The FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) was created in order to facilitate your access to information concerning the application, implementation and settlement of projects realized within the framework of structural funds.
In the FAQ tab you will find basic information about structural funds and, in order to provide you with quick access to information, links to the answers to the most frequent problems of beneficiaries published on the websites of the Intermediate Bodies and Implementing Authorities.
Please address individual questions directly to the Department staff (Building B - Room 402A) or send them to the common address of the Department: projekty@pg.edu.pl. Some of them, along with answers, will also be published in the FAQ.
1. general remarks on the application of model contracts of employment / annexes to the contracts of employment 16a-16f 16i-16j in the Projects, which constitute an integral part of the opinion on the model.
- When applying the templates, one should take into account the overall situation of the employee (previous terms and conditions of employment, including the content of the employment contract and the content of any other concluded annexes to the employment contract), comply with generally applicable laws, the Labour Regulations (RP PG), the PG Remuneration Regulations (RW PG), and the guidelines to the funds, It is necessary to pay particular attention to the necessity to apply and supplement specimens of employment contracts/ annexes to employment contracts related to employment in projects in accordance with generally applicable provisions of labour law, forms and principles of remuneration provided for in the PG Remuneration Regulations (RW PG), as well as to observe the deadlines for payment of remuneration components determined in RP PG and RW PG. Allowances for the remuneration should be granted and determined in the amount and manner adequate to the rules provided for in the Remuneration Rules for a particular allowance and in accordance with the requirements and guidelines for a given Project, including in accordance with the provisions of the entire project documentation (including, but not limited to, the application for co-financing, the contract for co-financing/competition documentation, the budget for remuneration).
- When determining the amount of remuneration, the principles of sound financial management as well as other principles of public funds management, which are binding for the University according to the provisions of the Public Finance Act, must be observed. One should take into account the public finance discipline, the principles of effectiveness and rationality of expenditure, proportionality to the project work time, and finally, that in EU projects, the amount of remuneration should correspond to the rates actually applied at the Beneficiary outside of projects co-financed from structural funds and CF at analogous positions or at positions requiring analogous qualifications, as well as that the rules for the award of allowances should be the same for the staff involved in the implementation of projects and for the other employees of the Beneficiary.
- Pursuant to §30 of the PG Remuneration Regulations:
- The project implementation allowance is granted by the Rector respectively:
- at the request of the head of the unit/project accepted by the head of the unit where the employee is employed;
- at the request of the project manager accepted by the head of another organizational unit realizing the project, with the positive opinion of the head of the unit where the employee is employed.
- Similarly, although with some differences when it comes to other allowances.
- The above rule must be followed formally, taking into account the differences in the scope of particular allowances as stipulated in the PG RW.
- The extension of the scope of the existing duties/activities remunerated with the allowance must be in compliance with the labour laws in force in this respect and may not result in overtime/extra hours of work. The working hours may not exceed 1/1 time.
- It should not be overlooked that in the task-based system of working time (here: academic staff) the employer, in consultation with the employee, determines the time necessary for the completion of the assigned tasks, taking into account the size of the working time, resulting from the applicable standards (Article 140 of the Labour Code). Tasks under the task-based system of working time must be established in a manner that allows for their performance within the working time standards. Ordering an employee to perform tasks that are impossible to be performed in the normal working time is qualified by the courts as an order to provide work in excess of the working time standards, resulting in the right to remuneration for overtime/extra hours.
2. What are Structural Funds?
Structural Funds are funds created in the European Community budget (Council Regulation No. 1083 of 11 July 2006 laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No. 1260/1999) to help restructure and modernise member states' economies through intervention in key sectors and regions (structural improvement). There are currently two structural funds:
- European Regional Development Fund (Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 on the European Regional Development Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1783/1999),
- European Social Fund (Regulation (EC) No 1081/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 on the European Social Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1784/1999).
3. What are the individual projects?
Individual projects are characterised by strategic importance for programme implementation and are designated by the Managing Authority. The Managing Authority or Intermediate Body may also indicate by name the beneficiary of an individual project. Implementation of individual projects is possible only in problematic areas, specified by the Managing Authority for particular support areas. These areas should result directly from sectoral or voivodeship strategies or other programmes adopted for a given support area.
4. What is "Cross-financing"?
Cross-financing is a flexible way of financing projects, which consists in co-financing within the project from ERDF funds of complementary activities falling within the scope of ESF and co-financing within the project from ESF funds of complementary activities falling within the scope of ERDF.
In other words, if the project concerns an infrastructural investment, it is possible to include in the project the so-called soft expenditures (e.g. costs of training or consultancy) on condition that incurring such expenditures is justified by achieving project cohesion. Similarly, if the project is of soft character (i.e. concerns training, counselling, competence enhancement, introduction of new organisational solutions, etc.) it is possible to supplement the project with some material expenses (such as equipment), but only those which are necessary for the project implementation and success.
5. When can an expense be considered eligible?
Expenditure is eligible if it was incurred under the approved project implemented with the participation of the European Funds. The eligibility of expenditures is determined by the Community regulations, regulations included in the programme details and possibly additionally by other regulations set by the managing authority.
What does it mean that the competition is "closed"?
It means that the call for applications takes place within a limited timeframe, such as in the case of competitions for Priority II of OP IE, which lasted from 22.02 to 29.08. 2008.
What is the definition of a scientific unit?
Scientific units are entities conducting continuous scientific research or development works:
a) basic organisational units of higher schools or higher vocational schools within the meaning of the statutes of those schools,
b) research establishments of the Polish Academy of Sciences,
c) research and development units,
d) international scientific institutes established under separate legislation,
e) organisational units which have the status of research and development units,
f) Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences,
g) other organizational units, not mentioned in letters a-f, having legal personality and headquarters in Poland.
8 What is a scientific and industrial consortium?
It is a group of organizational units, which includes at least one research unit and at least one entrepreneur, which under a civil-law agreement undertake a joint venture involving research, development work or investment serving the needs of research or development.
9 What is the difference between a "partner" and a "subcontractor"?
A partnership is based on a commitment to act together to achieve a stated goal. Partnership is regarded as taking action on the basis of a common strategy and developing an elaborated approach to specific problems. In such a partnership, individual partners should combine their efforts and resources to find innovative solutions to common goals and jointly defined problems. Subcontracting, on the other hand, takes place when the beneficiary (project provider) assumes commissioning of certain services within the project to an entity providing services in a given field on commercial terms.
What are the consequences of failure to achieve product and/or result indicators assumed in the application for co-financing and confirmed in the co-financing agreement?
If the project fails to achieve the indicators, the Financial Institution may terminate the project co-financing agreement with immediate effect. Therefore, it is advisable that if the Beneficiary notices at an early stage that there is a threat to the achievement of the project indicators, he talks with the financing institution as soon as possible in order to renegotiate the grant agreement.
10. Is it possible to obtain co-financing for doctoral studies from the EU funds?
There is no possibility of individual financing of doctoral studies from European Funds, because it is the universities that may submit projects to support the courses they create. However, the options available to you individually are:
- searching for an interesting course among the offers of universities - perhaps one offers studies subsidised by the Funds. The website www.inwestycjawkadry.info.pl may be helpful.
- application for support for a research project, which is the basis for writing a doctoral dissertation. This is done under the Innovative Economy Program in Measure 1.2 Strengthening human potential of science. This is handled by the Foundation for Polish Science www.fnp.org.pl. Information about Measure 1.2 can be found in the document "Detailed description of priorities of Innovative Economy Programme". The document can be found at http://www.poig.gov.pl/DOKUMENTY/Strony/Dokumenty.aspx.
- under Human Capital Programme, Sub-measure 8.2.2 Regional Innovation Strategies it will be possible to apply for scientific scholarships for PhD students studying majors considered particularly important for the development of the voivodship (determined in the Regional Innovation Strategy of a given voivodship). Sub-measure 8.2.2 is administered by individual Marshall Offices
11. Is it possible to obtain financing for doctoral studies from European Union funds?
There is no possibility of individual funding for doctoral studies from European Funds, as it is the universities that can submit projects to support the courses they create. However, the options available to you individually are:
- searching for an interesting course among the offers of universities - perhaps one of them offers studies subsidised by the Funds. The website www.inwestycjawkadry.info.pl may be helpful.
- applying for support for a research project, which is the basis for writing a dissertation. This is done under the Innovative Economy Program in Measure 1.2 Strengthening Human Resources Potential of Science. It is handled by the Foundation for Polish Science www.fnp.org.pl. Information on Measure 1.2 can be found in the document "Detailed description of priorities of Innovative Economy Programme". This document can be found at http://www.poig.gov.pl/DOKUMENTY/Strony/Dokumenty.aspx.
- under Human Capital Programme, Sub-measure 8.2.2 Regional Innovation Strategies it will be possible to apply for scientific scholarships for PhD students studying majors considered particularly important for the development of the voivodship (determined in Regional Innovation Strategy of a given voivodship). Sub-measure 8.2.2 is managed by individual Marshal Offices.
12. What are examples of support for educational activity of universities?
Under the Human Capital Programme, within Sub-measure 4.1.1 Strengthening didactic potential of universities, it is possible to co-finance university development programmes, which include
- preparing, launching and implementing new faculties of studies, postgraduate studies, doctoral studies (including interdisciplinary doctoral studies) and adjusting curricula of existing faculties to the needs of the labour market and knowledge-based economy
- Extending the educational offer of the university by optional classes in the form of compensatory programmes for students in the field of mathematics and physics, as well as programmes addressed to people from outside the academic environment (increasing the share of higher education in lifelong learning)
- development of curricula and teaching materials, as well as implementation of educational programs using distance learning methods and techniques (studies, postgraduate studies, courses)
- cooperation of universities with employers in terms of strengthening practical elements of teaching (internships and apprenticeships for students) and increasing employers' involvement in the implementation of curricula
- better preparation of graduates for entering the labour market, inter alia, through support for academic career offices operating at universities
- increasing didactic competences of academic staff in order to improve teaching quality
- raising managerial competences in the area of university management (including financial management and raising funds for development purposes)
- organizing traineeships and trainings in the leading foreign and domestic academic and scientific-research centers for the teaching staff of the university, useful for carrying out the teaching work (including the traineeships for PhD students and post-doctoral traineeships)
- scholarships for doctoral students, young doctors (postdocs) and visiting professors employed at universities in fields particularly important for economic development
- projects addressed to disabled students in order to enable them taking advantage of full educational offer of the university.
- Implementation of quality management models at universities (in particular those developed under systemic support in Sub-measure 4.1.3).
More information on Sub-measure 4.1.1 and other support opportunities in the document Detailed description of the Human Capital Operational Programme Priorities at www.efs.gov.pl.
Sub-measure 4.1.1 is implemented by a minister responsible for higher education. Detailed information can be obtained from the Department of Implementation and Innovation in the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
