Enhancing Employability and Developing Life Skills: Shetland Islands to Norway project planned for Spring 2020

Last year, Shetland College UHI was successful in gaining Erasmus+ funding.

Shetland students will get the opportunity to live and work in Norway for up to a month as part of an Erasmus+ partnership between Shetland College UHI and Voss Vidaregaande Skule. As an academic partner of the University of the Highlands and Islands, the College secured a grant of EUR 45,696.00 to deliver their Learning Mobility programme over twenty four months.  This allows the partnership developed with the community of Voss to continue.

The project has already seen five students studying care, construction and computing subjects travel to Voss in March this year with another exchange planned for Spring 2020. The project will allow the College to send young people to Voss in Norway to gain vital work experience and hands on experience in their placements. The project stems from the view that international learning can increase the quality of young people's education, particularly in relation to vocational training. 

Erasmus+ is the European Union’s (EU) programme for education, training, youth and sport, with the EU committing £12 billion to the programme between 2014 and 2020. In the UK, the programme is managed by the Erasmus+ UK National Agency, a partnership between the British Council and Ecorys UK. 

The project is funded under Key Action 1 of the programme. The aim of a Key Action 1 project is to fund opportunities for individuals to improve their skills, enhance their employability and increase their knowledge of other cultures. Learners and young people can gain valuable life-skills and international experience to help them develop professionally, personally and academically. 

Project co-ordinator Leanne Gear said: “We are delighted to have been successful in Erasmus+ and are looking ahead to the Spring 2020 trip. Students will benefit from the project and the opportunities it will provide to learn abroad.” 

Shetland College UHI students studying further education courses have until Friday 8 November at 5pm to apply. Applications can be found here or the Shetland College UHI reception.

For more information about funding opportunities visit www.erasmusplus.org.uk, or use the hashtag #epluspeople to see what other projects are doing across the UK.