University of Applied Sciences (UAS) Nordhausen is actively using all kinds of mobilities in KA103. In the region of Thuringia, UAS Nordhausen is the only institution organising and administrating European mobility also for student placements (SMP).The academic recognition of credits acquired at international partner institutions of UAS Nordhausen has been exemplary for years.Mobility of staff for training and teaching is a priority for UAS Nordhausen. The mobility of professional staff from enterprises for teaching purposes is especially very important in the framework of the internationalisation strategy and the EPS. Every year during its International Project Week (IPW), UAS Nordhausen hosts 30 to 35 international guest lecturers from partner universities and enterprises who work with more than 500 students in interdisciplinary and study programme related projects. Thus, the teaching staff mobility constitutes a relevant support of Internationalisation at Home (I@H). UAS Nordhausen has been organising its IPW for 18 years. This sustainability could only be reached due to the support received from the Erasmus+ programme and its predecessors. In return for the high number of incoming staff, the number of outgoing teaching and non-teaching staff from UAS Nordhausen is on a relatively high level for such a small institution. The impact of these mobilities on the staff also contributes to I@H.The Erasmus+ programme is the essential foundation for the Internationalisation of UAS Nordhausen, helping to break down the barriers of provinciality. Thanks to the European educational programmes, Nordhausen is an integral part of Europe and Europe comes to Nordhausen, enabling the members of UAS Nordhausen to develop a European identity.

The project was applied for and implemented by the LEONARDO-Büro Thüringen, the office of the consortium of Thuringian Higher Education Institutions for the implementation of Erasmus+ placements for students and graduates. The management of the office is carried out by the managing director Dr. Frank March. The project is coordinated by Mrs. Elfriede Thron for the students, the placements of graduates are worked on by Mrs. Sigrid Wille. The LEONARDO-Office Thuringia is located at the Technische Universität Ilmenau, which acts as contractor to the DAAD. The office is responsible for the complete application, implementation and accounting of the project.In order to support as many participants as possible and to meet the needs of the target group as much as possible, the funding rates were set at € 390 per month for country group I, € 330 per month for country group II and € 270 per month for country group III. Furthermore, the zero grant rule was applied to students for months 11 and 12 of the internship and to graduates from the fifth internship month onwards. During the contract period, a total of 130 placements were completed, 119 of them by students and 11 by graduates.Female students/graduates in particular (84) took part in this project, 46 male participants were supported. Access to this project was possible for all applicants on an equal footing; the advice and support of the applicants/participants was provided in accordance with the principle of equal treatment. Particularly preferred were placements in Spain (23), United Kingdom (19), Austria (18), The Netherlands (13) and Sweden (10). Participants were sent to 20 countries.The average duration of the mobilities is 4 months and 22 days.The funding provided by the Erasmus+ programme and the use of OS funds, in combination with the specified funding amounts/use of the Zero Grant scheme, have made it possible to meet the needs of students and graduates of Thuringia's Higher Education Institutions (HEI) for placements.Despite the ubiquitous presence of the Erasmus+ programme at Thuringia's HEI‘s, which was additionally reinforced in 2017 by the 30th anniversary of the programme, the information and motivation of students to carry out a placement is continuously one of the focal points of the project work. During the course of the project, extensive activities were carried out and the target group was primarily recruited to participate in the project through information events about the Erasmus+ programme at Thuringia's HEI‘s in cooperation with their International Offices. The website https://www.tu-ilmenau.de/leonardo/erasmusplus/ as well as flyers, posters and the brochure with reports of students' experiences also contribute to advertising and information. IIn addition to the quantitative implementation, particular emphasis was placed on the quality of the internships - the LEONARDO office actively supported the preparation of the Learning Agreement for each individual internship and coordinated it with the participants as well as the host institutions/companies and the sending universities (faculties/departments). In the case of compulsory internships, this meant that the agreed ECTS were already recognised without any problems during the processing of the EU survey or full recognition by the students is expected.The Europass Mobility has been prepared for all project participants, which is an important quality criterion for project work. Almost 90% of the participants were able to present the document at the end of the internship. The realisation of placements in the Erasmus+ programme by the LEONARDO-Office Thuringia is an indispensable part of the academic education of the sending Thuringian HEI’s (in the case of compulsory placements for students) and at the same time an important aspect of their own strategy for internationalisation.This project has helped the target group, the sending Thuringian HEI‘s and the receiving enterprises/institutions to promote professional and intercultural exchange on a transnational level. Especially for the project participants, the medium- and long-term benefit lies in the timely professional orientation and the improved entry into corresponding positions on the labour market. The funds provided have contributed to the LEONARDO-Office Thuringia being able to operate continuously as the consortium's office and support the common interests.

The Thuringian Higher Education Institutions (HEI) applied for this project as a consortium for the implementation of internships in the Erasmus+ program for students and graduates. The implementation of the project is the responsibility of the consortium's office - the LEONARDO Office Thuringia. The office is managed by the CEO Dr. Frank March, the project coordination is done by Mrs. Elfriede Thron for the students, the mobility of graduates is handled by Mrs. Sigrid Wille.The LEONARDO Office Thuringia is based at Technische Universität Ilmenau, which acts as a contractor to the National Agency. The office is responsible for the complete application, execution and billing of the project. The project application was submitted for 180 internships for students and graduates and 825 internship months. The license was granted for 130 internships for students and alumni with 596 practical months and a total subsidy of € 243,044.In order to support as many participants as possible, the funding rates in the country groups were reduced compared to the 2014 project. Information on this has been published directly on the website of the project owner.During the course of the contract, a total of 164 internships with 711 months and 6 additional days could be realized: 150 internships of students and 14 placements of graduates. In this project, students from eight Thuringian HEI were sent.Above all, female students / graduates (111) participated in this project, 54 male participants were supported. Access to this project was equally permissible for all applicants, the advice and support of the applicants / participants was based on the principle of equal treatment. Students and graduates of almost all fields of study were supported, reflecting the interests and the labour market situation. Particularly preferred were internships in United Kingdom (26), Spain (21) Austria and France (14 each) and Sweden (10) - participants were sent to 26 countries. The funding was average for 4 months and 11 days.The need of the students / graduates of the Thuringian HEI for internships could be met because of the reduced funding amounts and the budget increases. There were extensive activities for the information and motivation of students, for example: • Information events on the Erasmus+ program at the Thuringian HEI in cooperation with their International Offices • Presentation and advertising of the program on the website as well as • Project information through flyers, posters and a brochure with experience reports from students.In addition to the quantitative implementation, special emphasis was placed on the quality of the internships. The preparation of the learning agreement for each individual internship was actively supported by the LEONARDO Office Thuringia and coordinated with the participants, the hosting institutions as well the sending HEI (faculties / departments). Academic recognition of achievements is only relevant for students' internships. In addition to voluntary internships (without ECTS), the agreed ECTS were easily counted among 90 of 150 students. As a result of the active cooperation with the receiving institutions or companies, they are interested in continuing to offer internship positions - this also ensures the long-term perspective of further successful projects in the Erasmus+ program. The implementation of the internships in the Erasmus+ program by the LEONARDO Office Thuringia is an indispensable part of academic training for the sending Thuringian HEI (in case of compulsory student traineeships) and at the same time an important aspect of their own internationalization strategy.This project contributes to anchoring the Erasmus+ program among the students / future graduates as a means for their individual mobility. The funding provided thus ensures that the LEONARDO Office Thuringia, as the consortium's office, is continuously active and can support the common interests.