SMEEGE - Small and medium Enterprises’ Executives Go to Europe

The aim of the project SMEEGE is to show the advantages of mobilities to the decision makers (executives) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). This is done by providing information and developing approaches for these enterprises in sending trainees abroad for part of their training and by highlighting the benefits for the companies. In recent years, various institutions have recognised that stays abroad during vocational training are a useful supplement. The Erasmus+ Annual Report 2018 reveals: 91% of participants declared to have become more motivated to carry on developing their professional skills; 80% gained practical skills relevant for their current job. A NABiBB survey of project promoters in 2018 confirms that there is an increase in skills and knowledge among staff after a stay abroad. The results of the study also highlight that offering mobility projects to trainees strengthens the institutions' image and is a profitable factor in training marketing. In times of a shortage of skilled workers, small and medium-sized companies in particular need strategies for employee retention. Especially when it comes to recruiting young experts, many SME have no experience and no approach in sending trainees abroad for part of their training. But this could be a promising retention tool. Consequently, not only because the trainees gain relevant international experience within the framework of a mobility project, it makes sense for companies to offer their trainees a stay abroad. However: a study by the NABiBB has shown that companies still have great reservations. The sense of stays abroad is not clear to many. There is scepticism about longer stays in particular. Often trainees are even required to take vacation in order to participate in mobility. This scepticism is also reflected in the following figures: the EU sets a target figure of 6%, i. e. 6% of trainees in Europe should spend part of their training abroad. Some countries set even more ambitious targets (e.g. Germany, 10%). If one looks at the actual figures in the individual partner countries, it quickly becomes apparent that these goals have not yet been achieved. Since fewer trainees than planned by the EU are still spending part of their training abroad throughout the EU, measures should be taken to increase the rate.In order to reach the EU targets, it would be useful, if SME acknowledged the value of time abroad and therefore support their trainees. The number of apprentices going abroad might rise if those young people ask for it (pull), but when the executives get an impression of the advantages of mobilities, it will rise much faster. Thus, SMEEGE aims to make the posting of trainees and other employees more attractive. This is done by providing information and experiencing stays abroad. The target group are executives of SME (or in representation: trainers). They will go abroad (on their own cost, but organized by the project partners). Other stakeholders are future apprentices, because with a rising awareness of the advantages of mobility the likelihood will rise for them to get the chance to go abroad during their training. Also, the broader public is a stakeholder of the project, because a higher level of internationalization is a goal of the European Union and for several states.There will be four phases in SMEEGE: Phase 1 is about the collection of relevant trends regarding mobility during VET. The second phase will contain interviews with executives, trainers and trainees with international experience in order to get to the heart of why the trainees/executives have benefited from the experience abroad. In phase 3 a trip to the project partners’ office in Madrid will be planned for the executives. The trip, which will take several days, will on the one hand show the benefits of mobility, but on the other hand there will be a networking opportunity. Their companies will be able to develop an international strategy as partners. In the last phase the whole project will be revised and all the results will be summarized and published. We believe that mobility in an increasingly globalised Europe is an absolute added value for young people, to internationalise their experiences and skills. The mobility goals of the European Union and the various European governments make this clear. However, many SME have no experience in sending trainees abroad for part of their training. By providing information and experiencing stays abroad SMEEGE offers an innovative approach. The usual approaches address trainees and aim to encourage them to spend time abroad. Other approaches inform executives through lectures at events or conferences. SMEEGE brings executives to the place where the mobility of trainees takes place: abroad. The results of the project will be used to develop proposals for the submission of further project proposals within the framework of ERASMUS+