LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAMME

Our educational institution, IES CALVIÀ has experience in programmes and activities which promote the idea of European citizenship and encourage students to participate in mobility activities in Europe. In fact, we have been part of Leonardo da Vinci programmes since 2005. In addition, our institution has taken a commitment on a quality process management since 2005. (IS 09001:2000 regulation).

We value our participation in the Erasmus programme to expand our experience and to promote the cooperation and mobility of our final module students of VET (Vocational Education System studies).

Our participation in the Erasmus programme is essential to:

• Improve the quality and appeal of Vocational Education between students and enterprises.
• Help promote creativity, competitiveness, job-creation and business spirit.
• Enhance the knowledge of languages and cultures of European Union countries.
• Promote the interest in European Higher Education.
• Promotion of a lifelong learning area.
• Facilitate the students approach and integration in Europe.
• Students’ mobility to the EU countries to do different study degrees and job training modules in Higher Education Centres and carry out training placements in enterprises.
• Promote teachers mobility placements in Higher Education Centres of EU countries to either give or receive education.

In order to give visibility to Erasmus programme, we propose the following strategies:

• Meetings with students, staff, parents to inform about the objectives of Erasmus programme.
• Use leaflets, brochures and the local media to spread the Erasmus programme.
• Use the school noticeboard and Web page for activities related to EPS activities.
• Transfer past experiences carried out by students who participated in mobility activities.

In order to comply with the non-discrimination objectives we facilitate social-cohesion, active European citizenship, intercultural dialogue and equality of genres through cross-curriculum contents and tutorial action. Since our school counts with a wide range of multicultural students, our aim is to reinforce their learning in terms of arising awareness on European citizenship based on the comprehension, the respect of human rights and the promotion of tolerance towards different countries and cultures. We will also pay special attention to ensure the participation of disabled students or teachers providing special facilities to their specific disability.

ACADEMIC MOBILITY ACTIVITIES

Students:
Currently, all academic activities are done in our school although we already took part in academic activities in Romania (2 first module Cookery students), in Wales (1 second module Administration and Finance student), and in England/London (1 second module Travel Agency student) through the Leonardo 2006-2007 programme.

Although we do not count with an Education Credit Transfer System (ECTS) so far, all the activities carried out by our students will be related to the On-the-Job Training Module (FCT) which is the final module of the official VET studies (Vocational Education Training). Therefore, we are highly interested in participating in any experimental projects concerning academic recognition on Vocational Training abroad, as ECTS.

Incoming students will be provided with full information and counselling concerning accommodation and town facilities and services in Majorca. Welcoming activities will be organised and the students will be offered Catalan and Spanish lessons and tutorial actions. All the previous activities will be carried out according to the Policy Statements with other Higher Education institutions.

Teachers:

Erasmus 2007/2008 programmes do not include teachers’ participation. However High Vocational Training teachers are considering the possibility to participate in teaching staff mobility activities abroad. This is intended to contribute to create a Higher Education European area, to improve the teaching quality of the institution and to facilitate the creation of European nets. A participation plan, including, as a priority, the teachers’ improvement of linguistic competence and their awareness of a European identity will be elaborated.

STUDENT PLACEMENT ACTIVITIES

On-the-Job Training module facilitates new training activities in Higher Vocational education and training. Students’ placements in European enterprises as a part of the On-the-Job Training module contribute to:

• Increase the On-the-Job Training module quality, appeal and innovation.
• Promote cooperation to improve the quality of Higher Vocational Training in Europe.
• Match European Vocational Training education and recognition procedures.
• Improve and increase cooperation between Education institutions and enterprises.

Our institution will carry out the following initiatives:

1. Initial stage: Inner and outer publicity on training placements in European enterprises. Enhance non-discrimination participation activities.
2. Preparatory stage: Establish the preparation criteria. Students’ cultural and language training. Detect educational needs. Elaborate individual educational programmes. Identify suitable enterprises to provide quality training placements. Reach agreements on dates, training activities, etc. with the educational institution and enterprise tutor.
3. Organising stage: the tutor will do the practical mobility arrangements (travel, accomodation, etc.) and agreements about the training programme.
4. Follow-up stage: The tutor will provide On-the-Job Training module criteria to elaborate required training adjustments detected in his contact with the student and tutor.
5. Evaluation stage: Assessment will be provided according to the agreed training programme criteria and also taking into account the student entrepreneurial skills and initiative.
6. Recognition stage: The placement will be acknowledged as a part of the On-the-Job Training module, only if the quality criteria are fulfilled.

The management of the mobility activities improves the technological/professional knowledge of the teacher in charge. Thus, it directly improves Vocational Education Training.