1. We wanted our pupils to understand , accept and value European cultures (Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Serbian etc.) therefore they worked together with their Dutch match and others. Hosting their match and and being hosted in Netherlands gave them the opportunity to respect a different lifestyle from their own, to lead a productive and respectful communication. We wanted them to be able to cope with their own complexity, to reflect upon their attitude and words towards their Dutch match and other persons involved in the project. 2. We wanted to raise awareness of ecological problems, of sustainable economy faced by world countries. Although we traveled by plane we tried to walk as much as possible every day in Slovenia and to use bikes in Netherlands.We encouraged pupils to walk to school with Dutch peers. They listened and learned about the nature reserves, green and sustainable school business and we promoted green practises. 3. We wanted our pupils to use English and other foreign or second languages appropriately and effectively; to develop their literacy in oral and written forms; to develop their ability to mediate between their mother tongue and English (or Serbian, Italian language) and the media (using social networks).
With the project "International collaboration makes us richer" our organisation (Upper Secondary School of Business and Economics) wants to strengthen European awareness and cohesion among Slovene pupils and Dutch pupils, making sure that they embrace the idea of an equal world with many cultures not competing but rather completing each other. We enable pupils and teachers to constantly grow and learn, to become more self-confident, providing safe, inclusive learning environment. We want them to be prepared for the future, so we try to develop pupils positive attitude, openness, curiosity to participate in cultural experience; we try to develop their entrepreneurship competence all 4 years: in the third year they establish a school sustainable business, write business plans for them, trade their products with other school business in Slovenia. Hosting a Dutch pupils and be hosted by him/her makes our pupils respect the privacy of the other and to compromise when needed. We want them to become self-confident when using English and to communicate constructively. With this project we also want to raise their environmental awareness, observing and comparing Slovene and Dutch sustainable systems, lifestyles, means of transport.