Context/Background: Students who participate on the Erasmus+ programme come from a diverse range of socio –economic backgrounds. Participants are completing nationally recognised FETAC / QQI programmes in range of different areas. This experience will enhance and develop their professional and qualifications profile. Project Objectives: The MAKE project aims to support participants in the acquisition of new competencies, skills and knowledge and to develop their sense of European citizenship to make them more employable in the European market. It will offer a significant competitive advantage to participants when applying for jobs locally, in Ireland or abroad. Participants will become knowledgeable in learning new cultures and new languages which will be of benefit to them. The project objectives are as follows: - To develop added value partnerships with other European organisations - To offer GTI students a chance to attain relevant vocational placements to enhance their CV offering - To build cultural empathy and develop a clearer sense of European citizenship and to make them more employable in a European context - To develop participants abilities to learn through both formal and informal learning - To allow participants to develop an understanding that skills developed are transferable across European boundaries - To allow participants to develop foreign language skills and social competences with a view to building international contacts - To develop the vocational skills of participants i.e. teamwork, working on own initiative, confidence, communication, information technology, critical evaluation and enterprise skills - To garner experience in working with project partners and then to develop new types of funding applications. Number and Profile of Participants: This application is for 188 participants. Potential participants originate from socio disadvantaged backgrounds and different ethic minorities. In the majority of cases, participants will not have had the experience of traveling or working abroad. These learners will be in the process of completing a QQI Level 5/6 programme at GTI in various vocational areas as mentioned above. This project is seeking funding for a two year period and offers future GTI students the opportunity to partake in a European placement. This will reinforce the synergies between vocational training, employment and entrepreneurship. Examples of Activities: -Business: Greeting Customers, Detailing with customer inquiries, Dealing with money, Learning administrative tasks, Maintain a work placement diary, experience new information in communications technology, updating websites, marketing - price, product, place and promotion. Analyse work performance through SWOT / PEST analysis. -Sports: Periodised Strength training, strength conditioning, technical football development, performance enhancement, weight training, performance enhancement football, coaching, Improvement of teamwork & completion of work placement diary. -Beauty/Massage: Reception Skills: Answering Phone, Taking bookings, Meeting and greeting clients. Treatments: Facials, Eye Treatments, Holistic Massage, Manicure/Pedicures, Make up, Waxing Methodology: Project Work Plan & Timetable -March 2014: Apply for Erasmus+ funding -July 2014: If successful, arrange for the CEO to sign the contract -July 2014: Request for a new nominal budget code to be established -August 2014: Organise a meeting with relevant staff to plan dissemination of this opportunity -September 2014: Inform class groups about Erasmus+ funds -October 2014: Commence selection process -November 2014: Successful applicants commence language training (online / classroom) and sign all relevant contracts / agreements. -November 2014: Request to all host organisations to commence searching for - forward CVs to all partners -December 2014- Organise dissemination activities to promote the project -January - April 2015: Participants will complete their placements and their participant reports May 2015: Complete final / interim reports as required by Leargas, complete all evaluation activities. The above process will be repeated the following year to finish using all granted bursaries. Results: This project will allow GTI to better respond to the needs of individuals within and outside Europe. -Validation by certification: Europass Mobility, Europass CV, host organisation certificate. -Increased identity and profile of European citizenship -Potential to increase employment opportunities Impacts: The MAKE project will increase the capacity, attractiveness and international dimension of GTI and further solidify our collaboration with a wide range of European partner organisations. The key impact though will be the benefit to the participants. Longer Term benefits: This would extend to local, national and international opportunities for participants to develop further networks for employment and for staff to develop future projects.