• Introduction: FP7 Contractual and Financial Management (Fully Booked - registration closed)
• UKRO Training Event: Developing a European Strategy - Closed
• New European Liaison Officers: Getting the Most out of European Funding - Closed
• FP7 Proposal Writing - Closed
• Advanced FP7 Contractual and Financial Management - Closed
• Introduction: FP7 Contractual and Financial Management - Closed
• UKRO Event on FP7 Ethics Regulations and Review Process - Closed

Introduction: FP7 Contractual and Financial Management

Date and venue: 20 April 2010 – Manchester Metropolitan University

Time: 10:00 - 16:00

Places: 30

Format: Workshop with UKRO presentations and discussion

Target audience: This event is targeted to address the needs of European Liaison Officers (ELOs) and research administrators who are involved in FP7 projects. The course is aimed at those new to the Framework Programme (FP) and does not assume any prior knowledge in dealing with FP contractual and financial management.

Content: This workshop will enable participants to gain an overview of the main financial and legal requirements in FP7 projects. A strong focus of the course is on dealing with financial issues, providing valuable guidance on FP7 proposal and grant agreement preparation.

The event covers:

• Introduction to the FP7 project environment
• Contractual issues
  The Model Grant Agreement, Consortium Agreements and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) issues
• Understanding FP7 finances
  Cost eligibility, cost reimbursement and certification requirements
• Reporting
  Scientific reporting and financial reporting

The event will be based around UKRO presentations with time for Q&A and discussion. It will predominantly focus on the Co-operation and Capacities Model Grant Agreement.

Benefits of attendance: Participants will be able to develop their understanding of the main issues in contractual and financial management. The course will help participants to effectively manage projects and further develop their internal institutional strategies. The day also provides an excellent opportunity to network and share best practice.

Rate: The workshop is free to UKRO subscribers and sponsors. Non-subscribers are able to participate for a fee of £150+VAT.

Please note that:

• Initially places will be allocated on a first-come first-serve basis;
• Capacity at this event is limited to 30 places. Therefore, to ensure that places are available for as many institutions as possible, UKRO will limit registrations to one place per institution in the first instance;
• UKRO also holds regular Advanced FP7 Financial and Contractual Management courses.

Registration:
(Fully Booked - registration closed)

UKRO Training Event: Developing a European Strategy

• Date: 11 January 2010
• Duration: 11.00-16.00
• Location: Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET
• Rate: The workshop is free to UKRO subscribers and sponsors. Non-subscribers are able to participate for a fee of £150+VAT.

Course content: This participative workshop provides an opportunity to examine the broader context of European research and higher education programmes in order to help identify the best approach for your institution and to increase the effectiveness of your institutional participation in EU funding programmes.

Target audience: This workshop is aimed at European Liaison Officers/European Research Managers who are interested in developing a strategic approach to European research and higher education funding in their institutions. The course is not aimed at researchers.

Format: A workshop with UKRO presentations and facilitated discussions.

This workshop aims to:

• Provide an overview and analysis of the main EU research and higher education policy developments;
• Highlight UK stakeholder perspectives and explore the UK research and higher education policy context;
• Discuss approaches to defining, implementing and monitoring an EU strategy suited to your institution;
• Identify opportunities and strategies to make the most of available resources;

Benefits of attendance: This workshop provides an opportunity to share best practice and draw on the experience of UKRO and other institutions in order to reflect on your institution’s approach to EU funding programmes. In order to make the most of this workshop, a small amount of preparatory work may be suggested.

New European Liaison Officers: Getting the Most out of European Funding

Dates: 7-8 December 2009

Timing: Two full days: from 9:30 on 7 December until approximately 16.15 on 8 December.

Venue:
UK Research Office
Rue du Commerce 45 BP3
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium

Target audience: this course is for European Liaison Officers or for individuals at a departmental, faculty or research group administration level who help researchers get involved in European Union research and higher education programmes. The course is not aimed at individual researchers.

Format: Over two days, the course provides participants with the opportunity to meet the UKRO team, and benefit from presentations given by the European Commission and by UKRO European Advisors. The programme covers a range of relevant topics designed to help participants understand the EU research funding landscape while networking and building links with colleagues from other subscribing organisations. The programme includes the opportunity to take a walking tour of the European Institutions or have a meeting with your UKRO European Advisor.

Objective: The course aims to provide an informative and engaging introduction to the EU research and higher education programmes. The course offers a detailed overview of the European Union and its programmes and policies, as well as more specific insights into the Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7). Participants will be able to familiarise themselves with the Brussels’ environment and meet colleagues from other institutions.

The course will help participants to:

• Understand the EU Institutions and their role in EU Programmes
• Gain an insight into the EU opportunities for your organisation
• Gain insight into Framework Programme 7
• Understand the basic FP7 project management, reporting and auditing requirements
• Understand effective proposal writing
• Experience the Brussels environment and meet with Commission staff
• Meet with colleagues from other subscribing institutions
• Optimise UKRO services for your institution

Rate: FREE to UKRO subscribers and sponsors (participants are expected to cover their own travel, subsistence and accommodation costs).

Registration: CLOSED

FP7 Proposal Writing

Dates and venues:

• 15 October 2009 - Old Fire Station, University of Salford
• 16 October 2009 - Flett Theatre, Natural History Museum, London

Capacity: 100 places

The most recent calls for proposals of FP7 (Seventh Framework Programme) were launched in late July 2009, with many deadlines falling around the end of the year and in early 2010.

UKRO will be holding a one-day proposal writing course in two different venues for researchers and research administrators involved in preparing FP7 proposals. The course is designed to help you find funding opportunities in FP7, give an overview of the submission and evaluation process, cover key financial and legal issues to consider when drafting a proposal and help you maximise your chances of success, with hints and tips and examples of best practice. The course will run from 10am until 4.30 pm.

Programme

• Identifying opportunities in FP7
• Submission and evaluation
• Financial issues in proposal writing
• Hints and Tips for Success

Who should attend: This course is ideally suited to all researchers interested in participating in FP7 calls for proposals and to research administrators who work with academics at the pre-award stage.

Benefits of attendance: Participants will understand where the European funding opportunities for their research lie and what steps to take to prepare an application, and gain feedback on experiences from previous FP7 calls for proposals. No previous experience with the Framework Programme is required. This course will also provide an excellent networking opportunity.

Rate: The workshop is free to UKRO subscribers and sponsors. Non-subscribers are able to participate for a fee of £150+VAT.

Note: Places on the workshop will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Registration: (registration is now closed)

Advanced FP7 Contractual and Financial Management

11 September 2009 – MRC London

Time: 10:00 - 15:00

Places: 15

Format: Workshop with UKRO presentations and facilitated discussions

Target audience: This event is targeted to specifically address the needs of experienced European Liaison Officers (ELOs) and project managers who are managing FP7 projects. Please note that the course is aimed only at participants that have substantial experience in this area and/or have already attended an UKRO course on Grant Agreements and Financial Issues in FP7.

Content: This workshop is designed to provide advanced contractual and financial management training for participants already involved in FP7 grant agreement preparation and project management. It will enable participants to analyse the complex challenges associated with FP7 contractual and financial management and to share and promote best practice. The course will have a strong focus on dealing with complex financial issues, relating to FP7 proposal and grant agreement preparation as well as FP7 project planning and project management.

The event covers: Information and guidance on the financial and contractual provisions in the FP7 Grant Agreement and Annexes. The contractual and financial aspects of FP7 project management will also be addressed. In addition, the event will draw attention to key issues in reporting and auditing requirements and lessons learnt. The event will be based around UKRO presentations with a strong focus on facilitated discussion. There will also be time for Q&A. The event will focus on the FP7 Co-operation and Capacities Model Grant Agreement.

Benefits of attendance: Aimed at experienced ELOs and project managers, participants will be able to develop their understanding of problematic issues in contractual and financial management. The course will help participants to effectively manage projects and further develop their internal institutional strategies. The day also provides an excellent opportunity to network and share best practices.

Please note that:

• Initially places will be allocated on a first-come first-serve basis;
• Capacity at this event is limited to 15 places. Therefore, to ensure that places are available for as many institutions as possible, UKRO will limit registrations to one place per institution in the first instance;
• UKRO also holds regular Introductory FP7 Financial and Contractual Management courses.

Rate: The workshop is free to UKRO subscribers and sponsors. Non-subscribers may be able to participate for a fee (£150+VAT), should there be space available.

Registration:
Please note that the event is now full. If you wish to be included on the reserve list, please send us an e-mail at: ukro@bbsrc.ac.uk (Subject line: Reserve: Advanced FP7 Contractual and Financial Management)

Introduction: FP7 Contractual and Financial Management

Date and venue: 2 September 2009 – MRC London

Time: 10:00 - 16:00

Places: 25

Format: Workshop with UKRO presentations and discussion

Target audience: This event is targeted to address the needs of European Liaison Officers (ELOs) and research administrators who are involved in FP7 projects. The course is aimed at those new to the Framework Programme (FP) and does not assume any prior knowledge in dealing with FP contractual and financial management.

Content: This workshop will enable participants to gain an overview of the main financial and legal requirements in FP7 projects. A strong focus of the course is on dealing with financial issues, providing valuable guidance on FP7 proposal and grant agreement preparation, as well as touching on FP7 project planning and project management.

The event covers:

• Introduction to the FP7 project environment
• Contractual issues
  The Model Grant Agreement, Consortium Agreements and IPR issues
• Understanding FP7 finances
  Cost eligibility, cost reimbursement and certification requirements
• Reporting
  Scientific Reporting and Financial Reporting

The event will be based around UKRO presentations with time for Q&A and discussion. It will predominantly focus on the Co-operation and Capacities Model Grant Agreement.

Benefits of attendance: Participants will be able to develop their understanding of the main issues in contractual and financial management. The course will help participants to effectively manage projects and further develop their internal institutional strategies. The day also provides an excellent opportunity to network and share best practice.

Rate: The workshop is free to UKRO subscribers and sponsors. Non-subscribers are able to participate for a fee of £150+VAT.

Please note that:

• Initially places will be allocated on a first-come first-serve basis;
• Capacity at this event is limited to 25 places. Therefore, to ensure that places are available for as many institutions as possible, UKRO will limit registrations to one place per institution in the first instance;
• UKRO also holds regular Advanced FP7 Financial and Contractual Management courses.

Registration:  CLOSED

UKRO Event on FP7 Ethics Regulations and Review Process

Date:  10 June 2009

Location: MRC, London

Places: 40

Time:  10:00 – 13:00

Rate:  Free to UKRO subscribers and sponsors. £75 + VAT for non-subscribers

Course content
This interactive event will provide valuable guidance on the FP7 ethics regulations and review process. The course is designed to help applicants and European Liaison Officers understand ethical requirements and to effectively address them in FP7 proposals.

Target audience
The event is aimed at European Liaison Officers, research managers, project managers and researchers.

Format
Delivered by Joana Namorado, Scientific Officer in DG Research, and supported by UKRO, the course will include presentations and facilitate discussions on ethical issues. The aim of the event is to provide an overview of the importance of ethical issues in FP7. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions. Some of the key topics to be discussed include:

• Introduction to Ethical Aspects and Ethics Review at Commission level;
• Ethics regulations;
• Research that shall not be financed by FP7;
• When proposals are sent for review;
• Why proposals fail and succeed.

Benefits of attendance
The event provides an opportunity to gain an insight into dealing with ethical issues in FP7 and look at some of the main issues and challenges. You will also have the opportunity to network with colleagues in other institutions.

Registration: CLOSED

Please note that:

• Initially places will be allocated on a first-come first-serve basis;
• Capacity at this event is limited to 40 places. Therefore, to ensure that places are available for as many institutions as possible, UKRO will limit registrations to one place per institution in the first instance.