The teachers at our school immediately signaled interest and enthusiasm for a European project. The Europe Team, consisting of 10 colleagues (FL Nature,FL Language,FL Sport,FL Computer Science) as well as the Erasmus project management and members of the school management, established a need for further training in the following areas on the basis of a needs analysis: New Media, Migration/Intercultural Competence, Foreign Language Learning and Health/Movement/Whole Day. The attitude of the college with regard to Europe was greatly improved by this teacher project. Teachers not only improved their professional competence, but also their personal and social competence. Furthermore, the project caused a great increase in motivation in the everyday professional life of the participating colleagues. Our school became known in the region for its European orientation. Job interviews with young teachers were often positive, because the young colleagues showed a great interest in our European projects. For the first time, a structured training concept was implemented at our school, and the participants served as multipliers for the entire staff.
The RS SZ-Bad is located in a socially deprived area of the city with a very high percentage of foreigners and asylum seekers, so that more than half of our students come from abroad (21 different nations). The general conditions in the daily work are very challenging for the teachers, especially since the structural and spatial equipment is very modest. However, we have a very committed staff and an appreciative school management, which supports project initiatives. 1.5 years ago, the school created the position of the Coordinator Europe. This position was filled by a new colleague who had coordinated European projects at his former school and who has also been advising schools on Erasmus+ for the state education authority for 14 years. Up to now, the European idea played a subordinate role at our school. Through the initiative of the Europe coordinator, the development goal of Europe/internationalization was written into the school program by the entire staff in 2019 and a Europe team was formed. Projects are carried out to learn with each other and from each other.