Interprentice aimed to address critical needs arising from the rapid changes in work profiles due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing digitalization across all sectors. Specifically, the project aimed to achieve the following key objectives: 1. Adaptation to Digital Communication and Skills 2. Internationalization and Remote Work Integration 3. Vocational Training Modernization 4. Comprehensive Skills Development 5. Network Building and Knowledge Sharing Objectives 1 and 2 fell somewhat short of expectations, mainly due to the loss of the Spanish VET partner and different levels of resources at the VET centres. However, objectives 3, 4 and 5 surpassed our expectations. In the evaluation, the trainees describe their individual professional and private learning curve as very large. Moreover partnerships were established that enable long-term bilateral cooperation between the project partners based on Interprentice.
As all partners involved in the project were able to confirm, the pandemic was a challenge for many organisations, especially concerning remote working opportunities. With Interprentice, we have tried to combine the need among the organisations to position ourselves more sustainably and resiliently for the expansion of international cooperation in training. Overall, the consortium partners have found in their (ERASMUS+) projects that trainers and trainees who can take part in an international exchange are generally more motivated and often more determined in their training. The fact that international professional exchange is fundamentally enriching and supports organisational development was also highlighted in Let's campaign [2020-1-IT01-KA202-008374] and SMEEGE [2020-1-DE02-KA202-007369] projects, among others. Interprentice wanted to build on this and has successfully done so. With an established opportunity for digital internships and project cooperation between trainees from different organisations and countries, international experience and intercultural skills can be gained. This is ecologically sustainable and further enables people and organisations for whom travelling as challenge to implement international projects.