The ELLA project has been successfully completed by the Akademie Überlingen from June 2016 to May 2018.The following objectives have been achieved with our project:-Raising awareness for mobilities and reducing mobility barriers-Increasing and application of language skills within a real work and life environment-Improving quality, attractivity and performance in vocational training-Recognition of competencies and qualifications-Improving the level of competencies of vulnerable groups (disadvantaged youth, single parents, early school leavers, migrants, handicapped persons)-Reducing cultural barriers and prejudices-Implementing the European qualification framework-Opening enterprises to the idea of internationalization (think globally, act nationally)80 Learners (15 of which in government supported vocational training) and 5 Teachers were planned to take part in the project. 60 pool places were provided for leaners from all over Germany. 75 learners (16 of which from the government supported vocational training) actually took part and carried out a work experience stays from 1 to 4 weeks abroad. 4 teachers travelled once and 2 teachers travelled twice to Austria or England participating in the project.Our main aim was to enable learners from all professions to take part in the project and to carry out work experience in the European country of their choice. Surprisingly high was the number of participants travelling in groups. They were 60 (80%). For 3 of the groups an accompanying mentor was essential. Almost half of the participants stayed in English speaking countries. The main target countries of participants travelling alone were Irland, Italy, Cyprus, Turkey or Malta. All participants were happy with the support given by our partner organisations. They received a certificate and the Europass mobility after successful completion of their stay as recognition of the gained key competences, professional skills and qualifications. A new kick in their learning attitude combined with the application and expansion of their professional and social skills has given all participants better chances of long-term integration in the employment market.

The funding received within the framework of the project was used to finance stays abroad for a total of 444 individuals in vocational training and 73 vocational training specialists.286 apprentices completed a 2 to 24 week internship specifically suited to their profession, individual level of training, knowledge and skills at a company active in their professional field. IFA organized internships in small groups during spring, summer and fall of 2018. Participation was open for apprentices from every profession and industry from all over Austria. The applicants were selected based on their technical, linguistic and personal skills. IFA organized the travel, stay abroad, internship, accommodation and insurance for the participants as well as accompanying language courses. IFA prepared the apprentices and companies organizationally, culturally and linguistically for the stays and ensured that the internships were recognized as part of the apprenticeship training in accordance with the Vocational Training Act (BAG).Given that a majority of the apprentices were minors, the apprentice groups were accompanied by an IFA-counsellor during the first week abroad. The counsellors helped the apprentices get settled in the host country and visited all the participating companies to ensure that the content and processes fulfilled the objectives. Contact persons at the receiving institution and IFA were available to support the participants throughout their entire stay abroad.158 students from vocational schools and colleges also completed an internship relevant to their professional field that was suitable for their training and level of knowledge. The internships were organized in close cooperation with the sending schools in order to ensure they were recognized as part of the compulsory internship. Most student internships took place in the summer of 2018. The duration of the internship ranged between 2 weeks and 9 months. The content of the internships were defined in terms of the occupational and training profiles and curricula as well as the individual skills of the participants and were specified before the internship in a learning agreement between IFA, the participants and the sending and receiving institutions together with the learning objectives that were to be achieved during the internship.Furthermore, within the framework of the project, 73 training officers from companies and vocational schools as well as vocational training experts participated in 1 week-long workshop to exchange their experiences in order to learn about VET systems in other countries, compare them with the Austrian system and exchange ideas amongst each other and with colleagues from abroad. The goal was to promote the quality, innovation and the European idea in vocational education and training through cross-border exchanges. The participants were multipliers and could share their experiences in companies, schools and throughout Austria and thus contribute to a Europeanisation of the Austrian VET system.While abroad, the participants acquired technical, linguistic, social, intercultural and personal skills and expanded their personal and professional horizons. An internship abroad contributes to the strengthening of important key skills such as teamwork, personal responsibility, flexibility and much more. Experiences abroad promote career opportunities and ensure the future career of the participants and thus the competitiveness of Austrian companies. International exchange increases the overall quality of the Austrian VET.IFA is a non-profit association that has been organizing internships abroad since 1995 for apprentices, professionals and training officers. Since 1995, IFA has helped more than 7.500 people take part in an EU-funded stay abroad. As the applicant and co-ordinating institution, IFA was therefore responsible for ensuring the quality and proper organization of the project.IFA works with a network of experienced partners in the target countries with whom partnership agreements (Memoranda of Understanding) defining the conditions and quality criteria already exist. IFA has been successfully working together with most of the partner institutions for many years. Throughout the entire stay abroad, there was always someone from the receiving institution, the host company or IFA at the participants’ side to supervise their progress and ensure the quality of the internship. After completing the internship, all the participants received a “Personal Transcript” outlining the activities completed and knowledge and skills acquired with confirmation from the receiving institution and host company.All internships were recognized as part of the vocational training in Austria.

The Robert-Schuman-Institut Eupen is sending in the next year about 26 students into 5 European partner countries to 7 partners. During this period the Robert-Schuman-Institut is also receiving organization for the students of our partners. It's a mutual exchange. The students do a 3 weeks practical training abroad in a company, institution, organization or specific school to do their first experiences in the labor market. At the same time, they learn about other cultures and mostly also another language. We chose the students following their motivation and suitability, regularity at school and attendance in the additional language course, organize regular information meetings about the course of the trip and stay, we undertake all preparation tasks and take care of the agreement with the partners. The partners receive our students, organize the accommodations and take care of our students during the stay. They organize also cultural activities. For the teachers of the Robert-Schuman-Institut an exchange of one week is organized with colleagues of the partner countries, job-shadowing in different lessons will be organized and cultural activities as well. They can make a look into the companies, where our students are doing their practical training. The teachers who are doing a practical training, are mostly teachers of the vocational field of our sections. They will receive the possibility to learn about the teaching methods and teaching contents and also compare with the colleagues of the partners. But there are also other colleagues of general courses, because everybody should take some of the experience into his classroom. The partners receive our students and teachers, find the accommodation and a work placement and take care of the guests. They organize as well cultural activities. Our students travel in company with two teachers of our school. In the partner country, they will be picked up from our partners and they will be brought to the accommodation or to the hostfamily. As orientation they will be given information and the person of contact will tell them all they need for the first days. The students will be accompanied to their work place and our teachers as well. Our partner will be disposal in case of emergency, but the students have to find their way to get independent. The hostfamilies and the employers and at the first days also the accompanying teachers are ready to help. The partner will stay in contact with the employer and will be informed. Some times our students have some activities with students of our partner schools. The teachers follow the program which has specially been made for them (exchange, job-shadowing, cultural activities, ...) The aims of the whole project are: - To open the mind concerning other cultures, work methods, and languages. As we work in a small cultural community, it's necessary that our students and teachers enter in contact with other cultures and learn about it. This improves the understanding and helps to get off prejudices. - To support the students to get more flexible and selfconfident. By the work placement and the experience abroad, they will have more chances at the labour market. -T o support the interest for languages. In Europe it' a must to know 2 or even more lanuages. That improves the chances on the labour market. - And to improve experiences in the vocational area. The students will receive the possibility to combine the training at school by the work experience. The teachers will learn other methods and technics. To open this perspective seems us as school instution important for the best education.

The SOMOTECH 4.0 project, led by Somorrostro Technical School, aims to improve the technical training of 10 students to qualify them in professional areas related to 4.0 industry and its related services, at the same time reinforcing its international profile. The project is aligned with the Basque Industry 4.0 Strategy and the 4th Basque Vocational Education and Training Plan. This Plan seeks to promote the internationalization of education, as well as the specialization of VET schools. In this regard, the Plan urges technical schools to promote the mobility of students, and to work on the improvement of competitiveness and internationalization of companies providing them with qualified professionals able to work in an international market. Furthermore, the Basque Industry 4.0 strategy focuses on developing the intelligent factory or factory of the future, tackling issues such as the development of software, massive data analysis systems and storage, incorporation of sensors and electronic elements that interact in the production processes and products derived from them, man/ machine interfaces and the availability of information to a better and more accurate decision making for production. In this context, in the Basque country has identified six urgent improvement areas: the extension of the excellence beyond manufacturing in metalworking, the expertise in innovative materials, design and own product development, the incorporation of high value-added services, the incorporation of ICT technoloies and the integration of value chains.SOMOTECH 4.0 project aims to react to these strategies and provide solutions to the needs of the labour market training highly qualified staff in areas related to the 4.0 industry and related services.It is expected the mobility of 10 people: 6 students from Intermediate VET in diplomas related to 4.0 industry and related services such as administrative services, and 4 students of professional certificates. All of them must correspond to the following professional families:-Electricity and electronics-Mechanical manufacturing-Installation and maintenance-Computer science-Auxiliary services administration with good communications skills in foreign languages.After the completion of the project participants are expected to have acquired new innovative skills in innovative companies and soft skills, key to their future employability.

In March 2016, the Robert-Schuman-Institute Eupen could find work placements abroad for every of its students and teachers who introduced a letter of motivation and a CV for a internship abroad. It depends on the partner's country if the students could do their internship in a company or in a vocational school. The teachers did job shadowing in our partner schools.•Languages and Multi Media: 3 students in Portsmouth (UK), 1 student in Nantes (FR)•Office work: 1 student in Portsmouth (UK)•Applied Arts and Graphics: 4 students in Riga (LV), 2 students in Nantes (FR)•Chemistry: 2 students in Nantes (FR), 1 student in Savonlinna (FI)•Carpentry: 1 student in Savonlinna (FI)•Draughtsman: 2 students in Savonlinna (FI)•Nursing for children: 1 student in Nantes (FR)Job shadowing of 2 teachers: •Family assistance: 1 teacher in Savonlinna (FI), partner school SAMI – Vocational school•Carpentry: 1 teacher in Savonlinna (FI), partner school SAMI – Vocational schoolThe experiences our students could gain during their stay in our partner countries are considerable. It was not only their first experience in the labour market but also social competences have been acquired and also an improvement of their language knowledge.In our application form we fixed the criteria, which are important to develop and which correspond to our European development plan:Achievement of experience in the labour market, independence, self-confidence, openness to other cultures and working methods, flexibility and improvement of foreign languages. In retrospection, we can say for certain that all these competences have been reached. Sometimes connected with some less exciting experiences (the learning process is not always based on a pleasant experience), but however, view from a little bit distance, always ending with a positive effect on the development of the students. Finally the experience was motivating and successful and the students recommend warmly this internship abroad to every classmate or school-friend.Besides the students, 2 teachers were sent abroad who could widen their professional experiences. They could learn about another school system in Savonlinna (FI), exchange methods and ideas with other Finnish colleagues and do job shadowing in some lessons. They could also open their mind for other another culture. At the end, we can say that also the mobility of the teachers has been successful and all the aims have been reached.