KTZ Sp. z o.o. wanted to make it possible for project beneficiaries: graduates of catering schools, hotel training schools and tourism management schools to gain first professional experience in modern companies in Germany. Main objective: Enabling graduates of catering schools, hotel training schools and tourism management schools a start in professional life by doing a placement abroad in innovative companies. The participants were 28 school leavers of schools run by KTZ sp. z o.o. and other schools working in related fields of education i Zamosc, who finished school no more than 12 months before starting the apprenticeships. Specific project objectives: - during a 3-month placement in the years 2014-2016 30 graduates who finished schools no later than 12 months before placement date gained practical vocational skills in catering and hotel professions (chef, waiter, barista, specialist in tourist services) in modern German companies; - during a 3-month placement in the years 2014-2016 30 graduates who finished schools no later than 12 months before placement date developed practical language skills in German; - during a 3-month placement in the years 2014-2016 30 graduates who finished schools no later than 12 months before placement date gained abilities to work in multicultural teams and develop multicultural communication skills The project fits in Zamość Development Strategy (Zamość is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site) for the years 2008-2020. The city’s strategic goal is to strengthen its position as a cultural and economic centre at the eastern border of European Union which will be convenient for its dwellers and attractive to tourists. It will be difficult to achieve the above goals without staff that is well trained in tourism management (including catering and hotel management). The project is compatible with big investment projects carried out in the city in the field of tourism, such as „Zamość - a UNESCO city, Historical Monument of the Republic of Poland as a touristic product of Polish economy” – with the budget of EURO 65 million. The project met the following needs and issues (specific goals): - the need for practical vocational training in modern, innovative international catering companies and hotels (graduates who take up job in the first year after finishing schools) - the need to develop language skills and increase job mobility in the situation of globalizing labour market - the problem of low mobility of young people from Zamość Region; - the need to develop multicultural teamwork skills and multicultural communication skills; - shortage of modern, pro quality managed companies which could be the first workplace for graduates of catering schools, hotel training schools and tourism management schools in Zamość Region. The project enabled the participants to: - gain their first positive professional experience and new competence as well as develop knowledge in their profession, - develop thier ability towork and communicati in multicultural team, - learn the rules and procedures of quality management in modern hospitality-catering companies in Germany, - establish relationships with foreign partners, - develop their language skills The project enabled the participants to: - develop the field of international cooperation and improve contacts with partners abroad, which lead to forwarding another application, - create the opportunity to achieve high quality of vocational education in our schools, - create mechanisms and procedures to support students in modern education The project enabled partners to: - develop cooperation and gain experience in implementing projects together, - develop skills to use online commucation (skype, Google+), - develop multicultural communication skills, - learn how vocational education works in Poland, learn the quality standards and school leavers qualifications, - gain knowledge about education within sector of hospitality, catering and tourism in Eastern Europe The project also affected other target groups: - parents gained financial advantage due to the fact that their children started work straight after school, - Zamosc Region gained potential employees of unique skills and knowledge, - cooperation with German partners will continiually improve parnership between Zamosc and Schwabisch Hall