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- action programme 2000-2006

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Following its initial phase, from 1995 to 1999, the Community's Leonardo da Vinci vocational training programme is now in its second phase, covering the seven-year period from 2000 to 2006. The programme promotes transnational projects based on co-operation between the various players in vocational training - training bodies, vocational schools, universities, businesses, chambers of commerce, etc. - in an effort to increase mobility, to foster innovation and to improve the quality of training. The Leonardo da Vinci programme aims at helping people improve their skills throughout their lives.

Community funds for the first phase of the programme amounted to € 793.8 million, approximately 40% of which was used for mobility projects. This meant that from the end of 1995 to early 2001 about 125 000 people received a grant for a work-related stay abroad. In addition, a total of over 3 000 pilot and other projects were funded producing an eclectic range of training products in a variety of media. Funding has increased in the second phase and in the year 2001 around 38 000 people benefited from a Leonardo da Vinci grant. The budget for the second phase is just under € 1.4 billion and the programme is open to 31 countries.

It is now necessary to build on the achievements of the first phase of the Leonardo da Vinci programme in order to ensure its continued success and make it even more relevant to today's individual and society. The Leonardo da Vinci programme is a key instrument in the drive to implement lifelong learning strategies that offer synergies between European policies for training and employment.

Information about participating in a Leonardo da Vinci project can be obtained by contacting the Leonardo da Vinci national agencies.

Videos, brochures and a database of good practice have also been produced and are available for the general public. The videos and brochures can be obtained from the national agencies or from the Directorate-General for Education and Culture (eac-info@cec.eu.int).

More information: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/leonardo/leonardo_en.html