The main goals that were achieved: For students and alumni, were to: a) Update, improve and develop technical, professional, linguistic and cultural skills; b) Know and evaluate new working methods and adapt them to the national reality; c) Acquire new skills, like work motivation, problem solving, assertive responsibility in decision making, team work and entrepreneurial and innovative spirit; For staff: a) Update, improve and develop their pedagogical, language, scientific and technical skills; b) Come into contact with new working methods and pedagogically adapt them to the national reality. For the school: a) Ensure the sustainability of the institution, through excellence in quality and innovation in education and training, as well as technical and pedagogical quality of teachers and staff; b) Contribute to the training of its students, as well as their personal, professional and cultural enhancement in the European space; c) Reinforce European cooperation between all the institutions involved, develop entrepreneurship and improve employability; d) Reduce the school drop-out rate and promote social cohesion and citizenship.
The Project “Upgrade your Skills in Europe”, propounded by Escola Profissional de Santo Tirso (EPST), took place between 31st December 2020 and 30th June 2023. Due to COVID-19, a contractual amendment was requested, and approved by the AN, with an extension of the Project's term. Its main purpose was to give 12 EPST students (2nd and 3rd years of vocational courses), aged 16 to 18, the opportunity to do international vocational internships in Europe, and 1 alumni (newly graduates), as well as 4 CEF – Education and Training Courses - students, plus the opportunity of doing their complementary training. We also intended to provide 3 faculty members of the technical area, with the experience of on-going training in the form of job shadowing in positions of Management and Administration. They were placed in schools and companies in Italy and Greece, according to their profile and professional background. In addition to the training, these 20 participants took part in professional and cultural visits in the European space, which played a big part in widening their horizons, by allowing them to have rewarding experiences which greatly complemented their training.