The objectives of the project were described in the application as follows: - Increase competitiveness on the training and labour market - To increase the attractiveness of the school - To convey cultural diversity and tolerance - Deepen foreign language skills The participants gained practical work experience in foreign companies, acquired professional and intercultural competences and expanded their foreign language skills. The acquired knowledge should improve their employability in internationally active companies as well as their mobility and enable them to think in a European, entrepreneurial way. The participants should actively shape their working, living and learning environment in a European country and strengthen their European identity. Furthermore, the objectives are important for our institution. The EGB has been in a slow but permanent state of decline for several years. In recent years, pupil numbers have fallen steadily (from around 1800 to around 1400 today). This process is threatening the educational programmes that have been introduced, as class frequencies are becoming too low. A good offer of Europe-related activities is very important for the profile and public perception.
The Erich-Gutenberg-Berufskolleg (EGB) for Business and Administration in Bünde is run by the county of Herford. We have just under 1400 pupils aged 16 and over, who are taught by around 75 teachers. One third of the student body attends the full-time courses, but the majority are trainees in various commercial and administrative apprenticeships. The school programme describes the internationalisation of school life and teaching content as a main goal of the pedagogical work. In December 2015, we were certified as a "European School in NRW" and recertified in 2020. With this project, we would like to maintain our offer of internships abroad for part-time trainees, which has been in place for 20 years, and also, for the first time, make it possible for the students of the full--time classes to gain work experience abroad (after grade 12). In the area of internships abroad, we work closely with the EU office of the Detmold district government. We have a leading position in this network of 30 BKs in the district and take on individual mobilities from other BKs.