BlueLightS - 1st Call for Blue Challenges in European Schools

Beneficiary & submission

Who is eligible to apply The first BlueLIghtS funding call is directed at primary and secondary-level schools (including vocational schools) of the EU-27 Member States and third countries associated with Horizon Europe . Grants will be awarded to schools as legal entities (and not to teachers, students, or any other persons individually). However, it is expected that students, teachers, school leaders, and eventually other stakeholders also actively participate in the preparation of the applications.  Eligible applications In order to be considered eligible for funding, applications should:   ·Be submitted between September 15 and November 15, 2024; ·Be submitted electronically via the official application form on the BlueLIghtS website; ·Present projects that have not been funded by the Probleu and SHORE projects.    The submission process Applications will be submitted online through the project’s webpage at https://blue-lights.eu/grant-for-schools/ The application form includes: 1.       An administrative section with information about the school, the contact person(s) and the proof of membership to the Network of European Blue Schools (or a statement with the agreement to apply as members of the Network) 2.        The description of the proposed blue challenge project/activities to be carried out by the school 3.        The estimated budget of the blue challenge project/action 4.        The Declaration on Honour in relation to exclusion criteria The applications should be submitted in English language. Maximum grant for each Blue Challenge is 3000 EUR. Timetable Deadline for submission of applications - 15.11.2024 Project evaluations – 16.11.2024 to 17.01.2024 Announcement of results – 20.01.2025 Signing of contracts – 20.01 to 28.2.2025 Projects implementation dates – 15.2.2025 - 30.7.2025 Selection results Please consult the project website for the selection results https://blue-lights.eu/news/results-1st-call-for-blue-challenges-in-european-schools/

Further information

Objectives of the call for Blue Challenges/Blue Schools 1. Wide-scale development of more impactful blue projects in schools that support the Mission Ocean & Water ambition while contributing to the widening of the Network of European Blue Schools (NEBS) 2. Diversifying the community of schools that engage into blue challenges - from coastal to inland, primary/secondary and vocational, including schools for disabled children 3. Mobilising youth via e-twinning between schools Calls with target in priority blue challenge projects that are: (1) innovative and ambitious in relation to the key principles of blue education (common criteria to all) - so these can be clear "source of inspiration"; (2) with the thematic focus of the different regional lighthouses (e.g. pollution/plastics in the Med, ocean/water ecosystem conservation in the Atlantic/Arctic and in the Danube/Black Sea, sustainable aquaculture in the Baltic.); (3) supporting the experimentation activities of BlueLights project, carried out in selected countries (France, Portugal, Croatia, Greece, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Romania). What types of projects can be submitted The BlueLightS project’s goal is to support flexible and effective ocean and water literacy programs for primary and secondary schools (including vocational schools). Each project considered for support has to: ·Promote and contribute to achieving of EU Mission “Restore our ocean and waters by 2030” objectives  ·Enlarge and strengthen the NEBS, contributing to the work of the EU4Ocean Coalition. Consequently, all schools are either an EU blue school or have applied to become an EU blue school. You may check the mandatory and optional criteria on how to become a European Blue School ·Promote collaborative learning practices with staff and students via eTwinning as key tool to intercultural learning and giving opportunities to bring a clear European dimension  ·Engage students, youth, teachers, school leaders, and the wider school community in the pursuit of ocean and water literacy and sustainability.  Available budget  In this call, the available budget is 100 000 Euros and 35-40 blue challenges are expected to be funded. The maximum grant per school is set at 3 000 Euro. Further information Applicants whould read carefully the call for Blue Challenges at the dedicated webpage https://blue-lights.eu/grant-for-schools/ The copy of the application form is available online, only for information purposes. Applications should be submitted only online. Applications sent through e-mails will not be considered. Questions can be asked, through the contact form. Participants will receive replies through e-mail, while FAQs will be posted at the website.