With the implementation of the project, we wanted to increase our internationalisation. This was to be achieved by increasing the number of mobilities and expanding the target countries and partner companies. In particular, we wanted to give students the opportunity to gain practical work experience abroad and thus increase their chances of starting a career. We planned 45 three-week internships in CZ, SK and HU in summer 2020 and 2021. Students should achieve the following: 1. expand their professional skills through the practical application of what they have learnt 2. experience abroad 3. expansion of personal skills (independence, survival in a new, professional environment) 4. expansion of language skills (promotion of multilingualism) 5. exploring the possibility of a career in another European country 6. expanding social and intercultural competence, reducing prejudices, discovering one's own European identity Through student mobility, we wanted to encourage teachers to engage with the topics of skills description, the European education and labour market, etc. and thus create an internal transfer of know-how.
For more than 20 years, the schools of the BFI Vienna have been pursuing the internationalisation of schools and, in particular, of education. Together with partner schools from the neighbouring countries from the east, we form platforms for cross-border projects in order to bring the economic potential of the Centrope and Balkan region closer to our students. An important goal of the project was to offer our student the opportunity to gain professional experience in neighbouring countries so that they can gain new experiences and increase their career opportunities. Most of our students are disadvantaged in terms of economic, cultural and lingual equality. It was important to us to consolidate and expand international networks with partners (schools, companies, NGOs) in order to promote the exchange of content across borders and to get to know education systems and the European labour market better. Through the project, we wanted to create the opportunity for students and subsequently teachers to gain new insights and knowledge that can be used in the classroom. The exchange with the partners makes it possible to provide new input for the subject requirements, content and teaching methods.