Our main aim was to understand the realities faced by VET providers and intermediary organizations in international mobilities. By sharing good practices, common obstacles, and creating unified systems for hosting and sending students, we aimed to make collaboration smoother and more transparent. We wanted to develop and implement deliverables that would not only increase the quality of mobilities but also ensure safer and more fulfilling student experiences. We also aimed to give hosting partners a bigger role in student preparation, providing firsthand information and enabling direct communication between students and hosts. This approach would help students set realistic expectations and reduce cultural shocks experienced in previous mobilities. We also wanted to improve the ability to recognize how mobilities support the formal and non-formal skills development of students. We wanted to create a simple online tool, a skills matrix, for participants to use before and after mobilities, making results visible to students and those they choose to share with.
The Connecting Europe partners had identified a lack of understanding of the challenges faced by intermediary organisations and VET providers in hosting VET students. Initially, each partner had unique methods for addressing these challenges. Through Connecting Europe, we wanted to unify our way of working and create tools and systems that will be used by both. The ideology was to learn from each other and find common ground. We wanted to improve the quality, safety and trust involved in implementing mobilities. To address the needs and challenges of VET providers and intermediaries, we included 5 VET providers (incl. 1 network of VET providers), 4 intermediaries and 1 SME responsible for creating online deliverables. Our desire was also to establish a sustainable consortium for ongoing collaboration in Erasmus+ mobilities and future projects so that we can continue improving the quality of mobilities while enhancing positive learning experiences during mobilities. Our emphasis on inclusiveness and collaboration allowed us to create tools that encourage inclusion while it showcased the importance of collaboration between VET providers and intermediary organisations when arranging student mobilities.