«If I had a time machine, I would go back and repeat this experience over and over again, in loop», guaranteed Sabrina Ildefonso. ETIC_Algarve did not find a time machine to allow this student of hers and her other colleagues who have interned in different European cities under the Erasmus+ program to revive it, but it has already guaranteed the extension of the «ETIC_Algarve In_Motion» program for another two years and in extended format, which will allow 32 more young people to have a first contact with their professional area outside Portugal.
The announcement of the renewal of the protocol between the Algarve's School of Technologies, Innovation and Creation and the European Union's Erasmus+ Program was made yesterday, May 9th, Europe Day. ETIC_Algarve gave the good news during the celebrations of this anniversary, in the context of which it promoted information sessions on European mobility programs and took the opportunity to take stock of the two years of the mobility projects In-Motion and “Etic_Algarve In_Cluster”. The first, lasting two years, was aimed at students and allowed 23 finalists to be distributed in four cities (Seville, Malaga, Rome and Prague), where they spent two months. In the second case, the project lasted a year and aimed at exchanging teachers and trainers, with teachers from the Algarve school heading to other foreign educational establishments and their colleagues from other countries taking the opposite route, for a week.
Second revealed to Sul Informação Virgínia Inácio, the person responsible for coordinating Erasmus+ projects at the Algarve ETIC, the new application that was made to this European program, which has already been accepted, includes both dimensions, although, this time, everything is integrated in the same “cake”. Thus, in addition to (at least) 32 students, the agreement includes the exchange of 14 elements of the staff of the ETIC.
“We learned last week that our application had been approved. This time, we managed to expand to 32 students, who instead of two months stay three in the host countries. We also include new partners. It is very gratifying to be able to give this opportunity to the students, as this is something that really affects them and changes their lives», said Virgínia Inácio, who within ETIC_Algarve is affectionately nicknamed “Virginia Erasmus”.
Students benefit from a scholarship that includes “travel, insurance, accommodation and money for food, which, according to the feedback we received, is perfect enough to be there and even enjoy leisure activities”.
«In this first application of In_Motion, we had 20 applications approved, but due to the good management we managed, we were able to send 23 students», stressed, for his part, Nuno Ribeiro, director of ETIC_Algarve. And more is, in this case, better, because in the current school year there were students who mentioned that the fact that they had the opportunity to do an internship under Erasmus+ led them to look for this school.
Ensuring an internship opportunity across borders requires the effort of trainees from the different courses offered by the school based in Faro. «We award scholarships on merit, during the training course, but also following a creative challenge, in which all students are invited to participate. The motto is Europe and, based on it and its area of training, students have to present a proposal», added Virgínia Inácio.
Yesterday, the 9th of May, the challenge was again launched for students to give wings to their imagination and present projects that could lead them to internships in another country. And if there were those who might be in doubt whether or not to apply for an Erasmus+ internship scholarship, the testimonies of your colleagues who have already gone through the experience will have helped to excite them.
More than a professional experience, seen as very fruitful by the different students who gave their testimony, the Erasmus+ internship is appointed by those who spent two months in one of the four host cities as an unforgettable life experience and an opportunity to broaden their personal horizons .
At work level, the experiences were quite different. For some, “it was almost like a vacation”, not because they didn't have to work, but because the hours were nice (in some cases 4 to 5 hours a day), which allowed them to have time to explore the places where they lived. Others had to work hard, such as João Andrade, who left home “at 7:00 am and returned at 21:00 pm or later”. Something that did not prevent this intern in the Music Production and Creation course from taking full advantage of the experience of living in Rome, as his account quickly revealed.
João, like other of his colleagues, made the most of the experience, which led him to feel at home in a city he didn't know before the internship and to create work connections that still last today. Despite having already returned from Italy a few months ago, he continues to work with the same studio, from the Algarve, and has an invitation to return and work permanently at the company.
O Sul Informação spoke with this 28-year-old recent ETIC_Algarve graduate, on the sidelines of the session, to better understand the opportunities that open up for those who are interning abroad. And they are not few.
“It was a fantastic experience. The way Italians see things is totally different, there is a very wide opening. It doesn't matter if we know a lot or a little, everyone can give their idea, what counts is the validity of the proposal, something that doesn't happen very often in Portugal», said João Andrade.
The graduate of the Algarve ETIC took with him the experience he had already acquired in music production, as he had already worked in this area before entering the course, and convinced those responsible for AG Studios in Rome, who insisted that he stay the course. work in the company. «I am able to go. I'm still working directly with them. But I have to think carefully, Rome is a very expensive city and I have other offers. I'm studying the situation. I'll probably go back there after the summer, which was what was agreed, and we'll see you soon», he revealed.
In João Andrade's perception, the experience he had opened doors for him in the world of work. “I have more proposals, in fact. But a lot goes through the Portuguese mentality. There is no doubt that I improved my work and the way I do things there, but I was already working in the area before. Now, I arrive at a place, I do this or that, but I barely mention that I worked in Rome, it immediately awakens another interest,” he said.
On Europe Day 2017, ETIC_Algarve took the opportunity not only to publicize the experience of this and other students who participated in the first two editions of In_Motion, but also to publicize the offer that exists in this area, provided by the Erasmus da União program European.
The session that was promoted included a presentation of the EYE – Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs program, by Catarina Marques, from ANJE, and the dissemination of the European Volunteer Service, by Natália Estrela, from the ECOS Cooperative.
In the end, Isabel Gradil, from the National Agency ERASMUS+ Educação e Formação, presented the Participation Certificates to students and staff members involved in the “ETIC_Algarve In_Motion” and “Etic_Algarve In_Cluster” programs.
Photos: ETIC/Algarve
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