The aim of the project is to enable future child care workers to gain international practical experience as well as to compare and evaluate theories of pedagogical concepts in the field. In most European countries the training of child care workers takes place in colleges, in Germany in professional schools. For future child care workers a placement abroad gives them the opportunity to extend their knowledge and experience at European level and to gain valuable intercultural competences. All of which can be used to pursue their future socio-pedagogical careers in Germany as well as to increase their chances on the European labor market. The aim of the project for the Home Economics Department is not only increasing the attractiveness of the vocational training but encouraging and supporting VET trainees and their future mobilities. Promoting flexibility and mobility aswell as strengthening the capability of reflection as a base for lifelong learning. Developing structures for the effective composition of learning processes and assessments - not only for trainees, but also for unskilled and semi-skilled workers which have often a migration background. For this purpose, it is necessary to reflect your own behaviour as instructors.
At Schulzentrum Neustadt (now: Inge Katz Schule IKS) the two departments "Home Economics" and "Social Paedagogy" have been engaged in European exchange projects for more than15 years. The professional requirements demanded of child care workers have risen dramatically due to societal changes. Flexibility and intercultural competence, broad theoretical knowledge and field evaluation of this knowledge is expected. The IKS promotes the qualification of VET providers to increase their intercultural abilities due to the mission of diversity management. In this project VET providers of the person-related services sector got the opportunity to compare vocational systems to improve their trainer activities as well as their human resource management. The sensitization for intercultural situations and the knowledge of different methods to identify competencies are gaining more meaning in the course of inclusive approaches for refugees and people with a migration background in Europe.