As already described above, we want to promote the students’ competences. In doing so, it is important for us to build a sustainable attitude, in the sense that the experiences abroad are reflected upon and the personality of the participants can develop further. Coming from a familiar environment to an unfamiliar one requires the ability to be open to people and to learn to deal with difficult situations, a form of resilience strengthening. For a school in the Rhine-Main area, it is necessary for the participants to gain experience in the short-term internships in order to develop an idea of what it is like to live abroad.
An internship abroad, which we have firmly established in our vocational school for about 10 years, enables the students of our school to expand their subject, method and foreign language competences. The focus here is on getting to know cultural norms and values, experiencing different concepts, bilingualism in everyday pedagogical life, dealing with prejudices and xenophobia. These competences are reflected in the preparation and follow-up of the mobility and thus also serve the prevention of foreignness and racism. The acquired competences are important for the European and globalized labour market. The teachers also benefit from the contact with the project partners, as they enable an intensive exchange through on-site visits. In-service training for teachers is also an important part of the project.