Trainee educators from Germany work in Finnish kindergartens for three weeksNine years ago the project "preschool-education in Germany and Finland" was launched against the background of a rather average performance of German students in the PISA study. The Nordic countries such as Finland did significantly better in natural sciences and were far ahead in the field of equal opportunities in their educational system. The results led to an increased discussion about elementary education (three to six years old children in kindergartens) in Germany and finally to our exchange project with Kouvola Region Vocational College (KSAO) in Kouvola, Finland. Every year since 2007 about 10 trainee educators (students of the vocational college in Bergheim, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) have been visiting kindergartens in Kouvola, Finland, for three weeks. The participants are 18-25 years old and are in the second year of their three-year training. The exchange with our partner is their first contact with a programme abroad. The students’ knowledge of English varies significantly due to their heterogeneous school careers.The distribution of traineeships is organized by KSAO. The German trainees work in kindergartens with children aged from 0-6 years. There they gain an insight into the educational work of their Finnish colleagues and learn more about the overall conditions of their work through observation and participation. Moreover, our trainee educators are also in charge of smaller activities which they plan and finally carry out in the Finnish kindergartens. Additionally, KSAO presents a wide variety of educational opportunities to the German students who also have the chance to enjoy a small cultural programme. Besides, the time spent together is a good way for our students to establish some personal contacts to the Finnish students in their leisure time.The students are accommodated in a simple hotel where a breakfast is included. For the rest of the day our Finnish partner offers access to the teaching kitchen which gives our students the opportunity to prepare their meals together in small groups and to strengthen their sense of community.Before the exchange begins the students are prepared for their stay abroad. They study the Finnish educational system and its institutions and contrast them with the German system, this takes place in their regular classes as well as in extracurricular activities. Furthermore the students look at the cultural and social context of the country. Every year the students focus on one main topic (e.g. educational opportunities for under-3-year-olds, preschool-education, enabling kinetic experiences etc.) which will be realized not only by the trainees going abroad, but also by their fellow students who stay in Germany and who will use their newly gained knowledge in their internships at home. The communication between German and Finnish students and teachers takes place via the Internet.Current political references in the preschool-work are amongst others the discussion about the supply of childcare places for children under three years of age (there has been a legal claim in NRW since January 8, 2013), and secondly, the issue of inclusion (October 16, 2013 decision by NRW to implement the UN Disability Rights Convention). Finnish child care centers have gained much experience in both fields so that they can give us valuable suggestions.Firstly, we expect from our projects a deeper insight into the project contents (learning criteria) e.g. the architecture of the Finnish preschool system, the significance of areas of education and their implementation, etc. and secondly, a broader open-mindedness towards the differences of the Finnish preschool system. Can the participants acknowledge this objectively (transfer criteria)? Thirdly, we hope that the project has positive effects on the participants’ attitude towards the country they are visiting, its people and their culture. We believe in a long-term benefit of the multiplying function of our project participants when it comes to the development of their local pre-schools. Last but not least, the participants will have increased their chances to find good jobs at home and abroad when they have finished their training.We consider ourselves fortunate to have found a partner school in Finland with which we can carry out such a project, a project that makes it possible for our students to work together with fellow students who attend the education course "Child and Youth Care and Education“. Educators are almost exclusively trained at universities in Europe (as in Finland), and they usually do not cooperate with German vocational schools within the framework of EU projects. We are lucky to have found one.