We encourage our students and staff to attend exchange programs in order to strengthen their international and multicultural competences
The vocational colleges and general upper secondary schools of the Jyväskylä Educational Consortium Gradia are all active in international contacts. The network of our partners includes educational organizations, companies and intermediary partners in several European countries as well as outside Europe.

We are one of the holders of Erasmus+ VET Mobility Charter granted by The Finnish National Agency for Education.

We are one of the holders of Erasmus+ VET Mobility Charter granted by The Finnish National Agency for Education (former CIMO). The standard of our international activities is recognized by The Finnish National Agency for Education with also the Leonardo da Vinci Mobility Certificate. The Mobility Certificates are awarded to organizations which have proven long-term experience and have shown high quality in vocational mobility projects.

Student and staff mobility is funded by the European Commission and by The Finnish National Agency for Education. International activities, in both vocational and general upper secondary education, are usually funded by the European Union´s Erasmus+ programmes Key Activity 1 and Key Activity 2, as well as the programmes of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Finnish National Agency for Education provides special funds for international activities, too. Furthermore, Finnish education providers also use their own budgetary and development funds for international development work.

ECVET

The European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) is the new European instrument to promote student mobility in Vocational Education and Training (VET).

ECVET’s purpose is to enable recognition of learners’ achievements during periods of mobility by creating a structure, bringing a common language, and stimulating exchanges and mutual trust among VET providers across Europe. In the context of international mobility but also mobility within countries, ECVET aims to support recognition of learning outcomes without extending learners’ education and training pathways.

Mobility Projects

Our international partner network covers all continents. We are happy to discuss about new mobility, development and partnership cooperation plans concerning vocational and general upper secondary education as well as development of education system nationwide. Our International Affairs Specialists will be happy to help you.

Three-phase Internationalization Model

The Jyväskylä Educational Consortium carried out a regional development project supported by the European Social Fund during 2009-2014 in order to provide both youth and adult students with the basic skills they will need in multicultural and international work communities in their future career. As a result of extensive cooperation of educational professionals both on vocational and general fields, a Three-phase Internationalization Model was adopted and established as the basis for our international activities. It consists of three levels:

1. Internationally focused study paths with special emphasis on the study programmes preparing students for careers in which the need for international competencies will increase in the future, e.g. social and health care, tourism and service industry as well as export industries.
2. On-the-job learning periods abroad and other forms of international mobility to be based on high-quality standards, equal opportunities and common processes.
3. Internationalization at Home as a means for students to acquire the basic abilities to work in multicultural communities in their study environment without leaving the home country, e.g.

• Language and culture studies
• Integration of incoming exchange students and teachers in the learning process
• Peer tutoring of incoming exchange students
• Virtual cooperation with international partner institutions