The Erasmus experience of this centre # Internationalisation Route – Externato Santa Clara
## Introduction
In an ever-expanding context of globalisation, **Internationalisation** has become one of the founding pillars of Externato Santa Clara, as recognised in its Educational Project, Act locally; Intervene Globally. Accordingly, the school has been charting routes of openness to the world, aiming for the acquisition of new knowledge, sharing of practices, and educational innovation. The initial steps were the **ERASMUS+ VET 2021-2027 Award** and acceptance as a member of the **European Forum of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (EfVET)**. As a result of our work, growth went beyond European borders, reaching Brazil through the signing of an institutional protocol with the Catholic University of Brasília under the UNESCO Chair in Youth, Education, and Society.
Our **Strategy/Route of Internationalisation** is based on the following objectives:
- Provide all our students, regardless of socio-economic background, with access to and success in education and professional life.
- Enable the development of emotional (responsibility, maturity, and autonomy), technical, and professional skills for both our students and staff.
- Develop foreign language (spoken and written) skills as well as Information and Communication Technology skills.
- Increase opportunities for exchange and contact with new cultures.
- Involve our students and staff in European values and citizenship.
- Create and nurture international partnerships.
- Review practices and improve internal processes at the school.
- Contribute towards smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, through the development of secondary education, reducing school drop-out rates, and increasing employability among young people and adults.
- Implement action-research projects, ensuring the production of research published in internationally indexed editorial lines at the Web of Science.
- Participate in scientific events, in coordination with the UNESCO Chair in Youth, Education, and Society, guaranteeing the delivery of oral communications at international symposia.
## Internationalisation Activities
### Participation Highlights
- **December 2021:** Participated in the ERASMUS+ Project General Monitoring Meeting (KA121 – ADU, SCH and VET).
- **February 2022:** Attended support sessions for application submission for Accredited Institutions (KA1).
- **March 2021:** Obtained ERASMUS+ VET Accreditation for 2021-2027, Project No. 2021-1-PT01-KA121-VET-000010896.
- **April 2021:** Attended the National Launch Event for the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 Programme.
- **September 2021:** Became a member (No. 0688M/PT) of EfVET.
- **October 2021:** Attended the 30th EfVET Annual Virtual International Conference, “Shaping the Future: Sustainable and Innovative VET”.
- **November 2021:** Took part in the “Training Course on Supporting Youth on Social Innovation Projects” in Guimarães, hosted by Proacting.
### Mobility and Partnerships
- **April–July 2022:** Mobility in Barcelona for 5 post-graduate students completing 3-month work placements in Professional Courses (Commerce and Tourism), and 4 teachers attended 20-hour CLIL training.
- **Since April 2022:** Contribution as a partner institution to the UNESCO-endorsed Scientific Compendium Tecido em Criatividade, part of the International Network of Creative Schools. Five volumes already released.
- **May 2022:** Participation in the ENNE Project Dissemination Conference in Guimarães.
- **June 2022:** Signed a protocol with the Catholic University of Brasília.
- **September–November 2022:** Mobility in Barcelona for 7 Year 12 students (Professional Courses: Commerce and Tourism) for 3-month work placements and 3 teachers in 20-hour CLIL training; Mobility in Malta for 8 Year 12 students (Professional Courses: Sports, Sales and Marketing); Mobility in Slovenia for 2 Year 11 students (socially and economically disadvantaged) for 15 days (Professional Course: Sales and Marketing); and an English upskilling course for the school psychologist.
- **October 2022:** Participation in the 31st EfVET Annual Conference, Kuopio, Finland – The Future Skills Revolution for VET and CVET in Europe.
- **November 2022:** Participation in the VET Teams Workshop organised by the National Agency.
- **September 2023:** Mobility in Malaga, Spain, for 6 Year 12 students for 3 months (Erasmus Pro).
- **October 2023:** Participation in the 32nd EfVET Annual Conference, Rhodes, Greece – A Vocational Education Training Agenda of Future Skills for Green Transition.
- **December 2023:** Teacher and student mobility for Erasmus Few in Malaga, Spain.
- **March 2024:** Hosted 18 students and 4 teachers from RASAKO School in Turku, Finland. Teachers participated in a CLIL course provided by Santa Clara’s teachers, and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to facilitate future mobilities. Reception of teachers from other European schools (Malaga, Germany) for job-shadowing and exchange of CLIL methodologies.
- **September 2024:** Mobility in Malaga for 20 Year 12 students; job-shadowing mobility for 4 teachers and 1 staff member at BBS W1 Ludwigshafen in Germany, and 4 students’ Erasmus Few mobility. Hosted a delegation from Tradium School, Denmark (4 teachers and 56 students).
- **October 2024:** Hosted 8 female students and 5 teachers from Liceo Statale Giuseppe Rechichi Polistena, Calabria, Italy, who attended CLIL lessons and participated in school activities. Participation in the 33rd EfVET Annual Conference in Amersfoort, Netherlands – Training Gen Z: New Horizons for VET.
## Future Purposes
### Strengthening the Internationalisation Route
Internationalisation is one of the school’s major goals, and we invite all students to take part in this enriching journey. The primary aim is to strengthen the presence and impact of our educational offer on a global scale, promoting the work developed in our classrooms and encouraging active participation from the entire school community.
To achieve this, our dynamic and comprehensive dissemination strategy will include:
- **Information Sessions for Students:** Talks and workshops highlighting internationalisation opportunities such as mobility programmes, internships abroad, partnerships with international institutions, and European projects.
- **Internationalisation Fair:** School event showcasing completed projects, success stories from alumni, and upcoming opportunities, featuring interactive stands, cultural exhibitions, and experience sharing.
- **Communication on Social Media and School Website:** Use of digital platforms to promote students’ work and share testimonials of international experiences, expanding our reach and community engagement.
- **Collaboration with International Partners:** Strengthening ties with foreign educational institutions and companies, promoting our education offer on global networks and platforms.
We want our students to be the main agents of this journey. Participation in such projects not only enriches their personal and academic trajectories but also contributes to Externato Santa Clara’s recognition as an innovative and globally connected institution.
### Engagement in Scientific Events
- **EfVET Tourism Thematic Team Annual Event 2025:** “Local Wonders: Discovering Rural Tourism Practices.”
- **EfVET Annual Conference 2025, Fátima.**
### Promotion and Implementation of R&D Activities
- **CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning):** An educational approach in which content from a subject (History, Science, Mathematics, etc.) is delivered through a foreign language. The main objective is to simultaneously develop proficiency in the target language and subject knowledge, thereby promoting more natural and contextualised learning.
- **EBBD (European Business Behaviour and Democracy):** A European certificate fostering the training of learners with advanced business behaviour skills and democratic principles. The diploma aims to prepare young people for the professional world by integrating citizenship, ethics, and business practices with a European and global perspective. EBBD combines business knowledge with foreign language proficiency and intercultural experience, enhancing communication both abroad and with partners involved in national and international activities.
### Enhancing Teaching and Training Quality
Adopting a “learning by doing” approach that leverages new technologies and promotes non-directive pedagogical methods supporting meaningful learning:
- **Work-Based Learning (WBL):** An educational strategy combining theory and practice, offering students the opportunity to experience real work environments where they apply the academic and technical skills acquired in school. WBL prepares students for specific professional challenges and allows them to develop transversal skills such as problem-solving, effective communication, and teamwork. These experiences are vital for increasing youth employability by providing practical insight into their future careers and readiness for the labour market.
### Fostering Innovation and Sustainable Development
In line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), integrating these objectives into the school context is crucial, as education plays a central role in developing responsible and committed citizens. Promoting a culture of innovation and sustainable development that aligns with the SDGs involves:
- **SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being:** Creating initiatives for physical and mental health with spaces promoting emotional well-being for students and staff.
- **SDG 4 – Quality Education:** Ensuring inclusive, equitable, and high-quality education; creating innovative, accessible learning environments that encourage critical thinking.
- **SDG 5 – Gender Equality:** Guaranteeing that all school practices value and promote gender equality, from the curriculum to extracurricular activities.
- **SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production:** Implementing programmes that teach conscious consumption and encourage reducing, reusing, and recycling materials.
- **SDG 13 – Climate Action:** Promoting activities raising awareness of the urgency of climate change, such as reforestation projects, energy saving, and use of renewable energies in the school.
- **SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals:** Establishing collaborations with institutions, businesses, and local communities to integrate the SDGs into school practices and achieve broader results.
By integrating the SDGs into pedagogical planning and school culture, we are preparing students to face global challenges, actively contributing to a fairer and more sustainable world.
