Europäische Arbeitswelt mit und ohne Handicap erobern Learn it – Do it – Work it Erasmus Project

Project Title

Europäische Arbeitswelt mit und ohne Handicap erobern
Learn it – Do it – Work it

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; Access for disadvantaged

Project Summary

Summary of the project

Our Erasmus+ Project with the title “Conquering the European world of work with and without handicap” has been carried out by the oldest Italian school of hotel management I.P.S.S.A.R. PIETRO D´ABANO in Abano Terme and our vocational school Justus-von-Liebig Schule in Mannheim. The central issue of the project was to maintain and improve the motivation of the participating students.
In retrospect, due to a stay abroad several students with special educational needs were able to obtain a higher professional qualification at a later point of time.
We set ourselves to achieve an increase in self-confidence and a maintenance and enhancement of the motivation for the participating students.
The aim in German schools was to reduce the dropout rate of 30% even further, while in Italian schools the aim was to reduce the dropout rate and the failure rate.
Due to special measures in the participating schools the dropout rate has been reduced throughout the last years. To improve that rate has been our ultimate ambition.

The school in Italy is among the leading institutions of the Veneto region in regard of educating professionals in the fields of cookery and catering services, service and hotel management. Currently, the school with 95 teachers is attended by 950 students.
The catchment area is relatively big and the students come from all walks of life. The proportion of foreigners is about 15%. Students with handicaps and learning disabilities are taught integratively.

The Justus-von-Liebig-Schule, with a current enrolment of about 1.450 students and 120 teachers, is a centre of excellence for the transition from general schooling to the world of work and for the qualification of young professionals in the fields of nutrition and textile design.
The German students at the Justus-von-Liebig-Schule are trainees with special educational needs, learning to be an assistant cook. At the beginning of their training, the Italian students at the I.P.S.S.A.R. PIETRO D´ABANO learn to be a cook, service professional and receptionist and additionally have the opportunity to obtain a higher education entrance qualification.
For both, the trainees with special educational needs and the future professionals in the field of hotel management, the maintenance of motivation and thus continuance in school and vocational training is the decisive criterion.
Not only the selected students were introduced to the respective plans in the different teaching subjects (foreign languages, practical and theoretical classes in technical knowledge, social studies, religion or ethics classes). In addition, for example the itineraries and sights were explored and the customs and traditions of the host country were introduced. They also got to know rules of conduct or simple conversations.
Preparatory to the stay abroad the motivation and the attitude towards the profession was assessed with a professional questionnaire and the results were discussed in regard to self- and external assessment.
During the stay abroad in both countries joint theoretical and especially practical classes took place with all students of the class and respectively the planned motivational seminar.

In Germany the motivational seminar 2 “role model function” took place. Here the guests introduced their career especially with all the ups and downs and that was topped off with a long discussion group. Furthermore, an etiquette seminar, hosted by the insurance company AOK, took place. Additionally, different food processing companies were visited together and there were activities in the evening.
After the stay abroad the actual state of the motivation, endurance and attitude was assessed with the questionnaire and discussed again. From time to time the topic was addressed again in the classes. It became apparent that the training objective became more important and that many students were more focused on the training objective. Compared to the beginning of the school year, the willingness to make an effort was also increased.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 19875 Eur

Project Coordinator

Justus-von-Liebig Schule & Country: DE

Project Partners

• I.P.S.S.A.R. PIETRO D’ABANO