The C&V project aimed to gain knowledge on internationalisation to increase the valorisation of VET and the AEVNP organisation by initiating a network of contacts with European schools. We anticipated that the involvement of students in this project would favour increased employability, particularly in their area of training. It was intended that students would engage in entrepreneurship activities and language skills in communicating with the foreign school. Moreover, a mobility would broaden curricular knowledge and require dexterity of a myriad of diverse competences. In this way, the student would be stimulated to a more active participation in his/her community, reinforcing the European Identity. This project would prepare students for professional life in the territories of the European Union, to be more responsible in the use of endogenous resources, more participative in the community, humanistic and resilient in diverse environments.
Our school has vocational education and had never carried out Erasmus mobilities for vocational education. The Knowledge & Value 2021/23 (C&V) project allowed to realise three flows of mobilities for pupils and one job-shadowing mobility. The per capita income of the families of the pupils involved is very low (at national level) and with precarious labour activities. In addition, the level of education of these families is very low (9th grade, with rare exceptions of 12th grade). The C&V project increased the valorisation of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in the AEVNP (Agrupamento de Escolas de VN Poiares) in order to attract more students. In general, pupils neglect the benefits of learning, show difficulties in learning English and do not master essential concepts of entrepreneurship. Most students have never travelled to destinations beyond their borders and probably never would. The prestige of the Erasmus+ programme has fostered mobilities in the AEVNP and provided welcoming educational environments with memorable experiences for our students. In this way, these students were able to reflect on their performances and dedicate themselves to surpassing their own expectations.