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.

Boarders of European Union are quickly expanding and the development of skills for our European workers is essential nowadays. Indeed, crafts and companies are now dealing with international exchanges and facing a multinational competition. Qualifications and skills are therefore put into question. In order to contribute to this expansion, it is primordial to provide each apprentice with the possibility to be trained and to work on a European level. It is our duty to offer our learners such training. Les Compagnons du Devoir have always given priority to the long life learning and perform to value on-the-job learning and mobility, mainly through shared experiences, human relations and knowledge transmissions. 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 7000 of our young graduated have already benefitted from such an experience.Since 2004, more than16120 apprentices have therefore benefitted from a 3 weeks mobility project in European Union, owing to our trusted partners. Our experience allows us to choose the most suitable partners to provide our apprentices quality trainings in any of our 29 trades (industry, construction, building, baking, leather and textiles trades). Thanks to Erasmus + agreement for 2016-2018, we financed mobility for 733 apprentices in gathered mobility projects together with their class and their trade teacher (66 teachers in total); 138 young professionals left for a one-year individual mobility; 24 apprentices and post-apprentices went abroad from 6 to 12 months in order to continue their apprenticeship and 30 young participants in a 2 weeks technical training.In September 2009 we managed to officially join in the learning annex of the apprenticeship contract the 3 week mobility project abroad for all our level 4 apprentices, which show our strong desire to institutionalize the mobility project abroad into the training program of our apprentices.The enhancement of the quality of our project is owing to the developed teaching skills of our partners, who suggest a precise program compatible with our apprentices’ modules in France, with the specificities of the host country. This approach brings a value to our programs in France and comforts the employers of our apprentices, worried about this mobility project abroad of their employee. 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, social partners, consular chambers 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 idea of using ECVET system, our partners already signed the “Memorandum of Understanding” (MoU). For this project, the International Service has maintained relationships with partners and searched for new ones, ensured the administrative and financial monitoring of the fellowships, prepared and coordinated the pedagogical projects if necessary. The team also helped their training centers in France for organizing the gathered mobility projects and they supported apprentices who were following a 2-weeks technical training or going abroad for one year (individual mobility).This ambitious project couldn’t have been organized without the considerable investment of our staff members involved in those actions, in particular educational staffs and trainers, for which we are grateful.

Boarders of European Union are quickly expanding and the development of skills for our European workers is essential nowadays. Indeed, crafts and companies are now dealing with international exchanges and facing a multinational competition. Qualifications and skills are therefore put into question. In order to contribute to this expansion, it is primordial to provide each apprentice with the possibility to be trained and to work on a European level. It is our duty to offer our learners such training. Les Compagnons du Devoir have always given priority to the long life learning and perform to value on-the-job learning and mobility, mainly through shared experiences, human relations and knowledge transmissions. 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, more than 6276 of our young professionals have already benefitted from such an experience.Since 2004, almost 14900 apprentices have therefore benefitted from a 3 weeks mobility project in European Union, owing to our trusted partners. Our experience allows us to choose the most suitable partners to provide our apprentices quality trainings in any of our 29 trades (industry, construction, building, baking, leather and textiles trades). Thanks to Erasmus + agreement for 2015-2017, we sent 825 apprentices in gathered mobility projects together with their class and their trade teacher (72 teachers in total), 168 post-apprentices for a one year mobility and 65 apprentices in a technical training for 2 weeks.In September 2009 we managed to officially join in the learning annex of the apprenticeship contract the 3 week mobility project abroad for all our level 4 apprentices. The enhancement of the quality of our project is owing to the developed teaching skills of our partners, who suggest a precise programme compatible with our apprentices’ modules in France, with the specificities of the host country. This approach brings a value to our programmes in France and comforts the employers of our apprentices, worried about this mobility project abroad of their employee. 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, social partners, consular chambers and intermediate organisms in 21 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 idea of using ECVET system, our partners already signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The International Service maintained relationships with partners, prepared and coordinated the pedagogical projects if necessary. They helped also their training centres in France for organizing the gathered mobility projects and they supported apprentices following technical training or going abroad for one year (individual mobility).This ambitious project couldn’t be organized without the considerable investment our staff members involved in those actions, in particular educational staff and trainers.

CONTEXTThe Stone sector represents a worldwide increasing market. Within the European Union around 60,000 small and medium sized businesses work with ornamental stone in all aspects. This comprises a work force of more than 500,000 people engaged in and around ornamental stone industry with strong economic and social impacts at regional levels. This sector represents a worldwide highly increasing market where European production reaches approximately 35% with a total turnover of about 24 billion €. Nevertheless, know how is exported not only in the stone quarry business, including the closely associated high tech machinery where Europe has a leading position in the world market, but as well as all forms of modern applications of stone.However, the female workers are in a minority in the whole value chain of this industry due to lack of a gender integration, where the rate of feminization is only 7.25% at European level (source: Cluster Piedra):- Barriers among colleagues: In a mainly male sector, it is not well seen by traditional society.- Intrinsic barriers: It is thought that jobs in stone sector require brute strength and it cannot be carried out by women, but it is incorrect, because, currently, it is a sector that highly uses machinery.- Labour market barriers: Women think they do not have any possibility to work in this sector, because they do not have a positive mentality about their abilities to carry out the tasks of this sector or because they think that they do not have equal opportunities. But this mindset has to change.OBJECTIVES AND TARGET GROUPSOne of the challenges facing the 21st century stone sector is to highlight the issues of gender equity and female labour participation in a sector in which it must have an increasing presence. WinSTONE project claims that it is possible women integration in the whole chain value of stone sector, that is, provide resources and opportunities to recruit, retain, and advance, women in the stone industry.For that reason, this project will be focused on the following target groups:- Women -both at risk of exclusion, as young and over 45- (60);- VET centres (10) and vocational training teachers (150);- and entrepreneurs of the stone sector (50).In summary, WinSTONE will become a resource for women to broaden their perspective (personal) through meaningful strategic connections at any level of their career, so they can reach their full potential and accelerate or enhance their career growth. Therefore, the objectives of the project will be:- Expand on existing educational offerings.- Increase peer-networking opportunities by coordinating venues to connect and learn.- Develop a system of support and mentorship with other women in the industry. - Create opportunities for women to serve on key industry jobs.- Recognize emerging & experienced women who excel in the industry.- Create awareness of opportunities and career paths available to women considering careers in the stone industry.- Work with the WinSTONE Board of Directors and other committees and associations to achieve these goals.PRODUCTS AND METHODOLOGYIn order to achieve those objectives, the methodology of the project will be focused on main beneficiaries will participate directly in the activities (women) as well as stakeholders (VET centres and entrepreneurs), where the main products of the project will be:O1. Needs analysis report about gender equality in the stone sector of each participant country.O2. Establishment of common learning outcomes focused on opening gates for Women IN the Stone sector.O3. WinSTONE Open Educational Resource (OER).O4. Production of WinSTONE Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).O5. Implementation of Vertical Action Plan in the stone sector.IMPACTDNV (Deutscher Naturwerkstein-Verband E.V) decided to start a project to promote integration of women in stone sector across Europe, and got in contact with CTM (Asociación Empresarial y de Investigación Centro Tecnológico del Mármol, Piedra y Materiales), NTUA (National Technical University of Athens), iED (Institute of Entrepreneurship Development) and KSK (Klesarska Skola), which are organisations with a wide experience in coordinating EU projects in these fields. The consortium, as a whole, has the biggest competences in develop suitable training materials for stone sector from a gender perspective, being aware of the importance of them represent the main European stone products areas and, then, the most comprehensive knowledge about this matter. Finally, the partners of the project come from different countries with a broad tradition on natural stone, where all partners have close cooperation with entrepreneurs, universities and VET providers.

The boarders of the 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 working more and more internationally and face competition both in terms of production techniques and professional approach. Qualifications and skills need to be updated and to ensure this, further prioritising the need for each apprentice to enjoy training and work experience in another European country. For Les Compagnons du Devoir et du Tour de France, travel, community living and knowledge transmission is at the heart of training apprentices and young professionals and the association maintains 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. Since 2012, 3000 of our young graduates have benefitted from this amazing experience. Since 2004, over 20 000 apprentices have benefitted from a 3 week mobility project in the European Union, thanks to our trusted partners representing all 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 integrated 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.2019 and 2020 brought new and unprecedented challenges to our funding model and to the functioning of our activities, including European mobility. We have had to adapt to the changes imposed both by the French apprenticeship reform and its funding in 2018 and by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Our quantitative results for mobility, especially the short mobility of apprentices, have been therefore reduced.Nevertheless, thanks to the Erasmus + Convention for 2018-2020, we have been able to ensure the mobility of 1022 apprentices in groups with their trade teacher. 152 young professionals have enjoyed a full year of individualised mobility and 13 young professionals have continued their training whilst on long-term mobility abroad. Finally, we were able to provide 4 two-week technical training programmes for 35 post-apprentices. The quality of our project is enhanced by the pedagogical input of our trainers and hosting partners, who propose a precise program compatible with the specificities of the host country. This approach is necessary as mobility periods are directly integrated in our training programmes in France and it reassures the employers who might question the impact of the mobility project of their apprentice. 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 adaptability and flexibility, key qualities valued in the labour market. The partners involved in our projects are training organizations, companies and intermediate organisms in 24 countries. Mobility is gaining recognition in these countries and most of the previous work placements are renewed year on year. Years of experience with our partners allows us to organize projects with mutual trust and prepare each participant’s mobility as best we can.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 a longer term view to using the ECVET system, our partners have already signed a “Memorandum of Understanding”. For this project, the International Service has been specifically in charge of maintaining and developing new partnerships, ensuring the administrative and financial monitoring of the grants and creating necessary tools to help trainers. The service also assisted our training centres across France in organizing the group mobility projects where necessary and they directly supported young professionals going abroad for one year (individual mobility) or on 2-week technical training trips.This ambitious project couldn’t have been organized without the considerable investment of our staff members involved, in particular educational staff and trainers, to whom we are very grateful.