Project Background: By implementing this project, Nes Secondary School (Videregående Skole) aims to achieve the following goals: • To stimulate greater interest in and increase the number of applicants for vocational training – in this case – Health and Youth Studies. • To offer an accreditation that encompasses a broader and richer vocational experience to a larger pool of vocational students • To stimulate greater interest in the school’s Health and Youth Studies programme resulting in a higher number of applications in this area of vocational study. Project Goals: Through outplacement, students will be placed in an environment where they will be required to observe and use the skills they have learned in their fields of competence. We believe that by introducing professional mobility through the Erasmus+ programme (that is to say by creating the opportunity to study health and youth studies in a foreign country) it will make the subject and vocational training more attractive and increase the quality of our vocational program and ensure that students complete their training. In addition, we strongly believe that this kind of programme will result in a greater demand and uptake from students interested in vocational training. The students will develop richer knowledge and skills and an entirely different perspective on health and youth studies. The programme will allow students to see both similarities and differences in their vocational training programs and to reflect on new practical approaches within their respective vocations. Outplacement incorporates many elements of a young person’s socialization process and allows them to build a core set of social skills such as empathy, respect and tolerance. These are key social skills that are included as part of the school’s existing outplacement training. Outplacement is also about cooperation, group processes and conflict management. In addition, the student can use the outplacement experience as career guidance for future professions. Important learning goals: Areas for VG2 Heath Care workers and VG2 Child and Youth workers: • Understand and respect other people’s culture, religion and economic means (how unemployment or poverty affects patients, children and youth) • Perform basic nursing skills • Special attention to hygiene in the workplace • Perform duties in such a way as to create an environment of trust and credibility and that fosters a positive dialogue between patients and family members. • Communicate and interact with patients • Observe, reflect and report • Perform tasks in line with professional ethical guidelines • Ensure patient participation • Perform tasks in compliance with existing legal frameworks as well as the plans and routines of a specific workplace. • Observe and participate in activities that are of psychological and physical significance to the patient. • Observe and participate in activities with children and youth that lead to learning, development and socialization. Total number of participants: The project is designed for four VG2 students during the Spring term of the 2015/2016 academic year and for four students during the Spring of 2016/2017 academic year. Two teachers/counsellors will participate along with the students. Project Content: The mobility piece of this project is will occur over a two week period through a program element called «Project Specialization». This will involve a practical session at a health care facility or kindergarten in Oxford. Implementation: The project will be implemented for the four students who will be selected after an application process. In their application, students will be required to set their own success criteria for participation in the programme. This input will be an important part of the selection process in order that the school can select the best, most highly motivated candidates. The first selection process will occur during the Autumn of 2015 or in early 2016. Actual student participation in the mobility programme itself will occur during the 2016-17 academic year. The two accompanying teachers will provide guidance and follow up during the outplacement period. This outplacement programme is a cooperative venture between Nes Videregående School (Nes Secondary School) and Abingdon and Witney College in Oxford where Norwegian students will have access to the same outplacement institutions as those selected by Abingdon and Witney’s own Health and Care students. Results and subsequent development: It is expected that, once this project has been completed, there will be a «knock-on» effect throughout the school community. This project will contribute to the fulfillment of the school’s future development plans. Measurable targets: - Increased attendence - Increased graduation rate - Decreased drop-out rate - Increased recruitment/application to the school’s Health and Youth Studies programme - Higher average academic standing