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Learning by Doing in Europe
Learning by Doing in Europe
Start date: Jun 1, 2015,
End date: May 31, 2017
PROJECT
FINISHED
INSIGNARE is a non-profit association which owns two EU level IV VET schools: Ourém Professional School and Fátima Hospitality School. As additional areas, simultaneously internal and external, it has GIP - Office of Professional Insertion (local employment service working under contract with Public Employment Service); CQEP - Center for Education and Professional Qualification (local/regional service for vocational/professional guidance, referral training and competences validation, working under protocol with ANQEP – Public VET Service); Centre for Continuing Education (with short and medium term training courses, EU-funded or self-financed) and the International Cooperation Office – the four of them were merged at LIFE – Office for Inclusion, Training and Employment. Internally has additional departments: the Communication and Image one; the Student and Family Support Unit and the Administrative and Financial one.
The internationalization of its activity was strategically considered, being short and medium duration mobilities of the school community one of those pillars. This project operationalizes this goal, by providing international internships for 2nd and 3rd year students from all our courses, as well as job shadowing activities for their technical areas’ teachers. It’ll involve 78 students, aged between 16 and 17, and 2 technical teachers.
They will be placed in host companies at several European regions: Andalusia, Basque Country, Canary Islands, Catalonia, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Northern Ireland, Scotland, adapted to one’s personal profile and professional courses attended - Design, Electronics, Management, Mechatronic, Multimedia, Metalworking (EPO) and Cook, Waiter, Tourism Officer, from EHF. These areas are related to Industry and Hospitality, strategic for the country.
The main goals are:
Students:
a) To acquire, develop and implement technical skills, working in an international company, as well as gaining innovative ones, connected to the transversal practical work expected at the workplacements;
b) To know, to critically evaluate and to adapt to the national reality new working methodologies;
c) To develop foreign languages skills, ICT and social ones, as initiative, autonomy, time management, problem solving, teamwork, organizational skills and communication;
d) To overcome local and national prejudice and be aware of European citizenship;
Teachers:
a) To acquire, to develop and to implement technical and language skills as well as to work with other business models;
b) To know, to evaluate and to pedagogically adapt to the national reality new working methodologies;
For Schools:
a) To ensure its sustainability, excellence and updating of taught content and technical quality of teachers;
b) To develop the potential of students and teachers by workplace learning;
c) Sharing responsibility in enhancing educational quality between the organization, its staff and its students;
d) Strengthening European cooperation with similar schools;
e) Strengthen the relationship with parents by involving them in the implementation of activities mobilities.
Impacts
Locally, we aim for broadening horizons to students, in order for them to see Europe as a natural extension of one’s labour market. We expect 5% of the students to find a job in Europe, measured 6 months after completion of one’s course. Regionally, we expect to increase by 5% the number of companies in the region that accept our students for internship, ushering them Vocational Education. Nationally, it is expected to increase the demand of students for Vocational Education through the positive difference that preparation for an international career provides, thus contributing to the increased employment of younger, one of the goals of 2020 Strategy. Internationally, it is expected a positive impact on host countries companies’ perceptions over the quality of our VET courses - 95% satisfaction of intermediate bodies and hosting companies, with 95% of them available to receive new interns.
The medium and long term benefits for the students are based on the results generated by the "open mindness" the participation in international programs offers. This allows them to critically face the prospects of life: the importance of completing their course, following their studies to higher education and / or by entry and progressing through the labour market, not only local but European one, reducing the dropout rate. As for technical teachers, scientific and technological upgrade will improve the students training, and by one’s, the colleagues’ and students’ examples, gather new participants.