Staff training
Academic and non-academic staff can apply for funding to support short training visits abroad to partner institutions.
Visits normally last one week and funds can support a range of professional development activities.
Any member of staff (academic or non-academic) with a current contract of employment with the University of Edinburgh may apply for this funding.
What constitutes staff training?
Staff training can be many things and funding can be used to support a variety of professional development activities. These could include:
- Job shadowing or observation periods
- Attendance on workshops, courses or specific competence-building events
- Participation in a staff training week
Training programmes should be built around personal and professional development, and may include knowledge transfer, sharing good practice, learning from shared experience, acquiring practical skills or discovering new ideas for learning and teaching.
Applicants should note that conferences cannot be funded through this programme.
Staff training weeks
Many HEIs in Europe offer staff training weeks which offer a fixed training programme and provide an opportunity to meet with colleagues from many other universities in related fields at the same time.
Staff weeks may include a combination of presentations, workshops, networking activities and cultural activities. They may be themed to attract participants from the same area of work. They can be a good introduction to your host institution and country and, as there are usually participants from many institutions and countries, can be a good networking opportunity.
The European Commission has created a website detailing upcoming staff training weeks:
Find International Staff Training weeks in Europe
Please note that some training weeks have an attached cost and the Erasmus+ grant does not cover course or registration fees charged by the host institution.
The Erasmus+ subsistence grant may be used towards such costs. Alternatively, applicants may wish to discuss with their line managers whether any departmental funds are available to support staff training or professional development activities. Where neither option will cover costs, then the cost of the course would fall to the participant.
The course was fantastic, the people hosting were fantastic and the people on the course were fantastic – a great experience… I have met many new people who I have no doubt I will continue to keep in touch with and undoubtedly assist or point in the right direction when they or their colleagues have any questions, comments or enquires regarding University of Edinburgh.
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