The 'Learning by exploring' project objectives and activities were aligned with Vantaa Vocational College Varia's internationalisation strategy and action plan. The main objective was to improve the international and professional competences of both students and staff. The goal was to raise students' competences and in turn provide the greatest enablement for students to work in changing, multicultural and international environments. The foreseen outcome benefit was of the lifelong learning skills that students will acquire abroad. Mobility periods, and other cooperation with the partner organisation, also provided opportunities for staff competence development in addition to those listed for students above. The focus on the staff mobilities was in learning of new teaching and learning methods, new technologies, work-based learning, comparison of the curricula and education systems, as well as the co-design and co-delivery of the curriculum with employers.
Varia applied for this mobility project in order to improve the international and professional competences of both students and staff. Nowadays, internationalisation and multiculturalism form an integral part of the many workplace's daily activities and they require that employees have competences not just related to language skills, but also related to working in a multicultural environment and cultural sensitivity. Thus, this project provided tools to reach those competences. This mobility project funding significantly facilitated Varia's international activities. On the wider perspective, international competences and multicultural cooperation skills enhance the understanding of the European values and citizenship. Cultural understanding and cross-border communication are essential for fostering peace and sense of togetherness in Europe.