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Learning for life - vocational training abroad
Start date: Sep 1, 2014, End date: Aug 1, 2016 PROJECT  FINISHED 

Internationalization is very important for the Municipality of Eskilstuna in Sweden, and its schools. For many years we have sent students abroad for vocational training with very good results. Our cooperation with our partners around Europe has developed and deepened in a positive way. In 2014 the Childcare and Education department in Eskilstuna started up an Erasmus+ VET project together with the local upper secondary schools St Eskils gymnasium, Rekarnegymnasiet and Rinmangymnasiet. The consortium’s project “Learning for life – Vocational training abroad” went on for two years and made it possible for 68 students to do vocational training in Great Britain, Germany, Spain, France, Luxemburg and Malta. The students participating in this project attended vocational programs within the fields of Restaurant, Trade/ administration, Childcare, Nursing/ health care, Hairdressing/Beauty care, Hotel/ Tourism and introductory vocational programs. The objectives of this project were several, both professional and personal ones. Firstly we expected the students to increase their knowledge within their program and field. The students got training abroad at different companies / organizations such as, for example, restaurants, hotels, hairdresser salons, retail stores, tourist attraction sites, schools and an organization within the field of health care. The placements lasted from two to five weeks and the students performed tasks corresponding in large to the objectives in the Swedish national curriculum. A clear majority of the students felt that they learned a lot within their field and saw new techniques and ways of doing things. We also predicted that the students would increase their language ability, which almost all of them stated that they did. They felt that they got better at speaking, and also that they became more relaxed and brave about communicating with others in a foreign language (mostly English, but a few students used German and French). They also claimed that it became much easier for them to understand the spoken foreign language as well. Our third goal was for the students to develop on a personal level by getting a better intercultural understanding and an increased self-confidence. After the training abroad, a large majority of the students claimed that they now have an increased tolerance towards other people’s behavior and values, and also that they find it easier to cooperate with people from a different culture and background. All of the students claimed that have noticed an increase in their self-confidence and that they feel more comfortable facing and adapting to new situations and also solving problems. For many of them the training made them feel more capable of finishing their studies and getting jobs. Dropping out of school is a problem in Eskilstuna and if this can motivate the young people to stay in school and finish their education then that is worth a lot. Our final goal was for the students to become more inclined and willing to move if need be to find jobs elsewhere if they can’t find it locally. Unemployment among young people is very high in Eskilstuna and it is sometimes necessary for young people to go to where the jobs are in order to get work experience. An increase in self-confidence, bravery and the ability to adapt to new situations are in themselves important factors that contribute to an increased mobility. After the training a large majority of the students have stated that they are even willing to work in a different country now. So we are very hopeful that this will increase their mobility, and that other young people will be inspired to do the same. In conclusion, we are very pleased with our project and our results. And so are our students who participated. Our intention is to continue this work together with our partners so that more and more students are able to participate in the future and receive all the benefits that one can get from doing training abroad,
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