Context/Background of Project The title of this years project is called Transnational Employability Skills (TES). This was chosen as the Moate Business College felt that it The EU Education and Training 2010 work programme confirms 8 key competences which must be developed throughout member states. For the purpose of this project, MBC will concentrate on 3 of these - cultural awareness and expression, social and civic competence and Learning to Learn. Two others will also be addressed: Communication in foreign languages/intercultural understanding; Digital competence & ICT. "Modern, knowledge-based economies require people with higher and more relevant skills. CEDEFOP forecasts predict that the proportion of jobs in the EU requiring tertiary level qualifications will increase from 29% in 2010 to 34% in 2020, while the proportion of low-skilled jobs will fall in the same period from 23% to 18%. Transversal skills such as the ability to think critically, take initiative, problem solve and work collaboratively will prepare individuals for today's varied and unpredictable career paths." (Europe 2020) Objectives of the Project MBC proposes to select 24 students from throughout its programmes and give them the opportunity to travel and live within our host European countries –Italy and Romania. This project aims to give them a taste of actively participation in society by developing the students’ personal and social skills like instilling a spirit of independence and cooperation, increasing confidence and self-esteem and stimulating their awareness about employability opportunities in the international market. It will also provide the students with extra skills in digital and language competence which will contribute to their overall employability on a transnational level. Number and Profile of Participants 24 participants will take place in the project. These will be chosen from all sections of the college. The type of work placements which are being provided by our host partners has created a logical division of where participants should be sent based on their course of study. These are as follows: Buniva has expertise in Art and administration and has extensive business contacts in the Pinerolo area. We are proposing to send MBC Art and Administration students to Pinerolo. We propose to send Social Studies/Nursing & Administration students to Timisoara, where the organisation is deeply embedded in Womens Issues. We will select students from our Tourism, Child Care and ICT courses to participate in the project in Osasco where the local emphasis is on Hospitality and rural enterprise. Description of Activities Participants will be involved in: preparatory classes, workshops, individual research, cultural studies and a 3-week work placement in either Pinerolo, Italy, Timisoara, Romania or Osasco, Italy. The Specific and Operational Objectives of Erasmus+ identifies one of the main operational objectives as being to "encourage the participation of young people in democratic life in Europe". MBC and it's transnational partners aim to promote the development of partnerships between education and employment (in particular - companies and social partners). Methodology used to carry out Project Each group of 8 will commence the project following selection in October 2014. They will attend special meetings, workshops and classes relevant to the key competences identified. MBC will provide some language training in Italian & Romanian as appropriate. Participants will research online for information on their destination; geography, economy, culture etc. In February/March of 2015 each group of 8 will take part in the work placement element of the project in either Pinerolo, Timisoara or Osasco. On their return from work placement, participants will report on and analyse the outcomes. They will also brief their classmates and teachers. Description of Results and Impact Envisaged Based on previous experience, this project is likely to have a significant positive impact on the participants themselves; on their class group and on MBC as a whole. Potential Long Term Benefits On a participant level it is envisaged that through exposure to this project, participants will be in a position to recognise and appreciate the importance of possessing transnational employability skills not only for their studies but also for their future success on a global level. Many of our former Leonardo students have succeeded in finding work which requires the use of international competences, as well as the ability to adapt to a new environment and life skills such as communication, team-working, cultural awareness and problem solving capabilities. We expect that this pattern will continue. Benefits for Moate Business College include raising its profile in international and national settings through the successful delivery of the Erasmus+ Projects.