Programme agreement

Objectives of the agreement

1. The general objectives of this agreement are to contribute towards reorganisation through cooperation with Russia with a view to promoting democratic and economically sustainable development.In selecting cooperation projects, priority should be given to such projects as may be said to have a useful value with regard to developing Russian society in a democratic and sound economic direction.The specific objects of the agreement are to fund cooperation within higher education and research between universities, university colleges and research institutions in Russia and similar institutions in Norway. Business concerns, institutions and organisations may also participate in these projects.Geographically, the agreement is to concentrate on cooperation with institutions in Northwest Russia including St Petersburg, with special emphasis on the Barents region. In special cases, cooperation projects with research and educational institutions in Moscow may be considered.
2. Projects funded through this agreement are based on the principle of equivalence between the participating organisations.
   The obligations of the parties
3. The Norwegian Council for Higher Education and the Research Council of Norway have overall responsibility for the implementation of the agreement and with the help of agreements with Norwegian institutions shall ensure the distribution of assignments and the implementation of the measures set out in the agreement.
4. The Norwegian Council for Higher Education and the Research Council of Norway shall ensure that the programme is coordinated with other research and educational programmes involving Russia. The Council for Higher Education and the Research Council shall delegate responsibility for selecting and following up projects and for coordinating the programme to a Programme Committee (ref. Point 9).
5. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall keep the Programme Committee informed of activities that may affect the programme. The Ministry shall also keep the Programme Committee informed of other relevant cooperation regarding educational and research cooperation with Russia.
   The financial framework of the agreement
6. Subject to the budget resolutions of the Norwegian Storting with regard to the overall framework for Project Cooperation with Russia, it is the aim of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make a yearly grant available for the programme in the period covered by the agreement in the amount of NOK 11 million. The Programme Committee will be informed of the following year’s grant in a letter of undertaking at the beginning of the budget year.Necessary administrative expenses for the implementation of the agreement are to be covered from the annual grant and must be approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
   Implementation of the agreement
7. The strategy for and implementation of input within the framework of this agreement for projects within higher education and research shall comply with ruling guidelines governing cooperation with Russia, and will be drawn up in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Matters of fundamental or foreign policy importance are to be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before a final decision is taken.During the budget period, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may bring up matters of a more ad-hoc nature that are of principle, foreign policy or particular importance and that require resolution outside the deadlines laid down in this agreement.Moreover, the parties to this agreement place decisive weight on close cooperation and continuous contact in order to ensure necessary flexibility in the implementation of the activities under this programme, as well as to ensure that the overall goals of the agreement are realised.The Council for Higher Education and the Research Council have joint responsibility for the practical implementation of this agreement.
8. Responsibility for the implementation of the individual projects rests with the Norwegian institution that has received approval and has been granted funding for the project.

9. Research and educational cooperation with Eastern Europe is governed by three agreement between the partners. This applies to cooperation with Russia, cooperation with countries applying for membership in the EU, and cooperation with South-Eastern Europe. The Council for Higher Education and the Research Council will appoint a joint Programme Committee for Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe to administer these agreements. The Programme Committee is given responsibility for coordinating the programme and authority to decide which proposals are to receive funding within the framework of the grant. The programme committee is responsible to and shall report to the Council for Higher Education and the Research Council. The programme committee has eight members:

   • Four appointed by the Centre for International University Cooperation (SIU) under the Council for Higher Education
   • Four appointed by the main committee of the Research Council of Norway

   Representatives of the Council for Higher Education are to be appointed by universities and university colleges. The Research Council shall ensure that research institutions and users are represented.The Council for Higher Education and the Research Council each appoint one deputy representative.Each year the Council for Higher Education and the Research Council alternate in appointing the chairman and deputy chairman unless otherwise agreed. In the case of a tied vote, the vote cast by the chairman shall be decisive.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Research each have one observer with the right to speak at meetings and to submit proposals to the Programme Committee.

10. The Council for Higher Education’s Centre for International University Cooperation (SIU) will act as the Programme Committee’s secretariat. This function is to be performed in close cooperation with the division of Environment and Development of the Research Council.
11. The Programme Committee shall draw up annual accounts and a report for each year. These are to be submitted the Council for Higher Education and Research Council and subsequently sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before 1 June the following year. A simplified six-month report is also to be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs no later than 1 October.The parties to the agreement shall meet before the end of each year to discuss the overall budgets for the coming year. The budgets shall contain cost estimates and time frameworks for each of the new ventures. The Programme Committee shall be in possession of a letter of undertaking from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs covering the financial year in question before allocating the coming year’s grants. Before the Programme Committee allocates the coming year’s grants, the programme arrangements are to be presented to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a separate meeting. Policy issues and other matters central to cooperation may also be considered at this meeting. Where a project overlaps other relevant cooperation in Russia, the meeting will discuss possible apportionment of the funding.The Ministry of Education and Research (UFD) will attend the meeting and is responsible for reporting and putting forward the Ministry’s views on the educational aspects of the programme package for discussion along with any research policy aspects. Notice of the meeting, the agenda and necessary documentation is to be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UFD no later than 14 days prior to the meeting.
12. The implementation of the agreed programme is described in further detail in Appendix 1 to this agreement.
    Project costs and the transfer of funds
13. SIU will keep the accounts of the programme. After having sent the letter of undertaking, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for transferring funds for on-going projects to SIU at the beginning of the year.
14. The Norwegian institutions in charge of the individual projects are responsible for their academic and administrative implementation in accordance with the agreement entered into between SIU or the Research Council. The various projects’ cost estimates and rates are set out in contracts and guidelines.
    Entry into force, amendments, termination
15. The agreement enters into force when it is signed and shall remain in force, provided the Storting continues to grant funds for projects with Russia/CIS nations, up to 31 December 2006.
16. Each of the parties may take the initiative to alter the contents of this agreement and its attachment. If the parties consent to such changes, this is to be confirmed by their signing a supplement to the agreement.
17. The agreement may be terminated at any time during the agreement period by either of the parties’ giving one year’s written notice.
18. This agreement is drawn up in three identical copies, one for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one for the Norwegian Council for Higher Education, and one for the Research Council of Norway. The Ministry of Education and Research (UFD) will receive a copy of the agreement.