Mobilities
During international activities different key competences can be developed. Internationalisation of competences is a very interesting field of research to investigate on which key competences internationalisation is mostly promoted and acquired. Finland, Italy and Spain are active in international actions, and both students and staff take part in different international activities developing different key competences in VET.
Internationalization is not only guaranteed by the mobility activities, but it is encouraged by other methodologies, namely the CLIL approach specifically connected with the linguistic competences and the Virtual mobility (Virtual Exchange) connected with the digital, social and entrepreneurship competences.
In some cases, the vocational subjects are provided in a foreign language (English) in order to improve the knowledge of the technical language and create the conditions to make learners more competitive in the international labour market. CLIL methodology is still not so common in the VET system, but VET providers recognize how powerful and effective it is.
A further methodology mostly connected with the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic is Virtual mobility, perceived in a starting phase as the unique alternative to the geographical mobility and as a tool to implement because of the emergency. Nowadays the virtual and blended models seem to be added value if connected with the qualitative standards of the new learning programs as sustainable and digital processes.
Virtual Exchange, a peer learning methodology aimed to the improvement of the intercultural competences is also one of activities connected with mobilities. Virtual Exchange was born as an experimentation for the higher education, but later and as result of the Covid-19 some VET providers started to experiment it as well with very interesting impacts, such as the creation of a real learning space to practice a foreign language, an opportunity for learners to be “protagonists” and for teachers to become “facilitators” of learning, the creation of long term “friendships” among mates of different countries and the implementation of a joined and shared project at international level.
Student mobility in Bamberg, Germany. Photo: Mika Heino
Staff mobility in Felanitx, Spain. Photo: Mika Heino