*SAP Service and Support Centre (Ireland) Limited; SAP Ireland Limited; Business Objects Software Limited trading as

SAP Solutions and SAP Ireland US-Financial Services Limited. (Together referred to as “SAP”)

Educational Assistance Program and Guidelines

Introduction

This program is for employees who wish to study and further their education, particularly if it is related to their current job
and/or future possible roles. Sponsorship will be granted upon meeting the eligibility criteria and manager approval.

Eligibility

Applications for Study Sponsorship Program must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:

o Permanent employees who have served the company for at least 12 months.
o Employees who have demonstrated a consistently strong performance history.
o Course of study must have relevance to current or future business requirements, be of developmental nature,
and must be associated with the employee’s current role or agreed career path.
o Pursuit of the course should not interfere with everyday work responsibilities.
o Each Employee may have only one active Study Sponsorship Program at a time.
o The academic course must be awarded with a recognised certificate from an accredited institute.

Approval for Study Sponsorship Program

o Approval for Study Sponsorship Program is not automatic as is at the discretion of the Line Manager on a case
by case basis.
o Each application for study sponsorship will be reviewed in line with the available budget for the relevant line of
business, functional requirements and changing business needs.
o The applicant must allow at least 1 month for approvals and the form should be submitted to their Line
Manager. The applicant must ensure that the application is submitted in sufficient time.

Application procedure for Study Sponsorship Program

o The employee must complete the Educational Assistance Sponsorship form. On this form the employee must
show that sufficient research was conducted of the chosen course and supplier, and give valid reasons for
seeking to study the chosen course.
o The completed Educational Assistance Sponsorship form together with relevant research material must be
forward to the employees Direct Manager.
o Application will be approved, postponed or rejected by the Direct Manager after consultation and approval from the
cost centre owner/manager.
o Certain issues which may affect the application decision are available budget, operational business circumstances,
suitability of course to the employee’s current role or agreed career path.
o The applicant must allow at least 1 month for the approval process.
o If the application is successful, it is the employee’s responsibility to apply and get approval from the course
institute to be accepted onto the course.

Study and Examination Leave

o For approved courses the company will provide for 1 day study leave per examination and 1 day
examination leave per exam.
o Employees must ensure that their manager is aware of all study and exam leave required, and seek prior
approval in advance to ensure business needs are addresses and flexibility.
o Study and examination leave are only permitted for first attempts of examinations only.
o Examination and study leave are not cumulative and must be taken during one academic year and cannot
be carried over.
o If an employee requires longer study leave, they will be required to take from their annual leave
entitlement.

Last updated November 2016

*SAP Service and Support Centre (Ireland) Limited; SAP Ireland Limited; Business Objects Software Limited trading as SAP Solutions and
SAP Ireland US-Financial Services Limited. (Together referred to as “SAP”)

Study Sponsorship Allowance

Once the employee has been given approval for the study sponsorship program, the company will agree to pay the
direct course fees in full for the academic year, or depending on budget availability and cost of the course, the
company may pay a proportion of the cost of the course fees. The payment will be paid on an annual basis upon
producing of receipts or invoices for the cost of the course fees. If the course has a longer commitment of 1+ years,
then a fresh study sponsorship application must be made every year, and the employee must satisfy the above
eligibility criteria, and have satisfactory results and progress from the previous year attending the course.

Course Attendance

Generally, courses will be taken outside normal working hours. Cases requiring attendance during working
hours will be considered on the basis of individual merit and will require prior approval from the direct Manager
and cost centre owner Manager. It is the employee’s responsibility to attend all classes and successfully complete
exams. The company can seek feedback from the course Co-coordinator/Lecturers/Tutors, with regard to
attendance and results achieved. The company can also ask for proof of active participation in relevant course
activities such as workshops/lectures/examinations. If the employee who has been provided with study
sponsorship from SAP Ireland fails to provide such proof it can result in repayment of all financial assistance paid
by the company for the course.

Recovery of Costs

The commitment to studying towards a professional qualification is a joint investment with both parties benefiting
from the development opportunity. The investment is also in terms for financial support from SAP Ireland and time
and money and effort from the individual employee. An employee will be required to repay course fees paid by
SAP Ireland in the following circumstances:

o An employee must repay 100% of course fees if he/she does not successfully complete his/her approved
course.

o If an employee wishes to abandon the course sponsored by SAP Ireland they should discuss this with
their immediate manager. If there are no grounds considered reasonable for leaving the course, then
100% repayment of course fees, and other financial costs incurred by SAP Ireland during the academic
year will be recouped from the employee’s pay.

o If an employee leaves the company within a year of his/her course commencing or within a year after
successfully completing the approved course he/she will be required to repay 100% of course fees.

o If an employee leaves within 2 years after successfully completing course, he/she will be required to repay
50% of course fees.

o In the event of repayment, all time off given for examination will be treated as annual leave consumed and
deducted accordingly from the employee’s pay.

o Where the employee is required to repay course fees, repayment will be deducted from any final
payment of salary or reimbursed by the employee as a lump sum payment. Where the employee
remains an employee with SAP Ireland, deductions from salary can be agreed over a period of time not
exceeding 12 months.

Recovery of costs will not apply in the following circumstances:

o Death in Service
o Redundancy
o Long term sickness
o Maternity Leave
o Operation considerations, such as relocation by the company. (employer initiated)

Last updated November 2016