The European Vocational Training Centre (Europäisches Berufsbildungswerk) Bitburg is an international institution for the vocational rehabilitation, according to §35 of the German Code of Social Law IX. Young people who have a handicap - which is of a nature or gravity that makes special advancement necessary in order to be able to successfully finish a vocational training – have a legal right to claim a vocational measure in a “Berufsbildungswerk”.The promoting organization of the Euro-BBW is the German Red Cross Rhineland-Palatinate.The Euro-BBW offers vocational orientation and training for ca. 250 young adults with (impending) mental disorder and/or physical disability, from Germany and the neighbouring countries like Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Netherlands.Undoubtedly the internationalisation of labour markets more and more requires intercultural competences and foreign language skills. One of the most important learning environments for the enhancement of cross-cultural skills is working in a foreign country. Precisely because of the current inclusion debate it is indispensable for trainees of specialized facilities just like the Euro-BBW to be able to make use of such learning possibilities.Objectives of the project BI2LU are - for the target group of apprentices as well as for the target group of education staff – the improvement of intercultural competences, the acquaintance and awareness of the culture and labour market of another European country, the enhancement of learning motivation and the improvement of English language skills. This should strengthen open-mindedness concerning other cultures and the ability to take the broader view.Concerning the apprentices, social and personal skills, f.e. self-empowerment, self-confidence and flexibility are to be extended. Concerning educational staff, the Euro-BBW hopes for new professional stimuli and concepts by offering work shadowing – which will in turn lead to a quality improvement in training. In order to reach these goals, the Euro-BBW wants to allow for its young rehabilitees in initial vocational training as well as for its staff members to learn abroad in the framework of the project BI2LU. For many years now the Euro-BBW maintains a successful partnership with the hosting organization, Luovi College in Finland. During early 2016 and 2017, one group of six apprentices at a time will visit Finland, escorted by accompanying persons. Additionally, each year the Euro-BBW will send three staff members at a time to Oulu for work shadowing.The participants will be chosen three months before travelling during an application process in the Euro-BBW, and they will be trained systematically in intercultural matters as well as concerning their language skills. Luovi College will organise internships in external companies in Oulu or at the College itself. Staff members will be employed in different areas of Luovi College. There will be an extensive cultural program on offer during the whole stay.A team of accompanying persons will be put together at the Euro-BBW. It will mainly choose persons known to and trusted by the apprentices. The presence of accompanying staff is absolutely necessary for the apprentices of the Euro-BBW in order to avoid crises and premature terminations. During their stay, accompanying staff will closely attend to the apprentices. They will then try to reduce their guidance gradually in order to help the development of independence, but will always be available in case of problems.The Euro-BBW mainly expects the following results and effects of the project:- improvement of intercultural vocational competences of all participants- improvement of foreign language skills of all participants- enhancement of motivation, esp. concerning learning of foreign languages- enhancement of vocational mobility- enhancement of tolerance concerning foreignness- improvement of team-working abilities and team spirit- enhancement of didactical competences of educational staff- improvement and enlargement of the Euro-BBW’s cooperation network- knowledge of corporate procedures on a foreign labour market- practical knowledge of a different, European rehabilitation systemIn the long run the Euro-BBW expects apprentices to have competitive advantages on the labour market, compared to other applicants. Staff members will integrate best-practice approaches from other European countries into their teaching and leisure activities at the Euro-BBW.