The needs and requirements of Kopavogur Institute of Education (Menntaskólinn í Kópavogi, MK) for the coming years are based on the development obligations stipulated in the Upper Secondary School Act of 2008 and the new National Curriculum for Upper Secondary Schools of 2011. The new educational policy is founded on six essential elements of education which provide guidelines for the development of new curricula. An important part in activating work on the essential elements of education is various collaborative projects, both domestic and international. The essential elements can all be applied to build social and cultural bridges between students and teachers near and far. MK’s unique position in the fields of tourism and hospitality and culinary subjects, in addition to more traditional study options leading to university entrance qualifications, means that international relations have been, and will continue to be, an important catalyst when it comes to developing vocational study options in these areas. MK also emphasizes the use of information technology in all its subjects and courses. The school’s library and IT service were merged during the autumn term of 2013 to create an exciting new opportunity in the use of modern technologies in education. The school has assumed the lead in this respect here in Iceland and is, therefore, in need of looking further afield for ideas to include in the formulation of new policies on the use of electronic study materials and the creative use of new media in education and learning. MK’s emphases for the next two years will be the development of a new curriculum and educational reform towards implementing the six essential elements of education. There will also be new emphases in the use of information technology. MK wishes to look to schools and partners abroad that are already known to have achieved good results in the areas that MK will be emphasizing. A new curriculum means that the school will be undergoing certain fundamental changes and under such circumstances it is vital to be ready to think along different paths and be open to trying out new and fresh ideas. Collaboration with European partners sparks initiative, reflection and critical thinking which is often no less important than the direct and measurable results of the project work. It should not be forgotten that international collaboration between teachers and students fosters improved cultural literacy and lays the foundation for understanding, broadmindedness and respect among nations. Bearing in mind these needs and goals, MK wishes to apply for funding from the new Erasmus + programme for the following projects: - For work on a new school curriculum, the school plans to send one teacher and two administrators to visit progressive vocational tourism colleges in Austria for a period of five days. Austrian schools have recently undergone and educational reform and been involved in implementing new curricula. The schools that have been targeted are also among leading schools in Europe in the field of tourism. The faculty members from MK are all key personnel in developing and planning a reformed tourism line at upper secondary level. Participants in this project will shadow tourism subject teachers and meet with teachers and administrators for the purpose of gathering information and new insights. - To meet the needs of the new IT centre/eLibrary, MK applies for a grant for its head librarian to visit school libraries in Malmö and Gothenburg in Sweden. The librarian will focus on the organization and planning of vocational libraries and electronic libraries in school settings. Most of the time will be spent at Värnhemsskolan in Malmö, but the librarian also plans to visit the vocational library at Ester Mosessons gymnasium in Gothenburg. The librarian will monitor the day-to-day activities of the school library as well as meeting with librarians and other members of staff in accordance with the task list prepared at home in collaboration with the Principal and Vice Principal of MK. - The school is fortunate to have state-of-the-art multimedia equipment which can be used by students and staff. The school aims to keep its lead when it comes to the use of electronic media in education and learning. In order to meet the requirement of including creativity as one of the essential elements of education, as well as observing best practices in using the existing equipment, MK wishes to seek support to send one of its staff – a teacher with sound knowledge of IT, years of teaching experience and a degree in photography – on a course organized by In Focus Training in Ireland on the creative use of digital tools. The skill and experience acquired by MK staff during this project will come to good use for the development of a new school curriculum where emphases are reflected in the essential elements of education, new teaching practices and the use of information technology.