Within this particular project, we set three main goals. Goal 1: Development of hard skills - through qualified work in foreign organizations, we wanted to support the development of professional knowledge and skills so that students will work on real tasks from practice, which will give them the opportunity to meet the latest technologies in industry. At the same time, they will get to know the requirements of companies for the quality of the work performed. Goal 2: Development of soft skills - through mobility, we wanted to achieve the ability to read documentation and create it, critically evaluate information, communicate in a foreign language, work in a team, be responsible for one's actions, comply with work procedures, creatively approach solutions problems and maintain good relations in the workplace and with customers. Goal 3: Development of international cooperation and transfer of experience from educational practice - the teachers of our school selected as accompanying persons for internship participants were to communicate with their foreign colleagues and exchange experiences from teaching professional subjects, classroom management, personal development and agree on cooperation on other international projects.
Foreign internships help us provide students with high-quality development of hard & soft skills, knowledge and self-confidence. In the Košice region, there is currently a high demand for employees in the fields of IT and automation, not only for people with a university degree, but also for graduates of secondary vocational schools. According to the Study of Stabilization and Development of the Regional Labor Market in the IT Sector in the Košice Region, the demand for these employees is on the rise. The education system in Slovakia is mainly dominated by the verification of amount of knowledge and skills, and lacks an orientation towards strengthening soft skills - working in a team, solving problems, taking responsibility for one's work, communicating with colleagues and customers. Foreign mobilities are a great opportunity to "throw students into the water to learn to swim". By placing students in companies where they have to communicate, work independently and responsibly, they are taken out of their comfort zone and gain invaluable new experiences that they would not otherwise have the opportunity to gain. At the same time, the ECVET system will ensure the verification of their knowledge and skills in a unified framework.