Macro-level – Educational politics (as a general framework)
Past (1990s) – what we had
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Framework for Orientation to Career and University Studies (BSO/BOGY) established at secondary schools in Baden-Württemberg
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Opportunity of a one- week- work placement ( called BOGY-Praktikum) during school week introduced for pupils at secondary schools
Present – what we have developed
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Secondary schools are to develop and establish individual profiles and focal points anchored in the curriculum of the school (German terms: Schulprofil / Leitbild / Schulcurriculum / Schuljahresprogramm)
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Secondary schools have the opportunity to use a certain number of lessons to strengthen and deepen their profiles and focal points (German terms: Poolstunden / Kontingentstunden)
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Networks between schools and diverse extracurricular partners like
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Kooperations Schule und Wirtschaft
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Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Berufsberater / Berufenet / BiZ)
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Universitäten (Orientierungstage / Studienberatung etc.)
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Industrie und Handelskammer (IHK) / BORIS
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Bertelsmann Stiftung/ Coaching4Future/ Südwestmetall
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and many more
offer all kinds of support in the orientation process (material/ expertise and advice/ coaching/work placements and internships/practical trainings for pupils and students /competence tests/ teachers’ further training seminars like BEST etc./ job fairs etc.)
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Progymnasium Altshausen has seen the chance of this elaborate political framework and its possibilities at an early stage and taken it in order to develop its own in orientation concept thereupon.
Future tendencies and sustainability
Orientation to career and university studies is becoming even more important and emphasized
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by the implementation of a new subject at secondary schools, which combines orientation programs with economics and business studies. So it is no longer an option but a must.
Meso-level – International relations, strategic partnerships
Past – what we had
Experiences with transnational project work in different contexts:
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Comenius project with France and Italy (coordination and project management/ establishing contacts)
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School exchanges (France, Great Britain, Hungary)- promoting intercultural understanding
Present – what we have developed
Our Erasmus+ project “Fit for job” with secondary schools in Cento (Italy) and Riga (Latvia):
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Progymnasium Altshausen (Germany) as initiating and coordinating school - giving incentives and offering proven examples of good practice, learning from each other in different areas
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Transnational organizational meetings based on exchange and sharing of knowledge in theory and practice in different learning environments
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Cooperation among partner schools inspired by common aims and objectives
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Discussing, developing and establishing national school concepts as well as anchoring them in national school curricula
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Pupils taking part in theory and practice as well as evaluating certain modules of career orientation from their point of view during six exchanges (career weeks )- two in each partner country
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All participants improving their language skills and intercultural knowledge – broadening their horizon
Increasing interest and support of employers, companies and institutions concerned with orientation to career and university studies in the participating countries- partly due to
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Problem of youth unemployment in several European countries
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Current lack of skilled workers in many fields
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Project work becoming more and more important on different levels
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Mobility in the modern world of work – necessity of intercultural skills, broad-mindedness, tolerance and understanding
Future tendencies and sustainability
Dissemination of knowledge and skills (coordination, management, project work, entrepreneurship, didactic and pedagogical structures) in order to share resources on all levels and creating a better understanding among nations will become more and more important in the context of globalization and a peaceful world.
Micro-level – Projects in school
Past – what we had
Progymnasium Altshausen developed and established a comprehensive and elaborate orientation-concept (BOGY/BSO) based on five pillars over the past years:
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BOGY-lessons i.e. obligatory education once a week for all pupils of class 9 (comprehensive application process including trainings, assessments, application portfolio, job interviews, simulations, preparation of work placements etc.),
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Modules in the subjects German, Foreign Languages, Geography - Economy - Social Studies…
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Regular projects (obligatory student company in class 8, a week of orientation to career for classes 8-10 in cooperation with neighboring schools, social project with work placements in local institutions, mediation project in class 9, competence tests in class 10, meetings and cooperation with education partners...),
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Out of school activities (visit to the vocational information center of our national job agency, vocational fairs, company visits ...)
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Voluntary own initiative of our pupils (Girls´ Day, Boys´ Day activities, self- organized traineeships during the holidays, meeting and interviewing experts and practitioners ....).
In July 2012 our school was awarded with the so-called career choice seal of approval (BORIS) of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK).
In 2010, PG was one of the first grammar schools in the region that concluded an education partnership with three local and regional companies.
Orientation to career modules were evaluated annually (together with other educational focal points) with a scientific survey among all teachers, pupils, parents by Professor Dr. Werner Sacher, an expert in this field.
Present – what we have developed
Our orientation to career and studies concept and the manifold partners of the school as well as the existent contacts have been introduced in the Erasmus+ project.
The existing concept has been enhanced by a European component. Thus foreign language skills and intercultural competences have moved in the focus of interest not only of teachers but also of pupils.
Skills and competences as to coordination, organization and management as well as to project work on a transnational level have been improved in general by learning from each other during the project.
New contacts in the area of MINT- subjects have been developed in the course of our Erasmus+ project and new ideas and modules will be introduced thereupon.
Participation and commitment to the idea “Fit for Job” have increased on the part of teachers’ staff, and pupils as well as education partners.
In October 2015 the contract with our education partners could be revised and renewed as a fourth partner joined in.
The BORIS seal for outstanding orientation concepts and modules – has been awarded again in July 2015.
In the course of the Erasmus+ project, monitoring and evaluation by our education partners, Italian and Latvian school partners as well as our pupils have strengthened and confirmed the feeling to be on the right way.
Future tendencies and sustainability
Sharing and exchanging our experience with other schools in new projects – thus enhancing and deepening the knowledge of learning in projects and manifold environments.
