Erasmus+ staff training (STT)

Erasmus+ staff training (STT) aims to improve the skills and competences of staff members and thereby to promote professional development. Training activities may include language and other courses, job shadowing/observation periods, brief training courses or a training programme at one of the partner institutions, but not conferences or workshops. (source: Nuffic handbook 2016-2017)

• Courses may last between 2 days (not including travel time) and two weeks (including travel time). The Erasmus+ fund may not be able to fully fund stays longer than two weeks (up to 60 days).
• You can apply for STT funding until 31 March through the University of Groningen contact person Ms Regine van Groningen r.j.van.groningen@rug.nl
• Depending on the number of applications, ten to fifteen places will be available for the entire University of Groningen. In practice this will mean that the Faculty of Arts can be awarded approximately 2 applications per year. Applications will be dealt with on a first come, first served basis.
• Priority will be given to support staff (OBP).
• PhD students are not eligible for STT funding because they have their own training budget.
• News about training activities provided by partner universities will be published here.

Requesting and booking a trip

• Complete the Application form for a foreign trip . Make sure you estimate your budget as accurately as possible.
• Ask your manager to sign the form for approval and then send it to r.j.van.groningen rug.nl In order to qualify for an Erasmus+ grant, the following forms must also be completed and signed:
• Erasmus+ Training mobility agreement
• Erasmus+ Grant Agreement
• The approved and signed travel application form will subsequently be signed by the person responsible for the budget and submitted to the Financial Administration Centre (FAC) to register the trip for the collective University travel insurance and enable you to submit expense claims.
• You may then book your trip with ATP Business Travel BV . The agency will advance the costs based on the approved application form.
• Send your approved and signed Erasmus+ forms to the host institution and have them signed by the person responsible before your trip. After signing the Mobility Office likes to receive these Erasmusforms.
• Before your trip the Mobility Office will send you via email a Certificate of Attendance to be signed by the person responsible at the host institution during your stay.

Reimbursement of costs and trip report

• Complete the Claim form for a foreign trip and submit it to the Mobility Office together with all receipts and other documentary evidence of costs incurred. Please also enclose your boarding pass if you travelled by plane! Only original proofs of payment will be processed – photocopies will not be accepted.
• The Faculty has the right to refuse full payment of claim forms (and deduct amounts for which receipts are missing) if a claim form is not fully completed or if forms and/or proofs of payment are missing.
• The claim form can only be processed if the following documents are also enclosed:
  - Erasmus+ Training mobility agreement
  - Erasmus+ Grant Agreement
  - Certificate of Attendance
• - Written trip report (results, experiences, added value to the Faculty/degree programme/yourself) in max. 1 A4 (in English or Dutch)
• Within 2 months upon return (60 days) a claim should be submitted. After 2 months any costs following this omission are for one's own account, and cannot be claimed anymore.

Grants

In 2015-2016 the European Commission provides per diem for each working day and travel costs based on location & distance. For the current exact amounts, please consider the staff mobility allowance 2016-2017. To calculate the distance the European Commission uses its own Online Distance Calculator . Additional EU allowances may be awarded in exceptional cases if extra costs are incurred. Such additional allowances must be applied for in advance and explicitly justified in an accompanying letter. Grants will be supplemented by the Faculty within reasonable limits – this is one of the reasons why we need you to estimate your budget as accurately as possible in your travel request. Substantial additional expenses incurred without prior consultation will not be reimbursed.

Questions?

Please do not hesitate to send your questions or remarks to Ms Regine van Groningen (r.j.van.groningen@rug.nl).