viio goes Europe Project description The project “viio goes Europe” came into being after 7 years of experience with 5 different associate countries. These associates were brought together by personal meetings (Malta) as well by attending seminaries (Reykjavik and Blankenberge). The previous mobility projects have been scrupulously evaluated by supervisors, tutors and international associates. That evaluation resulted in this new project. Flow: In a 2-year period we will send 40 students, divided into groups of 5, to the associated countries. These students come from different educational fields within a 7th year of speciality of technical or vocational training. These fields are: mechanical engineering and maintenance, wood engineering, CNC and electrical engineering. Why an international apprenticeship for technical or vocational students? A practical apprenticeship is obligatory within certain educational fields of a 7th year of speciality (within the technical or vocational study fields). This project (an international work placement) adds certain important values to the general objectives of apprenticeship: - The students will have the opportunity to experience foreign educational systems and their relation to the business community. - They will be able to compare and test out certain attitudes (punctuality, teamwork, commitment, safety,….) by practical experiences. - On top of that they’ll enhance their ability to live and do things independently. - And finally they’ll evolve into discerning cosmopolitans in regard to diversity. Student profiles 1 Mechanical engineering and maintenance (technical training) In this year of speciality you’ll acquire the vocational competencies of a qualified maintenance engineer. To achieve this, you’ll need to obtain theoretical knowledge of the following divisions: machinery, mechanical elements and constructions, pneumatics, hydraulics, electrical engineering, electric potentials, measurement and control engineering and automation processes. 2 Electrical engineering (vocational training) In this year of speciality you’ll broaden a number of competencies within the scope of industrial electro technical systems. You will work on control and automation engineering. By using professional software, you’ll process data, read and design plans. You’ll become acquainted with the business culture of professional electrical contractors through work placements. 3 Wood engineering (vocational training) Under supervision you will learn to analyse, complete and position parts of constructions. Furthermore you’ll learn to prepare fragments of the production process (measuring, outlining, drawing, CAD/CAM/CNC/CIM/, work methods,…). You’ll also get acquainted with the characteristics and possibilities of the different materials in a practical way. Other important parts of this training are: learning to tune and operate processing equipment and acquiring machine and workmanship techniques. Furthermore you’ll gain valuable experience through work placements. 4 CNC (vocational training) In this year of speciality you will learn how to tune and operate CNC machines. Those machine are more and more used in the metallurgic industry. You’ll specialize in the various CNC techniques. By using professional software you’ll learn to design plans for the CNC production. You’ll also learn to read and interpret those plans. Trainee posts and tutoring/evaluation While keeping the student profiles and project objectives in mind, all associates look for possible trainee posts. Each student also possesses a European CV which divides them into certain groups on the spot. The accompanying teachers discuss the associates’ expectations with the supervisors of each company to come to a detailed job description. Both local supervisors and accompanying teachers will observe the students during their apprenticeship. As the apprenticeship progresses the students will be able to do their tasks more autonomous. During their time abroad, the students will keep in touch with home by means of a website or weblog. They’ll list up their daily tasks and comment on what they have learnt so far. There will be an extensive evaluation after the work placement. On the one hand the students and their teachers will evaluate the companies involved. On the other hand all accompanying teachers will evaluate the project in total. These evaluations will also be discussed with all involved parties of the participating companies and countries. The goal of this project comprises more than the actual apprenticeship. To start with we’ll thoroughly prepare the students in class as well as beyond. Secondly we’ll also try to enhance their self-reliance by teaching them certain domestic tasks. Finally we’ll discuss not only their own trainee post but also those of all students involved in their field of work.