Developing employability skills at sub-zero temperatures
Derby College has the largest European lifelong learning programme in the East Midlands. Building on this experience, this college encourages participants to consider different progression routes through training placement opportunities overseas in the Key Action 1 VET project, 'Integration, enrichment and enterprise.'
In total 100 learners and staff from Derby College studying a range of vocational subjects will visit Estonia, Finland, Germany, Sweden and Denmark. The project uses a NCFE Level 2 Award in Developing Enterprise Skills module supported by specialist work placement opportunities that provide real-world work experience.
I learnt to overcome my fears. I was very nervous about going on my own and was thinking of not going. But I plucked up the courage as I didn't want to let anyone down, especially the crew and myself. The day turned out to be amazing. - Project participant
Students explore different approaches to enterprise, commerce and entrepreneurship in each country aligning with the organisation’s overall strategy of embedding employability and enterprise skills in the college curriculum.
A group of tourism students joined the Sampo Icebreaker ship, pictured, in Lapland for tourists to see the spectacular local scenery and swim in the frozen waters.
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
Project Co-ordinator Kadri Saat said: “I am pleased Derby College was able to offer this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learners who study on the travel and tourism, child care, health and social care and media programmes. They have been able to participate in the mobility to Lapland, Finland, and learn about the life and culture of this amazing country as well as develop new language skills and gain valuable work experience in their relevant vocational fields. In the coming months, two further groups involving learners from the engineering, IT, motor, catering and hospitality programmes will travel to Osnabruck, Germany, and Roskilde, Denmark, through the college’s Erasmus+ project and we are sure they too will make most of this fantastic opportunity and make themselves and the college proud.”
View more photos from the project in the Derby College International Facebook album.
