Living and learning in Europe (LLE) is the first international project within vocational training in the new Viken county, founded on 1. january 2020 after the implementation of a regional reform. It represents south-eastern Norway, previously the counties of Akershus, Buskerud and Østfold. LLE also concerns the city of Oslo with whom Akershus county has had a long standing cooperation. Vikens’ ambition is to continue and expand projects for international mobility within vocational training. This implies giving new opportunities to publics and areas that previously were not covered by Erasmus projects for vocational training. Using internationalization as a tool, LLE aims to strengthen vocational training and to support innovative thinking in companies and organizations. By offering international mobilities to apprentices, companies or organizations, we hope to see spill-over effects: - In recruitment, to make vocational training as attractive as other educational pathways by offering equal opportunities. The chance to have an international mobility can attract new candidates to vocational training. - In quality of education: we allow participants to experience differences or similarities in work philosophies and methods. This is because international mobility is a trigger for participants to reflect on their own practices and gives a new understanding of the scope of one’s profession. A positive outcome is for apprentices to become more pro active in their education and to show more interest in learning about their field of work. For trainers, a positive outcome would be using observing the new methods in teaching. - In work environment : Internationalization can improve work environments beyond the direct benefits to participants. The impacts of internationalization are long lasting and make participants “internationalization ambassadors” that can create a stimulating environment that encourages innovation and openness. A positive outcome of international mobilities will then be skilled workers that will feel better equipped to adapt to an ever evolving job market. - In participant’s ability to be active citizens: the participants will not only strengthen their professional skills, they will achieve a larger degree of independence, develop better cultural awareness, develop their ability to work in a foreign environment and to feel as a part of a larger European society. Our application reflects our wish to maintain a high level of internationalization within vocational training. It also reflects our need to expand to new areas, to new publics and to new professions. - Long term mobilities, as planned by our Erasmus+ VET charter. Apprentices will perform a 13 week placement which will include a language course and training in a company. We aim to send apprentices that will represent all of Viken’s territories and Oslo as well as the diversity in the professions they work in. We will also strive to work towards better equality by giving opportunities to special profiles ( women in male dominated sectors, or men in women dominated sectors...) - Short term placements in order to allow new publics to gain experience with international mobility. These mobilities would specifically be aimed at apprentices from the previous areas of Buskerud and Østfold which have not had access to Erasmus projects before. Based on the principles of lifelong learning and the need for apprentices to have professionals from their own field to spar with, we want to increase our focus on mobilities for staff. We therefore apply for: - Staff mobilities to allow trainers to be placed abroad for a limited amount of time. This will enable us to promote internationalization in companies and organizations. We hope to create a context where apprentices can discuss their observations regarding their international mobility with skilled workers in their field. - Accompanying persons, to offer the possibility for trainers to visit their apprentices taking part in a mobility. The apprentice will benefit from being seen and visited. We expect the staff to help the apprentice reflect and interpret situation. We experience that apprentices in some professions, like in health trades, face ethical questions and need guidance during the training period. The visiting staff will have a better understanding of the experience, especially in the cases where we meet skepticism and questions about the monitoring of the apprentices. - Teachers in vocational education : We want to expand this project to include teachers in vocational subjects from the upper secondary schools. We believe that the teachers will acquire new knowledge and expand the scope of their profession. This will in turn create a positive attitude within school management to develop international projects for students in vocational education. Within Viken schools, there are already many possibilities to join staff mobility projects for general studies teachers.