The application was for up to 40 students (male and female) to travel to Portugal for a two week experience at Sport Lisboa e Benefica with 4 accompanying staff members, for two consecutive years, therefore there was funding for 80 students in total. Why we wanted to carry out the project: • Broaden the educational horizons of our students, related to employment, higher education, CPD and social inclusion • Promote language learning enabling students to overcome communicative barriers, tacking ignorance, racism and xenophobia • to enhance student understanding of their vocational sector in a European context • to increase students self reliance and motivation • to expose students to a different pedagogical approach of learning/coaching • to nurture free movement of athletes • to enable students to consider employment opportunities in the wider context of Europe Taking part in this project would improve our participant’s competitive advantage and provide them with more opportunities. Which would increase the attractiveness of these curriculum areas to girls and participation in general and have a large impact on student commitment, motivation and retention and also to bridge the gap between those with fewer opportunities.
Gower College Swansea (GCS) applied for EFD 2 funding with Erasmus+ to provide our learners with real opportunities to gain valuable life-skills. Taking part in such international exchanges help with personal, professional and academic development that is required in professional the sports development and coaching environment today. Our Sports Department had worked with Sporta Lisboa e Benfica successfully before and the College was keen to build on this relationship and repeat the experience. GCS wanted to provide the students in our Sports Academy an opportunity of a lifetime by taking part of these activities, some of our students come from very socially deprived backgrounds and Erasmus+ activities provides a real life changing experiences. A number of students did not have a passport and have never travelled abroad before. The College has learned that the knowledge and experience gained from these exchanges improve students’ confidence, motivation and help to broaden their horizons. It also enhances students’ employability and enterprise skills and helps to build our students capacity which benefits our region by upskilling the local workforce and benefits the college by having globally aware students ‘global citizens’.