The specific aims and objectives of the project for participating learners: • Participants will have an opportunity to use their vocational knowledge and skills in a transnational work and training environment • Participants will have an opportunity to obtain new skills, identify new technologies and improve their learning performance • Participants will have an opportunity to gain work related skills (Working with others, Improving own learning and performance, Problem solving, Creative thinking, Reflective learning, Team working, Self-management, Effective participation) and specific enterprise skills linked to their relevant industries in a transnational work environment • Participants will have an opportunity to gain industry related language skills, improve understanding of different cultures and work environments • Learners participating in long-term (ErasmusPro) placements will gain an added value in terms of developing job specific skills and an even better acquaintance with the foreign language, culture and work environment, thus boosting their employability. This project meets Government/European Union strategies, encouraging Life Long Learning, Entrepreneurship, Enterprise and Workforce Mobility and was delivered in a way, which meets the needs of industry and business, building on examples of good practice, engaging employers throughout the delivery period to ensure the relevance of the content to the job market. During the mobility placement, learners had opportunities to develop transferable skills whilst experiencing a different commercial and entrepreneurial culture.
Vocational training and skills development need to do more than just provide learners with knowledge and skills for specific jobs - they need to be innovative, demand-driven, learner centred, inclusive, accessible and flexible. Building on the success of our ever-popular Erasmus+ VET learner and staff mobilities, this project promotes the participation in the world of work and internationalises institution by giving even more apprentices, full time learners and staff of West Nottinghamshire College (WNC) the chance to see the latest innovations and practice in their vocational field in another European country. This project took into account the free movement within the European Labour Market and encourages VET learners to participate in international mobility to acquire the skills and life confidence they need to enter the labour market. It is also envisaged that an active and engaging portfolio of international activities to include our current and planned KA1 and Turing projects will assist WNC to attract more readily potential learners, teachers and heightens the perception of local communities and supports partner institutions and local employers. International work experience and training placements allowed 66 participants from the Public Services & Professional; Creative; Care & Education and Lifestyle schools of the college an opportunity to look in their area of study outside the normal regional constraints in a transnational environment – thus providing a challenging and enriching experience that will improve their understanding of the world and links into the important college wide policy of promoting diversity and widening participation. Through participation, they gained motivation, self esteem and confidence and built friendships for life.