We want to carry out this projects for the following reasons To increase the number of courses that can avail of Erasmus opportunities and all the benefits in our college. To build confidence and develop social skills and independence in our students. To acquire new skills and competencies in the teaching and learning of our VET courses To improve the chance of future employment for participants through acquired knowledge and skills from work placement training. For staff exchanges of best practices in providing work experience and strategies which can be used to develop and modernize our educational teaching standards. On a European level we want to promote multiculturalism. We want to increase participation and tackle early school leavers in education by promoting Erasmus + programs in our school. We want to promote other European languages and to allow our students to develop a sense of European citizenship and identity. We want to build European networks in education and industry for future collaborations. The duration will be for 2 weeks. (x2 over 2 years) Staff and Students will be given information on safety, local culture, socialisation, some basic language classes and information on work placements. Students will then travel with teachers to related work practice placements. All companies have a close working relationship with our host company and have agreed to take our students for their desired work placements. This will serve as work experience which our students must complete for QQI Fetac level 5 accreditation. By students carrying out this work experience abroad they are being exposed to a different culture, language, and work practices which will all contribute to the overall objectives of this mobility.
We applied for this project to expand on previous VET Erasmus + mobilities undertaken by Galway Community College which proved very beneficial to our students, staff and the wider school community. We decided to expand our Erasmus programs in our College by putting relevant information in local newspapers and in local radio adverts to offer places to more departments and thus attract more learners to our college. Information was placed on Erasmus noticeboard in the main foyer informing students of the opportunity to participate in mobilities. The Erasmus committee informed all teachers at a staff meeting about the potential benefits of such projects for students, staff and the teaching and learning environment. All students were informed about the project at induction and given applications to apply for places in their chosen departments. Interviews were set up and a selection criteria was established making the process fair and transparent. After consultation with our Partners 30 students were chosen to travel to Malaga with 2 teachers from different departments getting the opportunity to accompany them as support as many of our students have additional needs. The accompanying teachers travelled out to support our students and to experience the exchange of best practices in vocational education and training and then accompanied our students home. Although teachers involved were travelling as accompanying persons they found the experience very worthwhile and enjoyable, they have built contacts in education and industry and it has allowed them to both learn new teaching practices but also showed them what they are already doing well. The introduction of Erasmus has created a notable "buzz" or energy in our college which serves to both attract and retain our students in education. It also creates connections and collaborations between students from different courses. They travelled in October 2022 and April 2022. We applied for two accompanying staff to travel with the group each flow as many of our students needed support due to the fact that most of our students would be considered vulnerable learners and have little or no experience in foreign travel. We selected students from the following courses TV and Film, Horticulture, Sports, music and Bio medical/ Laboratory skills childcare, secretarial and business. Some of these departments had not participated before this project. students from these departments travelled to Malaga to learn new skills and competencies in their chosen fields of study. They carried out work placements. 2 sports students worked with in a local GYM assisting in personal training and classes 2 students worked with TV production company 2 students worked at a florist 2 students worked inn a local pharmacy laboratory. 2 students worked with a local music group and performed at 2 different shows. 2 students worked in a childcare facilty 2 students worked in a local business 1 student worked in an office All these companies have a close working relationship with our host company. Students gained accreditation for QQI level 5 course module in Work experience and received a certificate of completion. Participants learned new skills and competencies that increased their ability to progress in education and obtain future employment. Students developed greater social and inter personal skills. As a result of this mobility students have increased confidence, ambition and a greater sense of the European labor market. The Impact was assessed through evaluation forms, supervisor reports and student surveys. Dissemination activities of project results included displaying information on the school website, on all social media, through local media and information sharing seminars with other schools and colleges within the GRETB. Erasmus Noticeboards informing students, staff and the general public about impact displayed information in our college. There was a significant impact from our participation in Erasmus+ projects at learner, staff and organisational level. An Internationalization strategy and policy continues to grow at Galway Community College. Both staff and students have built European networks in education and industry. A European identity has been fostered by students and staff at GCC. This Erasmus project continues our journey in Europe and we build more European social and cultural capital and networks to expand our Erasmus opportunities. This mobility has had a very positive effect on students, staff and our college as a whole.