The project "Study and work in Europe" will be carried out from 2019 to 2021 by the Peutinger-Gymnasium in Augsburg (Germany) and the Gymnázium Opatovská cesta 7 in Košice (Slovak Republic). The schools are supported by educational institutions and business enterprises in the two cities, namely the International Office of the University of Augsburg and the companies Lechwerke AG (Augsburg), Faurecia (Augsburg / Košice), Východoslovenská energetika a.s. (Košice). The project is based on the following considerations: Today, studying and job training in other European countries is increasingly in focus. This is related, for example, to the fact that in some EU countries the numerus clausus is not as strict for sought-after subjects as it is in Germany. Many companies consider "work experience abroad" as an important criterion when they are hiring. However, the success of European integration also depends on the fact that as many young people as possible have as much experience within Europe as possible. Studies or vocational training in another EU country enables students to do so. Careers advice already plays an important role in secondary schools. Our project wants to add European aspects. Some questions that have to be considered: How do we integrate European aspects into national school curricula? How do we make students open up to a European view on their study and work plans? How can students benefit from studying or training in other European countries? Which skills are required for students who would like to study or pursue vocational training in other European countries? To answer these questions, our student and teacher groups will not only do research in their hometown, but above all at educational institutions and enterprises of their twin city. Through close contact with young people or teachers from the other country they expand their language and intercultural competence. They experience the advantages of the European unification up close. The core of the project is therefore an exchange program for the students and the participating teachers of the two partner schools, Peutinger-Gymnasium in Augsburg (Germany) and Gymnázium Opatovská cesta 7 in Košice (Slovakia). The results of the project will be published at the end in an open exhibition, an information leaflet and a lesson plan with teaching materials.
The project "Study and Work in Europe" was carried out by the Peutinger-Gymnasium in Augsburg (Germany) and the Gymnázium Opatovská cesta 7 in Košice (Slovak Republic) as partners from 2019 - 2022. They were supported by educational institutions and business enterprises such as the University of Augsburg or Lechwerke AG. The project is based on the following considerations: Starting your studies or vocational training in any European country is an interesting option for many students. This is based on the fact that in some EU countries the entry restrictions for sought-after subjects are not as strict as in Germany or that for many companies experience abroad is an increasingly important hiring criterion. But the success of the European unification also depends on as many young people as possible gaining as much experience as possible in and with Europe. Vocational and study orientation already plays an important role in the curriculum of higher education. The aim of the project is to introduce the European perspective. To this end, answers to to the following questions are to be found: How can a European context be integrated into vocational and study orientation at schools? How can pupils be opened up to the European perspective for their studies or vocational training? How can pupils benefit from studying or doing vocational training in another European country? What competences do pupils who want to study or do vocational training in another European country need to have? After receiving feedback on the project application, it was planned to sift through existing material (e.g. from the German Academic Exchange Service) and supplement it with authentic material. Due to the interests of the students, the focus was placed on the topic of "studying". The planned project schedule was fundamentally changed by the Covid pandemic. Due to the pandemic, not a single German student group was able to travel to Kosice and only one student group from Kosice was able to visit Augsburg towards the end of the project period in April 2022. As a result, only about one third of the available budget was used by the German school. The planned research assignments and extensive information events in the partner location were therefore omitted and both groups of pupils could obtain information about educational institutions and business enterprises in their respective home locations. Despite difficult conditions in connection with the pandemic, it was possible to establish lasting contact with external partners such as the University of Augsburg or Lechwerke AG, while this was unfortunately not successful with other external partners such as Faurecia. Long phases of distance and alternating schooling in both countries made working on the project much more difficult. While the exchange of ideas between the groups of teachers continued, contact among the participating groups of pupils from the partner schools suffered noticeably. The scope of the planned results had to be reduced again due to the pandemic. Although the motivation of the pupils had noticeably decreased due to the cancellation of the mobilities, the willingness to work towards the planned project goals was remarkable at all times. Particularly noteworthy results are, for example, the professional image film on the topic of "Studying in Germany" (in German, also with English subtitles), a presentation on the topic of "Studying in Germany", the evaluation of an interview with a personnel manager of Lechwerke AG on the topic of "Working and Studying in Germany" as well as a guide on the topic of "Working and Studying in the EU". If the rights for publication are available and the products are deemed suitable for publication, selected parts of the material produced will be made available on a publicly accessible eTwinning page as well as on the respective school homepage. In summary, it can be said that the project took place under very difficult conditions, which had a lasting and negative impact on the project idea. Nevertheless, the groups of pupils and teachers were able to achieve results that are suitable for use in the area of study and career orientation for European schools. The contact between the two partner schools was always trusting and on an equal footing and was enriching for both sides - for the teachers as well as for the pupils. This is why the connection between the two partner schools will be continued beyond the end of the project.