Art. 1 and 3 amended ERASMUS+ PROGRAM NOTICE OF SELECTION ERASMUS FOR STUDY 2017/2018 This announcement has been issued to notify students about the selection process for the award of financial assistance aimed at supporting student mobility to study (therefore called Erasmus for study) for academic year 2017/2018 as part of the Erasmus +. 1 - Eligible Students Students enrolled in the a.y. 2016/17 in any course of study at all levels at the University of Siena are eligible. Note, however, that: 1. Students enrolled in their third year of a first-level course, planning to graduate before leaving for the Erasmus program for study, should submit a plan of study describing the Master level courses that they plan to take in the academic year 2017/2018 at the University of Siena and will be permitted to study abroad only following their eventual enrollment for the academic year 2017/2018. In case recipients end their career between September and December 2017, they are allowed to start their mobility only in the second semester 2017/2018; 2. Students who have already received an LLP/Erasmus or Erasmus + grant or can submit the application for the Erasmus mobility for study 2017/2018 with the following conditions: a) Three-years undergraduate, Masters, and PhD students may not receive monthly Erasmus benefits that exceed a total of 12 months. b) Ciclo-unico (five-year combined bachelors and masters degree program) students cannot study abroad for more than a total of 24 months. 3. Once selected, students who are not citizens of the European Union must obtain information regarding visa and Permit to Stay requirements and fees of the country in which they intend to study. 2 - Study-Abroad Period and Acceptable Activities Recipients of an Erasmus grant to study in 2017/2018 will spend a period of study at the host university lasting between 3 and 12 months, to be held between 06/01/17 and 30/09/18. Only students enrolled to the a.a 2017/18 will be allowed to carry out the Erasmus for studies mobility. During this period, the student s academic career will be considered suspended for mobility. Possible activities during the period of study abroad are: attending courses; taking exams; thesis preparation. The Erasmus study-abroad period will be limited to the number of months stated in the Agreement signed between the beneficiary and the University of Siena. 1
Any changes to the duration of the mobility must be agreed upon with the Erasmus coordinators and agreed upon in writing submitting the request for extension and amendment to the financial agreement to erasmus.out@unisi.it; the parties are not bound by verbal agreements. These changes must be notified, in the form provided, by 1 May 2018. 3 - Application procedure The application to obtain an Erasmus for studies award 2017/2018 have to be submitted on-line, logging to the page https://segreteriaonline.unisi.it/home.do. The instructions will be soon available in the webpage http://en.unisi.it/international/mobilityabroad/study-and-research-abroad/erasmus-studies. The on-line procedure will open on January 16 th 2017 at 12:00 and close on February 23 rd 2017 at 10:00, deadline of the present notice of selection. 4 - Host Universities Those who intend to apply for the award of an Erasmus grant may express up to three preferences among the Erasmus destinations available on the list that can be found at: http://en.unisi.it/international/mobility-abroad/study-and-research-abroad/erasmus-studies In the selection of destinations students will have to pay attention to the instructions given alongside the name of the foreign university: - Subject area must correspond to the type of courses offered which will be available at the registered foreign university (sometimes exclusively); in particular it is recommended to select subject areas similar to the degree course students are attending in Siena; - Cycle of study to which the grant is restricted corresponding to the level of study programs that will be available at the registered foreign university (Firs cycle: bachelor, Second cycle: Master, Third cycle: PhD or Post-graduate courses). Many host Universities do not permit attendance of courses of lower or higher levels than the ones students are attending at the home University; - Level of language and/or international certifications of language recommended requests (often sent to the University before the mobility for acceptance at the University itself); - agreement identification number (BA ) given to each destination listed both in the table uploaded on http://en.unisi.it/international/mobility-abroad/study-and-research-abroad/erasmusstudies and in the on-line application page. Once submitted the application, no changes can be made. 5 - Evaluation of Applications The evaluation will be calculated based on the following items that will be added together: 1 - merit score (max 30 points): - for students enrolled in I level courses (L1, L2, LC5, LC6, LM5, LM6): 0.8 * obtained grades average + 0.2 * (30 * credits obtained/credits required); - for students enrolled in II level courses (LM, LS): 2
0.15 * obtained grades average + 0.15 * (30 * credits obtained/credits required) + 0.7 * mark on access degree (in thirtieths); - for students enrolled in III level courses (M1,M2, D2, S1,SP2,SP3,SP4,SP5,SP6): mark on access degree (in thirtieths); 2 - knowledge of foreign language (max 30 points); 3- congruence of the study abroad program and motivation of the candidate (max 30 points). Concerning point 3, coordinators may carry out interviews based on the application submitted from March 13 th to 17 th, 2017. The interview timetable will be available in the webpage http://en.unisi.it/international/mobility-abroad/study-and-research-abroad/erasmus-studies. For those with the same total score, the software Esse3 managing the ranking procedure will apply the standard criterium. 6 - Evaluation of language knowledge As for art. 5, point 2, the knowledge of a foreign language will be assessed for each of the destinations chosen (according to the languages specified in the table of destinations) as follows: Certifications and exams: 1) for English language, the candidate who already has a qualification (idoneità) or a certification registered by the University of Siena in the current or previous, recent academic career or an exam mark out of thirty will be evaluated automatically and does not need any other documentation. Candidates who have not already presented a possible international certification to the CLA will have to do so by March 7 th, 2017. In the event that the certification already produced is superior to the one registered in the academic career, the candidate will have to write to CLA (infocla@unisi.it) within March 7 th and wait for confirmation. See table certifications on the CLA website www.cla.unisi.it; 2) for all other languages (French, Portuguese, Spanish and German), applicants, who possess a certification exam or career or fitness with clear indication of the level are invited to submit directly to the CLA within March 7th, 2017 will have to provide CLA with a self-certification form available on the website www.cla.unisi.it, attaching a copy of the relevant documentation; The Secretariat of the University Language Center- Siena (Piazza San Francesco, 8) is open Monday to Friday from 10-13. The Secretariat of the University Language Center- Arezzo (Campus Pionta, Viale Luigi Cittadini, 33) is open during days and hours available at http://www.cla.unisi.it/it/sede-diarezzo/presentazione-delle-attivita Language test: 3) only the candidates who do not meet the above requirements will have to take a test whose result will be worth the sole purpose of the allocation of points for the ranking of awarding grants. The language assessment cannot lead in any way to level certifications for admission in foreign universities. Students will have to provide themselves with the certifications that may be required from the place of destination. In Siena, the test will take place in the computer rooms A and G Street Fieravecchia, 19 in the period between March 1st and 7 th, 2017. Candidates of Arezzo will take the test at the headquarters of Arezzo CLA (Campus Pionta, Palazzina Men) between March 1 st and 7 th, 2017. 3
In both cases, exams must be booked through the page http://web.cla.unisi.it/erasmus. Reservations will be active from the 15 th of January to the 15 th of February 2017, the period in which you can enter your application online. In the event that the student s level of knowledge of the foreign language is not consistent with that required by the host, they are not denied access to the ranking. In the event that the candidate does not book a test and is not in possession of other documents to prove the level of language, they would be awarded 0 marks. The candidate who intends to take one or more language tests, will have to book them through the page http://app.cla.unisi.it/erasmus. The language test takes place on the computer and consists of multiple choice questions on grammar and vocabulary. For each question, the candidate will have to complete a sentence by choosing from one of the options given. At the end of the test the candidate can determine their level by looking at table 2, attached to the notice of selection: beginner, elementary, preintermediate, upper intermediate, advanced. NB: If the candidate decides not to show up for the test, please cancel the booking made. 7 - Assignment of the Erasmus Grant for Study The list of recipients of the Erasmus grant, in an approved arrangement with the Director General, will be published on the International Relations Division web page: http://www.unisi.it/internazionale/studio-e-stage-allestero/studio-e-ricerca-allestero/erasmus-studies The publication of this list is the equivalent of notification to all intents and purposes and no further notice will be given to recipients. The status of Erasmus students and the award of the Erasmus grant for 2017/2018 with its eligibility to benefit from the expected economic contributions will be confirmed only if they comply with the procedures set out in this Notice. They are also subject to acceptance of the grant-holder by the host university and the definitive adoption by the competent authorities of the European mobility programs that are carried out. The International Relations Division will appoint in an official manner, immediately after the publication of the list, the recipients to the host Universities requiring them to send directly to the student by e-mail, information material and the forms (Application Form, Learning Agreement Accommodation Form...) necessary to the organization of the mobility period and enrollment, as an Erasmus student at the host university. 8 - Obligations on Grant-holders The Erasmus grant recipients are held to the following tasks: Formalities required by the host: All forms required will be transmitted by the student to the host university in order to obtain the final acceptance of the mobility and the study plan. Students must be aware that it is their responsibility to reach the level of language proficiency required and produce any relevant certificates, in the timeframe specified by the foreign University. Before the mobility - Learning agreement, see art. 9; 4
- Financial agreement. To be handed in the 15 days before departure to the International desk or sent to all Ufficio programmi europei di formazione e mobilità, Divisione Relazioni Internazionali, Università di Siena, Via S.Vigilio n. 6, 53100 Siena. Failure will cancel the benefit. The financial agreement will be valid after the University of Siena Legal Representative s signature. - Residence vancancy. Students living in a University residency are requested to communicate the mobility period by filling the appropriate on-line form. The student willing to withdraw the mobility is requested to inform the European programs for training and mobility office and the host university. The above mentioned forms are available at the webpage http://en.unisi.it/international/mobilityabroad/study-and-research-abroad/erasmus-studies/mobility. During the mobility - Erasmus certificate. To be sent by e-mail to erasmus.out@unisi.it with the arrival date and the host university seal. Failure will not allow the grant payment. - Exeptional major changes to the original Learning agreement. If necessary, see art. 9. - Mobility extension. Students willing to extend their mobility will have to obtain the approval of both coordinators and afterwards send the appropriate form to erasmus.out@unisi.it The above mentione documents are available at the webpage: http://en.unisi.it/international/mobility-abroad/study-and-research-abroad/erasmus-studies/duringmobility After the mobility At the end of mobility, the student will have to send to erasmus.out@unisi.it the following 2 files: 1) Erasmus certificate with arrival and departure dates 2) Learning agreement in one pdf file Furthermore the student will receive a message from replies-will-be-discarded@ec.europa.eu with a link to a report to be filled in the following 15 days. Failure will prevent the balance payments. Failing to hand the above listed final documents will lead to the complete refund of the money received. Before the mobility 9 - Procedure for Approval of Educational Activities Carried Out Abroad 1) At least two months before their departure, the student must fill out and sign the Learning Agreement (LA), and bring it to the Office of Students and Teaching (OST) of the correct department for approval of the Committee for Education (CE); - if the host university requires the LA for the registration procedure Erasmus (application) that expires prior to the date of the meeting of the Committee, the Chairman of the CE will sign the LA and this will then lead to ratification of the Committee for teaching. The student will collect a copy to send to the host. - if you do not have time to even the signature of the President of the CE, the student will bring the LA the International Relations Division for the signature of the Institutional Erasmus Coordinator. The student will collect a copy to send the host university, while the original will be sent by the Division competent the OST. 5
2) Upon approval of LA, the President of the CE sign them in the "Sending institution - Responsible person's signature" OST and fill in the appropriate box for internal use; 3 ) Before leaving, the student must withdraw the MANDATORY LA original and bring it to the host university to get a signature. A copy should be brought to the OST. During mobility If the student needs to make changes to the LA, they must complete the relevant part of the section During the mobility, they must have it signed by the host university and then send it by e-mail to the OST (within 2 months of starting the mobility) that will go to the EC. Once the changes are approved by the EC, the OST will compile the parts of proficiency and will e-mail the document to the student. After the mobility The student should bring to the International Relations Division a copy of the LA with all sections filled in, while the original will be delivered to the OST with the Transcript of Records for the recognition procedure. 10 - Economic Contributions The European Community financial contribution paid to recipients, on the basis of the contribution awarded by the National Erasmus and the view of the Ministry of Education of 27 January 2014 addressed to the institutes of higher education and about the level of grants for mobility of Erasmus students and staff, includes the following amounts: Mobility to: Mobility to: which will be paid as follows: Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Hungary Euro 280,00/month Euro 230,00/month - 80% of the total grant within 30 days after Erasmus certificate receipt with the arrival date; - balance after sending the final documents at described in art. 8. A supplement to the grant of Euro 3,50 per day will also be provided thanks to a ministerial contribution and will be paid as follows: - Euro 70,00 per month on the basis of the number of months declared on the financial agreement; - balance after sending the final documents at described in art. 8. There will be additional funds to support the mobility of students with disabilities. How to apply for these grants will be announced following the assignment of the grant. Funds are provided for students and grant-holders with disadvantaged economic conditions based on parameters that will be announced later. Erasmus grant-holders continue to take advantage of any study grants or grants that are national beneficiaries, while they may not benefit simultaneously to other grants funded by the European Commission. Student winners in the competition organized by ARDSU (Regional Agency for the Right to Education) for the grant 2016/2017, wishing to participate in the allocation of Erasmus grants for the academic year 2017/2018 may apply for the award of a regional grant for international mobility. For more information, visit the website or www.dsu.toscana.it refer to 0577/760819 or by email at cghezzi@dsu.toscana.it. 6
11 -Privacy and Confidentiality of Personal Data Under Art. 13 and the Art. 24 of Decree Law 196/2003 the personal data sent by candidates with the application for participation in Erasmus +, will be processed for the purposes of management of the selection procedure and possible proceedings for the grant award. At any time the parties concerned can exercise their rights under Art. 7 of Decree Law 196/2003 regarding the holder of the processing of personal data. 7
All. 1 University Language Center Table No. 1 Proficiency Rating for Erasmus Candidates International certification recognized by CLA or suitability or language exam in Business A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2 17 points 19 points 22 points 26 points 29 points 30 points 8
All. 2 University Language Center Table No. 2 Proficiency Rating for Erasmus Candidates Language test designed to evaluate only Erasmus for selection Beginner 8 points Elementary 16 points Pre-intermediate 18 points Intermediate 20 points Upper Intermediate 24 points Advanced 27 points 9