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Competence development in public transport through VR: first results

The first result of the Erasmus+ project Competence+, led by the German ENNE network partner LAB, is a conceptual framework. It sets the foundation for the elaboration of learning modules and VR environments to foster competencies beyond pure professional skills in public transport. To this end, the partners first agreed on definitions of the key concepts and then agreed on learning outcomes for the four modules that are target-oriented for the topics of environmental awareness, conflict awareness, stress management and moral courage. From these, the concrete workshop and e-learning content will be developed in the further course of the project. The framework will be made available to interested parties in English via the project website.

The background

European cities rely on public transport and the people who keep these systems running every day. This sector will continue to grow as urban populations increase and sustainability requirements rise.

With this growth comes ever new challenges for public transit workers, and that’s where “COMPETENCE+: A Blended Learning Program for Competence Development Beyond Pure Professional Skills” comes into play!

The goal of the project is to create a continuing education platform that both trainees and employees in public transport can use to further their education in the areas of environmental awareness, conflict awareness, stress management and moral courage. To this end, a course concept is being created that includes both eLearning and classroom training. The special feature of Competence+ is that virtual reality scenarios are being created that enable learners to directly apply and test the knowledge and skills they have acquired. The project also includes an application manual for teachers who want to use or adapt Competence+ themselves

Interdisciplinary cooperation in the consortium

Together with the transport operators Reus Mobilitat (Spain) and Straeto (Iceland), the coordinators Leipziger Aus- und Weiterbildungsbetriebe (Germany) bring the direct perspective of public transport to the project, while Wisamar (Germany), DomSpain (Spain) and StandoutEducation (Cyprus) contribute their expertise in vocational training projects. The interdisciplinary collaboration is rounded off by Virsabi (Denmark), who bring all their experience as virtual and augmented reality experts to the project.

Goals and results

The long-term goals of COMPETENCE+ are to:

  • Improve the knowledge and skills of trainees and employees
  • Improve employment opportunities
  • Increase public awareness of the issues and needs of public transit employees.
  • Strengthen community ties and increase community safety through training
  • Promote European cooperation

The project runs from November 2020 until April 2023. For updates on the project, visit Facebook @CompetencePlusEU and the project website www.competenceplusproject.eu!

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New school year for Flemish schools

After a well-deserved vacation, Flemish schools start the new school year from September 1. Here’s what changes on September 1, 2021:

  • Schools start with the new attainment targets second degree
    From September 1, 2021, all secondary schools will start working with the new and approved curricula in the second grade.
    The new curricula (https://onderwijsdoelen.be/) are ambitious, but there will be a quality and gradual introduction.
  • Converting learning and working into dual learning.
    In order to convert learning and working into dual learning by school year 2025-2026 (together with the end point of the modernization of the SO), the conversion calendar (https://www.onderwijs.vlaanderen.be/nl/van-leren-en-werken-naar-duaal-leren) stipulates that CDOs and Syntra vzw must also convert their current offer to a future dual offer.

Also, from 1 September 2021 onwards, other corona measures apply than in the previous school year. You can find a complete overview here.

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New school year, the situation in Italy

The school calendar dates in Italy are determined by the respective regions.  There are small regional differences, with the school term starting earlier in the Northern regions, and later in the South, but it is usually just a matter of days. As more autonomy has been recently given to individual schools, it might also be the case that a school decides to make some minor changes to the yearly calendar.

For example in the province of Bolzano (very close to the Austrian border) students already went back to school on 6 September while the main other ones were from the 13th of September.

The primary objective is to guarantee a reopening in attendance for everyone, or at least for the ones that already have the green pass, according to the Minister of Education Patrizio Bianchi declared.

Among the resources allocated, said the minister, there are 800 million for the school transport issue, invested to increase the supply during peak hours by 20%. The use of masks by students over the age of six has also been confirmed, while with regard to the immunisation of children, “I trust them,” said the minister, “as demonstrated by the extraordinary response they are giving: between the ages of 16 and 19 we are already at a high level, with over 60% vaccination“.

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Restart of Erasmus+ mobility in Germany

After more than one year of a forced break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, ITKAM – Italian Chamber of Commerce for Germany – is pleased to announce the restart of the Erasmus+ mobility in Germany!
Participation in the mobility projects will allow Italian students aged 17 to 19 years old to experience first-hand the world of work abroad. In addition, participants will be able to test their language skills and experience different cultures and traditions.
In Leipzig 9 students, aged 18-19 years old from Veneto will carry out their internship in the fields of ICT, electrical engineering, mechanics and mechatronics.


In Berlin, ITKAM will host several groups:
– 8 students from Veneto and 16 students from Emilia Romagna, who will do internships in IT, electronics and mechatronics companies.
– 16 students coming from Apulia, who will do an internship in consulting, tourism, marketing companies and in German-Italian kindergartens.


ITKAM is delighted to be able to welcome students again as part of the VET Erasmus+ mobility programme and wishes all the students the best of luck for the start of their adventure abroad!

 

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“Plano 21|23 Escola+” – Learning Recovery Plan

The educational system was among the most affected by the pandemic. The confinements and distance learning have brought consequences to the learning and well-being of the students. With the aim of recovering and making sure that no one is “left behind”, the Portuguese government approved a “set of measures that are based on educational policies with proven effectiveness in terms of strengthening the autonomy of schools and differentiated educational strategies aimed at promoting school success and, above all, fighting inequalities through education.”

The ”Plano 21|23 Escola+” establishes a set of goals for the next two school years:

  • Recovery of the most affected skills;
  • Diversification of teaching strategies;
  • Investment in social and emotional well-being;
  • Trust in the educational system;
  • Involvement of the entire educational community;
  • Capacity building, through the reinforcement of resources and means;
  • Monitoring, by evaluating the impact and efficiency of the measures.

The plan is structured in three axes and foresees the implementation of a set of measures to intervene with students in terms of learning recovery, socialization, and their physical and mental well-being, focusing on curricular aspects, school organization, resources of support and community dimensions. The three axes can be described as:

  • Teaching and learning – measures for the schools to have the pedagogical means for a more flexible curricular development, focusing on supporting students, especially those who have been most affected by the pandemic;
  • Support the educational communities – Empowering schools with resources and means for the development of measures to strengthen their capacity of response, in an action directed towards improving learning, to inclusion and to community involvement;
  • To know and assess – development of indicators and tools to monitor the Plan, promoting the dissemination of efficiency studies, the sharing of practices and the re-evaluation of the measures adopted.

The specific intervention of the plan in the vocational education and training falls under axis 2) Support the educational communities. The plan refers that “vocational education and training has proven to be one of the main instruments for the inclusion of all students. It is probably one of the most fruitful ways for the cooperation between education and economic development.” Thus, it announces that in addition to all of the measures that will be applied to the educational system, VET will have Centres of Technological Specialization for the modernization of Professional Education, in areas of high technological intensity and with potential to induce with potential to induce a high value-added economy; and the provision of resources to improve the students’ vocational orientation processes of the students.

With this, we know that the start of this school year will bring some news to the schools but also hope that it will be possible to return to school in a safe and normal way. The vaccination of young people in Portugal is proceeding at a good pace, which will simplify the access to many activities. The focus now is to recover what has somehow been lost, choose the best teaching/learning strategies and take care of the well-being of every student.

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Where is the Green heart of Italy?

In the centre of Italy, you can visit the Umbria Region, which is called and well known as “The Green Heart of Italy”. The region is famous for being surrounded by green nature, with small towns and villages and excellent quality of life.

The economy is based on agriculture, farming activities, production of typical products such as truffles, pork products, pulses and cereals.


In the Foligno area, we find an economy with a market vocation and focused on mechanical engineering with numerous companies linked to the aeronautical sector.
Perugia is famous for being the region’s university town and is also home to the University for Foreigners, where students from all over the world come to study. Not far from Perugia you can enjoy and discover the beautiful landscape of Trasimeno Lake with its three very small islands.

Assisi, another small town at the foot of Mount Subasio, is famous for its religious atmosphere, linked to the figure of St. Francis.

Norcia, a small town in the Valnerina area, famous for its pork production, is not far from Castelluccio, a small village in the Apennine Mountains well known for the Flowering that is possible admiring in May and June.

Spello, a small village not far from Assisi, is famous for “Infiorate di Spello“, a manifestation that takes place every year on the occasion of the Corpus Domini feast. Thousand people work incessantly to create carpets and pictures made of flowers along the town’s narrow streets. Floral creations cover streets throughout the historical centre in preparation for the passage of the Blessed Sacrament carried in procession by the bishop on Sunday morning.

Todi, a small city located in the west of the Region, is perched on a tall two-crested hill overlooking the east bank of the river Tiber, commanding distant views in every direction.

You can visit the official website to discover all activities, other amazing towns you can visit for your!
www.umbriatourism.it

 

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Portugal and the ENNE cities

Portugal may be small in size, but it certainly has a lot to see and offer thanks to its magnificent diversity of landscapes, a rich cultural heritage, delicious cuisine and unique combination of tradition and contemporaneity.

The VET schools from the Portuguese National Network are in many parts of the country, including the islands and all of these locations have fantastic things to see and are great destinations to visit.

THE NORTH

Caminha is a charming town in the north of Portugal, located at the mouth of the Minho River and the border with Spain. This region is blessed by nature and it can surprise any tourist. The region offers itineraries for those who want mountains, maritime and fluvial beaches, as well as historical and cultural attractions. Around Caminha, there are still traces of civilizations from pre and proto-historic times, such as rock carvings, dolmens and fortified settlements. There are many leisure areas, historical monuments and viewpoints to discover with beautiful landscapes.

Fafe, a rural town in the northwest of Portugal, is a short distance from the city of Guimarães. Known as the Room of Visits of Minho, Fafe is located between the rivers of Vizela and Ferro and is recognized for its gastronomy, cultural heritage and natural beauty. To the surprise of many, this city hides more than one might expect, from stone-built houses to green areas.

Guimarães is the cradle city of Portugal, where D. Afonos Henriques, first king of Portugal, was born. The historic centre, an area within the city walls, is associated to the formation and identity of the country. It was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, based on the values of originality and authenticity with which it was restored. Even today, the city has a harmonious and preserved patrimonial set that shows in the graceful iron balconies, granite balconies and porches, manor houses, arches that connect narrow streets, floor slabs, smoothed by time, towers and cloisters. For a moment, you can imagine yourself in a medieval setting!

Less than an hour away from the city of Porto, Felgueiras has endless reasons to be visited, from its gastronomy, cultural heritage to its traditions. You can explore a bit more of the countryside of Portugal through the monuments of the Romanesque Route, the traditional embroidery, the famous” Pão de Ló de Margaride” and the green wines.

Lixa is located right next to Felgueiras and it is popularly called “Terra Verde” (Green Land). Similarly to Felgueiras, this city has a cultural and gastronomic heritage truly rich and diverse. Is an obligatory stop on this itinerary and certainly enriching and delicious!

Matosinhos, one of the largest cities in the district of Porto, has a large area bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and is a city with a great industrial development, which seeks to maintain its popular traditions at the same time. From the sea to the table, the architecture and the monuments, Matosinhos is an unavoidably delightful city.

The already famous city of Porto is a fascinating city, situated on the slopes of the Douro River. It is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its beautiful monuments and historic buildings, such as the imposing “Sé” or the “Torre dos Clérigos”. Porto is Portugal’s second largest city and has superb views of the world-famous Port Wine Cellars on the opposite bank of the river in Vila Nova de Gaia. Although largely industrialized, Porto offers a harmonious synthesis of ancient and contemporary attractions.

CENTER

Many people have never heard of it, but Espinho is a very interesting Portuguese city. It has about 8 kilometers of beach, a must for those who like surfing and beach weather, but it is also a cosmopolitan city with an interesting heritage and a booming tourist industry. Visiting Espinho is really a wonderful experience – have lunch (try fresh fish!), go for a swim or surf, relax at the beach or go for a walk and enjoy the view!

Arrifana is a Portuguese village in the municipality of Santa Maria da Feira. It is a historic and secular land, proud of its historical past. It is highly industrialized, where traditional footwear and leather goods factories prevail, but where the metalworking industry also occupies a prominent place, particularly in the manufacture of machinery for the footwear industry.

ALENTEJO

Elvas, the “Queen of the Border” is one of the hidden treasures in Alentejo. Its strategic position, near the border with Spain, contributed to its military history. It was classified by UNESCO, in 2012, as World Heritage Site for being a border and garrison city and for its many fortifications. In fact, the city houses the largest fortification in the world, has a religious heritage with about 40 churches and convents and more than 20 military buildings!

ISLANDS

Ponta Delgada started out as a simple fishing village, but soon began to play the role of the main port of the island of São Miguel. Today, Ponta Delgada is a cosmopolitan, outward-looking city with an active economic and cultural life. With a history of more than five centuries and precious testimonies of the past, Ponta Delgada is a multifaceted city where tradition coexists with the present day and with the tranquillity of an Azorean life.

Funchal is unique for its diversity, from the sea to the mountains, from fruits to flowers and from embroidery to basket cars. Located in the south of Madeira Island, the city can be easily visited on foot in one or two days. Funchal is a city with a history of more than 500 years, which gives it a very engaging and charming historical context, dominated by a powerful landscape between the sea and the majestic mountains.

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Bulgarian news

Bulgarian tourist attractions

Burgas is situated on the Black Sea, in the south-eastern part of the country. It is the fourth largest city in Bulgaria and is smaller and less crowded than other big city on Bulgarian Black Sea – Varna. The climate here is temperately continental with a distinct impact from the Black Sea

Burgas has a relaxed atmosphere with good shopping and an abundance of restaurants and outdoor cafes.The Sea Park is situated on a high shore, all of it cut by flowerbeds, trees and sculptures. Within the park, there is a casino, a small zoo and an open-air theatre.
The central beach is situated below the Sea Park, a beautiful forked staircase in verdure leads to the beach. The city has a northern beach, too, close to the Izgrev Quarter, adjacent to the salt mines.

Burgas is Bulgaria`s largest port and this is the primary focus of the city, but Bourgas is not only an important industrial centre – it has also considerable resources for tourism. The favourable geographical location and advanced transport infrastructure of Bourgass are good prerequisites for the development of tourism and trade.
The city is a starting point for visiting the seaside resorts in the area – Sunny Beach resort, the town of NessebarThe Elenite holiday village, etc. to the north and The Dyuni holiday villageSozopolKitenLozenets and others, to the south.

The city of Varna is located in North-East Bulgaria. It is third largest city after Sofia and Plovdiv and is called Bulgaria`s Sea Capital. The gem of the Bulgarian Black Sea is situated at the end of the big Varna Bay, with a convenient and well conserved water area a port wich in years handles up to 18 million tons of cargo. Nowadays it is the main port for both naval and commercial shipping and, adjacent as it is to the coastal resorts of Constantine and Helena (Druzhba), RivieraGolden Sands, and Albena, it has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Sailors on shore-leave in unfamiliar ceremonial uniforms, mingle with foreign tourists and locals as they promenade along shady boulevards, lined by dignified 19th and early 20th century buildings. The city`s peculiar sea charm is sublime and moving. Ancient, medival, renaissance and modern cultures mingle and coexist through the city.
The city is clean and green. Of the green miracles at least three are a must: the Marine Gardens which are the largest in the Balkans; Euxinograd park, the former Royal Palace; the paradise of St.Constantine.
Varna is a city of old culture, living traditions and ambitious undertakings. Some 20 per cent of its population are students in various educational institutions, four of which are higher.

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German news

Exploring Leipzig – Make it Your Way

A little while ago, we already introduced you to Leipzig as the city of trade and classical music, home of the international book fair, a major economic hub of the region, and simply a great place to live, work, and travel: The wide range of sports events, cultural activities, varieties of accommodation and restaurants as well as innovative start-ups, tradition-steeped companies and industry offer a great multitude of internship possibilities for students and apprentices. In that article you can also find a bunch of useful tips for when you first visit Leipzig and what the main attractions are. And while all those sights are truly a must-see when you come to Leipzig, there are a number of areas worth exploring that are not normally found on your regular tourist itineraries. Are you ready to get off the beaten path? As part of the Erasmus+ project ProWomen, women from Leipzig have developed travel routes that give you an all new perspective on this beautiful city! You can find the entire routes as a google map here.

Did you know, for example that Leipzig has extensive waterways that would make it (almost) possible to canoe all the way to Hamburg?! Even if that is not you ambition, the rivers and canals in the city make for great views and nature observation, especially in the summer! Depending on which way you swing your paddle, you will see the historic industrial style buildings from the 19th century that Leipzig is famous for or be surrounded by the unique nature of the flood-plain forest. If you are lucky, you might even be able to see kingfishers! Leipzig’s waterways give you lots of possibilities to paddle and row, for beginners and pros alike. Your exact route will depend on where you rent your boat and how fit you are, but certainly you can stop and visit one of the many lovely cafés and Biergardens along the way to get some rest. Note that especially on days with nice weather it might be a good idea to call ahead at the boat rentals and check if boats are available. You can also check if guided tours are offered for additional information.

Did you know that many famous women have left their trace around Leipzig? You can follow the footsteps and achievements of composer Clara Schumann, poet Lene Voigt, and politicians Louise Otto-Peters and Clara Zetkin through another route of the ProWomen project. This route circles the city center counter-clockwise, so all spots are also close to other interesting sights and will take you to the most famous parts of the city. You can walk large parts of the way or ride your bike (especially in the parks). Most of the route is wheelchair friendly and easily reached by public transportation. This route is perfect if you want to spend about half a day exploring and do not want to venture too far from the city center. Except for the Schumann-Haus, you are also independent of opening hours.

This tour will take you to some of the best known urban green spaces of Leipzig: The city dedicated an award-winning park to Lene Voigt in the neighborhood of Reudnitz which in recent years has become very popular especially with young people. Leipzig’s biggest and most famous park is named after Clara Zetkin. Here you find the historic race track, a concert stage, as well as the Sachsenbrücke (Saxony Bridge) which is one of the most popular places to hang out in the city. And finally, the memorial of Louise Otto Peters is located in the Rosental park. Not only is it the location of the Gewandhaus orchestra’s annual free open air concert but from here you can observe the giraffes and zebras from the neighboring zoo! 

And when you have explored every nook and cranny of the city center, venture North for a little bit of nature and Old-world grandeur around the castle in Lützschena! The route combines cultural, historic, and natural heritage. It is located in the north-west of Leipzig and can be done either by foot or by bike. Not many tourists venture north of the city center, and most people know the area mainly for the airport and the hubs of DHL, Porsche, and Amazon. However, as this route shows, there is much to explore!

For the best way to explore, rent a bike and ride from the city center along the Luppe dam to the first stop! Once you enter the park at the University’s sport campus, you can ride undisturbed by car traffic. Your first stop will be lake Auensee, which It came into being through the mining of gravel for the main station. A short bike ride from the lake you will find the castle of Lützschena and its adjacent park. Today’s castle was built in 1864, however, the first documented mention of a manor in this place dates back to the 13th century. Today, the castle is in private ownership, yet the park is open to the public and visitors can explore the beautiful landscape.

From the park, you have direct access to the Leipzig floodplain forest, which is a registered landscape conservation area that serves an important function of flood control for the cities of Leipzig and Schkeuditz. On your route, you will follow the Neue Luppe, an artificial canal of 13km which belongs to the local river system. The Luppeaue has been a nature reserve since 1993. If you want to know more about this unique eco-system, visit the Auwaldstation: This information center gives you great insight and there is no entrance fee either!

Detailed routes from all partner countries will be published by the ProWomen project around September 2021. Check the Facebook account or the website for news!

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From Belgium: ‘Learning Without Borders’

Caring Authentic Progressive Education, with this project, gives 6 chemistry students the opportunity to do an internship abroad.

They work together with partners in Istanbul, where two students do an internship in a company linked to the school, and Lleida, Spain where students do internships in chemical companies nearby. The preparation is done through an eTwinning project with the partners. Participation in the Erasmus+ program fits in the continuous improvement of the internationalization policy within our educational project.