What Is Meant by \u201cBest Practices\u201d: How to Identify Them, Where to Find Them, and How to Use Them When Writing European Projects<\/p>\n
In European projects, the terms \u201cgood practice\u201d and \u201cbest practice\u201d are used so frequently that they sometimes lose some of their meaning and significance.<\/p>\n
We provided a brief definition of this in our Glossary<\/a>. Let\u2019s now try to clarify things a bit by defining the key elements of best practices, where they are outlined within the main European programs, and how they can serve as inspiration for your own projects. <\/p>\n First of all, what is meant by \u201cgood practice\u201d? And how does it differ from \u201cbest practice\u201d? In the context of European programs and projects, the distinction between the two terms is linked to the way in which project results are evaluated, shared, and scaled up. <\/p>\n There is no single, official definition of\u201cbest practice\u201d<\/strong>within European programs, but in its general usage, it can be defined as an action, method, initiative, or project that has proven to work successfully, with this success confirmed and documented by verifiable data, and that is transferable and replicable in other contexts. In this sense, \u201cbest practice\u201d fully and verifiably meets the evaluation criteria<\/a> for European projects in terms of: <\/p>\n The term\u201cbest practice\u201d<\/strong>tends to be used less frequently than \u201cgood practice,\u201d and it most often refers to codified, broad-ranging methodologies. In fact, compared to \u201cgood practice,\u201d \u201cbest practice\u201d is understood as a solution suitable for any field or context and thus represents the \u201cstate of the art\u201d in a specific sector. The use of this term is most appropriate in fields where there is an established scientific framework for defining methods and procedures, such as in research and innovation, public health<\/a>, or project management<\/a>. Using the term \u201cbest practice,\u201d however, can be misleading when referring to projects closely tied to a specific context, such as those in the social, cultural, or local development sectors. <\/p>\n There are several websites available online that compile best practices related to the main European programs. Here are a few interesting examples: <\/p>\n Our Guide also includes a \u201cProjects Finder\u201d<\/a> section, which provides an overview of all projects at the European level. This can be helpful when conducting a search with a specific geographic focus or looking for programs not mentioned in the previous sections.<\/p>\n In addition to the projects, it is also helpful to consult any thematic guides developed by the European Commission for specific areas of intervention or project management. Many of these are compiled, reviewed, and presented ina dedicated section<\/a> of our Guide. In many cases, these are guidelines featuring concrete examples and best practices focused, for example, on integrating cross-cutting issues<\/a> into projects, such as the guide on environmental best practices<\/a> developed for the Creative Europe program. <\/p>\n The resources we have just described are very useful when you\u2019re getting ready to write a European project proposal. Our advice is to take a moment to analyze the projects that have been validated as \u201cbest practices\u201d by the European Commission within your specific field of intervention, selecting the 3 or 4 most relevant ones and considering aspects such as: <\/p>\n This analysis can accompany the project proposal drafting process: to identify the replicable aspects of best practices in the European projects examined, introduce additional elements of innovation, and ensure that the project is not merely a \u201creplica\u201d of those projects. This approach is almost always highlighted in the project application forms themselves, which often include a specific section dedicated to the project\u2019s synergies with other initiatives and best practices developed at the European level. <\/p>\n\u201cGood practice\u201d or \u201cbest practice\u201d?<\/h2>\n
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Best Practices in European Projects: Where to Find Them<\/h2>\n
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Best Practices in European Projects: How to Use Them<\/h2>\n
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