Objectives of activities carried out

To disseminate the results reached to VET providers, students, general public, policy makers and company managers

Description of activities carried out

On 27 April 2018, a seminar for VET providers and company managers was organized by the project team of LLU. The presentations focused on the role of work based learning for development of learners’ skills and competences, enabling them to work in international environment. The discussions and brain storming sessions looked into the academic and organizational aspects of international virtual internships.
Program of the Seminar 1:
10.30:11.00 Registration and brunch
11.00:11.25 Knowledge, Skills and Competencies of Learners Developed through International Projects Experience of Spīdola School.
Ritma Tīrumniece, Vice-Principal of Spīdola School (Jelgava) and Inta Jorniņa, teacher of Spīdola School (Jelgava)
11.25:11.50 Cooperation of Faculty of Agriculture with Agribusiness Companies for Traineeships. Dace Siliņa, Vice-Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, LLU and Irina Sivicka, lecturer and traineeship coordinator of Faculty of Agriculture, LLU
11.50:12.15 Experience of Faculty of Food Technology in Organising International Traineeships. Gita Krūmiņa-Zemture, Vice-Dean of Faculty of Food Technology (FFT), Dace Kļava, Assoc. Professor and traineeship coordinator of FFT, LLU, and Sandra Īriste, lecturer and ERASMUS+ coordinator of FFT, LLU.
12.15:12.40 Contribution of International Projects, Implemented by Latvian Rural Advisory Centre, into Development of Farmers’ Knowledge and Skills during Their Life Long Learning. Raivis Maksis, project manager of LRAC (Ozolnieki)
12.40:13.00 Development of Learners’ Professional Skills through Work Based Learning. Solvita Medniece, teacher, College of Tourism and Technologies (Kuldiga).
13.00:14.00 Lunch
14.00:14.20 Learners’ Experience Gained through International Projects for Development of Their Career
Management Skill, and Training for Future Careers in Global Employment and Educational Environment. Evita Korna-Opincāne,Vice-Principal of Secondary School No. 2 (Tukums).
14.20:14.40 Insight into the Context of the IWBLabs Project and the project portal.
Mareks Rubins, project team member, LLU.
14.40:15.00 Gains from the International Virtual Traineeship. Types of Tasks to be Carried out by Trainees during Their International Virtual Traineeship. Daina Grasmane, scientific project manager, LLU.
15.00:17.00 Discussions on international virtual traineeship and Intellectual Outputs:
- Organizational and academic matters, concerning the international virtual traineeship.
- Development of the digital data base of traineeship candidates, VET providers and companies hosting traineeships. Reviews of content of the Intellectual Outputs:
- Video interviews "Company Managers’ Success Stories”;
- Video lessons as learning and teaching aids on agribusiness themes;
- “Guidelines and Operative Tools for Students” to Prepare for International Virtual Traineeships. Moderator: Daina Grasmane, Dr. paed., scientific project manager, LLU
17.00. Closing ceremony and issue of certificates.
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On 13 October 2018, the second ME event was held: a seminar on the Internationalization of Work Based Learning for VET providers, representatives of companies and organizations
Program of the Seminar 2:
12:00 Registration
12:30-12:45 Introduction into the IWBLabs Project
Inese Ozola, Dr. filol., project team member, Latvia University of Agriculture
12:45-13:15 Remote Working through International Projects.
Sondra Skele, company MOGO
13:15-13:45 Sharing Experiences in International Projects.
All participants.
Coffee break
14:00-14:20 Skills Employers Seek.
Daina Grasmane, Dr. paed., project scientific manager, Latvia University of Agriculture.
14:20-14:40 Repository of E-learning Materials: Video Lessons and Success Stories Created by the IWBLabs Project Partners.
Mareks Rubins, Central Finance and Contracting Agency of the Republic of Latvia (former project team member of LLU).
14:40-15:00 Virtual International Traineeship: Guidelines for Students, Companies, VET Providers and Policy Makers.
Daina Grasmane, Dr. paed., project scientific manager, Latvia University of Agriculture.
15:00-15:20 Virtual Platform of the IWBLabs Project.
Mareks Rubins, Central Finance and Contracting Agency of the Republic of Latvia
(former project team member of LLU).
Coffee break
15:30-15:50 Discussion on Internationalisation of Work Based Learning and Research
Moderator: Daina Grasmane, Dr. paed., project scientific manager, Latvia University of
Agriculture.
16:00 Closing of the seminar.

Results Achieved

22 participants took part in the first ME seminar, 13 of them belonged to the focus group. 7 presentations were given.
20 evaluation questionnaires and 9 testimonials were obtained.
18 participants took part in the second ME seminar. 13 of them were the focus group members. 4 presentations were given.
Conclusions:
The seminar focus groups enhanced their understanding of the work based learning methodology, had an opportunity to establish contacts with other institutions and companies involved in the project activities, shared their experiences in international projects, and had an opportunity to discuss the created video materials to be used in the teaching-and learning process when covering topics related to international work environment and agribusiness. Also, they had a chance to look into the project portal closely and discuss arrangements for an international virtual internship.
The participants have been multiplying the outcomes of the seminars in their educational institutions and companies.