Erasmus+ mobility in vocational education: a transformative experience for woodworking students publié le 22/03/2026

 The Lycée Polyvalent du Pays d’Aunis in Surgères (Charente-Maritime, France) has been actively involved in Erasmus+ projects for over 25 years, developing strong and long-standing partnerships across Europe. Over the years, the school has collaborated with institutions in Finland, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Cyprus, Norway, Italy and Slovakia, building a solid network to support student mobility and cooperation.

 This year, the school has also chosen to expand its European partnerships by starting a new collaboration with Portugal, with the aim of further developing international opportunities for its students in the future.

 From February 23 to 27, two teachers from the school — Stéphane Bauza, an English teacher, and Cindy Neveu, a mathematics and science teacher — accompanied a group of four students to Pombal, Portugal, where they began their work placements.

 These students — Damien, Valentin and Jérémie (full-time students) and Eddy (an apprentice) — were enrolled in final-year vocational baccalaureate programmes specialising in Cabinetmaking and Wood Manufacturing Technology. They completed their internships in two local companies, working in pairs.

 One company specialised in kitchen manufacturing and installation, while the other focused on wood flooring and the production of various wooden components, using modern equipment, including CNC machines.

 Three of the students stayed in Portugal for three weeks, while the apprentice completed a two-week placement.

 At the same time, other students from the same programmes also took part in international mobility : two students carried out a three-week placement in Germany, while four others, including one apprentice, completed an internship in Cyprus.

 Located in a semi-rural area, the school serves students for whom international travel is not always easily accessible. In this context, the Erasmus+ programme represented a remarkable opportunity. It allowed these young learners — some of whom were as young as 16 — to experience living and working abroad, often for the first time.

 In Portugal, the students were accommodated in Pombal, a town ideally situated between Porto and Lisbon. This location offered not only a professional environment but also access to cultural discovery. During their stay, the students had the opportunity to travel at weekends, and they notably spent a full weekend in Lisbon, discovering the city’s heritage and atmosphere.

 From a professional perspective, these placements enabled students to develop technical skills, discover new working methods, and work with different materials and technologies in authentic workplace settings.

 Equally important were the cultural and linguistic benefits. Immersed in an international environment, students gained confidence in using English and other foreign languages in real-life situations, while also discovering new ways of living and working.

 Such experiences contributed significantly to the development of autonomy, adaptability and openness, which are key competences in both professional and personal life.

 The Erasmus+ programme thus played a crucial role in promoting inclusion, mobility and European citizenship, particularly for students in vocational education.

 This experience once again highlights the essential role of international mobility in empowering vocational students and preparing them to become skilled, adaptable and open-minded European citizens.