 Objectives
The main
aim of Thematic Networks (TN) is to enhance quality and to define and
develop a European dimension within a given academic discipline or study
area, or as regards a topic of an interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary
nature, or in other matters of common interest (such as university
management, quality assurance etc.). This is achieved by means of
cooperation between universities, university faculties or departments.
Such cooperation should also involve academic associations, learned
societies, professional bodies, other partners of socio-economic
importance in the public or private sector and, where appropriate, student
organisations. Cooperation within Thematic Networks is expected to lead to
outcomes which will have a lasting and widespread impact on universities
across Europe in the field concerned.
Who's eligible?
The beneficiary as well as
the co-ordinating organisation of an Erasmus Thematic Network has to be a university (nearly all universities in Europe take part in Erasmus) or
any non-university higher education establishment or post-university
studies organisation, which is recognised to participate in Erasmus.
The list of all eligible institutions can be found on
this website. The partnership, however, can include any institution or organisation,
which is eligible in the general framework of the SOCRATES programme, as
long as the majority of partners are higher education institutions.
Financial support
Projects submitted by Thematic Networks are funded for three years, the
applicant university should include in its proposal a work plan and budget
covering the full duration of the project. Payments will be made in
instalments, subject to the submission of satisfactory interim
reports. The level of financial support will depend on the size and scope
of the project.
Dissemination
and exploitation of results
Thematic
Networks should seek to disseminate and exploit project outcomes, in particular beyond the group of
institutions directly involved. As indicated above, the work programmes of
all projects should therefore include reference to the dissemination
methods envisaged.
In
addition, Community support can be provided for Thematic Networks which, in
one academic year, wish to focus specifically on the dissemination (and exploitation) of final results of proven quality. Only Thematic
Networks which have already completed a cycle of three years can apply for
an additional year of dissemination of the results.
How to apply?
There is a two-phase selection process:
- a pre-proposal is submitted (deadline 1 November). Only if
your proposal is successful will you be invited to make
- a full-proposal (deadline 1 March of the following year)
The Socrates General
Call for Proposals 2005 and the Guidelines for
Applicants (edition June 2004) should be read in conjunction with one
another. Together they contain all the information needed in order to
apply for Socrates grants.
Further Information
If you have a specific question you can contact the Executive Agency by email
You can find more information on
the Thematic Networks action on the European Commission web site
Other sources:
Information on previous projects
Several sources of information on past projects are available concerning this Action.
- The Compendium is
a series of documents containing a description of all the projects by selection
round. It includes a brief summary of the activities and the
contact details of the participants.
- The ISOC database (Socrates Projects Database) is an interactive database containing all the projects selected
in the past. It is updated by the project coordinators directly.
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