The objective of the contest is to support active participation of university students in the Czech Republic in

• preventing and combating racism, xenophobia, homophobia and other forms of intolerance
• promoting equality between women and men
• preventing and combating all forms of violence against children, young people and women.

In addition, the objective of the contest is to enable students to broaden their knowledge of the policies of the European Union and to assume essential skills for drafting grant proposal for implementing projects, in particular under programmes co-financed by the European Union.

Each author will receive feedback to their proposal based on the evaluation by an expert jury. Authors of selected proposals will be invited to present their projects to other selected participants and to the jury in Prague. Ten authors of the best proposals will be invited for a three-day study trip to Strasbourg in July 2017. The programme of the study trip includes a visit to the European Parliament, a meeting with Luděk Niedermayer, MEP, and a thematic visit to the Council of Europe. Selected participants will be recommended to the Secretariat of Luděk Niedermayer, MEP, who will choose the best candidate for a one-month traineeship at his office in Brussels.

Rules for participation:

• Students can decide to participate individually or in a group of two. Students enrolled in full-time (under)graduate degree programmes at Czech universities are entitled to participate in the competition.
• The participants shall choose one of the listed topics and design their unique project addressing the selected topic.
• The project proposal, including its estimated budget, shall be elaborated in English.
• Each project will be evaluated by an independent jury consisting of an expert in the field, an expert in administration of EU grants and an expert from AMO.
• Authors of the best proposals will be invited to a study trip to Strasbourg.
• The contest is meant for educative purposes and no financial grants will be awarded towards the selected projects. However, the proposals remain intellectual property of the authors who may later decide to turn them into reality. The potential of each selected proposal will be discussed with their authors during their presentation in Prague.

Schedule:

• April 2017: Announcement of the contest
• 21 May 2017: Deadline for submitting project proposals
• 5 June 2017: Presentation of selected proposals in Prague
• 4-6 July 2017: Study trip to Strasbourg

Award:

• Each author will receive feedback to their proposal based on the evaluation by an expert jury.
• Authors of selected proposals will be invited to present their projects to other selected participants and to the jury in Prague.
• Ten authors of the best proposals will be invited for a three-day study trip to Strasbourg in July 2017. The programme of the study trip includes a visit to the European Parliament, a meeting with Luděk Niedermayer, MEP, and a thematic visit to the Council of Europe.
• Selected participants will be recommended to the Secretariat of Luděk Niedermayer, MEP, who will choose the best candidate for a one-month traineeship at his office in Brussels.

Partners:

The contest is organised with support of Mrs Věra Jourová, EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, and Mr Luděk Niedermayer, Member of the European Parliament. The activities are co-financed by the Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic and by the Office of MEP L. Niedermayer.

Funding:

The participation in the project is free of charge. Authors of selected proposals will be reimbursed for travel expenses related to their travel to Prague in order to present their proposals. Ten authors of best projects will be invited to a study trip to Strasbourg (incl. transport and accommodation and meals).