This year for the first time, Galway Community College will be sending students on an Erasmus+ programme. Eight students and two teachers will travel to Evora in Portugal at the end of October for three weeks to learn new skills and competencies, for the exchange of best practice in vocational education and for students to gain invaluable work experience.
Students were informed about the project in early September and interviews were held and applications filled out to select the most suitable candidates. The successful students will be given financial bursaries, which cover travel, accommodation, and living expenses. Participants will learn new skills and competencies that will increase their ability to progress in education and obtain future employment. Students will develop greater social and interpersonal skills.
The eight chosen students will travel to Evora with two teachers from the sport, TV and film, horticulture, and science departments. Two sports students will work with a professional outdoor and adventure sports company, Desafio Sul, helping to organise and run corporate team building events. Two TV and film students will work on location filming and editing with the TV company GMT Productions. Two horticulture students will work at an eco hotel carrying out landscaping duties and getting experience in harvesting cork, olives, and grapes in wine production, while two science students will work in a local water laboratory gaining experience in treatment techniques.
An internationalisation strategy and policy will be in place at Galway Community College, where both staff and students will build European networks in education and industry. A European identity will be fostered by students and staff at GCC. This Erasmus mobility will stimulate the acquisition of European social and cultural capital.
GCC is hoping to expand on this project to offer European work placement to all PLC courses in the future. For more information on all GCC's courses see www.galwaycc.ie
