The preparation of mobility programs places a strong focus on this civic dimension, in a broader program involving the AEB, the local community, local companies, which have an action plan to promote European values. Another challenge, which is inevitable to talk about, is related to transformations and perception of danger, sharing and openness to new experiences in the face of COVID19 issues. In a society gripped by fear, with a catastrophist language, grassroots work is needed with students and families, but also in destination locations (host companies) so that the barriers of fear can be broken down. Therefore, difficulties in selecting students, authorizing parents, articulating with trusted external interlocutors will be predictable, especially in the initial phase of the project, making it necessary to create a very well-prepared contingency plan, with very assertive communication and a very close to students and families. A challenge of this project for AEB was related to the need for internationalization of institutions, which in this sharing experience must share best European practices, in the sense of continuous improvement.
In fact, this type of projects could be truly impactful, if the internship experience abroad creates an impact on the business fabric, such as greater qualification of young people, greater technical knowledge, gains in terms of innovation, as well as greater availability for entrepreneurship. Thus, a first challenge was undoubtedly to create an impact on the business sector, which requires differentiated technical capacity, creating an even greater rapprochement between the business sector and schools with professional education. A second challenge was related to the idea of ensuring the promotion of equal opportunities, equity and social cohesion through this project, breaking the stigma associated with professional education. As we know, one of the aspects related to students who choose the professional path is, according to the literature, their origin in school processes marked by failure and the origin of the majority of students from families from disadvantaged socioeconomic classes. The appreciation of students who follow the professional path, through participation in Erasmus+ Projects, can be an important milestone in breaking the stigma, in combating school dropout, in improving living conditions.