The objectives of the project on cross-border mobility of students are becoming all closer to realization. This was the main point made by participants at the Interreg project CB_WBL meeting, which focuses on improving the opportunities for young people in the work based learning area. For this purpose, project participants underlined the important role that educational institutions, well connected with local businesses, can play. Collaboration between schools and businesses can be crucial so that young students who are still in the educational process can acquaint themselves with the working environment.
In spring, we already reported about the success of the first meeting of experts in working groups within the project "Slovene-Italian Alliance for Cross-Border Work Based Learning” (acronym CB_WBL) approved under the INTERREG V-A ITALY-SLOVENIA 2014-2020 co-operational program. On Thursday, September 6th 2018, experts from the field of vocational education and learning mobility of students from both sides of the border, met again.
Approximately 30 experts, at the premises of the Intersectoral Education Center - MIC, which is part of the Nova Gorica School Center, first reviewed the achievements of the two working groups tasked with carrying out two comparative analyzes, where experts identified the possibilities for carrying out work based learning in the neighboring country for students from vocational and professional schools from both sides of the border. The first group carried out an analysis of vocational and technical education between Slovenia and Italy and, in particular, the characteristics of educational programs in terms of placement at the state/local level. Solutions have been created based on the use of existing European instruments (EQF, ECVET, EQAVET, Europass). The second group presented the results of the analysis for the creation of unified procedures for the organization of learning mobility, along with the reduction of administrative burdens and the training of mentors.
The presentations were followed by dividing the experts into working groups, where coordinators and experts discussed both results and persisting issues. On the basis of the results of the first two working groups, the third working group also participated in the development of innovative solutions and tools for interactive matching of enterprises and students, as well as tutors and mentors in companies operating in the cross-border area. They will create a digital platform for acquiring information about the neighboring educational system and the way in which practical training will be conducted, as well as a web application for monitoring students during the implementation of work based learning.
Despite the summer, the partners of the CB_WBL project have been able to conducted the project activities by respecting the timeline that has been set at the beginning. In the near future, the digital platform will be fully designed and the first version will be launched at the end of the year, followed by an on-line testing of the platform among target groups.
Operation co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund
