City of Wolverhampton College is a Further Education Institute based within the city of Wolverhampton. It offers over 600 qualifications in a range of full time and part time courses and caters for over 8,500 students with the majority on full time programmes, aged between 16-18 years old. The college works with students from some of the most deprived areas of the city, often feeling disheartened or lacking the motivation to look for employment due to their lack of experience. It is due to this that the college applied for funding through Erasmus+ to expand and develop the provision for work placements for learners through their ‘Wolvcoll Abroad 2016-2018’ programme, ensuring that learners enhance their employability prospects and skills.WCA 16-18 engaged 55 students in placements as detailed below:-13 Hair, Beauty and Business studies students worked in Braga Portugal in June - July 2017-9 Hospitality & Catering students worked in Florence Italy in June - July 2017-16 Creative Arts students worked in Florence Italy in February 2018-17 Engineering, Uniformed Public Services and Travel and Tourism students worked in Braga Portugal in April 2018All participants were placed within a company related to their area of study where they worked for 5 days a week. On the weekends participants took part in cultural activities in and around the local area. Each placement lasted a total of 18 days and included 4 members of accompanying staff (working on a 2 staff per week basis).The objectives for this programme were set to ensure they linked with the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020). This framework along with our own objectives are listed below:ET 2020, 1: Making lifelong learning and mobility a reality:- To enable learners to travel abroad and experience a new culture.- New European language and communication skills are acquired along with cross-cultural awareness.ET 2020, 2: Improving the quality and efficiency of education and training:- provide an outstanding enrichment to our curriculum within the college encouraging learners to take more of an active role in their lessons both leading up to and following their placement.- The gap between low skilled workforce in Wolverhampton and Government initiative of higher level skills is bridged.ET 2020, 3: Promoting equality, social cohesion and active citizenship - Participants overcome the rigid mentality of staying within Wolverhampton/West Midlands for future employment - Participants improve their soft skills to include independent living, confidence, communication and team building.ET 2020, 4: Enhancing creativity and innovation, including entrepreneurship, at all levels of education and training -Participants learn industry level skills within a professional working environment, making them more employable in their chosen sectors and giving them an edge with university applications. -Participants take part in Employability, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship tasks to encourage them to become self employed.We feel that all of these objectives have been achieved throughout the duration of this contract. Participants gained a good understanding of what it is like to work in a professional environment related to their area of interest, whether this be a media company, photography/music studio, restaurant, beauty salon, school, engineering company, tourist advice centre or hotel. They also now have a better understanding and appreciation of different cultures which in turn broadens their horizons.Through their work placements, participants now have raised self aspirations, making them feel more positive about what they can achieve in their future and improving their attractiveness to employers and future employment prospects, in what is a difficult and challenging job market. We have witnessed many students now have a renewed sense of energy and enthusiasm for their course, inspiring and encouraging other students to take part in future projects.We continue to track previous students progress since completing the programme to measure the impact and longer term benefits. Student have gone on to gain university places, work placements and paid employment, all of which can be attributed to their work placements abroad. Please refer to Annex 2 which details the achievements of previous participants both from Leonardo Da Vinci programmes as well as our previous Erasmus+ contracts. We will continue to track their progress ensuring we record the overall success of the programme in relation to tackling the low skilled workforce in Wolverhampton.

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.

Due to the high youth unemployment in their countries of origin and the lack of perspective, an increasing number of young people emigrate from Southern Europe to Germany in order to start a vocational education. In July 2015, youth unemployment rate was 48,6 % in Spain (within the European Union, only Greece had a higher rate: 51, 8 %) and 40,5 % in Italy. In contrast to that, the youth unemployment rate was only 7 % in Germany (which is the lowest within the European Union).At the same time, there are several branches in Germany, which can't find qualified trainees. This is especially true for the craft sector, the elderly care and the hotel business. As a result, German enterprises are recruiting young people from these countries for vocational education in Germany. In 2013, the German Ministry of Labour established a program (called MobiPro-EU) to support young people from EU countries who come to Germany for vocational education. Due to the high demand for training places in Germany, the financial resources for the period 2013-2018 were increased from 139 Million Euro to 560 Million Euro. The projects contain the preparation and assistance of the young people in their countries of origin as well as their assistance before and during their vocational education in Germany (i.e. language teaching, socio-pedagogical assistance). German enterprises, which employ young people from Southern European countries, emphasize that they are highly motivated. Yet, about 20 % of those who are supported within the framework of MobiPro-EU, abandon their vocational education in an early stadium. This is also the practical experience of lN VIA and vij (associations of social youth work), which assist the young people during their vocational training in Germany. A lot of young people, who come to Germany for vocational training, do have wrong expectations, there is also a lack of language skills. Enterprises, which employ young people from Southern European countries, are requesting the associations of social work to support them in the assistance of the young people.This shows that the existing services for the preparation and assistance of those young people are not sufficient.Therefore, the aim of the project is, to optimize/ enhance both the preparation and assistance of young people in their countries of origin as well as in Germany, so the young people are able to complete their vocational training in Germany. In order to reach this goal, young people from Spain and Italy will be interviewed at different locations. The purpose of this survey is to get a full understanding of the reasons for quitting their vocational training and the problems they have during the vocational training in Germany. The survey results will be the basis for the development of a guideline for the optimal preparation and assistance of young people who come to Germany for vocational training (both in their countries of origin and in Germany).The guideline will contain examples of Best-practice as well as an service provision to support German enterprises which employ young people from Southern Europe and recommendations to the ministries regarding the structuring of public promotion programs.Besides that, it will be worked out, how the existing Au-pair-program can be used to prepare young people for a vocational training in Germany. For that reason, young people from Spain and Italy, who work/ worked as Au-pair in Germany, will be interviewed regarding their experiences and needs in case they want to do a vocational training in Germany afterwards. The survey results will be the basis for the development of a guideline, which contains concepts regarding the structuring of an Au-pair-program which is able to prepare young people for vocational training in Germany. Furthermore, the guideline contains recommendations to the relevant ministries.The materials which are developed within the project will be translated into the languages of the participating organisations and English. They will be printed and presented in a closing event to the professional public, relevant ministries and representatives of enterprises. The project partners will disseminate the materials among their networks in the different countries (e.g. enterprises, associations of social youth work, (language) schools, youth organisations, Au-pair agencies).There will be several multi-day transnational project meetings during the project for coordination and exchange (e.g. for the development of the guidelines). Local experts have been invited to the meetings.

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.