The project “My Future – a closed door or an open window?” has a focus on our changing world and the skills our students need to develop in order to take advantage of the inherent challenges and opportunities which these changes will bring. The six partner schools, Gateshead College (UK), Gymnasium Celeanum, Zwolle (Netherlands), Skarnes videregående skole ( Norway) Istituto Tecnico Industriale Statale Leonardo da Vinci, Carpi ( Italy), Colegiul National Vlaicu Voda, Curtea de Arges ( Romania) and IES, Alfred Ayza, Peniscola ( Spain) have all had experience of working together on previous projects and over time we have recognised that our students face common challenges. The profile students taking part in this project are aged 16-19 and come from both academic and vocational study areas. Our objectives were to tackle early drop out of our learners, to increase their basic transversal skills and employability and to develop our teaching and learning through sharing best practice We recognise that is a need to engage with our students through exciting and innovative teaching methods as this encourages them to become more involved in their learning and to appreciate that the ultimate aim is to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to reach their goals, whether that is to go to directly to university, into other training or employment. We are developing our own teaching practice and exploring the use of new technologies in our teaching through a variety of media and by sharing best practice in the form of a teacher handbook which will be freely available for others to use By making students aware of the needs to develop a wide range of skills (both hard and soft), so that they can compete in the ever- changing working environment, we will increase their motivation and achievement levels. This will enable them to take advantage of opportunities in the globalised economy and to play their part in the international arena. Furthermore our project encourages the development of independent and critical learning skills, requiring a focus on autonomous decision- taking. The first part of our project engages students in their learning through the collaboration, development and sharing of best practice in teaching and learning. For example they will carry out surveys and make presentations on the educational systems in each country By being more engaged the student drop - out rate will decrease and the students themselves will achieve their potential Furthermore we are developing their language and communication skills - either through the enhancement of their existing language skills or, where appropriate, the introduction of a new language in order that they are better equipped in terms of skills, flexibility and innovation to take their role in pan -European employment The second aspect to our project is focusing on the development of employability skills. By working alongside businesses and employers our project also emphasizes the skills required in the world of work. Students have the opportunity to explore different fields of employment in the partner countries. Students gain experience of the employment processes from application to interview and so become better prepared for the world of employment. By exploring these issues students become aware that employers have the need for a flexible and innovative workforce with skills beyond the purely academic qualification such as the ability to communicate, be creative and to be critical thinkers. The long term impacts include students with a greater understanding of the world of work and a greater level of skills acquired while employers can access a workforce with the skills they require.