buildingvids

EK Associaton (EK Egyesulet) was established by young architects in Budapest, Hungary in 2006. As a professional architectural organization its main objective is to contribute to the raising of the quality of Hungarian architectural and environmental culture, to preserve historical monuments and through its activities to promote sustainability in architecture. The association aims to bring together individuals and organizations with an interest of cultural heritage and to heighten public awareness of public monuments and preservation of buildings.

EK coordinated a series of mobility projects under the name of Vocational Training of Young Architects starting from 2009. The altogether four seasons of the programme gave the possibility for 61 young Hungarian architects to outlook while working as interns in architectural offices throughout Europe, gaining additional knowledge, skills and competences with high labour market relevance. As part of the management of the programme, the institution established a training cooperation with more than 30 architectural offices throughout Europe (in Spain, Italy, UK, Austria, Germany, Norway, Iceland, Turkey, The Netherlands and Portugal). The institution joins in research and innovation projects in the topic of using local traditional building customs and construction methodologies (like adobe and earthen wall techniques) in the modern contemporary building practice. EK supports building camps, exhibitions and publications to gain, collect and share experiences in low carbon design andrefurbishment.

Warnborough College (WCI) was founded 27 years ago in 1997 in Ireland. The college specialises in the provision of vocational and educational programmes across a range of disciplines and academic levels. Our students attend from both within and without Europe. We use various methods of instruction, including face-to-face classes, online and blended learning. In particular, our on-line and distance learning courses have been very useful in targeting learners who are unable to avail of classroom-style learning for various reasons (e.g. prisoners, physically disabled). Having students from around the world means that we are au fait with language, learning and cultural differences which may impede successful learning. We have been able to design courses around special needs using different technologies. We have a support network of tutors, mentors, and even local face-to-face teachers to help students to learn. In terms of VET provision, Warnborough College has over 600 courses focusing on vocational and educational training in areas such as agriculture, business and management, entrepreneurial studies, horticulture, hospitality and tourism and environmental science. Outcomes for each course are practical in nature, with discrete outputs and skills. The College has 20 years of experience in transnational
education, working with partner institutions and organisations around the world to develop and offer programmes to students from different backgrounds and locations, at all educational levels. We have worked with the Russian government on teacher-training projects. In the Middle East, we have collaborated with local institutions on blended and distance learning programmes. We have worked with universities in Thailand and the Philippines to create capacity-building and entrepreneurial programmes for women in rural areas. Our corporate training clients include Honda, Casio, Disneyland, MTR and EgyptAir. As a key player in the International Vocational Education and Training Association (IVETA), we have immediate access to expertise and people in VET sector around the world.

We have 950 students spread over several levels: secondary education (ages 12-16), high school (ages 16-18) and Vocational Education and Training (Short Cycle Tertiary Education Degrees, ISCED5) related to Building and Civil Engineering. Our academic offer comprises both Secondary Education and Advanced Vocational Training courses. We have three foreign language departments (English, French and German) and we are a certified bilingual centre for the German language in Secondary Education. Thanks to the knowledge of foreign languages at all levels of our organization, foreign students and teachers will be able to find suitable assistance in every step of the programme. Our Centre offers the two Advanced Vocational Training courses related to Building and Civil Engineering. The vocational training students do internships in companies, work with us in small, medium and large companies. We have implemented dual training in the centre for our students of building and civil engineering. In the Erasmus+ Programme context, we are carrying out mobilities with higher education students for internships and teaching staff since 2017. The centre has hosted teachers for job-shadowing, on some occasions. Beginning this year (2015), IES Seneca is the designated examining centre for the DELF and DALF (junior et escolaire) exams in Cordoba province by the Institut Culturel Francais, which is authorized by the Centre International dEtudes Pedagogiques (French Ministry of Education). As well, we maintain a directory of public and private local entities providing language courses and related services, so inbound students and staff can find additional courses in their catalogues to improve their knowledge. At the beginning of the mobility period we offer intensive courses in Spanish to those students that request them. We also have study materials translated to English in order to help those students in need of additional support. Most mentors are part of the related department, so they offer both their knowledge in their field and in the common foreign language (English usually). As mentioned before, we have Departments of English, French and German languages, so additional support in those languages is available should the need arise. Regarding the teaching staff, we are 116 employees, between teaching and non-teaching staff.

Max-Born-Berufskolleg, as an Europaschule, is a vocational college focusing on the fields of art and design, building construction and woodwork, electrical engineering and electronics, mechanical and refrigeration engineering, orthopedics and hearing-aid acoustics, and watchmaking. The different courses of education offer school qualifications combined with vocational competences and qualifications. The emphasis on education lies in the acquisition of theoretical as well as practical skills. Currently approximately 3,200 students attend Max-Born-Berufskolleg, 150 teachers and staff members ensure the implementation of educational facilities.
Lately we have opened classes specifically for integrating young refugees, providing not only knowledge of the German language but basic vocational skills. Our construction department offers different kinds of training. Students as apprentices attend Max-Born-Berufskolleg 2 times a week with the rest working at their respective companies in the fields of architectural draftsman, construction draftsman, surveyor, carpenter. Students who acquire a theoretical vocational training in construction in general in combination with higher education are leaving with a certificate that enables them either to study at a University of applied science or University.

The main activities of our foundation for the students of the Bekescsaba SZC Vasarhelyi Pal Technical School and Dormitory are supporting all aspects of school life. Participation in competitions, school programs, events, support for disadvantaged students, talented students management. Rewarding students’ achievements, professional trips, giving financial support for study trips, acceptance of entry fees. The founders of the organization, in addition to support academic life, from the very beginning it was considered important to educate our students about healthy lifestyle, environmental and natural conservation. We also support country trips, nature walks, camping for our classes. The foundation supports all those activities that contributes to the high-quality professional development of the students of the Vasarhelyi Pal Technical School and Dormitory in Bekescsaba SZC.
Our school was established in 1950. We have 550 students currently studying in our 24 classes. In the first years, experts on waterworks construction were being educated, but nowadays students can choose from all sorts of technological specializations. After passing the school-leaving exam, most of our students stay at our school and continue their studies to get the technician qualification. Our most popular specialization is the technician of the surface construction and engineering. We also have the following specializations the technician of the road construction, the technician of geodesy and geographical information system, the water management technician, and oil extraction technician.
Vocational training in our school is based on several pillars. During theoretical education, we provide students with knowledge that ensures employment opportunities in the most diverse areas of the construction industry. Our education system is organized along central educational programs, which through a larger institution, are able to respond with greater inertia and slower change to the fresh and relevant knowledge of the construction industry. This is why it is important to be able to incorporate environmental awareness into our educational approach at the local level as soon as possible and at the highest possible level.

Tallinn Polytechnic School is one of the oldest vocational schools in Estonia, established in 1915. Now we have about 1500 students, both in daily studies and correspondent course and about 120 staff members. We have three big departments: Energetics and automatics department (electrician, automatics); Info technology department (IT specialists, software developer, weak-current specialists, and electronics) and Media department (printing technology, multimedia, visual media and photographers).
We teach students on daily bases, it means 5 days a week and on correspondent course, it means they come to school once a month for a week or 2-3 days every week. Many of our staff is involved in curricula development process for whole Estonia. The school has long traditions in participating international projects, starting from 1994 (Leonardo da Vinci, NordPlus, and Comenius). Every year the best students participate in professional competitions (Taitaja in Finland, Euroskills and Worldskills) and they have the highest prizes. Also our students have participated in an international essay competition organized by Council of Europe and our students
visited the Council to participate the Youth plenary session in 2019. We have sent the students for practical training and teachers to job shadowing to Finland, Netherlands, Spain, Norway, England, Portugal, Latvia, Poland, Hungary, and Denmark. In addition, we have received students for their apprentice period from same countries.