ExExPEPErience the rience the RRetaietaiLL Sector within the Sector within the EEuropean uropean

UnionUnion  

(PERLE)(PERLE) LdV Partnership projectLdV Partnership project

LLP/LdV/PAR/RO/070LLP/LdV/PAR/RO/070

• Period approved for the project :Period approved for the project :

• 1.08.2008 - 31.07.20101.08.2008 - 31.07.2010

COORDINATORCOORDINATOR::Kaunas Trade and Business Kaunas Trade and Business SSchool,chool, Kaunas, Kaunas,Lithuania Lithuania ASSOCIATED PARTNER OF THE COORDINATOR:ASSOCIATED PARTNER OF THE COORDINATOR:Chamber of Commerce, Kaunas, LithuaniaChamber of Commerce, Kaunas, Lithuania

Project partners:Project partners:1. 1. Staatliche Berufsschule 2 Passau,GermanyStaatliche Berufsschule 2 Passau,Germany Associated partner: Metro group DusseldorfAssociated partner: Metro group Dusseldorf--Germany--Germany 2. 2. Institute for Research on Qualifications and Training of the Austrian Institute for Research on Qualifications and Training of the Austrian

Economy-Economy-Vienna, AustriaVienna, Austria Associated partner: Associated partner: Austrian Federal Economic ChamberAustrian Federal Economic Chamber--Austria--Austria3. 3. Kokkola Business Institute—Kokkola, Finland Kokkola Business Institute—Kokkola, Finland Associated partner: Associated partner: FIRMAXI – The New Enterprise Agency in Central FIRMAXI – The New Enterprise Agency in Central

OstrobothniaOstrobothnia, , FinlandFinland4. 4. National College forEconomics ”Gheorghe Chitu”, Craiova, RomaniaNational College forEconomics ”Gheorghe Chitu”, Craiova, Romania Associated partner: PIC HypermarketAssociated partner: PIC Hypermarket Craiova, RomaniaCraiova, Romania 5. 5. Niels Brock Niels Brock CopenhagenCopenhagen Business College Business College Copenhagen, DenmarkCopenhagen, Denmark

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECTSUMMARY OF THE PROJECT

• The project addressed to the vocational training The project addressed to the vocational training in the field of shop assistants (retail) which is in the field of shop assistants (retail) which is taught in all partner schools taught in all partner schools

• In order to increase the students’ mobilities in In order to increase the students’ mobilities in other countries and later a better preparation other countries and later a better preparation for them/for the trainees as future employees in for them/for the trainees as future employees in the EU, the project focused in comparing the the EU, the project focused in comparing the curricula in VET (and shop assistant curricula in VET (and shop assistant specialty/retail) in the partner countries and specialty/retail) in the partner countries and making a survey questionnaire at retail making a survey questionnaire at retail companies to observe their demands in companies to observe their demands in customer service and intercultural behaviourcustomer service and intercultural behaviour

Strategic OBJECTIVESStrategic OBJECTIVES

• Comparing the VET curriculum in partner Comparing the VET curriculum in partner schoolsschools

• Comparing the needs of the companies in Comparing the needs of the companies in retail from the trainees/employees as retail from the trainees/employees as shopshop assistantsassistants

• Sharing and implementing innovative Sharing and implementing innovative practices in VET--retail sector educationpractices in VET--retail sector education

• To encourage students learn foreign To encourage students learn foreign languages as a part of their professional languages as a part of their professional education and of intercultural dialogueeducation and of intercultural dialogue

PlannedPlanned//achieved activitiesachieved activities

• VET education system detailed for retail profile and translation of VET VET education system detailed for retail profile and translation of VET materials in Englishmaterials in English

• Presentation of specific needs and role in VET of associated partnersPresentation of specific needs and role in VET of associated partners

• Making questionnaires about intercultural competence and professional Making questionnaires about intercultural competence and professional needs and implemented sales companies in VET partner schools but also needs and implemented sales companies in VET partner schools but also for evaluating new materials by stakeholders in VET vocational education-for evaluating new materials by stakeholders in VET vocational education-Creating questionnaires about the Intercultural Needs to Be answered by Creating questionnaires about the Intercultural Needs to Be answered by retail companiesretail companies

• Formulation of best practice models and methods and their application in Formulation of best practice models and methods and their application in partner schools by making possible a transfer of innovation project / Best partner schools by making possible a transfer of innovation project / Best Practices examples Observing and Implementing Them in the partner Practices examples Observing and Implementing Them in the partner schools in the future by the Transfer of Innovation Projectschools in the future by the Transfer of Innovation Project

• Each project visit included group meetings, visit of the partner schools, of Each project visit included group meetings, visit of the partner schools, of associated partners and of other retail or sales-oriented associated partners and of other retail or sales-oriented factors/institutionsfactors/institutions

First project meeting-First project meeting-Kokkola,FINLAND Kokkola,FINLAND 4-10 October 20084-10 October 2008 AGENDAAGENDA::• Visit at the host school, Visit at the host school,

Kokkola Business InstituteKokkola Business Institute

Presentation of the Finnish Presentation of the Finnish system of education and the system of education and the curriculum from retail; curriculum from retail; discussions with teachers and discussions with teachers and students from shop assistant students from shop assistant specialtyspecialty

Presentation of Presentation of education systems in education systems in each partner schooleach partner school

VisitVisit at the at the associatedassociated partner Firmaxi, the partner Firmaxi, the supermarket Prisma and supermarket Prisma and Tina-small shop Tina-small shop (Kokkola)(Kokkola)

Second project meetingSecond project meeting--KaunasKaunas & & Vilnius Vilnius LITLITHHUANIA UANIA 2-8 March 20092-8 March 2009 • Visit at the partner school, Kaunas Trade and Business Visit at the partner school, Kaunas Trade and Business

SchoolSchool

Presentation of the school curriculumPresentation of the school curriculumPlanning of the questionnaire for the retail companies Planning of the questionnaire for the retail companies about intercultural knowledgeabout intercultural knowledge

Visit and presentation at Maxima Hypermarket and Visit and presentation at Maxima Hypermarket and Akropolis , Kaunas Akropolis , Kaunas

Visit at the associated partner, Chamber Visit at the associated partner, Chamber of Commerce, Kaunasof Commerce, Kaunas

Third project meting Craiova, Third project meting Craiova, ROMANIAROMANIA 18-24 May 200918-24 May 2009 AGENDA AGENDA OF THE OF THE

MEETINGMEETING::• Visit at the partner Visit at the partner

school - school - C.N.E.”Gheorghe C.N.E.”Gheorghe Chiţu”, CraiovaChiţu”, Craiova

Meeting with the teachers Meeting with the teachers and the students in retail and the students in retail from schoolfrom school

Presentation of the Presentation of the preliminary results of the preliminary results of the questionnaires from the questionnaires from the retail companiesretail companiesPresentation of curriculum Presentation of curriculum from Spar Tirol, Austriafrom Spar Tirol, Austria

Visit and presentation at the associated partner-PIC Visit and presentation at the associated partner-PIC Hypermarket, CraiovaHypermarket, Craiova

Visit and presentation at Metro CraiovaVisit and presentation at Metro Craiova

Visit and presentation at the Chamber of Commerce and Visit and presentation at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry from Oltenia RegionIndustry from Oltenia Region

Conclusions of the meeting and planning for the next year Conclusions of the meeting and planning for the next year of the projectof the project

Fourth project meeting, Fourth project meeting, Copenhagen,DenmarkCopenhagen,Denmark 4-11 October 20094-11 October 2009

AGENDA AGENDA OF THE MEETINGOF THE MEETING::

Visit Visit at the partner school at the partner school Niels Brock Copenhagen Business CollegeNiels Brock Copenhagen Business College

Presentation from the CEO of the school, Anya EskildsenPresentation from the CEO of the school, Anya Eskildsen

•Visit and Visit and ppresentation at Føtex (small resentation at Føtex (small hypermarket) in Fhypermarket) in Fiisketorvet shopping mall sketorvet shopping mall (Copenhagen) (Copenhagen) Visit and presentation at Visit and presentation at Kobenhavn’s EnergiKobenhavn’s Energi, , CopenhagenCopenhagen

Fifth project meeting Fifth project meeting Passau, Passau, GERMANGERMANYY22-28 March 22-28 March 20102010

Agenda of the Agenda of the meeting:meeting:

Presentation of dual Presentation of dual vocational teaching systemvocational teaching system Team teaching lessonTeam teaching lessonss and and presentation of learning areas presentation of learning areas (curriculum) of the (curriculum) of the schoolschool

• Visiting local Bavarian beer Visiting local Bavarian beer producing company producing company Presentation Presentation of e-learning of e-learning program “Iron Star” program “Iron Star” in in Austrian apprenticeship Austrian apprenticeship

Visit of the company „Saturn” Visit of the company „Saturn” (member(memberof METRO group) in Passau; of METRO group) in Passau; recrurecruiiting trainees and ting trainees and sales talk in Saturnsales talk in Saturn

Last project meetingLast project meeting 5-9 May 5-9 May 20102010

• Visit at IBW (Institute for qualifications Vienna)Visit at IBW (Institute for qualifications Vienna)• Visit at the associated partner, Chamber of Visit at the associated partner, Chamber of

Commerce and IndustryCommerce and Industry• Visit at T – Mobile (apprenticeship training Visit at T – Mobile (apprenticeship training

company) company) • Presentations, debates and final conclusions of Presentations, debates and final conclusions of

the projectthe project

CONCLUSIONS OF THE PROJECT--CONCLUSIONS OF THE PROJECT--IMPACTIMPACT A.A.For the whole project groupFor the whole project group

• SSignificant differences inignificant differences in the systems of the systems of education and retail education and retail curricula curricula of the partner of the partner countries countries

• TThe questionnaires he questionnaires show similar needs of show similar needs of intercultural knowledge from the retail intercultural knowledge from the retail companiescompanies

• Coherence of the partnershipCoherence of the partnership

• Effective communicationEffective communication

Conclusions for each partner country (what Conclusions for each partner country (what each partner learned from the other each partner learned from the other countries)countries)

• FOR ROMANIAFOR ROMANIA

What Romania observed in each partner What Romania observed in each partner school/institution school/institution

• Regarding VET (in Retail), involvement in Regarding VET (in Retail), involvement in international projects, school management, international projects, school management, cooperation with social partners:cooperation with social partners:

In FinlandIn Finland

• Well-organised system of VET educationWell-organised system of VET education

• Professional VET training education in schoolProfessional VET training education in school

• Adequate on-the-job learning durationAdequate on-the-job learning duration

• On-the-job learning abroad through projects On-the-job learning abroad through projects (LLP)(LLP)

• Active involvement of partners from business Active involvement of partners from business life-companies which host students for on-the-life-companies which host students for on-the-job learning/practicejob learning/practice

• Support from the school management for Support from the school management for projectsprojects

• Interest for developmentInterest for development

In LithuaniaIn Lithuania• Adequate on-the-job learning durationAdequate on-the-job learning duration• Active involvement of social Active involvement of social

partners/institutions in the VET education partners/institutions in the VET education (Chamber of Commerce)(Chamber of Commerce)

• Active involvement of companies which Active involvement of companies which host students for on-the-job host students for on-the-job learning/practicelearning/practice

• On-the-job learning abroad through On-the-job learning abroad through projects (LLP)projects (LLP)

• Support from the school management for Support from the school management for projectsprojects

• Interest for developmentInterest for development

In DenmarkIn Denmark• Adequate on-the-job learning Adequate on-the-job learning

durationduration

• Professional VET training education Professional VET training education in schoolin school

• Modern teaching/evaluating Modern teaching/evaluating techniquestechniques applied to cultural applied to cultural diversitydiversity

• Interest for developmentInterest for development

In GermanyIn Germany• Well-organized system of VET education Well-organized system of VET education

and diverse curricula in VETand diverse curricula in VET• Adequate on-the-job learning durationAdequate on-the-job learning duration• Professional VET training education in Professional VET training education in

schoolschool• Coherent team work and innovative Coherent team work and innovative

teaching techniques (team-teaching)teaching techniques (team-teaching)• Active involvement of partners from Active involvement of partners from

business life-companies which host business life-companies which host students for on-the-job learning/practicestudents for on-the-job learning/practice

• Interest for developmentInterest for development

In AustriaIn Austria• Well-organised systems of VET education and Well-organised systems of VET education and

diverse curricula in VETdiverse curricula in VET• Adequate on-the-job learning durationAdequate on-the-job learning duration• Active involvement of partners from social life-Active involvement of partners from social life-

institutes for qualifications, institutes of institutes for qualifications, institutes of research in VET education research in VET education

• Active involvement of partners from companies Active involvement of partners from companies which host students or apprentices for on-the-which host students or apprentices for on-the-job learning/practice job learning/practice

• Active involvement of partners from social life Active involvement of partners from social life in international projects-institutes for in international projects-institutes for qualifications in VET, institutes of researchqualifications in VET, institutes of research

• Interest for developmentInterest for development

Benefits for our school in the present and Benefits for our school in the present and in future:in future:

• Models of good practice-Team teaching from Germany (we intend Models of good practice-Team teaching from Germany (we intend to apply it in the near future in the foreign languages learning to apply it in the near future in the foreign languages learning groups if possible); we intend to ask for Business English classes to groups if possible); we intend to ask for Business English classes to be introduced in the curriculumbe introduced in the curriculum

• Modern evaluation techniques (from Denmark)Modern evaluation techniques (from Denmark)

• Use of ICT (from Finland)-development of computer skills for the Use of ICT (from Finland)-development of computer skills for the teachers involved in the project; we increased the number of teachers involved in the project; we increased the number of computers in school in the last two years and of other technical computers in school in the last two years and of other technical devices (copy machines, printers)devices (copy machines, printers)

• Teamwork examples (Germany, Finland) and Teamwork examples (Germany, Finland) and examples of good leadership inside the project examples of good leadership inside the project (Lithuania) and in partner schools provided an (Lithuania) and in partner schools provided an enormous benefit in the management of our enormous benefit in the management of our schoolschool

• A good quality communication in the project A good quality communication in the project offered a good example of communication for our offered a good example of communication for our schoolschool

• A good example of involvement of social/business A good example of involvement of social/business partners from the project is being applied/will be partners from the project is being applied/will be applied for our schoolapplied for our school

• Creative ideas and involvement in future projects Creative ideas and involvement in future projects (TOI application with Finland and Lithuania from (TOI application with Finland and Lithuania from the present partnership)the present partnership)

• A considerable improvement in foreign language A considerable improvement in foreign language skills (English) and immense cultural benefits skills (English) and immense cultural benefits from all partner countriesfrom all partner countries