This project rises from the need for providing better practice for students during their secondary vocational education. Our school SOU "Pero Nakov" Kumanovo and our partner MEP Europrojects Granada, are cooperating for the second time with this project addressing the lifelong learning process. The project will start in July 2014 and it will last for 1 year. As its title suggests, 'Implementation of practical work in the education process by collaboration and communication with marketing agencies and business sector and by using ICT tools', this project aims to improve practical work in our school, as well as to encourage other vocational schools in the area to put more attention in practical work of their students. Our school aims to promote practical work during classes, both in the classroom by using ICT tolls, and in companies. The participants in this project will attempt to reach its objectives by aiming to achieve improvement to themselves, our school, and wider number of representatives of dissemination target groups. The main objectives are: - encouraging lifelong learning for VET staff and students - acquiring new skills of negotiating and attracting in order to improve cooperation between our school and business sector - enabling the school to become more competitive it the area, on one side by using different marketing approaches which participants will learn during the mobility, and by providing practical knowledge and skills to students, as well as to be more attractive for future students - providing better university or job opportunities for the students - enabling the staff to use different ways of conducting practice classes, by placing their students in companies or by using ICT tools - exchanging inter-cultural experiences The objectives of this project will be accomplished through 3 phases of the whole process. The preparatory phase will start in July 2014 and it will last to March 2015. During the preparatory phase, our school will arrange all practical preparation for the participants and for the project. The school will: - prepare and sign all documents relevant for assuring the quality and guarantee for each activity and tasks for participants (Memorandum of Understanding, Partners Agreement, Quality Commitment, Training agreement, contracts with companies for providing technical support, i.e. accommodation, travel, meals) - organise preparatory classes and workshops for participants regarding their task-related, linguistic, cultural and technical preparation - assign mentors for all participants - assign evaluators for each activity - make detailed plan for dissemination During the mobility phase in March 2015, there will be two activities aiming to accomplish the project's objectives, designed as a combination which will take place at the same partner organisation and at the same time, in order for both staff and learners to experience advantages of practical work not only associated to foreign companies, but also among themselves, playing the roles that they actually have in their home school. Activity 1 - Staff (1 week) This activity will be performed by 9 staff from our school. They all have excellent expertise in teaching and managing classes, as well as great ambition for improving their knowledge and skills. Participants will attend training classes in using ICT tools, do a course in communication and cooperation, and practically use the newly gained knowledge and skills while delivering classes with ICT tools in Spanish schools and arranging practical work for their students in a Spanish Marketing Agency. Activity 2 - VET learners (2 weeks) This activity will be performed by 18 third-year students in their secondary vocational education. They are all minors, but their support, wellbeing and safety will be provided and guaranteed by 2 accompanying persons, who will also play the role of mentors, so they will help the learners in easies accomplishing their tasks. Participants will do a training course in creating and using various types of marketing, advertising and promoting their school. They will use their knowledge while visiting a Spanish Marketing Agency and creating a video commercial about their school. All participants will be monitored and mentored by both sending and receiving partners. After the successful accomplishment of this project, all participants will have improved skills in doing and delivering practical work and promoting their own school by using ICT tools. Teachers will continue with a constant implementation of ICT classes. The students themselves will be able to create ads for the school without paying money to marketing agencies. The school will become more attractive for future students as it will be able to provide better practical work in and outside the regular classes. This project will raise the awareness for the need of practical work in the area. There will be a long-term cooperation with the Spanish partner school in the future.