MARTXAN

The Leonardo da Vinci programme links policy to practice in the field of vocational education and training (VET). Projects range from those giving individuals the chance to improve their competences, knowledge and skills through a period abroad, to Europe-wide co-operation between training organisations.

Part of the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme, the programme funds a wide range of actions, notably cross-border mobility initiatives; co-operation projects to develop and spread innovation; and thematic networks. The potential beneficiaries are similarly wide – from trainees in initial vocational training, to people already in the labour market, as well as VET professionals and private or public organisations active in this field.

Leonardo da Vinci enables VET organisations to work with European partners, exchange best practices, increasing the expertise of their staff and respond to the teaching and learning needs of people. It therefore supports efforts to make vocational education more attractive to young people. By helping European citizens to acquire new skills, knowledge and qualifications, the programme also aims to bolster the competitiveness of the European labour market.

Innovation projects have always been at the core of the Leonardo da Vinci programme. They aim to improve the quality of training systems through the development and transfer of innovative policies, contents, methods.

OBJECTIVES IN LEONARDO DA VINCI’S FRAMEWORK

General objective:

• 1(c) to improve the interest for vocational training and education as well as  mobility for individuals and employers, and to facilitate mobility in work placements

Operational objectives:

•  2(a) to improve the quality and volume of mobility for persons in education, initial vocational training and lifelong learning. Also, to increase the number of work placements to a minimum of 80.00 per year at the conclusion of the Lifelong Learning Programme.
•  2(e) to promote learning of modern foreign languages.

OBJECTIVES IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE PROJECT MARTXAN

General objective:

To improve the employability of people who are not working, heightening their professional profile and promoting their adaptability to European labour markets

Operational objectives:

• To heighten people’s employability, specifically the employability of women, and to strengthen their communication skills in a foreign language
• To promote individual, social and cultural development
• To incorporate gender focus in training itineraries
• To obtain the feedback required to adapt programmes in the future
• To organize a permanent cooperation network for the implementation of mobility actions

SECTORS

• Business Administration
• Economic Sciences
• Marketing and Communication
• Biology
• Geology
• Chemistry
• Tourism & Leisure
• Law
• History
• Journalism
• Clerical skills
• Environmental Sciences
• Etc.

TARGET GROUPS

• Persons in the labour market (PLM)
• Young workers and new graduates
• Women aged 24-45
• Men aged 24-35

SUBJECT MATTERS

13-week stays include training in the host country and a work placement in an enterprise whose activity is related with the beneficiary’s degree

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

• Immersion in the labour market
• Improved language skills
• Definition of individual, personal and professional perspectives
• Improved individual attitudes towards adaptability, European perspective, autonomy, relationships and tolerance

BENEFITS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS

• Strengthening their communication skills in a foreign language and overcoming linguistic barriers
• Promoting their social, cultural and personal development: communication and cooperation skills, flexibility, autonomy, decision-taking, team work, etc.
• Complementing their training and professional profile
• Assuming and applying the principle of equal opportunities in every sphere of life
• Increasing their labour insertion opportunities

ACCREDITATION

The acquired competencies have been validated by host enterprises and the intermediary partner.

Accreditation mechanisms have included:

• Certificate issued by the host organization accrediting acquired language skills
• Evaluation report issued by the sending organization
• Europass – Mobility