Internationalisation and Mobility in the Students' Curricula (2010-2012)

The acquisition of language skills and the development of competences that are related to a study experience abroad are fundamental for both employability and personal success of young people in the European job market. As stated in the Greenbook on Mobility of the European Commission, in accordance with the Conclusion of the European Council on ''New Skills for New Jobs'', the support and promotion of learning mobility of young people is considered a priority across Europe.

The year 2013 is approaching rapidly. And with it, the strategic EU aim for that period: 80.000 students are expected to gain experience in a foreign country annually and be involved in job mobility programs (Copenhagen Declaration). Statistics show that almost every country has problems in getting close to this target.

Many young people are interested in participating in mobility programmes and have recognized the importance of going abroad and gaining language and intercultural competences. Nevertheless a significant percentage of students do not join programmes or break off their stay and return home because they are not able to cope with being in a foreign country. The internationalisation of curricula and a tailored preparation programme need to be implemented to improve mobility rates.

The project aims at increasing the number of students succesfully involved in internationalisation and mobility programmes, at training teachers and advising management involved in internationalisation and curriculum development. It is based on the latest Finnish national research outcomes (2009) that shaped the local educational systems towards the inclusion of internationalisation in school curricula. The project INtheMC wants to transfer the outcomes of the Finnish research and will provide a ready-to-use methodology addressing teachers, students and management, all at the same time.

NL, ES, UK and LT will combine professional educational experience. FR and the second NL partner will provide input from the labour market. PL will focus on psychological influences on mobility and equal opportunities. DE will contribute experience on the mobility of students and the impact on the European level.

The partners aim to activate a bigger group of teachers by sensibilizing them to the topics of internationalisation and mobility and the difficulties students encounter. Within the project, a step-by-step programme that leads to mobility will be created and disseminated.

Partners:

• Landstede Groep, Netherlands (coordinator)
• Angus College, United Kingdom
• Politeknika Ikastegia Txorieeri - HETEL, Spain
• Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germany
• Uniwersytet Kazimierza Wilkiego W Bydgoszczy, Poland
• Marijampoles profesinio rengimo centras, Lithuania
• Stichting Ecabo, Netherlands
• Institut Européen de l'éntrepreneuriat rural, France 

Project Management at the University of Mainz: Prof. Dr. Regina Egetenmeyer, Juniorprofessur
Research Fellow: Dipl.-Päd. Sandra Rueffin
Time: November 2010 till October 2012
Financing: LEONARDO Transfer of Innovation, Programme for Lifelong Learning/European Commission
URL: http://www.inthemc-project.org/

Selected Project Results

Internationalisation Guide for Teachers in Vocational Education and Training: http://www.inthemc-project.org/teacher-manual

National Reports on Internationalisation and Mobility: http://www.inthemc-project.org/reports

Press Releases

Internationalisierungsleitfaden für Berufsschulen liegt vor: http://www.uni-mainz.de/presse/53349.php

Europas Auszubildende schauen nur selten über den Tellerrand: http://www.uni-mainz.de/presse/50459.php