Leonardo ambassadors: improving the quality of European vocational training

Citation

(2006), "Leonardo ambassadors: improving the quality of European vocational training", Education + Training, Vol. 48 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2006.00448fab.008

Leonardo ambassadors: improving the quality of European vocational training

The first 20 Leonardo “ambassadors” have been identified as excellent examples of a successful international co-operation by the national agencies that allocate grants under the EU's Leonardo vocational-training programme. They will promote the programme, giving it a human face.

In addition, 24 Leonardo mobility projects have been short-listed for the European Quality Awards. The selected projects offered young people the chance of experience abroad in the course of their professional training. The Commission hopes that the short-listed projects will serve as examples of excellence, to inspire future mobility projects, for the benefit of European vocational education and training as a whole.

“Trans-national programmes like Leonardo are a key contribution to the development of a European labour market,” said Ján Figel, European Commissioner for Education and Training:

The mobility of thousands of young people, but also teachers and trainers, leads to a mutual understanding of Europe's different education and training systems and to increased transparency of these systems.

Since 2000, almost 300,000 people in the 31 participating countries have benefited from the mobility opportunities under the Leonardo programme. These include mainly young people, but also teachers and trainers. A Leonardo grant offers individuals the chance to gain training and work experience in a foreign country. It also encourages them to develop specific abilities, to adapt to new linguistic, cultural and professional environments. Further, Leonardo offers teachers, trainers and vocational-training specialists the possibility to exchange experiences with their counterparts in other European countries.