The EPIC (European Partnerships Inspiring Careers) project will capitalise on the strong relationship we have had with partners under previous mobility programmes. 38 students in small groups, typically from recognised areas of severe deprivation with associated low achievement of high level qualifications or skilled employment, will have the opportunity to enter a competitive recruitment process leading to 2 or 3 weeks in an aspirational setting allied to their curriculum area. Our catering students are placed with The Hilton Malta where, for three weeks, they will have the privilege of working under the esteemed tutelage of Executive Chef Joe Vella and the Hilton Malta hotel's team of highly-trained chefs. Working through a programme involving different workstations across the Hotel’s 5 themed restaurants, they will have the opportunity to handle a wide range of top-quality ingredients and use state of the art equipment, experiencing the responsibility of reputation and the prestige of working for an organisation delivering the highest standards to customers that expect the best. Our Animal Care students will either spend two weeks at the: • Grifon – Birds of Prey Conservation Centre on the edge of the beautiful Velebit Nature Park in Croatia. Students will have two weeks administering medication to the injured or sick animals in the sanctuary, maintaining feeding stations, and supporting the conservation of the physical environment of wild animals in their natural habitat. They will work in the visitors’ centre assisting school children and tourists, and using specialist technology, take part in monitoring and tracking the population of the endangered Grifon vulture, alongside volunteers from all over Europe. • Alternatively, they will undertake a bespoke internship with the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute in Spain. The placement provides an in-depth, hands-on immersion into the field of cetaceans’ research and, more particularly, dolphins’ field research including the ecology and behaviour of a bottlenose dolphin population, as well as collecting detailed information about their environment. All the participants will gain a competitive edge in the global labour market by achieving a broad range of vocational competences that would not be possible in the classroom. The project provides an aspirational experience, inspiration and motivation for students to pursue their careers of choice, illuminating the possibilities of the global labour market and, by giving a positive focus and evidenced experience at future job or university interviews, make it a possibility.