Interprentice

<< Background >>As all partners involved in the project were able to confirm, the pandemic was a challenge for many organisations, especially concerning remote working opportunities. With Interprentice, we have tried to combine the need among the organisations to position ourselves more sustainably and resiliently for the expansion of international cooperation in training. Overall, the consortium partners have found in their (ERASMUS+) projects that trainers and trainees who can take part in an international exchange are generally more motivated and often more determined in their training. The fact that international professional exchange is fundamentally enriching and supports organisational development was also highlighted in Let's campaign [2020-1-IT01-KA202-008374] and SMEEGE [2020-1-DE02-KA202-007369] projects, among others. Interprentice wanted to build on this and has successfully done so. With an established opportunity for digital internships and project cooperation between trainees from different organisations and countries, international experience and intercultural skills can be gained. This is ecologically sustainable and further enables people and organisations for whom travelling as challenge to implement international projects.<< Objectives >>Interprentice aimed to address critical needs arising from the rapid changes in work profiles due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing digitalization across all sectors. Specifically, the project aimed to achieve the following key objectives:1.Adaptation to Digital Communication and Skills2.Internationalization and Remote Work Integration3.Vocational Training Modernization4.Comprehensive Skills Development5.Network Building and Knowledge SharingObjectives 1 and 2 fell somewhat short of expectations, mainly due to the loss of the Spanish VET partner and different levels of resources at the VET centres. However, objectives 3, 4 and 5 surpassed our expectations. In the evaluation, the trainees describe their individual professional and private learning curve as very large. Moreover partnerships were established that enable long-term bilateral cooperation between the project partners based on Interprentice.<< Implementation >>In phase 1, we discussed the direction of the project very intensely and conducted thorough research into the topic. In phase 2, the multiplier events laid the foundation for getting people within the partner organisations excited about the project. In phase 3, we put together the theoretical basis for the project participants and the overall idea. In phase 4, we held a kick-off meeting in Madrid, ES, as well as severaldigital meetings and a final meeting in Arezzo to test whether our idea was sensible and feasible. This took place on an individual and organisational level and was accompanied by a self-assessment questionnaire for the trainees. In phase 5, we conducted interviews, held joint evaluation discussions and worked out the basic results of the project phase for all participants and partners; these can be found on the website, on YouTube and in a hand-out. In phase 6, we presented the project results and experiences to around 80 people at a final multiplier event.<< Results >>Phase 1 Research results collected to a short ‘catalogue’ regarding important factors for international trainee working groups.Phase 2 Building on on these findings by collecting additional inputs through multiplier events in all partner countries. These MEs were accompanied by questionnaires and the answers were incorporated into the results of phase 3, 5 and 6Phase 3 ‘Concept for international remote trainee working groups’ as a directly applicable practical preparation and monitoring document for trainers, VET centres and companies.Phase 4 Brainstorming and interactive workshop with the trainees in Madrid (ES), Self-survey of the trainees, Methodological groundwork for the experience reports, which was developed and disseminated in phases 5 and 6. Planning material and fully implementing trainee project “remote controlled water heating system”Phase 5 Evaluation Handout as conclusion to the concept developed in phase 3 and evaluative video interviews that help to understand how the implementation of the remote working group worked out in an authentic way. Phase 6 Hybrid Multiplier Event with more than 80 participants and lively presentation document that is available on the project website for interested audience.