Participation in this project sought to compare and contrast working methods, technologies and business practices in Europe with the Portuguese reality, and at the same time improve knowledge of languages and cultures in Europe. For students, taking into account their socio-cultural context, this experience represents a unique opportunity to get to know other European realities in terms of learning, culture and exercising a future profession. It was intended to increase the possibilities of employability for our students, facilitating their transition to the world of work, by providing a European learning and training experience. It was also intended to promote the improvement of the quality of vocational training teaching, to value technical training and practical learning, to increase the demand for these courses from our Group by young people, improving the attractiveness of the Sá de Miranda School, in addition to enhancing the increase in the employability indexes of professional education. An attempt was made to encourage academic success and academic merit of students, as a condition for participation in this project, and to increase the percentage of trainees who complete the course in the regular period of 3 years.
As a priority action in the European development plan of the Sá de Miranda School Grouping, the creation of a project aimed at Vocational Training was defined, leading us to establish protocols for carrying out training in the context of work and in professional internship abroad to our students. The objectives relate to the development of skills in key areas determined in the educational project and in the European development plan, improving skills in non-native languages, improving professional skills, promoting merit and combating school failure. This project was intended to increase the motivation of vocational education students, offering professional practices, post-training, as an incentive to learning.