CAFRE is a vocational college with a remit to develop the local agri-food sector. Its programmes contribute to this aim by: ? Training people to work in the industry ? Working with the employers to develop their standard of management through the provision of education and training in practical and managerial skills. CAFRE offers vocational programmes in veterinary nursing and horse management to school leavers ranging from Level 2 to Level 3. Those covered by this project are at QCF Level 3 (EQF Level 4) The project targeted students completing the first year of the Level 3 veterinary nursing programme and the first year of a two year Level 3 Horse Management programme. At Level 3, students combine practical husbandry and nursing skills with the underpinning knowledge needed to work in industry. These programmes prepare students to work in the industry as skilled veterinary nurses or at operative level in the equine industry. These cohorts were chosen because the students have: ? Developed the basic skills needed to be able to work in industry. ? Can recognise the differences in approaches to husbandry and management between those they have experience of in Ireland, and those of the business where they completed their placement. ? Have some experience of working in the industry and can therefore benefit from the opportunity to work with a wider range of enterprises when on placement ? An opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills developed whilst on the Mobility to their coursework in the final year of the programme The objectives of the mobilities were: 1. To develop specialist skills through a period of work placement in veterinary and equine businesses in Ljubljana and Eindhoven. 2. To develop skills relevant to their qualification which are not readily available in Northern Ireland. 3. Develop an appreciation of the importance of customer care. 4. To learn self reliance through the completion of the placement in an unfamiliar environment As part of their flow participants: ? Completed 10 days working in industry across a range of businesses ? Visited specialist veterinary facilities/equine businesses ? Visited cultural centres. 10 veterinary nursing participants completed a flow to Ljubljana in Slovenia, and 12 horse husbandry participants completed a flow to Eindhoven in Holland. Both flows took place in April 2015. Placements were in: Veterinary practices in Ljubljana Ljubljana zoo Equine businesses in the Eindhoven area. As part of their placements participants in Eindhoven were involved in: Feeding, grooming and preparing horses for work Exercising horses Caring for tack Assisting with shows Taking horse riding lessons Dealing with customers As part of their placement participants in Ljubljana were involved in: Caring for sick animals Assisting with operations Receiving animal in need of care Feeding and caring for animals in Ljubljana zoo Dealing with customers The objectives of the flows were achieved. The placements gave participants an opportunity to work in specialist equine businesses and veterinary practices and to develop skills that they would not have had an opportunity to develop in Northern Ireland. Through working in another country, participants were able to improve their self reliance, confidence and an appreciation of another culture. Those who completed the placement in Holland were able to see very high standards of husbandry and customer care Impact There were meetings with participants on their return to gain their views and opinions of the mobilities including what they learned from the experience A longitudinal evaluation using survey monkey was used to look at the longer term impact on participants. This was completed six months after their return. 90% of respondents said that the flow had helped them with their coursework, and that they had been able to use the skills developed and knowledge acquired in their course.