Other Meeting Matrix…………………………………………... 45
Table 15: Project Report Matrix…………………………………………… 45
Table 16: List of Publications template……………………………............. 49
Table 17: List of Activities template………………………………............. 49
Table 18: Subcontracting of services………………………………............ 55
Table 19: Equipment procurement………………………………………… 55
Table 20: Work plan for project year 1………………………………….. 59
Table 21: Work plan for project year 2………………………………….. 60
Table 22: Work plan for project year 3………………………………….. 61
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1. Introduction
This document presents the Quality Control Plan for Erasmus + KA2 CBHE
project 585603-EPP-1-2017-1-DE-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP ‗From theoretical-oriented
to practical education in agrarian studies‘ (TOPAS). It is developed in the scope of
the WP 3 (Quality control and monitoring of TOPAS) of the Project in compliance
with the Project description and all applicable rules & guidelines.
Quality control is an integral part of the project and aims to ensure that
objectives are met in the most effective way. This Quality Control Plan (QCP)
defines the general approach to quality control, cross-package appraisal, internal
and external evaluation and the procedures to be followed by the partners for
effective communication as well as production and documentation of the Project
deliverables. The document outlines the strategy for how the quality control
mechanisms will be applied so that the operational, management and working
procedures are comprehensively monitored and improved throughout the project
duration.
The QCP contains a set of scheduled activities and defines the objectives,
roles and responsibilities. The QCP includes established indicators, methodology
and procedures for evaluation of project activities and results. For each task it
determines the responsible partner(s), timeframe and tools of implementation, the
expected results or products, as well as the respective quality criteria.
This project aims at filling the gap within a common former soviet inherited
agricultural sciences higher education system in Ukraine, Armenia and Uzbekistan,
introducing and improving vocationally oriented practical programs based on a
learning outcomes and competencies approach, targeting new and old graduates,
with flexible learning pathways and permeability among the different agrarian
management programs, while fostering partnership between universities and
stakeholders (farm industry and associations), and practical training in real
working environment to provide a better match between job market needs and the
qualifications offered. Thus, a wide-range of activities will facilitate the transition
from teacher centred knowledge-based form of education to student-centred
practice based education in Agrarian studies and hence employability in UZ, UKR
and AM by enhancing the cooperation between university and agriculture
enterprises through adequate internship schemes with government support to
recognize formal and informal learning and endorse ECQIP.
This broad objective will be achieved by deploying the following five
instruments:
1. Revision of course assessment and learning outcomes on Agrarian
Management programs based on competence-based models which will be
subsequently supported by adequate internship practices. Learning outcomes
include a set of abilities which express what students will know, understand and be
able to do after the learning process is completed which are mainly recognized as a
combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes. However, from previous Tempus
funded projects in curriculum development in the three targeted countries, not all
learning outcomes are correctly verified and particularly there has not been a
verification of the impact of the internships planned – if any.
2. Intensive teacher training program targeting particularly new generations
of teachers and professors through tailor-made program in the use of case-studies,
problem solving methods and assignments and development and delivery of
interactive videos and massive open resources. To achieve this, and address
common teaching and learning challenges, i.e. new requirements with regard to use
of ICTs, foreign languages and teaching methods with higher quality standards,
greater attention needs to be paid to student-centered forms of education through
practice-oriented videos, for example - making it necessary for all concerned to
continuously upgrade and revise their approach to the triangle teaching-learning-
assessment.
3. Capacity building and formation of supporting staff to monitor and
administrate internship schemes according to EU models. The project will enable
better understanding of the needs of farms and agriculture industry as well as a
potential direction for further development of the higher education system in the
field of agriculture by strengthening the professional competences of more than
1200 students offering transversal skills and agro-business skills while increasing
the research capacity of the six partner country HEIs.
4. Raising awareness of practice-based education as a model for increasing
cooperation with farm industry and enhancing employability. The project will
likewise fill the skills gap of agricultural producers hampering their income
through better cohort of graduates better qualified through more professional
competences. Networking of and best practice sharing among agricultural
educators will be enhanced through webinars and e-platform and cooperation
between the agricultural producers and educators will be improved (business and
academia) thanks to networking and internship schemes developed.
5. Use of internship data collection for further research activities,
educational and farm policy guidelines. Having more concrete farm information
during internships will help showcase the value of farm activities so they can make
the case to policymakers and advocate for farm's goals.
PLACEMENT
DATA TEACHING
COLLECTION METHODS
Once the teams have finished their individual work packages, the entire
project comes together with seamless integration. Completion of a work package is
most often overseen by a specific person: a manager, supervisor, a team lead, or a
designated team member.
WPs and deliverables of TOPAS are given in table 1.
Table 1: Work packages and deliverables
Type of expected
# Title of expected deliverable Target groups
deliverable
WP1 Revision of internships and Learning Outcomes from BA and MA agrarian
management programs
Comparison of internships and learning
Teaching staff;
D 1.1 outcomes in agrarian management studies Service/Product
Others
between PCs and EU partners
Learning outcome and competence based
Teaching staff;
D 1.2 harmonization of selected agrarian Event
Others
management courses in line with Bologna
Approval of revised curricula by
D 1.3 institutional authorities and introduction of Service/Product Others
changes in 2018-2019 academic year
WP2 Teaching methodology, tools & infrastructure updated
Training on distance learning key
Teaching staff;
D 2.1 competences, competence-based approach Event
Trainees
and practice-based education
Teaching material; Teaching staff;
D 2.2 Elaboration of videos and MOOCs Learning material; Students;
Training material; Trainees
Teaching staff;
D 2.3 Use of new teaching tools & methodology Service/Product Students;
Type of expected
# Title of expected deliverable Target groups
deliverable
Teaching staff;
Students;
D 3.2 Internal evaluation and peer review Report
Administrative
staff;
Outside
D 3.3 External evaluation Report
stakeholders
WP4 Raising awareness campaign and exploitation of TOPAS outputs
Teaching staff;
Maintenance of TOPAS website and social
D 4.1 Service/Product Students;
media
Other
Round tables, job fairs, national conferences
Teaching staff;
in 3Cs to raise awareness among key
D 4.2 Event Students;
stakeholders of importance of ECQIP and
Other
project outcomes
Development of ICT platform for works‘ Teaching staff;
D 4.3 placement in agrarian/farm sector and data Service/Product Students;
collection Other
Teaching staff;
Multiplier workshops and faculty training in
D 4.4 Event Students;
farm data collection at 3Cs
Other
Teaching staff;
Trainees;
Edition and Publication of handbook with
D 4.5 Service/Product Administrative
best practices and lessons learned
staff;
Other
WP5 5 Management of TOPAS
Organisation of kick-off and project
D 5.1 Event Other
management meetings
Elaboration and approval of Steering
Communication Plan Dissemination & Report;
D 5.2 Other
exploitation plan and creation of project Service/Product
Steering Committee
Administrative
Financial and administrative management Report;
D 5.3 staff;
and reporting of project activities Service/Product
Other
D 5.4 Reporting to EACEA Report Other
The original planning for the project was performed during the proposal and
negotiation phases of the project. Along with the listed above, we can enumerate a
few more that were not listed in the relevant part of DPD, but which can be found
in the text of proposals (table 2).
Table 2: Some others deliverables mentioned throughout the DPD
(outside part H - part with description of deliverables)
Type of expected
# Title of expected deliverable
deliverable
Target groups
WP3 Quality control and monitoring of TOPAS
Students; Trainees;
The new model of Internship will Other
OD
be developed and presented in the Service/Product Teaching staff;
3.1
form of a white paper Students;
Administrative staff;
Students; Trainees;
OD Other Teaching staff;
Elaboration of QC Plan Service/Product
3.2 Students;
Administrative staff;
WP4 Raising awareness campaign and exploitation of TOPAS outputs
Teaching staff; Students;
OD Handbook on best practices from Other
Service/Product
4.1 TOPAS Teaching staff;
Administrative staff;
Teaching staff; Students;
OD Elaboration of Dissemination Other
Service/Product
4.2 Plan Teaching staff;
Administrative staff;
WP5 5 Management of TOPAS
Service/Product
Teaching
Teaching staff; Students;
staff; Students;
OD A communication management Other
Other
5.1 strategy Teaching staff;
Teaching staff;
Administrative staff;
Administrative
staff;
difficult to evaluate and validate than tangible ones. Project stakeholders are able
to identify, prioritise and define intangible project outcomes when provided with a
process for doing so (see Deliverable Preparation Process and Due process of
deliverable preparation in following sections). The following table provides the list
of outputs (tangible) and outcomes (intangible) of TOPAS.
Table 4: TOPAS’ outputs (tangible) and outcomes (intangible) results
WORK PACKAGES OUTPUTS (TANGIBLE) OUTCOMES (INTANGIBLE)
WP1 Revision of
OC 1: Alignment of LOs and
internships and Learning
OP 1: 12 internship programs on competencies within revised study
Outcomes from BA and
agricultural management revised structure to facilitate
MA agrarian
employability of graduates
management programs
OP 1: organization of trainings and
workshops for teachers in Y1 and 2. At OC 1: Teaching competences
least 5 key experts per HEI trained in improved
practice-based teaching and learning
OP 2: Development of educational
OC 2: Updated teaching/ didactic
videos and MOOCs for Agrarian
WP2 Teaching materials compiled
management
methodology, tools &
infrastructure updated OP 3: At least 3
academic/administrative staff trained in
monitoring and organize internships OC 3 & 4: Elaboration and
according to Bologna system and implementation of efficient
language skills support system internship programs through
qualified staff
OP4: Piloting of internship scheme in
Year 3
WP3 Quality control and OP 1: Quality assurance system OC 1: efficient internship
monitoring of TOPAS allocated to internship scheme; Internal schemes; risk management and
quality control reports; External increase guarantees of
evaluation reports achievement of project results
OC 1: Raised knowledge on
WP4 Raising awareness project objectives and
campaign and OP1 : organization of website, round achievements among key
exploitation of TOPAS tables and dissemination events stakeholders; Increased
outputs attractiveness of new courses for
students
OP2: Training of 25 teachers per HEI in OC 2: Dissemination of best
multiplier workshops and events practices at institutional level
OP3: ICT platform for work placement
and data collection of farm output OC 3: Collection of material for
through internships and training on the further research, joint ventures,
use of the platform for 3Cs staff and elaboration of policy guidelines
students
OP4: handbook on best practices from OC4: visibility of project output
TOPAS and outcomes
• Updates
document addressing
comments received
and produces its final
3 days before
Deliverable Leader release WPL, QMT submission
• Forwards
deliverable to WPL
and QMT for quality
inspection
• Final approval (if
not approved it
2 days before
QMT returns immediately TSC, EMU submission
back to the DL for
revision)
• Submits
Deliverable to the
European
Commission
European 1 day before
TSC, EMU • Places the
Commission submission
submitted PFD
version on the DMS
under the respective
WP folder
1.5. Deliverable Reviewers List. The following table lists the internal
reviewers assigned per Deliverable. During the course of the project a number of
external reviewers (from the ABC to be established; see section 2.3) may be also
assigned to a specific Deliverable according to the needs of the later.
Table 7: List of Deliverable reviewers
Once DL has formally decided what all relevant points of view are included,
it proceeds to the development of an exposure draft. The exposure draft is issued
for consultation with TOPAS partners and key stakeholders and the DL may also
undertake additional outreach activities such as meetings, discussion forums,
webcasts and podcasts and roundtable meetings.
After the publication of an exposure draft, the DL proceeds to consider
constituent feedback from the consultative process. In some cases, the DL may
decide to re-expose proposals before proceeding to a finalized deliverables project.
Once deliberations have been finalized, the DL technical staff will prepare the final
text of deliverables to TSC, EMU and, if appropriate, to ABC.
1.7. Follow-up Indicators Chart (FIC)
At every face-to-face meeting, one of the agenda items will be to evaluate
the open work packages evolution. An instrument to achieve this task is FIC, the
Follow-up Indicators Chart (see annex 2 for the final shaping for each WP).
The FIC establishes the evolution of each WP delivery after the moment
they are ready for the approval of TSC and ABC. In other words, when the
indicator shows a 100% achievement, it means it is ready to be sent to the TSC and
EMU for final decision.
The chart will be accomplished by the Project Co-ordinator, with the
information provide in the meeting by each WP leader.
The FIC that outcomes from each meeting will be included in the meeting
minutes.
To elaborate the FIC, indicators of achievement have been developed for
each WP. It has been taken into consideration the project approved by the EU and
the activities and goals the consortium has committed itself to fulfil.
associated partners. The roles of the Consortium partners in various WPs is given
in table 9.
Table 9: Roles of the Consortium partners in various WPs
WP1 WP2 WP3 WP4 WP5
HSWT Participant assistant Participant Participant Leader
WUC Participant Leader Participant Participant Participant
WUELS Leader Delivery* Participant Participant Participant
UASVM Participant Delivery* Participant Leader Participant
NULES Participant Participant Participant Assistant Participant
Leader.
SNAU Assistant Participant Participant Participant
Participant
Leader.
ANAU Assistant Participant Participant Participant
Participant
YSU Participant Participant Participant Assistant Participant
SAI Participant Participant Participant Assistant Assistant
Leader.
AAI Assistant Participant Participant Participant
Participant
*Delivery - Delivery of trainings and organization of internships
students and teachers including digital content and innovative methodologies for
teaching. The development of internship schemes will increase the cooperation
between farm enterprises and industry. Certificates of participation will be
provided to the students which can be considered as part of the recognition in their
continuous professional career. Every year, faculty staff from the participant HEIs
will have the possibility of being retrained using audiovisual and other available
resources. The self-evaluation models and surveys from students and teachers will
be useful tools to observe in a tangible way the impact of the project (e.g. results
from students, results from performance indicators, results from satisfaction
surveys, employability rates, etc).
National level: The project presents a set of standards for professional and
continuous development to be endorsed by educational authorities taken ECQIP as
a model of reference. Addressing these standards through curricula and pedagogy
offers a framework to realise approaches to practice-based education that can
enhance professional practices for the benefit of students and the labour market.
Training materials and internships adequately used will contribute to deliver the
following capabilities and attributes for both students (knowledge about the
agricultural management profession, transferable management skills like initiative
and ability for independent work) and for teachers (ability to integrate theory with
practice, knowledge of and ability to work within relevant legislation). The impact
for farmers is to operate and enhance competences in safe work practices and
knowledge of relevant occupational health and safety policies and reinforce
competence in discipline/ profession knowledge and skills that respond to their
needs.
As a consequence a community of practice will be established in these three
beneficiary countries. In this context an informal network of practitioners will
serve as a platform to provide a reusable teaching and learning resources for other
non partner faculty members to share ideas and to contribute to the sustainability
and long-term sharing of effective educational practice. This would extend both the
outreach and significance of learning process from the testing pilots on Y3 and
ensure that students elsewhere could also see and share their professional learning
experience with their peers within their local communities and even
internationally.
European level: EU partners will consolidate the existing links with third
country partners and based on the results of the internship schemes mirrored
initiatives through twinning system may be created as well in order to promote
international inter-university cooperation and networking. In this sense, SAI and
HSWT have already an internship scheme in place. The extension of this practice
will enhance institutional capacities through knowledge sharing and collaborative
work. EU partner members will contribute to the information and dissemination of
the project across the EU. The website and social media developed by HSWT will
also serve as a mean for raising awareness on the project and the project results.
Table 10: Overview of short term impact indicators
Target
Quantitative
Short term impact groups/potential Qualitative indicators
indicators
beneficiaries
Through the consortium Feedback from partners
working teams and and TOPAS members.
The number of working
workshops for partner Interviews with partner
sessions, reports that
country faculty staff, Involved HEIs members will provide
describe processes and
knowledge and best and associated insight into their
outcomes, syllabi and
practices shared among partners. attitudes towards the
workshop materials that
consortium partners in quality of their
are developed.
practice-based collaborative
education. experience.
Teachers and students
The number of will become committed
Teachers and students
Faculty staff and workshops, open days to the program and
will gain knowledge
student they participate in; disseminate principles
and commitment
community in number of internships throughout the campus
towards practice-based
general arranged and organized; and in their student
education.
evaluation results. teaching schools and
communities.
Target
Quantitative
Short term impact groups/potential Qualitative indicators
indicators
beneficiaries
Establishment of
Bologna model for
internships and
Educational practiceships. Higher impact of
decision makers internships in enhancing
Endorsement of ECQPI
that decide upon Objective assessment of employability and
by HEIs and
professional student activities. professional skills.
educational authorities
continuing Increase of quality of
as a path to recognize
educational External reviewers (EU educational provision of
and certify professional
programs at visitors and local HEIs by enhancing
oriented internships.
partner country administrators) employability and
HEIs. assessment of student professional skills.
performance and their
internships based on
measurable indicators.
The number of faculty
Amount of farm data
staff and other
collected; number of
Employers, farm educational centres (e.g.
articles, teaching
Data farm collection associations, research institutes) that
materials, publications
farm managers. begin using data
created; demand for
materials for their own
data obtained
research and teaching.
Feedback from the
participants regarding
Professional
Number of their impression of the
faculty,
Dissemination of dissemination events project and its
educators,
project results beyond beyond the consortium, importance, willingness
practitioners,
consortium including participation to adopt and foster
farm industry,
in conferences. practice-based education
key stakeholders
and models to organise
and evaluate internships.
Target
Quantitative
Long term impact groups/potential Qualitative indicators
indicators
beneficiaries
Dissemination of
Number of faculty
practice-based HEI faculty in
interested in the project,
education and institutions outside
using TOPAS course Open feedback from
internship schemes the consortium and
material, internship end-users.
beyond the the partner
components and
consortium to other countries.
teaching tools.
HEIs and faculty staff.
Increase on positive
perception and better
Improvement of image by HE system and
partner country HEIs HEIs of through
HEIs
in national rankings Employability rates. commitment to social
administrators.
thanks to higher responsibility by
employability rate improving the
qualification of students
and graduates.
Number of internship
Integrative role of HEIs
organised; number of
in society.
cooperation agreements
Enhancement of farm Farm associations, Contribution to match
between HEIs and
enterprise-university farm industry between educational
enterprises signed
offer and labour market
(including European
needs
ones)
National surveys on
agricultural output.
State level and Recording the amount
Reports and documents
Improvement of data ministry level farms produce and
of state educational
and statistics on farm stakeholders; harvest can also help
stakeholders that refer
production national research funders and local
to the data collected
institutes; farm politicians understand
through internships.
industry. the value of
cropping/gardening at
local level.
Decision makers will
National surveys of the
consider internship Reports and documents
educational system and
schemes as mandatory State level and of state educational
the educational curricula
components of ministry level stakeholders that refer
in participating countries
education in their stakeholders. to the curriculum
and consortium
countries. ECQIP will reform.
members.
be taken as a model
The core activities which ensure the project stays on track are the scope, cost
and schedule management. They keep the project in line with what the Partnership
agreement prescribes the project should do, cost and how long it should take to
accomplish its objectives respectively. Procurement management describes how to
handle purchases, while staff management defines the needs in terms of people,
their roles and who is going to fill those roles. The relationship between
coordinator and members of the consortium is that of partnership and not
subcontracting. As such, the Coordinator does not have the authority to impose
procurement and staffing practices or plans to partners. Individual partners manage
these issues internally. Additionally, different overreaching institutional policies
and national laws regulations place different demands which make these issues
best left to partners to manage. Nonetheless, they have an impact on the core
activities of project management, thus claiming a place in the project management
architecture. The core activities of project management lead to decisions and
changes in both the work of the project and its management. These are managed
through change management which feed into communications management
ensuring information reach all appropriate audiences. The quality management
contributes in establishing the relevant to the project quality control and quality
assurance activities for ensuring an efficient collaboration among the consortium
partners and delivery of project results, whereas the risk management is necessary
for providing the process and techniques for the evaluation and control of potential
project risks, focusing on their precautionary diagnosis and handling.
2.3 Project management structure/approach
The TOPAS project management takes into account all the partners‘
interests and expertise, including transparent activities, in order to ensure an
effective project‘s time-plan and execution.
The Project management at TOPAS is composed of three levels (table 12).
NULES in each third country and the financial and administrative administration
(WP5) will be done by HSWT assisted by SAI.
The associated partners will serve as consulting body so that they will
guarantee the implementation of necessary structural and infrastructural changes at
institutional level. This is one of the means to guarantee ownership. Thus, partner
members are highly motivated and have all been actively involved in the
preparation of this proposal.
2.4. Management procedures
Project and quality management activities will ensure the proper
implementation of the project plan and the realisation of its objectives. Decisions
will normally be taken by the responsible team members based on the work to be
performed, as stated in the Partnership agreement and the Detailed description of
the project, individual Work Package or Task plans.
During the project the participating organisations will have to reach an
agreement and resolve various technical and scientific issues. This
agreement/resolution can be reached by informal contact as a first step, followed
by official verification by means of e-mail, letter or minutes. Technical
issues/conflicts within the given contractual commitments that do not involve
alterations in contract, in budget and in the overall focus will be initially handled
on the Work Package basis.
In the event of a project conflict among partners, the later should attempt to
resolve conflicts among themselves in good will and an amicable manner given the
professional nature of the organizations involved and maintaining the project's
success as the ultimate goal. If the dispute cannot be resolved, partners will
escalate the issue according to the following principles:
• The WP leader will be informed for the issue/conflict that came up.
Prior Medium
Meeting Objectives Audience Frequency / Time Chair Deliverables
Notice /Location
1/yr
Evaluation of project All Agenda
Project M 14 (XX-XX/11/2018) 4 Face-to-
results by European project PC Review
Reviews M 26 (XX-XX/12/2019) months Face
Commission partners Report
M 38 (XX-XX/01/2021)
Prior Medium
Meeting Objectives Audience Frequency / Time Chair Deliverables
Notice /Location
3/yr
To direct the project, M9 (02-04/07/2018)
ensure correct M13 (xx-xx/11/2018)
Agenda
implementation of All M17 (xx-xx/02/2019)
Plenary 3 Face-to- Meeting
activities at all project project M22 (xx-xx/07/2019) PC
Meetings months Face Minutes
levels, monitor the partners M25 (xx-xx/11/2019)
Action Plan
project's progress, and M28 (xx-xx/02/2020)
examine future plans M33 (xx-xx/07/2020)
M36 (xx-xx/10/2020)
Technical
To technically
Missions partners
evaluate the project Face-to- Agenda
(meetings (optional
results, monitor design To be aligned with Plenary 3 Face, Meeting
between for rest EMU
and implementation meetings for reducing costs months Teleconfer Minutes
selected consortiu
achievements, and ence Action Plan
partners) m
examine future plans
partners)
Face-to-
Organised in case of
Face, Agenda
an emergency or a
Ad hoc Phone, Decisions
conflict resolution as WPLs Ad hoc 1-7 day EMU
meetings Teleconfer taken
specified in the
ence, Action Plan
escalation procedure.
e¬mail
This matrix should include the envisaged meetings that will be scheduled in
the context of WP4, WP5. The contents of this matrix should be populated by the
leaders of the respective WP tasks following the below table template.
Notice
Prior
Frequency / Medium
Meeting Objectives Audience Organizer Deliverables
Time /Location
Contributors
Leader
Meeting Objectives Frequency / Time Deliverable
Internal 4/yr
reporting Y1-Q1: M1-M3 due mids of M4 (15/02/2018)
Performed
progress of Y1-Q2: M4-M6 due mids of M7 (15/05/2018)
activities in
the Y1-Q3: M5-M9 due mids of M10 (15/09/2018)
bulleted form at
Quarterly work at the Y1-Q4: M10-M12 due mids of M13 (14/12/2018)
WP task level
Work WP/task Y2-Q1: M13-M15 due mids of M16 (15/02/2019)
PC, WP Effort
Package level Y2-Q2: M16-M18 due mids of M19 (15/05/2019)
EMU L consumption
Progress including Y2-Q3: M19-M21 due mids of M22 (14/09/2019)
utilising the
Reports estimates of Y2-Q4: M22-M24 due mids of M25 (13/12/2019)
TOPAS project
consumed Y3-Q1: M25-M27 due mids of M28 (15/02/2020)
schedule .xls
effort in Y3-Q2: M28-M30 due mids of M31 (14/05/2020)
template
person- Y3-Q3: M31-M33 due mids of M34 (13/09/2020)
months Y3-Q4: M34-M36 due mids of M37 (12/11/2020)
Delivery of annual
Six month project progress
reporting report
progress of following the
project structure
achievement of the European
All partners
1/yr
Interim s Commission FP7
Y1: M1-M6 due M7 (31/05/2018)
Progress and effort PC Guidance Notes on
Y2: M12-M18 due M19 (31/05/2019)
Reports consumption Project Reporting
Y3: M24-M30 due M31 (31/05/2020)
for .doc
evaluation template and the
by the format
European of the TOPAS
Commission Deliverable
.doc template
Contributors
Leader
Meeting Objectives Frequency / Time Deliverable
Delivery of annual
project progress
report
following the
structure
of the European
Commission FP7
Yearly
Guidance Notes on
reporting
Project Reporting
progress of
.doc
project
template and the
achievement
All partners
1/yr format
Annual s
Y1: M1-M12 due M13 (30/11/2018) of the SIFEM
Progress and effort
Y2: M13-M24 due M26 (15/12/2019) Deliverable
Reports consumption
Y3: M25-M36 due M38 (15/12/2019) .doc template
for
Upload of Form C
evaluation
(and
by the
Certificate of
European
Financial
Commission
Statement; where
needed) to the
European
Commission
Participant Portal
(NEF
system)
Concise
document
reporting the
outcomes of
the
work for the
deliverable.
For
All partners
Meeting Requests
Meetings will be organized using Doodle online service
(http://www.doodle.com) for determining the dates most partners are available.
The meeting chair is responsible for initiating meeting organization. Meetings will
be collocated when possible to minimize expenses and travel time of partners. For
example, plenary and technical meeting are scheduled to occur together, on
different schedules, so partners can attend. The strategy is to hold fewer but larger
meetings in order to reduce costs.
Participants to Meetings
All partners are required to be present to meetings either themselves or
through substitute or proxy. Additionally, they must participate in a cooperative
manner.
Meeting Agenda
For face-to-face meetings, meeting Agenda will be prepared by the meeting
chair and distributed 15 business days in advance of the meeting; the meeting
agenda is also maintained within the Moodle platform. Any partner can add an
item to the original agenda by written notification to all of the other partners up to
2 days before the meeting. During the meeting the consortium can add new items
on the agenda following a unanimous decision. Any agenda item requiring a
decision from the Consortium body must be identified as such on the agenda.
Meeting Minutes
Meeting minutes will be distributed within 15 business days following the
meeting by the chair, according to the template - the meeting minutes template is
maintained within the Moodle platform. All decisions become biding after they
have been recorded in the meeting minutes and the meeting minutes have been
accepted by the participants.
Meeting Chair Person
The Chair Person is responsible for distributing the meeting agenda,
facilitating the meeting and distributing the meeting minutes. The Chair Person
will ensure that the meeting starts and ends on time and that all presenters adhere
to their allocated time frames.
Resources for Meetings
Budget for meetings has been allocated and can be found in Annex I of
Partnership agreement.
3.4.2. Dissemination Guidelines
The external communication for the project is handled through WP4 that is
led by UASVM partner. As such, the dissemination leader is responsible for the
dissemination of the project results focusing on 3 major communication tiers:
Tier 1: Mission Awareness Campaigns
Tier 2: High Level Dissemination of TOPAS
Tier 3: Affiliation and Synergies
Partners have been allocated effort, travel and meeting organizations budgets
to carry out activities in relation to these tiers. Even though, they have been
assigned these funds under their own budget they should undertake activities only
after consulting the Dissemination Plan, their respective WPL. The partners will
log planned activities in the project calendar which will be made public in the
project website.
After executing dissemination activities, partners are responsible for
providing relevant information (i.e. type of event, when and where it was held,
target audience and number of attendants, number of dissemination material
handed, contacts made, photographs from the event, contact lists and etc.) to the
Place of publication
Year of publication
Number, date or
periodical or the
Relevant pages
Main author
frequency
Publisher
identifiers* Access**
series
Title
Luxembourg
Diter Traum
pp. 151-167
http://www.
Coexistence Measures Journal of Official
2018
2018
1 for Genetically Agricultural Publica yes
Modified Maize in Economics tions of
Germany xyz
2
3
*- A permanent identifier should be a persistent link to the published version full text if
open access or abstract if article is pay per view) or to the final manuscript accepted for
publication (link to article in repository).
**- Open Access is defined as free of charge access for anyone via Internet. Please
answer "yes" if the open access to the publication is already established and also if the embargo
period for open access is not yet over but you intend to establish open access afterwards.
addressed
Countries
audience
Type of
Type of
Size of
Place
Date
Main
no Title
leader
Activities *
Greece, Athens
European level
Research and
26 February
community
Scientific
1.500
2010
2
3
4.1. Introduction
The Project Coordinator with the support of the Financial Manager is
responsible for managing and reporting on the project's budget and effort
consumption at the project level to the European Commission throughout the
duration of the project. During the internal quarterly, interim and annual progress
reports, the Project Coordinator collects, presents and reviews the project's effort
and cost performance for the preceding period. Performance is measured
comparing actual consumption against planned. The Project Coordinator is
responsible for accounting for cost and effort deviations and presenting the
consortium with options for getting the project back on budget.
4.2. Effort and costs management approach
Effort and costs for this project will be managed at the Work Package
Structure (WPS). The financial performance of the project will be measured and
managed through comparisons between the actual comparison and the effort
calendar and cost baselines. Activity effort is detailed at the task level and costs at
the WP level. To avoid confusion and complications due to conflicts between
National and European Union reporting rules, all efforts are to be reported in
whole hours. Euro amounts are to be reported in two decimals.
Effort and cost variances of +/- 10% in the cost and effort performance
indexes will change the status of the cost to cautionary. Cost variances of +/- 20%
in the cost and effort performance indexes will change the status of the cost to an
alert stage. These will serve as input to Risk Assessment and may require
corrective action by the Project Coordinator in order to bring the cost and/or effort
performance variations below the alert level. Corrective actions will require a
project change request and be must approved by the EMU before it can become
within the scope of the project.
• Who is travelling
• Destination of the trip
• Date of the trip
• The trip's relevance to the TOPAS project.
The dissemination leader will examine the request and upon approval, it will
forward the requested with the recommended action to the PC. In the event the
request is accepted the PC will forward the request to the Project Officer who has
the final say on the matter. The partner will be informed of the decision.
4.5. Measuring project effort and costs
Following each internal quarterly management report, the PC will use a
comparison between actual against planned to measure variance.
If the effort and cost has a variance of between 10% and 20% of planned the
reporting HEI must report the reason for the exception. If the variance is greater
than 20% the reporting HEI must report the reason for the exception and provide
the EMU with a detailed corrective plan to bring the project's performance back to
acceptable levels.
4.6. Effort and cost variance response process
Once the variation exceed the 20% threshold the reporting HEI must present
the EMU with options for corrective actions. The EMU will meet to select the best
option. The HEI will develop corrective action plan to bring the project back on
track. Once the EMU approves the plan, the change control procedure will be
activated and the action plan will become part of the project plan.
5. PROCUREMENT
During the project, partners will be required to acquire from third parties the
following services:
Table 18: Subcontracting of services
Partner
Work responsible Number of
Package for sub- Country days (where Brief description of task
Ref.nr contracting appropriate)
(Acronym)
5 HSWT DE 20 financial audit
external evaluation WP5 (including travel
5 HSWT DE 30
costs for monitoring)
monitoring on WP2 by expert company on
5 HSWT DE 10
farm data collection and analysis
2 HSWT DE online data bank server in EU x 2 years
SNAU, graphic printing and publishing handbooks and
4 UKR
NULES textbooks into Ukrainian
ANAU, graphic printing and publishing handbooks and
4 AM
YSU textbooks into Armenian
graphic printing and publishing handbooks and
4 SAI, AAI UZ
textbooks into Uzbek
translation of textbooks into Ukrainian (8
2 NULES UKR 90 textbooks of average 100 pages, 500 words per
page @0,015 per word)
translation of textbooks into Armenian (8
2 ANAU AM 90 textbooks of average 100 pages, 500 words per
page @0,015 per word)
translation of textbooks into Uzbek (8
2 SAI UZ 90 textbooks of average 100 pages, 500 words per
page @0,015 per word)
During the project, partners will be required to acquire equipment (table 19).
Table 19: Equipment procurement
Who What Total amount (EUR)
for each participant
Interactive screen,
2 laptops,
SNAU, NULES, ANAU, 10 PCs Core i7, 512 GB SDD
19500
YSU, SAI, AAI & audio-visual recording tool
(digital recording of video
material)
The number of each item and budget allocation for each category is detailed
in the Annex I of Partnership agreement.
The PC has oversight of the procurement for the project through the Annual
Financial Reports. The actual management for procurement activities falls with the
budget holding partner. The partner is responsible for collecting bids, evaluating
them, contracting the vendor and contract management. The partners are required
to strictly adhere to the Annex I of Partnership Agreement guidelines for
purchases. For deviations in purchases partners must obtain approval before
proceeding with procurement according to section 4.4.
The first step of risk management is to identify any risks that may impact the
project. One should essentially answer the question, "What could go wrong?". It's
important to encourage critical thinking when trying to identify risks.
There are several techniques that one can use to help identify risks, namely:
- Brainstorming
- Interviewing
- Risk Profiles
- Historical Data
- Assumptions Analysis
- Work Breakdown Structure Analysis
It should be kept in mind that this is not a one-time activity. As the project
progresses, new risks may evolve or become known while others may no longer be
relevant.
8.3.2. Risk Assessment
When one has a list of potential project risks, he needs to determine which
risks need to be managed. Generally, those risks that would have the greatest
impact to the project as well as those that are more likely to occur are the ones that
should be focused on.
A basic risk assessment will analyse each risk event for the likelihood that
the risk will occur and for the impact it will have if it occurs. This type of
qualitative risk analysis information can be plotted on a Risk Assessment Matrix
which incorporates the risk rating rules as defined in Project Risk Management
Plan.
Risk Assessment Matrix
8.3.3. Risk Response Development
For each risk, there are four response strategies that one can choose from:
Avoid
Transfer
Mitigate
Accept
8.3.3.1. Avoid
In some cases, risk avoidance is possible by making a change to the project
management plan. Some examples include extending or shortening the schedule,
changing the project strategy, or reducing scope.
8.3.3.2. Transfer
Risk transfer involves passing the risk to a third party. This doesn't change
or eliminate the risk, it simply gives another party the responsibility to manage the
risk. Examples of risk transfer include insurance and guarantees.
8.3.3.3. Mitigate
Risk mitigation means to reduce the probability and/or impact of a risk
event. Examples of risk mitigation include safety training and simplifying
processes.
8.3.3.4. Accept
Risk acceptance is when the project team decides not to change the project
management plan to deal with the risk or is unable to identify any other risk
response strategies for a risk event. This strategy can be passive where the project
team decides to just deal with the risk if it occurs. Or it can be active where the
project team has a contingency reserve allocated and plan in place in case the risk
occurs.
8.3.4. Monitor and Control Risks
Monitoring and controlling project risks involves implementing risk
response strategies, tracking identified risks, monitoring triggering events, and
identifying new risks. This should be done throughout the project.
6 6 12 18 24 30
Probability of Occurrence (P)
5 5 10 15 20 25
4 4 8 12 16 20
3 3 6 9 12 15
2 2 4 6 8 10
1 1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Severity (S)
Figure 5: Assessment of the identified risk according to its probability and
severity levels
A risk will be considered as low for 1-6 (green), medium for 8-12 (yellow)
and high for 15-30 (red).
8.5 Expected risks
Several risks are predicted to occur during the implementation of the project.
Their definition, likelihood of occurrence and remedies follow:
9.1 Introduction
The quality control strategy of TOPAS project will ensure that quality is
planned for both the deliverables and activities. This QCP will consist of the
methodology on implementation of the project's internal guidelines for reporting
and reviewing procedures to ensure the project's Quality Assurance. It will focus
on the assessment of quality assurance, as well as monitoring and evaluation of
project management, communication, dissemination strategies, working meetings
and the steering group performance. It will review the quality of project outputs in
the framework of quality indicators approved by all the partners. The monitoring of
project progress and quality of outputs in each WP will ensure the high quality of
project outcomes and will guarantee the compliance of project results with project
objectives.
The Quality Control Plan has two levels of evaluation of the Project:
internal and external.
9.2. Internal evaluation
The internal evaluation of the Project comprises two main components:
Day-to-Day Internal Evaluation of the Project: A quality monitoring team
composed of representatives of PC will be in charge of quality control (QC) and
monitoring of the project and developed results. QMT will be composed of 3
experts from the field of QC and 3 students from different consortium members. It
will be established in M1 with the task to set up a quality monitoring system and
QC Plan (M3) with procedures, methodologies and performance indicators for
evaluating the progress and assessing the quality of project results. An internal
quality plan will be developed as part of general management structure (WP5).
HSWT will regularly be updated on the status of activities by the Quality
Monitoring Team (QMT). Project coordinators will send to the QLT a report about
activities carried out at their institutions. Workshops held at the end of each
activity are ideal venues for coordination of activities, analysis of sources of
possible delays and discussions on possible solutions. In the cases where project
partners do not fulfil planned activities, funds will be reallocated to partners who
show more responsibilities. Management meetings will be used also to discuss
about QA implementation. Internally the QLT will implement various types of
monitoring and quality control processes: Questionnaires for academic and
administrative staff, students, farm managers, participants at training seminars,
automatic monitoring of project‘s websites. Depending on the context, different
mechanisms will be for quality control will be used: peer reviews, evaluation
surveys, internal institutional evaluation boards, timely work and performance
indicators.
Indicator for progress will be:
Feedback from EU partners during workshops;
timely work on the organization and execution of training seminars;
outreach projects performed regularly;
timely work on the organization and execution of the survey on
developed modules.
EU institutions will participate in quality assurance process at distance
(email, skype, videoconference). EU partners will contribute to the WP with
presentation of a cross-package appraisal & QA system for internships which the
QLT will adapt to the local context. A QA system for internships embedded in
ECQIP principles will be integrated and implemented in second and third year.
EU institutions will conduct testing, peer review and validation of internship
practices.
evaluator hired by HSWT will monitor the status of activities and level of
implementation and achievement of objectives using a Monitoring on Results
Methodology. A subcontracted agency will verify databank functionality and use
of farm data collection.
Peer reviews with Erasmus+ projects will be carried out via
videoconferencing or meetings in person.
Monitoring of the project will be implemented by National Erasmus+
Offices and EACEA according to their schedule of projects' monitoring process.
The quality assurance activities will be based on quantitative data (i.e.
meeting the specified deadlines, achievement of targets and indicators) and on
qualitative data (i.e. answers to questionnaires and reports). Data will be gathered
from all project partners and key stakeholders.
ANNEXES
PARTNERS)
585603-EPP-1-2017-1-DE-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP
From theoretical-oriented to practical education in agrarian
studies
Deliverable Dx.x
<Deliverable Title>
Del. Deliverable title / 0%- 10%- 20%- 30%- 40%- 50%- 60%- 70%- 80%- 90%-
No. Indicator / % made 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Del. Deliverable title / 0%- 10%- 20%- 30%- 40%- 50%- 60%- 70%- 80%- 90%-
No. Indicator / % made 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Del. Deliverable title / 0%- 10%- 20%- 30%- 40%- 50%- 60%- 70%- 80%- 90%-
No. Indicator / % made 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Del. Deliverable title / 0%- 10%- 20%- 30%- 40%- 50%- 60%- 70%- 80%- 90%-
No. Indicator / % made 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Del. Deliverable title / 0%- 10%- 20%- 30%- 40%- 50%- 60%- 70%- 80%- 90%-
No. Indicator / % made 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Nov. 08-10, 2017 HSWT Preparatory meeting Topics: baseline discussion, presentation and exchange on capacities, HSWT, NULES,
curricula, available data on agriculture and students' placement SNAU, WUC,
programs WUELS,
(intended as kick-off-meeting, but had to be re-scheduled due to UASVM
administrative delays at WUC (PIC-number not activated))
Feb. 19-29,2017 SAI Kick-Off Meeting Topics: presentation and discussion of each work package, fine-tuning All partners
of joint objectives with regard to the three pillars (1) students'
placement, (2) data base development on agriculture and (3) improved
teaching approaches
Presumably mid WUELS Placement programs Topics: presentation and discussion of progress in the outline and All partners
2018 institutionalization of improved national student-placement programs,
on-site visit and demonstration of WUELS facilities for student
placements and international cooperation
TOPAS Quality Control Plan, Version: v 0.2 , Date: 10/06/2018
83
From theoretical-oriented to practical
education in agrarian studies (TOPAS)
585603-EPP-1-2017-1-DE-EPPKA2-
CBHE-JP
Presumably 2rd SNAU Development: Topics: (1) Joint analysis of settings for student placements, data All partners
quarter 2020 placement, data bases collection and teaching approaches at UASVM and SUMI, (2)
and teaching presentation of achievements with regard to a) the improvement and
approaches adaptation of placement programs, b) the set-up of data management
for educational information systems and c) the introduction of
advanced teaching systems. Identification of potential approaches for
overcoming encountered bottlenecks
Presumably 3rd HWST Dissemination & Topics: Wrap-Up Meeting, consolidation of experiences, developments All partners
quarter 2020 exploitation and findings, specification of final updates on the internal and external
communication and presentation platforms