Learners: Our objectives for learner groups were to: • Introduce new cultures to the Learners • Introduce our Learners to Learners in another European country • To give our Learners an awareness of their education in a European rather than a local context. • To motivate Learners to aim for further education in this area • To broaden their knowledge base in their subject area • To provide them with a motivating and challenging environment in which to complete their work experience Staff: • Upskilling - To offer staff the opportunity to upskill in their area of expertise. • Teaching & Learning - To offer staff the opportunity to refresh and update their pedagogy/andragogy skills. • Quality Assurance - To learn new ideas from European colleges on how to improve quality assurance. To develop improved systems of assessment materials. • ICT -To develop ICT competency among all our staff and to support the innovative use of technology to improve collaboration, content creation, and quality assurance • Wellbeing - To develop tools and programmes that will lead to a more resilient school body and to learn how other countries embed mental health and wellbeing promotion across the curriculum.
BIFE is a dedicated Further Education College with over 1000 Learners and approximately 100 staff providing courses in vocational areas and access to higher institute courses. There is an increased need for training in dealing with mental health issues in classrooms. Managing change in terms of staff flexibility and adapting to new curricula relevant to labour market changes is also an area for improvement that is required. Erasmus + mobilities offer our Learners the opportunity to open new doors, and new experiences, and give them the confidence to be open to the possibility of working, studying, learning a new language or even living in Europe. Erasmus+ offers our Senior Management Team the opportunity to visit other organisations across Europe, see how they manage, bring home the learning, improve quality assurance and put changes in place. Erasmus+ allows us to share and learn from our colleagues in Europe in the changing world of ICT. European mobilities allow our learners to experience working abroad which will be of great benefit to them. It will allow BIFE to see how other European colleges manage their work experience programme and make improvements to our work experience programme.