LEARNING MOBILITY
An important part of ERCI’s activities is absorbed by the implementation of European mobility programs in the context of Lifelong Learning to and from Cyprus. To date, more than 350 mobility programs have been implemented with partner organizations from Greece, Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, Lithuania, Belgium and Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and others.
The effort to improve the training and accommodation of students is a priority in the goals set by the Institute, with the gradual expansion of its collaborations with prestigious companies, from all sectors, with plenty of internships and the conclusion of agreements with hotels that ensure a comfortable and pleasant stay on the island.
The reception programs for students from the European area are adapted according to the needs of each specialty.
The range of services / actions offered under the Mobility programs is as follows:
Practical Training
The ERCI Institute has the ability, through a wide network of collaborators, consisting of Government and Semi-Governmental bodies, Local Government organizations and a large number of well-known private sector companies, to provide the required number of internships for students. Good collaborations are ensured by the Advisory Department of the Institute, whose services have been used from time to time by the collaborating bodies.
The distribution of students in companies is based on the capabilities and needs of the student, but also the needs of the company. The internship is conducted under the guidance and control of ERCI, in collaboration with the company and the sending organization. Where the capabilities of the students or the legal framework of the Republic of Cyprus do not allow the placement of students in internships, the method of technical visits to organizations of the specialty of students is applied.
The practical training is accompanied by specialized theoretical courses, which are determined in collaboration with the sending organization. (For people of Special Education, visits are made to companies, especially to those that employ respective people and not only)
LIVING – TRANSPORTATION
The trainees are provided with accommodation with half board in hotels that meet all the conditions for a comfortable and productive stay. When theoretical training does not require special equipment (eg. a large number of computers), educational space is provided in the hotel, to avoid unnecessary travel. Otherwise, the training takes place at the ERCI training center.
Transportation to and from the airport and the training areas is done by rented buses. During the trips students enjoy insurance coverage.
LANGUAGE EDUCATION
For non-Greek speaking students, a course of Modern Greek Language is offered with a minimum total duration of 8 periods (1 period = 45 minutes).
For Greek-speaking students, free courses in the Cypriot dialect are offered. English language classes are offered by accredited teachers where requested.
The technical terms are also mentioned in the theoretical courses in English.
CULTURAL PROGRAM
The cultural program includes the theoretical part, in which presentations are made of the history and culture of Cyprus, the social and educational system, as well as sub-sectors related to the specialties of the trainees.
In all subjects beyond the description, it is done by the students themselves, a comparison with the respective systems of the countries of origin.
The practical part of cultural activities includes.
Acquaintance with the city of Limassol, its Castle, and Amathus, a ceremonial visit to the City Hall. Full day visit to Nicosia to the Green Line, the Prisoner Monuments, the Tomb of Makedonitissa (Cemetery of Fallen Heroes of ELDYK), the Archdiocese, the various museums of the capital and its historic center.
Visit to Paphos, where students have the opportunity to see Kourion, Petra tou Romiou, Geroskipou, the Castle of the Port of Paphos, as well as a number of archeological sites, such as the Tombs of the Kings and the Mosaics. Acquaintance with the Cypriot countryside which includes a visit to the Medieval Castle of Kolossi, the traditional Cypriot village of Omodos, the Monastery of the Holy Cross, Troodos Square with the Museum of Natural History and one of the many traditional wineries in the area. The visit is completed with a course of 2 hours on the Nature Trail, which ends at the waterfalls Kalidonia.
During the visits to the archeological sites, the students are accompanied by a professional guide.
In addition to the scheduled visits, students and attendants are offered other cultural, social and sporting events, which are organized at the time of the visit and cannot be predicted in advance. Special emphasis is given to and encouraged to participate on a voluntary basis in charitable and environmental events (eg anti-cancer course, tree planting, etc.).
EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAMS
The programs are evaluated both during their implementation by the students, the attendants, the companies and the ERCI, through regular meetings for this purpose and visits to the internships, and at the end as a whole in a final report / evaluation.
CERTIFICATION OF PROGRAMS
ERCI gives each student who completes the program a certificate of attendance, while providing companies with an additional certificate of employment. The certificates are given in a special ceremony, in which representatives of the companies also participate. For each trainee who successfully completes the program, the corresponding EUROPASSS is completed in cooperation with the sending organization and the National Delegations
DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS
Each program that is implemented is registered on the ERCI website, and notified to the educational authorities of Cyprus (Ministry of Education and Culture, Human Resources Development Authority, Productivity Center, Technical and Vocational Schools and the Association of Vocational Guidance Counselors). A press release is also sent to the Cypriot media.