"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."

"One of the central ideas underlying European Lifelong Learning policies is that international mobility should become a natural part of education and training schemes. This helps learners to achieve higher qualification levels which are crucial for a successful first step into the labour market or for career improvements. The EU Member States are fully committed to helping young people take advantage of the opportunities open to them in terms of learning mobility. Young people participating in VET schemes are a particular focus of this commitment, and the Member States recently set a target of enabling at least 6% of all learners in initial VET to have completed a period of VET study abroad by 2020. In line with these objectives and European policies, through MoVET, ITT ""Marco Polo"", ISIS ""Gramsci-Keynes"" and IPSSEOA ""Buontalenti"" aim to improve the quality of education and vocational training, giving a European dimension to the learning paths and thus providing the young participants the opportunity to test and improve their skills: professionalism in the specific areas of vocational education (tourism management and promotion), cultural knowledge and linguistic preparation. This general objective, in line with the ET2020 strategy is pursued through a mobility experience that consists of a learning mobility internship abroad of 4 weeks for 60 students/learners (including 12 learners with special needs) and 40 learners just graduated from the 3 participating Tourism VET schools. The training programme includes an internship in selected companies in the tourism sector, to acquire knowledge and skills within the sectors and compare the various professional techniques, and activities aimed at the inclusion and integration in the context and for the improvement of language skills and to better know the culture of the hosting country. The main expected results from the project include: the rise of the personal and professional skills of the students, and the promotion of key competencies related to the real exercise of active citizenship; increasing the employment potential of the participants, the introduction of innovative training methods as a complement to existing practices and pathways and the improvement of the educational level of technical and vocational schools, the development of relations between the transnational partners and the promotion of processes of cooperation and exchange of good practices between the partners involved, with a significant impact in improving the educational and vocational guidance.The construction of a permanent network of transnational public-institutional organisations and not only, therefore, is one of the main objectives of the project and allows the exchange of experiences and best practices at various levels (technical excellence, best practices in educational policies and governance of the system). The Consortium, with this proposal, therefore, aims to give momentum to the internationalization of institutional relations and cooperation at European level. The opportunities for economic and social growth cannot be separated from the desire to create strong interdependence and synergy between educational and training institutions and strong partnerships with local and foreign business realities.The project is, besides, implemented in an European context considering the European priority and thematic approached such as ""ECVET for transparency and recognition of learning outcomes and qualifications"". The development of the ECVET System began in 2002 after the Copenhagen Process emphasizing the need for a credit transfer system for VET. MoVET is a project based on the concrete responses to the questions of developing ECVET in the European member States and corresponding to the 2009 EU Recommendations on the establishment of the European Credit system for VET. The project works in particular to realise an European area for Lifelong Learning in the Tourism sector.The whole activities are implemented by regarding a strong European perspective which are reflected in all project activities and results. The project aims to increase the knowledge of ECVET and its technical specifications and ensuring that the added value of ECVET is understood and perceived all over Europe."

"The RENADRION Project was born and was implemented in a dual context:1) the NATIONAL NETWORK OF TOURISM AND CATERING SCHOOLS (RENAIA) of which the 15 VET schools involved are members, including the Leading Organisation, IPSSEOA ""CORNARO"", which also holds the Presidency and which represents the most representative associational reality, at national level, of the educational offer in the tourism and catering sector;2) the EUSAIR EUROPEAN STRATEGY (2014-2020), which aims to increase the attractiveness and competitiveness of tourism in the ADRIATIC-IONIAN MACROREGION, supporting the development of coastal, maritime and inland tourism, by improving the quality of tourism services and promoting sustainable economic and social prosperity through the growth of professions and the creation of new jobs.In line with these strategies and objectives, RENADRION has therefore offered 120 STUDENTS (of whom 16 with special needs and 15 with fewer socio-economic opportunities) in initial vocational training in the fourth classes and 90 RECENT GRADUATES (of which 12 with fewer socio-economic opportunities) of the 15 TOURISM AND CATERING SCHOOLS involved, the opportunity to carry out a European mobility experience lasting, respectively, 4 weeks and 3 months. In particular, they were participants attending an education and training course (target students) and newly graduated (new graduates) in the tourism services sector and who carried out the relevant professional figure abroad.RENADRION has therefore offered young participants an experience in companies in their field of studies and the opportunity to confront themselves with the linguistic skills possessed and the acquisition of specific job skills. The experience has combined, in particular, the learning outcomes achieved in the educational path with the needs of the labor market in the field of tourism promotion and management and has strengthened the knowledge of development strategies adopted in other contexts in the tourism sector, using the internship experience as a fundamental part of the educatioin and training path.Among the general objectives achieved by the project we can list:- The promotion of lifelong learning as a person's right to increase and update their skills, abilities and knowledge in learning formal, non formal and informal contexts;- The transparency of learning outcomes and the adherence of the training path to the needs of companies and professions in order to facilitate the encounter between labor demand and supply and increase the productivity and competitiveness of the production system;- The usability of qualifications at national and EU level in order to facilitate geographical and professional mobility also with a view to internationalization of companies and professions.The RENADRION mobility experience also developed the transversal skills of the participants, such as the spirit of initiative, the ability to adapt and the ability to relate to and interact with cultural contexts different from one's own.The transparency of learning outcomes in the tourism sector was guaranteed, finally, through the ECVET system and the establishment of a partnership able to work jointly on the units of learning outcomes and the methods of assessment, validation and recognition of skills acquired abroad by participants.These, therefore, the impacts achieved:- Development of skills of the target groups involved (210 young people among students and recent graduates);- Creation of models and training tools of innovative value;- Dissemination of results and training models among the stakeholders of the tourism sector and the VET system;- Making available results and training models for institutions and professionals in local, regional and national territories.The project can therefore be considered exemplary, which can be integrated into the strategic development of each Consortium partner, as well as being transferable outside it, for different aspects:- It created a WBL model with a system of actions aimed at specific training, but also at the global growth of the person. It saw the continuous and active involvement of all the project staff and supervision by the trainers and company mentors; accompanying and tutoring interventions; teaching methods based on involvement, participation, high integration between theory and practice, development of immediately usable practical skills, validation of acquired skills;- It has implemented a system of ongoing and final evaluations, allowing to monitor progress in terms of learning outcomes achieved by the participants, as well as to evaluate, validate and certify them."

"One of the central ideas underlying European Lifelong Learning policies is that international mobility should become a natural part of education and training schemes. This helps learners to achieve higher qualification levels which are crucial for a successful first step into the labour market or for career improvements. The EU Member States are fully committed to helping young people take advantage of the opportunities open to them in terms of learning mobility. Young people participating in VET schemes are a particular focus of this commitment, and the Member States recently set a target of enabling 6% of all learners in initial VET to have completed a period of VET study abroad by 2020. In line with these objectives and European policies, through LEO quali-TC Mobility, the Tourism and Catering Schools ""Saffi"" and ""Buontalenti"" from Florence aimed to improve the quality of education and vocational training, giving a European dimension to the learning paths and thus providing the young participants the opportunity to test and improve their skills: professionalism in the specific areas of vocational education (tourism and catering), cultural knowledge and linguistic preparation. This general objective, in line with the ET2020 strategy was pursued through a mobility experience that consisted of a learning mobility internship abroad of 3 weeks for 94 students/learners (including 7 students with special needs) from the 2 participating Tourism and Catering VET schools. The training programme included an internship in selected companies in the tourism and catering sectors, to acquire knowledge and skills within the sectors and compare the various professional techniques, and activities aimed at the inclusion and integration in the context and for the improvement of language skills and to better know the culture of the hosting country. The main results from the project included: the rise of the personal and professional skills of the students, and the promotion of key competencies related to the real exercise of active citizenship; increasing the employment potential of the participants, the introduction of innovative training methods as a complement to existing practices and pathways and the improvement of the educational level of technical and vocational schools, the development of relations between the transnational partners and the promotion of processes of cooperation and exchange of good practices between the partners involved, with a significant impact in improving the educational and vocational guidance.The construction of a permanent network of transnational public-institutional organisations and not only, therefore, was one of the main objectives of the project and allowed the exchange of experiences and best practices at various levels (technical excellence, best practices in educational policies and governance of the system). The Consortium, with this proposal, therefore, aimed to give momentum to the internationalization of institutional relations and cooperation at European level. The opportunities for economic and social growth cannot be separated from the desire to create strong interdependence and synergy between educational and training institutions and strong partnerships with local and foreign business realities.The project was, besides, implemented in an European context considering the European priority and thematic approached such as ""ECVET for transparency and recognition of learning outcomes and qualifications"" and was in continuity with the Leonardo da Vinci project TOI ""LEO quali-TC"" promoted by IPSSAR ""Saffi"" in 2013. The development of ECVET began in 2002 after the Copenhagen Process emphasizing the need for a credit transfer system for VET. LEO quali-TC Mobility was a project based on the concrete responses to the questions of developing ECVET in the European member States and corresponding to the 2009 EU Recommendations on the establishment of the European Credit system for VET. The project worked in particular to realise an European area for Lifelong Learning in the Tourism and Catering sectors.The whole activities were implemented by regarding a strong European perspective which was reflected in all project activities and results. The project aimed to increase the knowledge of ECVET and its technical specifications and ensuring that the added value of ECVET was understood and perceived inside and outside the partnership."

At a local level , the Mancomunidad de Municipios de la sierra de Cádiz, in partnership with the following vocational education centres CPD la Salle, IES Zaframagón, IES Alminares, IES Ntra. Sra. de los Remedios, IES Fuente Grande and IES Guadalpeña, submits this proposal of European mobility program. Our proposal has, as its source, our concern for the labour situation that nowadays suffer our young people, those that are actually studying and those who have recently finished their studies. The situation is worsened by the shortage of entrepreneurship in our city. As an action measure, our Consortium includes enterprises and host partners who wish to cooperate with us by offering to our participants high quality trainings at a European level in different countries such us, Italy, Portugal , United Kingdom, and Malt. This multi-professional project, has been designed to meet the training requirements of 56 young students which are completing their education in any of the centres that send these participants abroad. The duration of the program is 2 years, unfortunately we have sent only 31 participants between 2016 and 2017. Profesional Profiles of the participants: Tecnics in one of the following areas - Administrative management, , bodywork, Microcomputer system and informatic, and Culinary art. The activities developed along the project were: Identifying priority needs, creating the local association, contacting the hosting partners, submitting the proposal, giving information to potential participants, select the candidates, encouraging and preparing participants. Collaborating with hosting partners in the preparation of the internships, designing of the educational program, CV Europass and reference letters, Language course, Administrative, finance and contract Management. The training periods will last for 13 weeks, from January to June 2016 and 2017. Follow up and Evaluation of the trainings. Evaluation of the project. Reporting, validation and dissemination of results. Results and outcomes for the Participants:- Achieving practical experience as a complement to the theoretical education that they have received so far during their formation- Professional mobility in order to obtain practical methodologies and innovative learning techniques- To gain language and socio-cultural abilities which empower participants competences - Completion of the technical qualifying program. - Join the labour market.Results for the sending and hosting partners to this project: - Contribute further to the enrichment of participants education rising their possibilities when entering into the labour market. - To improve European mobility programs management, collecting best practices for its application in future projects. - Apply new practical approaches to selected sectors - Improve professional training by the exchange of experiences that move theory to practice. - Enlarging networking of enterprises and companies to a European level strengthening bonds between members. In the long term, we hope that this project have been for encouraging occupational mobility will promote a new spirit and interest among young people towards training regarding not only professional competences but also including language competences. Youngsters will have access to educational training and will discover new employment opportunities, will see the benefits that this experience has had in former participants to this program and school absenteeism will be reduced.