The BBZ Norderstedt intended to present itself as attractive institution for vocational education and reliable partner in the dual vocational training system – especially with regard to the aspect of internationalisation in vocational education and training. The target groups in this project were young people a. in the dual vocational system and b. in a school-based vocational training (full-time) as well as c. teachers at the BBZ Norderstedt. The participants from a. and b. should get the opportunity to apply their vocational skills in (other) companies and to manage the linguistic and organisational challenges of an internship abroad. The overall aim was the enhancement of their intercultural competences – inevitable in a globalised world. Especially attractive for these participants was the chance of long-term mobilities after their vocational education. The demand for mobilities for teachers is moderately accelerating. These are used for job-related exchange with international colleagues or job-shadowing. Apart from that the teachers like the linguistic challenge - going far beyond classroom English. Our local companies are increasingly realizing the potential of ERASMUS internships when it comes to recruiting new trainees.
BBZ Norderstedt has been organising and conducting ERASMUS interships abroad (respectively their former project schemes)for more than 15 years. We have been granted the Mobility Charta and were accredited for ERASMUS 2021 – 2027 in 2021. Our firm attitude towards the internationalisation in vocational training we feel deeply obliged to and our partners realise that. The enhancement of teachers’ mobilities has a positive impact on the whole staff of the BBZ Norderstedt. First and foremost this is due to the fact that an exchange of ideas and concepts on an international level is stimulative. On the other hand the motivational aspect of being allowed to attend a further training abroad is not to be underestimated – reflecting at the same time the high esteem your performance enjoys in general . The companies in the German Dual System seem to have understood that granting the opportunity of an ERASMUS internship abroad can make the difference in successfully recruiting apprentices/trainees. It goes without saying that this mainly applies to young people who willing to set off for a controllable adventure and ready – if not eager – for new challenges in the field of their profession, a foreign language or intercultural experiences.