Among the criteria for being selected to participate was low absence from school, professional skills and interest. A desired achievement was that program was that program participation would increase motivation and a higher degree of students actually finishing school. Secondly, we aimed at increased awareness of and higher application to our programs designed for restaurants and cooking and for the hospitality business, as part of a national strategy to strengthen the vocational education. Through work experience in a another country we wanted to expose the students to the active use of foreign languages, and help them realize the value of leaning a second or a third language. Finally, the program had an added value from the students having to share an apartment for three weeks and having to cooperate in everyday activities such as shopping, cooking and cleaning. A wanted achievement for the teachers, in addition to a general the increase of knowledge of international labour and culture, the goal was to better understand how to deal with minorities in our own school.
The school aims at providing students with good experiences and knowledge for life. In addition to teaching vocational skills, we focus on passing on necessary competencies in an international society and a global labour market. The program was developed as a respons to the Governmental plan 28/16, the common part av the national curriculum and regional strategic plan for upper secondary teaching. International experience is a strategy to reach the goal of preparing our students for the future and increased learning in school. Giving students the opportunity to observe and perform in their planned profession in other countries is essential in European and a global context, and learning how to identify differences and similarities are important skills for those who seek opportunities abroad.