Legnano/Alicante cultural exchange: a unique experience

By Anna Pekez and Benedetto Rossi, Year 2 Social Economics students at the Barbara Melzi Institute in Legnano

During the month of February, we, the students of the second year of the Liceo Economico Sociale at the ‘Barbara Melzi’ Institute in Legnano, had the opportunity, thanks to Professor Manuguerra, to take part in a cultural exchange with students from the Cavanilles school in Alicante (Spain).

This gave many of us the chance to improve our Spanish language skills and learn new vocabulary for everyday life.

The same could be said of the cultural aspect, discovering customs and a different way of life in an environment with traditions different from our own.
We were able to observe their lifestyle, particularly in our homes and families, who in turn were very happy to welcome the Spanish students.

---

---

The school organised various activities and educational trips to help us get to know our local area, visiting Milan, Como and Legnano. For our guests, it was a new adventure and for some of us, it was a rediscovery of interesting cities, or even, for those who had never had the opportunity to see monuments and attractions such as the Last Supper or the Voltaian Lighthouse in Como, a fantastic first visit. A different experiment was the art workshop, in which we expressed our creativity by colouring our photos with the aim of showing ourselves before and after this “event”.

The experience was wonderful, but after nine days of commitments, proposals and outings involving all our families and the entire class council, returning to school was tiring, especially in terms of the school routine.

The best part of this experience was forming new bonds in such a short time. It was very important for all of us to have made friends, which have lasted until now and which we hope to strengthen and maintain in the future.

---

---

European Vocational Skills Week: #DiscoverYourTalent

The sixth edition of European Vocational Skills Week will take place from 16 to 20 May 2022. It is an initiative of the European Commission to raise awareness and increase the attractiveness of vocational education and training (VET). The week aims to make VET more interesting in order to help young people and adults reach their full potential for a more fulfilling personal and professional life.

The motto of this year’s communication campaign is

DiscoverYourTalent!

The motto aims to show that everyone has valuable talents and that VET can provide European citizens of all ages with the skills and practical knowledge they need to succeed in the labour market.

This year’s theme is VET and the Green Transition, in line with the European Commission’s European Green Deal: its plan to become carbon neutral by 2050 – and to provide everyone with the tools they need for the green transition.

The aim is also to raise awareness of VET experiences among individuals and organisations, thus creating a library of stories to inspire others. A selection of stories will be promoted through EU channels.

You can share your IeFP story by filling out this intuitive form: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/ShareYourStory2022

For more information on European Vocational Skills Week:

---

School dropout?
Not today, thanks to the 3-H project

The figures speak for themselves: around 24 million students worldwide were at risk of not returning to school in autumn 2021 due to the disruption caused by the pandemic. These were general studies not specific to vocational schools, where the situation could be even more significant given that vocational training in many contexts serves to gather and train the most vulnerable young people at risk of marginalisation.
Promoting student well-being at school will be crucial in the near future to reduce school dropout rates. In this regard, we may have a solution to stem the problem: the 3-H project, funded by the Erasmus+ programme.

The project focuses on socio-emotional aspects and the goal is always to prevent school dropout, involving individual pupils in their personal motivation, working on methodologies that facilitate the acquisition of socio-emotional skills and addressing student demotivation and discomfort at school.

Considering that in several European countries there are examples of schools that are incorporating socio-emotional aspects into their learning pathways, the project aims to study some of these experiences and the approaches behind them in order to replicate them in Italian and Spanish VET contexts.

In practice, the project will work on the following aspects:
a) Developing knowledge and methodologies to enable teachers to work on socio-emotional aspects;
b) Outline a strong reception model, dedicated to the first months of pupils’ entry into vocational training courses;
c) Develop/adopt good practices that promote pupils’ well-being at school (from reception onwards) and motivate students.
At the end of the project, the partnership aims to provide a compendium of good practices, a set of guidelines and a toolkit in which the good practices collected will be included. In addition, the final output will be a sort of manifesto for social and emotional education.

---

---

Dissemination of the REX VET project results

From 2 to 3 March 2022, the partners of the European REX VET From a rookie to an expert project met in Verona for a final meeting as the project, after two and a half years, is coming to an end.

In addition to reviewing the project outputs and discussing management and evaluation aspects, an event was held to disseminate the results and show how to develop synergies between the internationalisation activities of institutions, organisational development and the continuous professional growth of VET staff. In fact, the event was aimed at directors of training institutions, project designers, coordinators, Erasmus activity representatives and trainers interested in internationalisation issues.

After illustrating the background, structure and phases of the REX VET project, the event highlighted how to increase ownership of internationalisation activities within VET institutions and involve more and more teachers and staff members in this type of activity.

Ample space was also given to promoting the professional development of VET institution staff in terms of the skills needed for internationalisation.

Finally, the event addressed how to document and recognise learning and skills acquired on the topic of internationalisation through the Open Badge system developed within the context of the REX VET project.

---

---

From a rookie to an expert –internationalisation pathways for vocational education and training (VET) trainers

On the one hand, working life is becoming increasingly multicultural, while on the other, the labour market is becoming increasingly international, requiring international skills and competences. Vocational education and training (VET) trainers are increasingly required to possess these skills in order to guide and prepare students.

On the one hand, working life is becoming increasingly multicultural, while on the other, the labour market is becoming increasingly international, requiring international skills and competences. Vocational education and training (VET) trainers are increasingly required to possess these skills in order to guide and prepare students.

During the event, emphasis will be placed on how to:

• increase ownership of internationalisation activities within VET institutions and involve more teachers and staff members in this type of activity;• promote and support the professional development of VET institution staff in terms of the skills needed for internationalisation;• document and recognise learning and skills acquired on the topic of internationalisation through the Open Badge system.

The event is aimed at:

• directors of vocational training institutions who aspire to increase ownership of internationalisation activities within their institution and want to support the development of their staff’s skills in the field of internationalisation;
• designers, coordinators and representatives of Erasmus and internationalisation activities at their institution, in order to involve more colleagues in these activities and further promote their organisation’s development strategy;
• trainers interested in internationalisation issues who want to increase their skills in this area.

Click here to register

Event programme:

• 14:15 – Welcome• 14:30 Introduction to the proceedings (Luca Calligaro – ENAC Ente Nazionale Canossiano)
• 14:45 – The REX VET project: background, structure, phases, output (Mari Kontturi – Luovi Vocational College)*
• 15:00 – Proposal for a model for the development of VET staff skills in the field of internationalisation (Taavi Tuisk – Kuressaare Ametikool)*
• 15:15 – First example of a training module for internationalisation (Simona Puggioni – ENAC Ente Nazionale Canossiano)
• 15:30 – Second example of a training module for internationalisation (Begoña Inchaurraga – Centro San Viator)*
• 15:45 – Open badges – what they are and how they can be used to recognise the learning of skills in the field of internationalisation (Karoliina Oksanen – Vocational College Live and Jussi Kajander – Luovi Vocational College)*
• 16:15 – Promoting opportunities for continuous professional development in internationalisation – the Dutch model (Mieke Muilwijk – Alfa – College)*
• 16.30 – Conclusion and questions

The presentations by foreign speakers will be in English; therefore, a minimum knowledge of the language is required.

We remind you that in order to participate in the event in person, according to current regulations, it is mandatory to have a valid GREEN PASS and to wear a mask.

Your contact details will be collected and stored for the time necessary for possible contact tracing

---

Final webinar of the TOVET project – Together for future VETSkills

are pleased to announce that the final webinar of the European KA3 Tovet project – Together for future VETSkills, of which ENAC is a partner, will be held on 23 February at 1.30 p.m.

The webinar will be entitled “How internationalisation can benefit your organisation” and during the event we will take stock of what we have learned over the last two and a half years thanks to the Tovet project, presenting the main results achieved and the tools developed during the project.

In addition, in a single webinar, there will be an opportunity to explore:

• How to improve your organisation’s internationalisation strategy.
• How to promote innovative learning of key skills in VET and how to assess them using the Open Badge certification methodology.
• All presentations will be in English and will be given by experts from the institutional, training and business worlds.

All presentations will be in English and will be given by experts from the institutional, training and business worlds.

Don’t miss this online event open to schools, vocational training centres and technical institutes!

---

Student week in Groningen of VETsdgs project

A week that transformed theory into practical experience. Students from Centromoda Canossa took part in Student Week in Groningen, alongside fellow students from Spain, Finland, Estonia, the Netherlands and Italy. Five days to discover how Sustainable Development Goals translate into real projects, everyday choices and possible lifestyles.

The Alfa-college in Groningen served as the base for this experience, welcoming the students with warmth and professionalism. The city itself proved to be a perfect case study: through a workshop organised in collaboration with the municipality, the students were able to get their hands on real issues, designing green areas, spaces for physical activity and innovative solutions to make urban spaces more sustainable and liveable. These were not mere theoretical exercises, but concrete proposals that showed how every citizen can actively contribute to the transformation of their local area. The students also discovered the concept of Positive Health, a vision that goes beyond the simple absence of disease, integrating physical, mental and social health into a single interconnected system.

The visit to the Alfa-college Textile Hub was also very interesting. This project demonstrates how the circular economy can be a driver of social innovation. It not only develops a local and fair textile supply chain, but also offers educational programmes for the community and creates job opportunities for people who struggle to enter the traditional market. It is a concrete example of how environmental, economic and social sustainability can be perfectly integrated.

The visit to Suikerterrein, a natural space dedicated to eco-sustainable projects, completed the picture: a true hub of green creativity where ideas take shape and are shared with the community.

The excursion to Schiermonnikoog, a UNESCO World Heritage Site measuring just 8 km by 13 km, is a living example of how to live in harmony with nature. Over 70% of the territory is a protected nature reserve, the island is almost completely car-free and mainly uses bicycles for transport, and is home to seals, migratory birds and unique ecosystems.

After being welcomed at the Town Hall and learning about the island’s characteristics, the students were faced with a real challenge: finding innovative solutions to reduce water waste in this delicate ecosystem. This exercise required creativity, technical knowledge and environmental awareness. In the afternoon, cycling through dunes and pristine beaches, they experienced first-hand what it means to live in a place where sustainability is not just a slogan, but a concrete daily choice.

It was not only the visits and workshops, but above all the international and collaborative dimension of the experience that added value. Working in mixed groups, the students shared different perspectives, learned to listen to each other, and found common solutions based on their different cultural backgrounds. The convivial dinners, such as the typical Dutch one based on Pannenkoeken, became precious moments to consolidate friendships and continue discussing sustainability in an informal way.

The last day, dedicated to final presentations, crowned this journey. Each group illustrated the solutions developed during the week, sharing reflections and learnings. The awarding of certificates marked not only the end of the experience, but the beginning of a new awareness: that of being able to be active protagonists of change towards a more sustainable future.

---

In these short interviews, the students tell us about their experience from their point of view and, above all, what new sustainable practices they are taking home with them!

---

Erasmus Days at the Sfp ENAC Veneto in Treviso

Erasmus Days have been a regular event at SFP ENAC Veneto in Treviso since 2013, when the school decided to join the mobility projects proposed by ENAC, involving an increasing number of students and accompanying teachers.

This year, the celebrations were held on Friday 16 October at the school theatre, where third-year students were able to learn about and appreciate the Erasmus+ programme thanks to the words and testimonies of Director Michielan, some accompanying teachers (Prof. Antonello and Pavan) and former students (Alessia, Alessandro, Eric, Tommaso), the Erasmus + programme: an unmissable mobility experience which, thanks to European Union funding, will take them on work placements in leading companies in an EU country next summer.

‘Travelling is living, travelling opens your mind, travelling changes you for the better as a person, travelling makes you grow humanly and professionally, travelling makes you independent’ are just some of the ideas that emerged from the passionate speeches of the speakers. We take these maxims to heart and pass them on as good wishes for all the students who, in the coming months, will face the selection process and leave in July.
Good luck: ‘Life is a journey, and those who travel live twice’
(ʿUmar Khayyām, Persian poet and mathematician).