The students are meant to be given the chance to gather experience in a foreign company, to get to know other working methods and another work culture. Furthermore, they are to improve their work-related and general knowledge of other languages by their work in a company, their leisure activities, the language course and their stay in host families or even to acquire a completely new language. The latter is true for stays in Seville and students who do not speak any Spanish at all. In Seville the language courses to be attended are Spanish courses. In the companies the students usually rather speak English. Additionally, through staying in another country, the students are to gain intercultural and key competences such as independence, flexibility and the capacity to solve problems. A further target is that the students get to know themselves as "Europeans" and learn to appreciate that (even more) and they become more aware of joint European values.
This project was carried out to make it also in 2022 possible for 35 interested vocational students, who were financed by this project, to take part in a four-week internship and a language course within the EU. Most of our business students would otherwise not have had the possibility or the financial means to make an international learning period part of their professional training time. The Erasmus+ offer by our school is very appreciated by our vocational students and meanwhile even expected by new trainees. Most companies are now also familiar with the programme. The vocational students who take part in the programme have the chance to get an insight in the everyday professional life in their field in another country and to improve their language skills. The latter is true both for their professional and private language proficiency, especially as many participants are accommodated within host families. Furthermore, the students learn key competences such as organizing themselves, solving problems, being flexible and can that way also become more self-confident. Additionally, they become more aware of what it means to be a European citizen and they get in touch with other cultures which supports the development of openness and tolerance. The companies which offer vocational training in the area of Stuttgart become a bit more international by this project. This is also true for our school as the organizer of the project. The teachers who are responsible for the organization of the programme also improve their project management skills and gain experience in dealing and cooperating with other cultures. The Erasmus+ offer certainly makes the Johann-Friedrich-von-Cotta-Schule more attractive for its surroundings as a school option.