Mobilities among the IES Puertas del Campo and the European Union

Summary

This European Innovative Teaching Award marks the culmination of a significant phase in our internationalisation journey, which has integrated several Erasmus+ projects. It began with the granting of the VET Charter in 2015 and culminated in this 2020 project, which has brought about a gradual and structural transformation in our institution. This journey has firmly embedded the core Erasmus+ values of inclusion, respect, tolerance, well-being, and European awareness into our educational practices. Without a doubt, Erasmus+ has played a direct role in driving positive social change within our school and community.

“With an Erasmus+ project everything starts to change for the better. Erasmus is necessary and essential in a diverse and multicultural society.”

Topic(s) addressed

• Integration and entrepreneurship through social inclusion
• Innovation
• Active participation in European democratic values and citizenship
• Digitalisation and sustainability

Target group(s)  

• Students with fewer opportunities from basic and mid VET
• Teachers
• Companies
• Schools

Methodologies used

This project marked an important first step in promoting a “learning by doing” methodology through internships and business projects, carried out by four students of different nationalities in an international context.  

Inclusion was a key objective, with over 20% of participants coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. Creativity and the use of CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) methodology created a strong link between formal and informal education, with active participation from relevant companies across various locations.  

A multidisciplinary approach contributed to improved outcomes. The project also fostered a culture of effort, boosting students’ self-esteem. Teamwork, mutual respect, and collaboration were central to the learning experience.

Innovation environment

Thanks to this project, various European institutions have begun to cooperate in a relaxed and open-minded environment, setting aside prejudices and establishing long-lasting cross-sectoral partnerships. Together, we conducted research and developed proposals for a common international entrepreneurship module tailored to the needs of basic VET students across Europe, with input from teachers and several European companies.  

Many of the student-led project topics also addressed key themes such as sustainability and digitalisation, all within a framework of cooperation, integration, active participation, and respect for diverse opinions and cultures, fully embracing the richness of European diversity.

Teachers’ role

This project has also served as the seed for a series of strategic international alliances, leading to the active involvement of our teachers in developing innovative teaching materials. One of the key outcomes has been the preparation of an international CLIL teaching guide for Vocational Education and Training (VET) students, designed to accommodate different learning levels and abilities.  

Additionally, an international entrepreneurship module was created, combining CLIL methodology, entrepreneurship, and the use of ICT, with a particular focus on basic and intermediate VET students with fewer opportunities.  

Another important result was the development of gamified content for the Moodle platform using H5P, along with the design and delivery of an interactive Moodle course structured into progressive learning levels.

Impact and output

We strongly believe that all these actions have significantly contributed to improving the emotional well-being of each participant, providing a powerful boost of motivation that has translated into increased self-esteem and a renewed enthusiasm for taking on new challenges.  

The project has promoted citizenship education, democratic participation, shared values, and civic engagement. This impact has been particularly profound for students with fewer opportunities, not only from our own school but also from others. Moreover, companies across Europe have become more open to hosting basic VET students for internships, forging lasting bonds that last for years.

Learn more about the project