The main purpose of the project was to give our students the opportunity to test themselves in an international context and to promote their own independence. Experience has shown that the participants not only returned from the target countries with important professional and language skills, but also grew significantly on a personal level. The participants learned at different levels: They gained insights into the world of work, found out what a typical working day looks like and acquired job-related knowledge. They learned the target language of the country or English as a lingua franca and expanded their communication skills in various work situations. They developed their social skills by living together as well as in the host families and companies. They learned to organize their everyday lives more independently. This was not the only way they experienced self-efficacy and competence through "surviving in a foreign country".
As a European school, it is important to us to promote the mobility of young people within the EU. The current political developments in particular show once again how important international cohesion is, and this often begins at a personal level. It is equally important to develop a greater understanding of "the other" by getting to know other cultures and thus prevent conflicts. The projects supported by Erasmus give young Europeans an insight into the realities of life in other countries, enabling them to increasingly understand foreign cultures and put themselves in the shoes of others. Professional contacts within companies abroad are also beneficial on both a professional and personal level. Over the years, it has been shown time and time again that contacts made during an Erasmus mobility are continued later and - albeit in rare cases - can even lead to lasting professional contacts.