The participants have gained practical work experience in foreign companies, acquired professional and intercultural skills and expanded their foreign language skills, intercultural competences and expanded their foreign language skills. The acquired knowledge should improve their employability in internationally active companies as well as their mobility and enable them to think in a European, entrepreneurial way. The participants should actively shape their working, living and learning environment in a European country and strengthen their European identity. Through the EUROPASS Mobility, which was of course issued to all participants, and the EUROPASS Curriculum Vitae, the efficiency, quality and recognition of the work placement abroad within the framework of vocational education and training are to be ensured and increased.
Behind the project of the Erich Gutenberg Vocational College for Business and Administration in the district of Herford is a network of 33 vocational colleges from East Westphalia-Lippe (= OWL) that has been functioning for many years and, in cooperation with the regionally represented chambers (IHK OWL zu Bielefeld, IHK Detmold, HWK Bielefeld) and the EU office of the Detmold district government, aims at the acquisition of international competences in initial training. However, since the vast majority of the participants are trainees at EGB Bünde, the project naturally also serves to raise the profile of the vocational college, which has been a "European School in NRW" since 2015, in addition to the primary educational effect. The goal of Europe-related education is anchored in our school programme and positive experiences in other European countries and cosmopolitanism are more important than ever for the development of adolescents in these times. The opportunity to do an internship abroad also increases the attractiveness of dual training in general and training companies already advertise this opportunity for potential trainees during recruitment interviews.