Context/Background of Project The title of this year’s project is called Exploring European Citizenship (EEC). This was chosen as Moate Business College felt that it incorporated 3 of the main objectives as described in the Strategic Framework in Education and Learning EU 2020 – that is, making lifelong learning and mobility a reality, improving the quality and efficiency of education and training through the development of key competencies and promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship where education and training should enable all citizens to acquire and develop skills and competencies needed for their employability and foster further learning, active citizenship and intercultural dialogue. (Strategic Framework for European Cooperation in Education and Training -ET 2020) The main skills areas focused upon by the project are a) the attainment of basic skills on a personal, social and work level, b) the promotion of equal opportunities and c) a heightened awareness of the importance of EU Citizenship. Objectives of the Project MBC proposes to select 24 students from throughout its programmes and give them the opportunity to travel and live within our host European countries –Italy and Romania. This project aims to give them a taste of active participation in society by developing the students’ personal and social skills like instilling a spirit of independence and cooperation, increasing confidence and self-esteem and stimulating their awareness about European issues. It will also provide the students with extra skills in digital and language competence which will contribute to their overall employability on a transnational level. The work placements in Romania especially will bring to the student’s attention the importance of equal opportunities in work and society as a whole. Number and Profile of Participants 24 participants will take place in the project. These will be chosen from all sections of the college. The type of work placements which are being provided by our host partners has created a logical division of where participants should be sent based on their course of study. These are as follows: Buniva has expertise in Art and administration and has extensive business contacts in the Pinerolo area. We are proposing to send MBC Art and Administration students to Pinerolo. We propose to send Social Studies/Nursing & Administration students to Timisoara, where the organisation is deeply embedded in Womens Issues. We will select students from our Tourism, Child Care and ICT courses to participate in the project in Osasco where the local emphasis is on Hospitality and rural enterprise. Description of Activities Participants will be involved in: preparatory classes, workshops, individual research, cultural studies and a 3-week work placement in either Pinerolo, Italy, Timisoara, Romania or Osasco, Italy. The Specific and Operational Objectives of Erasmus+ identifies one of the main operational objectives as being to "encourage the participation of young people in democratic life in Europe" Methodology used to carry out Project Each group of 8 will commence the project following selection in October 2015. They will attend special meetings, workshops and classes relevant to the key competences identified. MBC will provide some language training in Italian & Romanian as appropriate. Participants will research online for information on their destination; geography, economy, culture etc. In February/March of 2016 each group of 8 will take part in the work placement element of the project in either Pinerolo, Timisoara or Osasco. On their return from work placement, participants will report on and analyse the outcomes. They will also brief their classmates and teachers. Potential Long Term Benefits On a participant level it is envisaged that through exposure to this project, participants will be in a position to recognise and appreciate the importance of participating in the project not only for their studies but also for their future success on a global level. Many of our former Erasmus+/Leonardo students have succeeded in finding work which requires the use of international competences, as well as the ability to adapt to a new environment and life skills such as communication, team-working, cultural awareness and problem solving capabilities. We expect that this pattern will continue. Benefits for Moate Business College include raising its profile in international and national settings through the successful delivery of the Erasmus+ Projects. The creation of the European Development Plan has paved a pathway to realise the goals that the college wants to achieve in relation to the concept of internationalisation over the next few years. The project team created for the advancement of internationalisation will provide guidance and training to all members of the college.