A core objective that only emerged after the project started was to increase the basic motivation of trainees and students for projects abroad. The recruitment of new partner institutions was also a goal, as the quality of individual partners was no longer the same after the Corona crisis. In addition, competence building in the areas of intercultural, linguistic, vocational and social competences/skills was supposed to become an integral part of initial vocational training. The number of students sent abroad should be increased and more training courses should be included. Relationships with existing partners were to be strengthened and new partners should be found. Another focus was the consideration of participants with special needs in order to increase the chances of these trainees on the labour market. Overall, the profile of the educational institution should be adapted to current developments. The acceptance and dissemination of the European idea is of great importance in all areas of school life. This idea will be more than strengthened with the implementation of this project.
The relevance of our ERASMUS activities was particularly evident for us in the funding period 2020 to summer 2023. The after-effects of the Corona crisis were still clearly felt and it was necessary to motivate and empower the very withdrawn and almost fearful students and trainees. The project could be seen as a "reintegration" into everyday life and into the European internship culture abroad. The activities are also firmly anchored in the internationalisation strategy of the Berufskolleg Beckum, as they have been in recent years in vocational education and training, and also provide the framework for projects. The necessity of intercultural competences is anchored in the didactic annual plans in many courses of education. This also applies to the acquisition of language competences in connection with vocational competences. The project makes it possible for the various courses of education to call on corresponding funds in order to be able to plan and carry out assignments in the long term. The personal development of many trainees is to be advanced and strengthened through experience abroad, so that they can increase their chances on the training and labour market.