Abstract:

The LLP has funded a number of projects which developed tools to support other LLP project actors in effectively and efficiently implementing their projects. But although (parts of) most products would be relevant for the whole programme, the dissemination and exploitation range of these projects is often limited to the sub-programme/education sector in question. Many of the support products take a rather conventional form: paper-based guidance publications, conventional face-to-face-trainings and conferences, as well as static websites are prevailing. They often lack an attractive feel, and they do not make sufficient use of the potential of multimedia and Social Media. Moreover, they often “fossilize”, i.e. they are produced at a certain point of time, but are not regularly updated and further developed.

In the light of the expiring programme period PACE (Project Actors Community in Europe) takes care that the valuable European project management know-how generated by the LLP support projects will not get lost and forgotten but be transferred to the new generation of programmes with the high visibility it deserves.

PACE addresses European project actors in (adult) education. The project systemically collects, analyses, further develops and widely disseminates products from LLP projects which have developed support tools for European project work across different education sectors.
To disseminate these results a learning and communication platform is provided. The platform offers project management supporting tools making full use of multimedia, Social Media and mobile learning.

The five topic areas provided are:
• Planning and Organisation
• Administration
• Evaluation and Quality Management
• Dissemination and Exploitation
• People Management

European project actors are invited to join the platform and they have access to material and learning tools. A part from this they can benefit from ad hoc peer to peer support for solving EU project management problems and they can use the platform for project development and partner search.
In addition the PACE community organises 2 PACE BarCamps for practitioners for networking and sharing good project-management practice. A BarCamp is a user-generated “unconference”, open, participatory workshop-event with content provided by the participants themselves. In the last years, the format of BarCamps has been used for a variety of topics, including education, healthcare, political organizing etc.

At the 1st PACE BarCamp, which took place in Florence, November 2014, the participants brought along and shared best practice tools for EU project management. Active involvement of the participants and contribution in the PACE platform in advance of the event is an important precondition for a successful BarCamp.

Through these activities, PACE seeks to make sure that European project management support tools will be exploited beyond the boundaries of LLP action lines and education sectors.

Keywords:

Learning and communication platform, project management, supporting tools, EU funded projects.