The PERCIVAL project is presented by the consortium made of the public tertiary vocational education institutes (ISIS) “Einaudi Ceccherelli” in Piombino, “R. Foresi” in Portoferraio e “B. Lotti” in Massa Marittima (which signed a network agreement called “A.T.L.A.S. - Alberghieri Toscani del Litorale Area sud) and Accademia europea di Firenze. The project aims at valuing and make tangible the European dimension of VET provisions (concerning hotellerie and touristic reception), giving all participants (LEARNERS) the opportunity to go through an international internship. This would allow them to put their skills and competences to the test and to observe the labour market “from within” in an international context. Not only will they be able to further develop their language skills and technical abilities, but they will also acquire competences with respect to intercultural relations, entrepreneurship and communication. At the same time, the project aims at providing the involved TEACHERS and STAFF with an experience to improve their in-service training outcomes, acquiring competences and knowledge about competence-based learning design, CLIL teaching, design of alternate training, which take into account the local resources, curriculum needs and students’ expectations. The project proposes international internships for 76 students enrolled in 3rd and 4th grade in the different sectors/specialties taught in the Institutes members of the project consortium: tourism, hotellerie, reception services, food and wine, and a number of complementary sectors such as social and healthcare in touristic environments, administration, finance and management of reception structures, maintenance and technical assistance in reception structures. For 15 newly graduates the project proposed longer mobilities, called “ErasmusPro mobilities”, with the aim of enriching their employability profile and support their motivation, especially in cases of school failure or other difficulties. These mobility experiences will be real work experiences/placements lasting 150 days, this improving participants’ chances to find a job. The mobility programmes for 9 teachers will last only 7 days, implying job shadowing and observation at VET providers in the UK, Spain and France. They will have an insight into learning design methodologies (e.g. competence-based design and evaluation; CLIL; laboratory-based learning, alternate training, etc.) so to take back to the Institutes a fresh view of how learning methoodlogies can be innovated and improved. The project implementation will positively impact the addressed target groups: LEARNERS (STUDENTS and NEWLY GRADUATES): Development of key competences; personal development, increased awareness and autonomy, critical thinking, ability to take informed decisions, entrepreneurship; improvement of social relationships in the different contexts (school, family, friends) and prevention of bullying. Employment for newly graduates. STAFF / TEACHERS PARTICIPATING IN THE MOBILITY PROGRAMMES: Improvement of their professional competences with respect to: competence-based learning design; co-design of alternate training (with companies and other labour market actors); design and management of transnational projects. STAFF / ACCOMPANYING TEACHERS: Acquisition of new technical/professional skills and competences; increase of their motivation to participate in international mobility programmes; increase of their awareness about job opportunities in the hosting countries. CONSORTIUM (STAFF and ORGANISATIONS): Acquisition of skills to manage transnational projects and mobility programmes; strengthening of the alternate training programmes; improvement in the capacity to contribute with innovative elements to the design of school curricula; improved use of the EUROPASS CV and MOBILITY tools, benefiting young students and graduates.

"The FOODIES project was born and developed in the regional contexts of Piedmont, Lombardy and Liguria and within the framework of the ""Milan-Sanremo del Gusto"" Programme, promoted in 2016 by the three Regional Councils and aimed at enhancing local identities, discovering experience of the territories and their respective historical, artistic, eno-gastronomic and manufacturing quality attractiveness, to be realized with the involvement of public and private subjects, schools and universities of the territory. In this context, the project aims to meet a dual need: 1) on the one hand, the need to stimulate the innovation of local tourism enterprises in order to make them more competitive and visible at national and international level; 2) on the other hand, invest in the training of skilled and trained professionals and therefore employable and self-employable; attentive to tradition, but also to change and innovation. Through FOODIES, the ""Giolitti-Bellisario"" Institute, the other 6 sending Educational Institutes and the Consortium partners aim to provide adequate expertise in the tourism-receptive sector that can bring a boost to the tourism work market of the three regional basins, recovering knowledge and skills of tradition, bringing innovation and critical spirit in the creation and management of competitive tourism enterprises and in step with the global challenges and thus improve the quality of education and vocational training, giving a European dimension to the educational pathways and thus offering young participants the opportunity to verify and deepen their curricular skills: professionalism in specific areas of belonging (TOURISM), cultural and transversal knowledge and linguistic preparation. This general objective, in line with the ET2020 Strategy, is pursued through a mobility experience consisting of a 1-month internship abroad for 84 STUDENTS of the fourth classes and 3-month for 84 JUST GRADUATED of the 7 schools involved (Tourism VET school pathways). In summary, the activities envisaged by the project are: 1. Cross-cutting activities: Management; Dissemination and exploitation of results; Follow up; 2. Mobility preparation: Communication and cooperation plan; Selection and preparation of participants; Definition of learning plan; 3. Mobility: Internship in the company; Monitoring; Evaluation of traineeships and projects; transparency of the LOs. From the methodological point of view the project includes: - continuous and active involvement of all the project staff figures and supervision by the trainers and company mentors; accompaniment and tutoring; teaching methodologies based on involvement, participation, the high integration between theory and practice, the development of practical skills that can be immediately spent, the validation of acquired skills; - a system of mid-term and final checks to monitor progress in learning achieved by the participants, as well as to evaluate, certify, transfer and validate them in an ECVET-compatible framework; - the preparation of a final report focused on identifying the effective functioning of the activities and the elements that can be reproduced, transferred and integrated within the Consortium and in other contexts. For the participants, the main results expected from the realization of the FOODIES project concern not only its usability in the employment field, but also its positive influences on the development of human potential through its formal, informal and non-formal learning moments. Finally, FOODIES is expected to consolidate a network of European subjects with good practices and innovative training models in the areas of digital tourism, culture, creative industry and the promotion of food and wine of the territory and specific vocational training for the sector, laying the foundations for future collaborations. The project is therefore an important starting point to be followed up with updating and use of the results on a wider scale. These, therefore, the expected impacts: AT THE END OF THE PROJECT: -development of the specialized skills of the target groups involved (168 young people between students and new graduates); -realization of models and training tools of innovative value. IN THE MIDDLE TERM: - dissemination of the results and training models between the subjects of the relevant macro-sector and those of the vocational training; - making available results and training models for institutions and professionals of local / regional territories; IN LONG TERM: - orientation of the policies of the public partners involved based on the results of the project; - use of procedures as a standard model."

"The project ""VETRINA TOSCANA IN EUROPA: Azioni di mobilità per lo sviluppo delle competenze nel settoreenogastronomico"" (VET-EU) aimed to connect the objectives of the Tuscany Regional Authority Programme ""VETRINATOSCANA"" (Network of enhancement of the typical Tuscan products that involve different economic and institutional actors)to a mobility experience in Europe to 80 young graduates from five Tourism and Catering VET Schools based in Tuscany.The project was leaded by Mentore di ConfCommercio Toscana in cooperation with an articulated partnership of local actors(Tourism and Catering VET Schools, Tuscany Regional Authority, UnionCamere Toscana, ConfCommercio Toscana,CIPAT-Consorzio Istituti Professionali Associati Toscani) and a wide number of European hosting partners.“VET-EU” aimed to offer to the 80 young participants a great opportunity to became highly qualified in a European contextand provide high quality services to the tourism and catering sector by performing a 3-months mobility experience in fiveEuropean Countries: Malta, Spain, Portugal, France and the United Kingdom. All participants were selected from the targetgroup who already participated in the training activities of the Regional project “SCUOLE VETRINA TOSCANA”(sub-programme of “VETRINA TOSCANA”) that, only in 2013 and 2014, involved more than 500 students. “VET-EU”, in fact,aimed to complete with a EU mobility experience the training path of a target of participants, who, having acquiredcompetences and skills of cooking and culinary art in VET School context, carried out also an intra-curriculum training pathon the valorization of the characteristic of the local products of the Tuscany Region.Participants, after their selection carried out by the five Tourism and Catering VET schools (sending partners of the project),received an intercultural preparation as well as being stimulated to self-study on the hosting country, in order to improve theirlanguage skills and to actively participate throughout the European path. The preparation, therefore, involvedmulti-disciplinary pedagogical, linguistic and cultural preparation aimed to provide information, even of a practical nature,including various aspects of an internship abroad as well as knowledge and skills useful to a full integration into the contextof the hosting country (e.g. highlights on the cultural aspects of the host country, lifestyles and working conditions). Thetraining and learning programme abroad included an internship in selected companies in the tourism and catering sector, toacquire knowledge and skills within the sectors and compare the various professional techniques, and activities aimed at theinclusion and integration in the context and for the improvement of language skills and to better know the culture of thehosting country. The main results from the project included: the rise of the personal and professional skills of the learners,and the promotion of key competencies related to the real exercise of active citizenship; increasing the employment potentialof the participants, the introduction of innovative training methods as a complement to existing practices and pathways andthe improvement of the educational level of technical and vocational schools, the development of relations between thetransnational partners and the promotion of processes of cooperation and exchange of good practices between the partnersinvolved, with a significant impact in improving the educational and vocational guidance.The Consortium, with this project, therefore, aimed to give momentum to the internationalization of institutional relations andcooperation at European level. The opportunities for economic and social growth cannot be separated from the desire tocreate strong interdependence and synergy between educational and training institutions and strong partnerships with localand foreign business realities. The project was, besides, implemented in an European context considering the Europeanpriority and thematic approached such as ""ECVET for transparency and recognition of learning outcomes and qualifications"".The development of ECVET began in 2002 after the Copenhagen Process emphasizing the need for a credit transfer systemfor VET. “VET-EU” was a project based on the concrete responses to the questions of developing ECVET in the Europeanmember States and corresponding to the 2009 EU Recommendations on the establishment of the European Credit systemfor VET. The project worked, in particular, to realise a European area for Lifelong Learning in the Tourism and Cateringsector. The whole activities were implemented by regarding a strong European perspective which was reflected in all projectactivities and results. The project aimed to increase the knowledge of ECVET and its technical specifications and ensuringthat the added value of ECVET was understood and perceived inside and outside the partnership."

"The need for Tuscan turistic entrepreneurs is to maintain a high standard of services offered, with a level of quality that will satisfy demanding and well prepared customers (national and international), in order to fight the global economic crisis. The needs of recent graduates from VET schools is to specialize, to acquire new skills on turistic sector by consequence of the potential of job opportunities offered by the sector. These two worlds are the demand and supply to meet that need to find a mutual benefit and profit. For these reasons, the Regional Council of Tuscany, since 2001, has been promoting the programme ""VETRINA TOSCANA"" (Network of enhancement of the typical Tuscan products that involve different economic and institutional actors) and that from three yeras ago included in the Special Programme of Regional Development (PRSE) and considered as an excellent model of communication and promotion of tourism. The project ""Vetrina Toscana in Europa"" (VET -EU) aims to be connected to this regional programme, promoted by the Regional Council of Tuscany, in order to offer the opportunity of an internship abroad to the students of Tuscan Tourism and Catering VET schools, participating to some dedicated training courses carried out within the farmework of ""Vetrina Toscana"" Programme. The VET-EU project is promoted by an articulated partnership of local actors (Tourism and Catering VET Schools institutional bodies, trade associations) and foreign partners. It aims to offer students and recent graduates from VET schools in the turism industry of the provinces of Siena, Florence and Prato, a great opportunity to provide more and more qualified sector services by performing a high quality mobility experience at European level. Participants follow a path of education in the tourism and hospitality industry and be selected from the target group who has already participated in the training activities of the Project SCUOLE VETRINA TOSCANA (sub-programme of Vetrina Toscana). The Project VET-EU, in fact, aims to complete with a foreign mobility experience the training path of a a target of participants, who, having acquired knowledge and professional skills in turism sector, have also carried out an intra-curriculum training path on the valorization of the characteristic of the local products of the the region (elements of Vetrina Toscana Programme). Participants, after their selection carried out by the 7 vocational schools, sending partners of the project, will receive an intercultural preparation as well as being stimulated to self-study on the host country, to improve their language skills and to actively participate throughout the international path. The preparation, therefore, involves multi-disciplinary pedagogical, linguistic and cultural preparation aimed to provide information, even of a practical nature, including various aspects of an internship abroad as well as knowledge and skills useful to a full integration into the context of the host country (e.g. highlights on the cultural aspects of the host country, lifestyles and working conditions). Participants will also be called before departure to deepen their language skills (comprehension , but also oral and written skills). The main expected results from the implementation of the VET-EU project affect not only its marketability within the job market, but also its positive influences on the development of human potential through its features of formal, non-formal (on the job) and informal learning."

"Over the past 20 years, the technical and vocational education has been subject to numerous reforms and changes that had weakened the training offer. Add to this the phenomenon of widespread Italic ""genericism"" that, pushing students towards a choice of extensive and generic studies, is actually the main reason of demotivation towards studies and school drop-out.These elements move in contrast with the needs of the labor market for technical-professional and in particular in tourism and hotel sector. Similarly, the demand for labor, in conjunction with the technological development and competitiveness of the market, requires increasingly specific skills and the same employers recognize that the preparation of the staff coming out of the training course is not always adequate.To complete the picture, it is estimated that in the near future, at the conclusion of the current economic crisis, the demand for labor will greatly increase, with particular reference to its technical and professional fields. In this context the institutes IFOM, Varalli, Bertarelli and Besta have found the common need to compensate the mismatch between training offer and the needs of enterprises, reducing the mismatch between demand and supply of labor, reduce early school leaving and improving integration between schools and business. The realization of this general objective went through the achievement of the following specific results:- For students, to strengthen their professional skills, transversal and personal, enhancing their career prospects and their motivation, creating a sense of entrepreneurship, emancipation, European and intercultural awareness;- For the staff involved, to improve their professional and linguistic skills, to understand the practices related to the world of education and its links with the world of work, to understand the social, linguistic and cultural differences, to increase the ability to address the needs of the most disadvantaged and to strengthen the capacity to sustain their motivation to work; - For the organizations involved, to learn to operate internationally, to understand how to provide the most stimulating educational activities, to create a modern and dynamic working environment, to develop activities good for the whole civil society.For this reason, the project ""Learning in hospitality Europe by undergoing a traineeship VET"" promoted the development of internships abroad for students of the consortium schools. The project included two activities:1) Mobility of 92 students and 17 accompaying persons for an internship abroad lasting one month;2) Mobility of 19 neo-graduates for an internship abroad lasting 10 weeksThe activities included the selection and preparation of students, the organization of the mobilities, activities abroad, evaluations, dissemination and follow-up activities.Between the participants were involved 33 students with fewer opportunities, including 11 with special needs (DSA or BES). The impact of the proposed actions was wide and involved multiple levels of recipients in direct and indirect manner:STUDENTS:- Competitiveness on the labor market;- Improving their social skills;- The acquisition of transversal skills (self-esteem, responsibility, ability to take tasks, ...) will also bring benefits to emancipation and employability;- Peers of the students are indirect beneficiaries, through the experiences of the participants in the action. TEACHERS:- The renewed interest in teaching will bring greater efficiency in learning of the students;- Sharing a common experience with the students will produce a greater understanding of their difficulties and more effective communication between teachers and students;- A better understanding of the labor market in Europe will offer more precise knowledge in supporting the education of students. SCHOOLS:- Increased ability to manage projects;- Increased understanding of the training gaps of students who are entering the world of work;- Development of ECVET as tools for the recognition and validation of students' Learning Outcomes;- Increased understanding of the tourist business processes in Europe;- Increased ability to intervene on motivation and orientation of students, particularly those with fewer opportunities;- Increased competitiveness of vocational schools, compared to other training institutions, crediting the institutions involved at the local level;- Refinement of the offer of training based on the skills and specific needs of the students, thanks to new contacts with foreign companies;- Training of students in line with market requirements;- Increased internationalization of training institutions, in line with European standards of education.The project's impact has been disseminated by the Europe Direct Regione Lombardia among citizens, schoold and local companies."