This project aims at the modernisation of learning environments in the arts, through an interdisciplinary dialogue between higher educations and associated partners from the field. The objective was to develop curricula for a study programme, which will train artists and health workers with an arts background to work with social inclusion in their artistic projects. The goal is to introduce them to art’s abilities to make connections, facilitate well-being, empowerment and strengthen self-confidence. Emphasises will be on training flexible and sensitive artists, capable of relating to advanced ideas and finding new roles in the constant changing society. The project consisted of several activities over a two-year period, offering a collaborative learning community for all art disciplines, with the active participation of academics and students in the field of arts and therapy, and healthcare specialists. Enhancement of personal skills, self-confidence, community engagement, collaboration skills and reflective practice was central elements of all activities. They were in the form of two intensive programmes and a staff development seminar, focusing on reaching out to people suffering the Alzheimer disease and youth at risk of dropping out of school. The project activities served as a venue for exploring learning approaches developed by an interdisciplinary group of specialists, which have the common ambition of using art as a tool for social inclusion. The group’s development work resulted in curricula for a study programme that provides artists and health workers with an arts background, with opportunities to train and work in a professional environment, presenting creative interdisciplinary learning approaches. See here: https://swaipproject.lhi.is/the-swaip-programme This project utilized the positive aspects of working cross-arts and cross-disciplinary, serving as an effective model of how transnational collaboration can function as a tool for curricular innovation. The project's progress and results have been widely disseminated, hopefully making a significant impact on higher education in the fields of arts, social inclusion and well-being in Europe and beyond.

"Our vocational college ""Berufskolleg an der Lindenstraße für Wirtschaft und Verwaltung"" in Köln, Germany applies for funding by the programme Erasmus+ to be able to carry out the project ""German Apprentices' Training in Europe XI"" (""GATE XI"") for 30 trainees for the eleventh time. GATE XI shall financially enable our very good vocational school students - mangement assistants in office communications, management assistants in dialogue marketing, management assistants in sports and fitness - to do a four-week internship in companies and institutions in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England or Rovaniemi, Finland. They are supposed to do tasks appropriate to their training in English only. The students' accommodation are host families and the local hall of residence.Together with our partners in Hatfield and Rovaniemi our vocational college aims at achieving the following objectives:- Students shall improve their language competence in English as well as their intercultural competence and shall acquire a positive attitude towards mobility and flexibility, which consequently shall provide them with better chances of finding a good post after their traineeship - not just in Germany but also in another European country;- students' independence, their personal development shall be promoted;- the quality of our vocational education shall be improved. The project will be carried out by our school's EU coordinator acting together with the co-ordinator in Hatfield as well as tutors in the companies and institutions at which our students will do their internships. As intended results the above-mentioned aims can be mentioned - added by the following further intended results:- a strengthening of the European idea among our students- a strengthening of our partnerships with Hatfield and Rovaniemi so that similar projects can be carried out in the future - an improved image of ""the German as such"" among the students' colleagues, host families etc."

This is a student and staff mobility project at the University of Hertfordshire. It spans a 33-month period. A key objective of the University's Strategic Plan (2015-20) is to offer students an international learning opportunity and Erasmus+ is a key driver in achieving this objective. The project also addresses the University’s graduate attributes, particularly 'global awareness'. Though the uptake of students in the project is good, it masks a fall in the number of students taking up mobility to Europe since the EU referendum. It also in part reflects a smaller cohort on BA International Business where study abroad is compulsory. However, this is offset by a growth in other subject areas. The number of work placements in 2018-19 is lower than expected, but recovered in 2019-20. Pleasingly, there is a variety of country destinations, though again Spain remains the major destination. Significantly, a good proportion of students are from disadvantaged backgrounds at 25% which broadly reflects the proportion within the University.Outbound staff mobility is healthy and again to a good range of country destinations. The University holds Europe Week (now Global Week) annually. This is a programme of educational and cultural activities offered in collaboration with our Erasmus partners. It provides a focus for inbound teacher mobility. Erasmus+ is pivotal to the University’s internationalisation agenda in terms of strengthening global perspectives in the curriculum. It has also led to a wider collaboration with partners in terms of joint teaching, dual awards, curriculum development and research.

"A) Our vocational college ""Berufskolleg an der Lindenstraße für Wirtschaft und Verwaltung"" in Köln, Germany applies for funding by the programme Erasmus+ to be able to carry out the project ""German Apprentices' Training in Europe XIII"" (""GATE XIII"") for 35 trainees for the twelfth time. GATE XIII shall financially enable our very good vocational school students - mangement assistants in office communications, management assistants in dialogue marketing, management assistants in sports and fitness - to do a four-week internship in companies and institutions in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England or Rovaniemi, Finland. They are supposed to do tasks appropriate to their training in English only. The students' accommodation are host families and the local hall of residence. Together with our partners in Hatfield and Rovaniemi our vocational college aims at achieving the following objectives: - Students shall improve their language competence in English as well as their intercultural competence and shall acquire a positive attitude towards mobility and flexibility, which consequently shall provide them with better chances of finding a good post after their traineeship - not just in Germany but also in another European country; - students' independence, their personal development shall be promoted; - the quality of our vocational education shall be improved. The project will be carried out by our school's EU coordinator acting together with the co-ordinators in Hatfield and Rovaniemi as well as tutors in the companies and institutions at which our students will do their internships. As intended results the above-mentioned aims can be mentioned - added by the following further intended results: - a strengthening of the European idea among our students - a strengthening of our partnerships with Hatfield and Rovaniemi so that similar projects can be carried out in the future - an improved image of ""the German as such"" among the students' colleagues, host families etc. B) Goal of the project: The foreign language teachers should get the opportunity to immerse in the respective language and culture in order to learn about current developments in an authentic environment. They should get the chance to keep up with changes since their stay abroad during their university time which was in some cases more than a decade ago. Furthermore they should profit from new ideas to teach authentic and true-to-life lessons at their vocational school. Number and profile of the participants: The 12 participants are all fully-fledged foreign language teachers at a state vocational college for business and administration. They teach part-time and full-time courses at levels B1 to C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (B2 mainly). Description of the activities: The participants will attend advanced training courses at language schools and also immerse into the everyday life and culture of the host country. How the project will be executed: The participants will look for advanced training courses which correspond with their individual professional needs in order to strengthen their linguistic, intercultural and methodological skills in the context of a life-long learning process. Short description of the expected results and potential long-term benefits: The main goal is to update language and intercultural skills in an authentic environment. Additionally we intend to network and make international contacts – be it with the language schools, the locals or other participants - which will lead to further cooperation in the spirit of European unity (e.g. for student work placements or exchanges)."