Nine trainees to become biological assistants and one trainer from the Research Center Borstel would like to attend the program. The trainees will spend a four week stay in a laboratory for microbiology in Lisbon or Zagreb, a laboratory of biochemistryl and molecular biology in Madrid or a laboratory for veterinary medicine in Palermo (Sicily). At the time of their stay all trainees have started their third year of training. Their qualifications in theory and practical work are large and will enable them to participate without difficulties in the work of the partner organizations. They will apply known techniques on new topics, they will learn new techniques and will perform these methods by their own. During their apprenticeship at the Research Center Borstel the trainees get into contact and work together with scientists from foreign countries, who do not speak German. However, they work together and communicate with each other. The trainees should be able to term laboratory assignments and equipment in English and to translate operating procedures. Further goals of the visit are to experience willingness, ability, flexibility, independence and open-mindedness in order to learn new things and to collaborate in new projects. Bioscience has dramatically developed during the last decades. Therefore, it is important that scientific workers are well prepared and eager to extend their knowledge. Permanently new methods come up that must be conceived and considered for the own work. It is important to learn how to learn.The new projects enable the trainees to proof their abilities and to take over personal responsibility. The trainees get into contact with several kinds of informal learning. E.g., they have the chance to elucidate interactions theoretically, but also to apply known facts and methods for new topics and to change perspectives. Ongoing and self-motivated learning are mandatory for workers in bioscience. A basis for such motivation can be the participation in such projects. Often we have recognized that the trainees get a more differentiated view on their profession due to this experience. Lateron, some of them decide to study at the university and others to finalize secondary school examination.The visit of laboratories in foreign countries can help to emerge personality and strengthen verbal and social skills and their self-esteem. All trainees have mentioned a profound lingual improvement. They observed that they had no longer fear to speak in English and not to be understood. Due to discussions about the Euro and Europe, the trainees can improve their political attitude, since foreign cultures are experienced and can now be assessed by themselves. The diversity of the European cultures will become visible for the participants and they will be able to appreciate the importance of such features. Furthermore, the trainees will recognize for the first time, how beneficial hospitality can be and how interesting and valuable establish contacts are. Thus, the participants live the European idea, they are part of it. Prejudices are not at all formed.The trainer wants to visit the laboratory of biochemistry and molecular biology at the university of Madrid to learn and experience modern and important techniques and to adopt them into the curriculum of the trainees. Additionally, he is interested, how professional education for technical assistants is provided in other EU countries. The knowledge of the requirements will be considered to further improve the training of biological assistants.