The project Opportunities and Challenges identifies the work of Lincoln College in providing excellent vocational education and training across a wide range of sectors, preparing young people and adults for employment and being responsive to the needs of the local community, the region and internationally. The social and economic variances across the college's catchment area is recognised by the college and is responsive to this within the Strategic Plan for 2013/16. Two of the principle objectives are 1. to increase and widen participation in all communities that we serve; 2. Lead and work in partnership with all our communities to create a learning environment and infrastructure which contributes to social inclusion, community cohesion, economic regeneration and work force development. These two objectives support the development of innovative teaching and learning in all environments and in the support of international development. The 24 student/apprentice participants will be selected from two of the colleges vocational areas, Care (BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma H&SC, 8 students and CACHE Level 3 Diploma Childcare and Education 6 students) and Construction and Engineering (Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Plumbing, Joinery and Bricklaying, 10 Level 3 Advanced Apprentices). The 4 VET staff will also be drawn from these two areas, with the aim for them to become familiar with working practices in the host colleges and respective industries. The placement for the students/ apprentices will be of three weeks duration and will take place during the final year of their programme in the Spring of 2016. The activities that the participants will be involved in will include: the personal care of vulnerable adults; working as a team member with adults with dementia; providing physical and social care for very small children; supporting the development of intellectual and social skills for toddlers and young children; working in the identified vocational location with employers in garages, joinery companies, with construction companies etc. VET staff will work with their host partners for 5 working days at an agreed date. The participants will undertake scheduled preparatory training to include language training leading up to the placement. The principle objectives of the project for all groups is to :1. Investigate and take account of practices in all working and social environments in respect of gender and equality of opportunity, discussing on their return how practices and processes could be used to enhance their own working practices, and relaying this to their employer or placement supervisor in support of their core business.2. The theme of Healthy Ageing will be explored by care and childcare students relating this to the social and health issues in the local community and nationally.3. For VET staff to identify areas of innovative practice and to develop learning materials and to integrate them into the work of the college As a key objective participants will centre on their own personal development. Supported by tutors/assessors they will reflect on all aspects of the project to include having to live independently, as a member of a group, experiencing a different culture socially and vocationally and learning a new language. It is expected that the outcome here will be a greater awareness of self, increase in self reliance, confidence and self esteem.A further objective for all apprentices and students is to successfully achieve identified competencies whilst in placement and for these to be accredited to their primary learning programme.VET staff participants will negotiate their objectives with line managers and these will have been agreed with the host institution well in advance of the visit, the outcomes of which will support the college's objective of ensuring that all learning opportunities are of outstanding quality and accompanied by a first class support service.The employers/placement providers/institutions in the host countries are a valuable and important stakeholder in each of the flows. Consistency of placement locations has been recognised in previous projects as of high importance and it is anticipated that this will continue. St Monica's Kindergarten in Ludinghausen has hosted childcare students in each of our previous projects as have SKSG Vuurtoren a Kindergarten in Groningen and Franz Ruschkamp GmbH a sales and repair garage in Ludinghausen. Project objectives will be reviewed throughout the duration of the project from the initial recruitment process through to dissemination and will involve all stakeholders.The results of the project will be shared with Lincoln College staff and staff from other institutions in the Lincoln College Group; employers/placement providers; SSC's. It is the positive outcomes from these meetings that will perpetuate and shape future projects, support participant progression and underpin greater vocational and social mobility.