By implementing this project, we aimed to achieve the following objectives. With the Teaching/Training Assigments, the goal was to give more teachers the opportunity of an international experience. We strongly believed that increasing teacher mobility will result to the introduction of new teaching methods, more self awareness, better IT competences... We also wanted to share the knowledge of HHK considering internships abroad with the other consortium members. We were seeking to give to students in the VET sectors of hairdressing, aesthetics and sales in their graduation year the opportunity of an international experience. After a rigorous selection procedure with assignments related to oral and written communication skills, we wanted to offer them the possibility to work and live independently in the Netherlands. We considered this experience as adding value to their skillset and help them to compete in the (international) labour market after graduation and to become more aware of our multicultural society.
During project Com@work, Heilig Hartinstituut has worked on a plan for the future development of the school. Internationalisation is one of its key components. The plan is finalised and communicated within the organisation. Meanwhile, Heilig Hartinstituut has obtained an accreditation in the domains of VET and SCHOOL. We applied for this project in order to enlarge the impact of internationalisation. Our aim was to offer international internships to last year students within the domains of haircare, aesthetics and sales. Our department at Kessel-Lo (HHK) took the lead, as the current team has experience in internships abroad. A key objective was to focus on improving the communication skills of interns. Interns would participate in workshops and receive training prior to their internships. During the internship, they would receive constructive feedback. After their mobility, they would fill a (self) evaluation form. The internship would sharpen other important skills as well, such as budget management and self awareness. HHK aimed to inform the other consortium members about the functioning of the Dutch school system and the Dutch system for internships in order to organise international internships in the future as well.