Our project "Marketing of regional products in the region of our partner" deepens an exchange that has already existed for two years. Most students of the two schools are involved in Marketing as part of their theoretical training or of practical experience at work. Students aiming for the Abitur in our professional secondary school study it as part of their business education, German trainees in the field of administration deal with Marketing and trainees in industrial education are concerned indirectly with marketing when considering innovation. The French school offers school leaving certificates BacPro in the field of sales, commerce and public relations. In all of those fields marketing is of highest relevance. Our project meets the students' interests by choosing regional products as a subject. As a first step those products are chosen and presented to the partners. French and German students present these products in a common shop window. By conducting market research the students find out more about potential customers. They also deal with the relevant media. In the second year students create advertising for different media as well as direct sales. They analyze the potential and necessity of innovation in product development and product design. In the last year packing and logistics are being researched. The students deal as well with the importance of these aspects for economic success as with questions of sustainibility in packing and transport. The professional and theoretical part is implemented by activities in German-French groups so that students and teachers experience intercultural communication. The tasks involve artistic elements and the questions are partly without fixed expectations in order to instigate the students' creativity. At many points students will use IT and thus develop their competencies. All meetings will be prepared and followed up as well on a linguistic as on an intercultural and theoretical level. Both schools will sharpen their profiles by keeping the public informed about their European activities.
During the first year of this five year process, German and French students marketed and developed selected products to and from another country. Working together, the students designed display cases (which were bought to also display their regional products for for later presentations). The selection of products ranged from bathroom items, to kitchen appliances and tableware, and also included food and drinks. A logo was designed for the project. The students also concerned themselves with the question of how one gets to know their customers better. They conducted surveys for market research and looked into the types of published media from the radio, newspapers, and the internet, that one uses to advertise products. During the second year, the students designed advertisements for their products in the country of the other students. To clarify, the German students designed advertisements for German products in French for a French audience, and the French students designed advertisements written in German. Moreover, the students also designed advertisements for the other country’s products in their home country. The students researched distribution channels for direct marketing and also product design, paying particular attention to opportunities for improvement. Last year was the third year, with a focus was on packaging and logistics. The students studied how important these factors are for the success of a company, and also considered their environmental impacts. Among other things, the students considered wholesale markets. To expand their skills on a professional level, the students and teachers worked together in an international German and French group, which develops their intercultural communication. The assignments were designed to be open-ended so that the students would expand on their creative abilities. Many assignments required the use of computers, in particular to make graphics and PowerPoint presentations, improving their computer skills. All project meetings were prepared at the respective home institutions of the German and French students, with a focus on linguistics, interculturality, and professionalism. To increase their language skills, every meeting included three hours a week of language acquisition games and exercises. Both schools increased their profile through extensive public relations work. They also came to a greater understanding of the current state of the European work environment. A French student particularly benefited from this experience - she landed a four week long internship in the German city of Eisenach. This project previously began without the aid of EU funding for two years. The long term value of cour project is demonstrated in the deepening of a collaboration and cultural exchange that has been ongoing for now five years, and a better understanding of our place in an increasingly globalized world.