The idea of Europe should continue to be implemented even more strongly in our everyday school life. The presence of Europe and the opportunities that Europe offers the students should be significantly increased and the students should be given the opportunity to consciously deal with the internationalisation that is made possible for them. An important goal was the sustainable consolidation of the relationship with our European partner schools and the associated mobility of teachers and students. Furthermore, possible partner companies, especially in English-speaking countries, were to be acquired. Due to the declining number of participants in the additional qualification "European Business Management Assistant", one of the primary goals was to open up the Erasmus+-funded internship abroad to all vocational school students (currently 316) in order to achieve a higher number of interns.
In the school program of BBS I Osterode, the European idea is anchored as the strategic development area "Internationalization / Intercultural Learning / Diversity" (SEB 5). The focus is on the "development of stable organisational and operational structures (including necessary resources) for the organisation of a sustainable effective cooperation with partners in Europe (including schools, companies, educational institutions)", as well as the "consideration of intercultural competencies [...] in the school year planning of the educational programs" (school program 2017/18-2020/21). The latter focus is also mentioned in the strategic development area SEB1 "Curriculum development". BBS I Osterode as a "European School in Lower Saxony" therefore has a 'European Curriculum' jointly created by the entire teaching staff, in which the European dimension is reflected in the subjects and learning areas or fields. In order to give the students the best possible understanding of the development area "Internationalization / Intercultural Learning / Diversity", the internship abroad is an eminently important component for (experiencing) Europe and its diversity.