The reasons why we applied for the Erasmus+ project defined the objectives we wanted to achieve through the project. These were: - To provide students with professional experience and development opportunities in an international environment. Our primary objective was to enable our vocational students to put their theoretical knowledge into practice by experiencing the world of work and then to integrate this knowledge into their work at home. - Providing foreign language development opportunities. They can experience the importance of language skills through an international project and learn a lot in a short time. - The opportunity to learn about another culture and to experience the life of another people. It can make them more open and tolerant. - To give students a personal experience of the project, allowing them to experience a different environment from their home, to gain new perspectives and to help them find their own way and create a positive vision for the future. - The project should also provide an opportunity for individual development, which will increase their chances of success in life, motivate them, give them international experience and give them an edge in the world of work. - In addition to professional and foreign language competences, social competences should be developed: independence, cooperation, adaptability, responsibility, tolerance. - The implementation of the project was also considered important from the point of view of career guidance, as a significant proportion of health and pedagogical trainees leave the profession (relatively) early; few of them stay in the profession. This was one way of encouraging our students. - The new challenges posed by the project may also help to prevent burn-out among our trainers. Directly and indirectly, the programme will help our staff to develop professionally, in their language skills, in their individual competences (e.g. organisational skills) and as a community. - Maintaining the quality of professional work and ensuring an experienced, qualified teaching staff is also very important to ensure that well-qualified students come out of our school. - Enhancing the reputation of our institution was also one of the objectives. - To build long-term, viable, sustainable European cooperation on which we can build in the future.
We thought we would like to apply for the Erasmus+ project for several reasons. These reasons include the background of the students attending our school, the expectations of students and parents, professionalism, continuous staff development, prevention of staff burnout, and the experience of previous successful international projects. - Background of students. In addition to professional training, our main objective is therefore to transmit values, and our slogans are humanity, integrity, honesty and professionalism. In addition to professional preparation, we also consider it important to develop self-awareness, to offer new perspectives and, ultimately, to help students find their own path. - Staff development, burnout prevention, professionalism. In our pedagogical programme, therefore, we place a high priority on creating the need for lifelong learning in our students. This must also be true for our leaders and staff. The planning, organisation and implementation of a project all require the mobilisation of resources that we do not necessarily use in our day-to-day teaching and learning. Facing and successfully tackling new challenges can unleash energies in our teachers that can be an antidote to burnout. - Experience from our previous international project: this gave our social workers and carers the opportunity to gain life-changing professional experience and expertise in a Tuscan nursing home. Thanks to the programme, our institution has improved its project management skills, learnt about international practices, and our students and pupils have become an even more cohesive community. - Students' and parents' expectations. We wanted to make it possible for students to experience work placements abroad, broadening and enriching their horizons and offering them the opportunity for professional development. We believe that an Erasmus+ mobility programme can help us to achieve our main objectives by providing opportunities for professional and personal development and increasing the chances of success in life.