Leonardo Da Vinci Program Lifelong Learning – Azubis Going Abroad Funded by the EU

You might have heard of the Auslandssemester (semester abroad) which is compulsory for most study courses in German universities, unfortunately until now there hasn’t been such a program for those that go into vocational training. The EU has come up with a new program they named the Leonardo da Vinci program for lifelong learning.

This programme funds many different types of activities of varying scales. These include ‘mobility’ initiatives enabling people to train in another country, co-operation projects to transfer or develop innovative practices, and networks focusing on topical themes in the sector.

The people able to benefit from the programme range from trainees in initial vocational training, to people who have already graduated, as well as VET professionals and anyone from organisations active in this field.

Leonardo da Vinci enables organisations in the vocational education sector to work with partners from across Europe, exchange best practices, and increase their staff’s expertise. It should make vocational education more attractive to young people and, by helping people to gain new skills, knowledge and qualifications, the programme also boosts the overall competitiveness of the European labour market.

Innovation projects are key to the programme. They aim to improve the quality of training systems by developing and transferring innovative policies, courses, teaching methods, materials and procedures.

This year alone there were 20,000 Azubis from Germany who took advantage of this program.

Interested? You can read more at:

Info from the EU Commission

Info from the National Agency in Germany

Info from the German Lifelong Learning site