"The SPANISH DELICACIES project implemented by the Delta Foundation - the consortium leader consisted of the organization of 2-week international mobility in Seville for students of craft schools in Tarnów and Pilzno, run by the Chamber of Crafts in Tarnów and a one-week internship of the staff. The project was attended by 24 students - cooks and confectioners with 2 tutors who completed apprenticeships from 19-02-2018 to 02-03-2018 and 12 people - teachers conducting vocational training, employers employing students (chefs and confectioners from schools ) and people responsible for vocational training in the Chamber of Crafts from 19-02-2018 to 25-02-2018. The general objective of the project was to increase the professional potential of 24 students and their employability on the domestic and European market by supporting learners in gaining competences (knowledge, skills, changing attitudes) in the perspective of their personal and professional development. School educational offers have been adapted to the needs of the European labor market. Participants had the opportunity to learn about the technologies/recipes used in foreign catering establishments, learn about the current and regional trends in the Spanish cuisine of the Andalusia region and learn about the principles of using the tools and devices used. The project responded to the need to supplement professional competences with language and social competences, improving flexibility and employment opportunities. The participation of the staff in the project enabled the participants to familiarize with the Spanish system of education and vocational training on the example of Andalusia and to learn the methods of vocational training used in the confectionery and catering industry. Spanish was the language of the internships, the trips were preceded by the implementation of language and cultural and pedagogical preparation through support from the mentor of internships, in creating participants' own concepts of participation in mobility. Participants took part in a basic Spanish course (preparation continued in Spain - in the area including vocabulary related to the work environment). Everyone benefited from English consultations when creating CV and applications for internships. In addition, the participants underwent training in the basics of intercultural communication, continued in Seville. The intermediary agency EMTA was responsible for the preparation and conduct of internships in Seville. The choice of the Spanish partner was dictated by extensive experience in conducting mobility for foreign participants and satisfaction from previous cooperation. Students of craft schools in Tarnów and Pilzno are juvenile employees employed in catering establishments in order to learn in the profession of cook and confectioner, implementing theoretical professional training at the school / center run by the Chamber of Crafts. Thanks to the consolidation of the professional experience of the participants acquired before the trip during professional internships in the country and the skills acquired during the internship abroad, all participants - students obtained the 2nd level of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). In order to ensure the supervision and safety of trainees, apprentices from Poland were hired. The methodology of the project assumed setting educational and vocational goals for each participant as well as adjusting individual programs of gastronomic practices to tasks resulting from developmental goals and monitoring the progress in acquiring professional competences. Schools have increased the attractiveness of vocational education by giving participants the opportunity to complete a foreign internship introducing the European labor market. Participation in the practice broadened the range of knowledge and raised the level of professional qualifications. Mobility prepared participants to work in a multicultural environment, enabled to learn about local gastronomic technologies and transfer of experience to establishments in the region. The social competences were increased and the adaptation skills of the participants increased. Competences in the management of vocational education processes and competences of employees supervising and conducting vocational training of students have been improved. New teaching tools and methods have been introduced to teach vocational subjects, which will allow the student to better prepare for examinations. By participating in job shadowing practices in vocational training institutions of the catering industry and observing teaching-learning methods in the field of cooking / confectionery, the staff became acquainted with the Spanish vocational education system. The promotion of ""good practices"" has contributed to increasing the interest of vocational school students in the Tarnów and Pilzno regions in European mobility and broadened the horizons of local catering establishments and confectioneries."

"Although the number of VTCs registered in Bulgaria is impressive, access to know-how and innovative practices is still an obstacle to the development of some organizations working in the vocational education and training sector. The current project proposal ""Interactive Teaching -"" iTeaching ""- Key Competences for Teachers in Vocational Training Centers (VTCs)"" aims to develop and pilot a web-based platform for key competence training. This will help develop new educational practices to test innovative pedagogical approaches, curricula, through collaboration and exchange of experience. The project provided an opportunity for the transfer of innovative European practices to enhance the integration of information technology in teaching through the implementation of joint initiatives, exchange of ideas, knowledge and know-how as well as the promotion of cooperation in generating added value in the field of vocational education and training. The specific objectives of the project were: • Building a web-based platform for key competences training - language communication and digital competence. • Training of instructors with practical skills and tools for training and use of resources on key competences training to improve the educational capacity of teachers and employees in vocational training centers to provide a wide range of teaching ideas by introducing IT in the learning process; • Increasing teachers' key competences to upgrade their language and digital skills; • Introducing new teaching technologies that meet European standards and expectations in the field of vocational training in the context of stimulating the development of borderless education; • Modernization of education in Bulgaria and its engagement with business to increase the competitiveness of the Bulgarian society and economy in the future by increasing the capacity of the vocational training centers. The project was divided into seven Work Packages, each having its own leader - one of the partner organisations. Work packages and their leaders were selected according to their experience and capacity, relevant to the activities concerned. The Package WP1. ""National Reports on Good e-Learning Practices in Key Competencies in Italy, Spain and Bulgaria. Final Analyses"" - Leading Organisation ‘’Discordia Ltd” was removed from the project, which necessitated work on it, although not to the same extent, as the results of this package were the basis of the WP2 and WP6 packages. WP2. ""Methodology development - Leading organisation"" Move on solution /EMTrajning/"" WP3: Platform development - Leading organisation ""Discordia Ltd”. WP4: ""Materials Testing and Assessment - Leading organisation - ""Instituto per Formazione IÓccupazione e la Mobilita "" WP5: Learning Management platform- Leading organisation ""Discordia Ltd” WP6: ""Internal Evaluation and Quality Assurance""-Leading organisation - ""Instituto per Formazione IÓccupazione e la Mobilita "" WP7: ""Management and Implementation"" - Leading organisation “Diskordia Ltd”. The set results for the implementation of the project were achieved, including: -Innovation web-based platform for key competence training - language communication and digital competence; Trained instructions on how to work with the platform; - Develop a training system and training materials for ""iTeaching"" that can be applied in a variety of sectors, as the introduction of ICT in teaching and evaluation processes has a wide range of implications. - Introducing a systemic approach to VTC - VET requires a systemic approach linking the various measures aimed at enhancing the qualifications of professionals throughout their lives. The iTeaching project will encourage various public and private institutions working in this area to offer retraining opportunities for teachers. - Better experience in managing international projects - With the management of the entire project cycle, the lead organization will gain more confidence in designing project proposals, applying for future invitations and leading foreign partnerships. - Contributing to the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy and the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training.It should be added that the web-based platform developed under the project can also be used for Vocational training by VET and Vocational High Schools.The long-term effect of the project implementation is expressed in: Мodernization VET in VTCs in the partner countries of this project - transition from traditional teaching to vocational training to interactive one through ICT use and improvement of the language skills of the teachers."

Boarders of European Union continue to evolve and the development of skills for our European workers is essential for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. Indeed, crafts and companies are dealing more and more with international exchanges and facing a multinational competition, for both professionals and production technics. Qualifications and skills are therefore need to be updated. In order to move on that direction, it is primordial to provide each apprentice with the possibility to be trained and to work on a European level. Les Compagnons du Devoir et du Tour de France which train apprentices and young professional, by traveling, community living and knowledge transmissions, have always had a strong commitment to European mobility programmes. Long-term mobility projects have always existed in our Association. It is part of our specific professional training “Le Tour de France” to have a one-year experience abroad. So far, almost 7400 of our young graduated have already benefitted from such an amazing experience.Since 2004, more than 17350 apprentices have therefore benefitted from a 3 weeks mobility project in European Union, owing to our trusted partners, in any of our trades (industry, construction, building, baking, leather and textiles trades). Driven by our strong desire to institutionalize the mobility project abroad for our apprentices, we have mention the European mobility period into the training program for all our level 4 apprentices, under the framework agreement signed in 2009 with our ministry of National education.Thanks to Erasmus + agreement for 2017-2019, we exceed our objectives and financed mobility for 1222 apprentices in gathered mobility projects together with their class and their trade teacher (107 teachers in total); 152 young professionals gone for a one-year individual mobility; 8 post-apprentices who went abroad from 6 to 12 months in order to continue their apprenticeship; 39 young participants in a 2 weeks technical training and 4 staff members, gone for a job shadowing or a training.The enhancement of the quality of our project is owing to the pedagogical projects developed by our trainers and hosting partners, who suggest a precise program compatible with the specificities of the host country. This approach is necessary as mobility period are included in our training programs in France and comforts also the employers of our apprentices, worried about this mobility project abroad of their employee. Indeed, the project allowed our participants to acquire professional, language, intercultural and cross-disciplinary skills. Indeed, apprenticeship and trades are different from one country to another. Travelling is also a way to develop its adaptability and flexibility, two qualities required in the labor market. Our partners involved in our projects are training organizations, companies and intermediate organisms in 23 countries. Mobility is more and more recognized in those countries; therefore most of the previous work placements are renewed year after year. Years of experience with our partners allow us to organize those projects in mutual trust and prepare at best each participant for his mobility.Each apprentice’s mobility has been validated and recognized through a Europass, and for our post-apprentices, their skills and competences are highlighted on our online pedagogical platform “Aquisav”. With the mod-term puropose of using ECVET system, our partners already signed the “Memorandum of Understanding”. For this project, the International Service has maintained relationships with partners and developed new partnerships, ensured the administrative and financial monitoring of the fellowships, created necessary tools to help pedagogical teams. The service also helped their training centers in France for organizing the gathered mobility projects if needed and they supported young professional going abroad for one year (individual mobility) and the ones who were following a 2-weeks technical training.This ambitious project couldn’t have been organized without the considerable investment of our staff members involved, in particular educational staffs and trainers, for which we are very grateful.

York College is the main provider of Vocational Education Training in York and North Yorkshire, Business Finance. Hospitality & Tourism form the major economy for York and its surroundings and there is a large demand for skilled workforce to meet the needs of local SMEs. York College was involved is setting up a new International Hospitality and Tourism Academy in partnership with the City of York and York Minster. The plan was to introduce the new Academy in 2016. One objective was to internationalise the VET through modernising the curriculum towards a European model and/or looking at new pedagogies that would support the development of a workforce ready to meet the needs of the business, hospitality and tourism sector of the City of York and North Yorkshire. To achieve this we planned to equip the delivery team with the tools and knowledge required through a programme of CPD to acquire additional awareness of European Hospitality, Business and Tourism operations, pedagogies and cultural awareness. We aimed to do this by working in partnership with York Hoteliers, as advisory organisation, to develop partenrship between education and employment by developing post secondary or tertiary qualifications in line with EQF to match skills shortage in York and North Yorkshire. We aimed to align our VET portfolio to local, regional and national economical development strategies. To aid us achieving our aim we worked with our partners in Seville, a city with similar economic challenges to York, to explore and share best practices and learn how local VET organisations meet the skills and workforce demand and challenges in engaging young people to enter the sector. The project will had the following objectives: a) to develop new innovative curricula / education methods and development of short courses to meet sector skills shortage; b) develop entrepreneurial learning and education; c) develop robust career guidance for youth unemployed to tackle unemployment and labour market issues. The transnational programme aimed to embed and develop entrepreneurial learning and education through this project by exploring and analysing how our European counterpart shape and modeled their VET in a city with similar economy and skills requirement to York. The city of Sevilla provided us with such a platform to learn from and share good practices. Another aim of the project was to produce innovative training courses and materials by exploring VET with our European partners, through job shadowing, and focusing on developing new approaches and training for York College, local SMEs and sector requirements for training and development needs and our North Yorkshire partners’ schools. The project allowed our development and understanding of labour market issues with youth (in a similar city to us) and how our European counterpart manage it to provide a more comprehensive and robust career guidance to help engage young people into VET, thus reducing youth unemployment. The participants were 15 staff employed by York College within the Business, Hospitality & Tourism department working as assessors or tutors in delivering vocational education training within the department. The participants are responsible for planning , delivering and assessing the portfolio of provisions to meet vocational education needs within the local, regional and national sector. Their participation enabled them to gain/acquire high quality skills and knowledge. Participants, and the college, will be able to plan high quality VET provisions to meet the need of our stakeholders and to reinforce the capacities and international scope of York College. Those taking place will be colleagues that are involved in planning, delivering and managing VET provisions in the following fields: Business Administration, Business Studies, Business Economics, Business Finance Accounting, Professional Cookery, Professional Patisserie and Confectionery, Hospitality Multi-skilled Services, Food & Beverage Service, Hospitality Leadership and Management, Customer Care, Event Planning, Apprenticeships in Hospitality, Apprenticeships in Accounting & Apprenticeship in Business. We managed to explore new innovative and entrepreneurial approach in planning and delivering VET provisions across the sector. We were able to modernise and innovate our current portfolio of provisions for 2015-16 and we are planning to continue to innovate for 2016-17. On the long term the creation of the International Hospitality & Tourism Academy will help York and North Yorkshire towards fulfilling the skills shortage. The project supported the innovation and improvements in VET in Business, Hospitality & Tourism and it contributed to increase the quality and attractiveness of VET provisions as well as adding European added value to our training, resulting in increased recruitment, retention and success rate for the College and its stakeholders.

"The Apprentice Project involved the organization of five-weeks professional internships in Spain and Germany for students of Vocational School of Crafts in Tarnow and Pilzno. There were organized 3 editions for the 12-person groups of trainees. The project involved 72 students. Recruitment to participate in internships was conducted in compliance with the principles of the Rules of Recruitment; the information campaign, eager students filed application forms, conducted interviews, the final list of teams accepted by the Recruitment, the reserve list - all materials were published on the website of the Chamber and the school. The first edition of mobility project was held in terms of 02/03/2015, the second 10/11/2015 and the last 02/03/2016. There were recruited students of 2nd and 3th year classes. To Germany went students educating in professions; hairdresser, electro-mechanic, confectioner, salesman, locksmith and baker while to Spain - hairdresser, chef, baker, salesman, car mechanic and electro-mechanic, fitter and carpenter. The total number of professions that were involved in the project; 18 hairdressers, 17 electrical engineers, 9 car mechanics, 9 cooks, 7 confectioners, 5 salesmen, 3 locksmiths, 2 fitters, 1 carpenter, and 1 baker. Departures to Germany and Spain were preceded by approximately 70 hours of courses to give participants cultural-linguistic, psychological and pedagogical support. For those traveling to Germany and Spain organized basic language course. Everyone benefited from the English consultation when creating applications for internships and training in the basics of intercultural communication. Cultural preparation was continued on the place - visited famous history, monuments of Thuringia and Andalusia and organized attractive tourist and leisure trips. Everyone took part in the preparation of facilitating psychological coping with stress, separation from family and the new environment. Internships in Seville were organized by intermadiary company EM Training Agency, Erfurt - The Chamber of Crafts. In order to ensure the supervision and safety of the trainees Polish tutors were employed in every group. Students of RZSZ are young workers employed in workplaces in Tarnow and Pilzno, whose main goal is apprenticeship training, realizing theoretical vocational training schools in the dual system. All participants thanks to the regrouping of professional competences acquired before leaving the country and the skills acquired during foreign internships, received the second level of the European Qualifications Framework. The methodology of the project involved the purposes of educational and vocational programs that fitted to individual practices, to the tasks arising from the development objectives and to monitor progress in acquiring professional competences. Participation in mobility increased employability and the professional capacity of 72 participants. All trainees reached the goals of the European Training Paths such as strengthening the competitiveness on the domestic and European labour market by adapting the qualifications and skills to the market needs, increasing the attractiveness of vocational training and their mobility and application of new technologies in the workplace. Internships were carried out according to established with partners plan; I/approval of the tasks of the trainee; II/ acquainted with the company's organizational structure; III/understanding of the scope of duties in the workplace; IV/implementation work rules and procedures in the company; V/acquisition of knowledge and development of skills in the workplace (""on the Job Training""). The following ""soft"" results were achieved by; raising the professional skills, organizational competencies and social interns, increasing participants adaptability, learning the specifics of the foreign labour market, preparation for work in a multicultural environment and the acquisition of skills that increased their competitiveness in the local market. The ""hard"" results of project were; each of the 72 participants worked on average 175 workhours - confirmed in internships registers, everyone participated in about 70 hours of courses and activities preparing for departure, received 3 certificates confirming gained qualifications; Europass Mobility, Certificate issued by the employer - with supplements in English and German and Diploma preparation courses. Each participant gained the ability to use Spanish and German on communicative level. Through the whole duration of the internship coordinator, tutors, employers and partners conducted evaluation in the form of questionnaires, surveys, meetings, reports in the middle and at the end of internship, observations and organized 4 monitoring visits. Promotion of ""the good practices"" by the Chamber contributed to the increased interest of students of vocational schools in the region, European mobility and expanded horizons of employers in the region."