Our overarching aim was to develop staff and student knowledge and aspirations within an international context in their vocational sector. The goal was to give broader employment opportunities whilst having a memorable experience that just would not be possible without this funding. We wanted to add value to participants by adding an international learning experience to their curriculum as well as providing the opportunity for our staff to innovate and implement new ideas within our organisation through gaining experience of other education systems. In line with the Erasmus+ objectives and our EDP, our objectives were to: • Support learners to develop their competences through the acquisition of new skills and experience • Undertake vocationally specific relevant learning and work experience linked to their curriculum area • Improve their personal development and employability in the European labour market • Develop their cultural awareness and improve social understanding of another country • Broaden horizons by breaking down perceived barriers that may limit learners’ aspiration
Our primary reason for applying for this project is the positive impact exposure to international work experience has on our learners. A large proportion of our student body are disadvantaged, with Torbay being amongst the most deprived areas in England. Torbay also has a lower proportion of ethnic diversity than the national average (at just 3% due to our geographical location), meaning there is even less opportunity for international engagement through either personal mobility and / or multi-cultural integration. SDC has therefore highlighted an important need to develop internationally relevant partnerships to add value to our curriculum and generate more cultural impact, better preparing our learners with international employability skills to be able to compete in and make a meaningful contribution to the global economy. This project has enabled us to prioritise widening participation and promoting equal access to opportunities. Many of our learners have never had the opportunity to travel internationally so this funding has allowed us to provide life-changing experiences that have added value to our curriculum as well as enhancing our participants’ career prospects.