The SMEEGE week in pictures
The highlight of the Erasmusplus project SMEEGE was the on-site week in Madrid. More than 30 decision-makers from small and medium-sized enterprises took part.
Short interviews at the end are in German. Please turn on the subtitles
The project
What?
SMEEGE is an Erasmus+ project, which aims to demonstrate the benefits of studying abroad. These are brought closer to policy makers (managers) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through short term mobility.
Why?
In recent years, various institutions have recognized that stays abroad during vocational training are a useful supplement. A NABiBB survey of project sponsors in 2018 confirms that the skills and knowledge of employees increase after a stay abroad. Offers of mobility during vocational training additionally enhanced the image of the institutions, which is a sensible strategy for employee retention in times of skilled labour shortage.
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How?
However, many SMEs are not aware of the purpose of stays abroad.
The number of trainees going abroad could increase if managers get an idea of the benefits of mobility. Therefore, SMEEGE aims to send managers from SMEs abroad to make the advantages personally tangible. These go abroad (at their own expense but organized by the project partners).
When?
The SMEEGE project will be carried out between the 1st of October 2020 and the 31st of March 2022 by the leading organisation, TALENTBRÜCKE GmbH & Co. Kg, and six other partners from Spain, Slovenia, Italy, Belgium and Germany.
The goal
The aim of the SMEEGE project is to show policy makers (managers) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) the advantages of mobility. This happens through Information and development of approaches for these companies to send trainees abroad for part of their training and to emphasize the advantages for the companies.
The project partners
The Project phasen
Newsletter
The Erasmus+ project SMEEGE makes the benefits of trainees’ stays abroad tangible – for entrepreneurs and trainers.
On 8 and 9 October 2020 the kick-off meeting of the SMEEGE project was held under corona conditions in digital and on-site in Cologne.
The results
Planned project meetings
- 1st meeting – Kick off
- 2nd meeting – Preparing of interview guidelines
- 3rd meeting – First conclusions
- 4th meeting – Analysis and conception
- 5th meeting – Executives’ experience abroad
- 6th meeting – Revision of generated content
- 7th meeting – Final meeting
Project Kick Off
2nd project meeting
The second transnational project meeting on the SMEEGE project took place on 10 December 2020.
Due to the current pandemic, the seven partners from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Slovenia and Germany did not meet in Liège as originally planned, but online.
The topics of the meeting were on the one hand the presentation of the results from phase 1, a two-month research on benefits and obstacles of trainees’ stays abroad. On the other hand, the partners defined further project steps for the now upcoming seven-month phase 2. In the course of this, interview questions were also developed, which are aimed at the target groups of the project.
Results of the first project phase
In the first of four project phases, the project partners identified relevant trends on mobility during vocational education and training through desktop research. The research focused on three core questions. These are the results:
Question 1: What are the advantages of past stays abroad for companies?
Question 2: What are the benefits of a past stay abroad for apprentices – on an individual level?
Question 3: What are the obstacles why companies do not offer stays abroad?
Third project phase
Based on the results of the second project phase, the third project phase is currently being prepared.
The central component of this phase is the planning and implementation of a short stay abroad for decision-makers/executives from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The basic idea is that they experience first-hand the benefits of a stay abroad for their trainees.
The entire partner consortium aims to attract stakeholders from Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Belgium and Spain to the program, which in this way not only stands out for its content, but also for the networking opportunities it offers. The project partners accompany the executives through the entire program.
The implementation of that stay abroad is currently planned from 22 until 26 November 2021 in Madrid. Participants are free to choose between two and five full days, depending on their own availability.
The first companies have already been approached and have signaled interest in participating. The first provisional program for a face-to-face implementation has also been drawn up.
Unfortunately, due to the Corona pandemic, we cannot yet guarantee that the event will be held in person. We are therefore currently also working on accompanying virtual elements.
You can express your interest in more information or even in participating in the program without obligation by using the following contact form. We will be happy to call you and explain all the details.
We look forward to hear from you!
Travel report
As part of the project, a travel week took place in Madrid from 22 November to 25 November 2021.
The aim of the trip was to convince entrepreneurs and trainers of the advantages of stays abroad for their trainees.
You can find the travel report here.
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.