Professional Exchanges are organized in collaboration with a wide variety of sponsors:
public administrations, associations and even universities for companies to learn first-hand
about international markets, establish contacts and open market for their products and
services. Delegates on a Trade Mission travel together and participate as a group in
briefings, site visits, and networking receptions.
different vocational training systems in Europe and foster their modernisation through
learning from each other.
availability, accessibility and quality of other educational pathways, and to promote the
learning of languages.
A study visit is an encounter — but it is first and foremost a journey in small groups
(participants are constantly on the move visiting places of importance to their fields). This
allows participants to meet and interact with specialists in the host country. We organize
delegate fact-finding visits for other EU countries and non-Community members alike. Please
review a sampling of our programming in the Professional Exchange category.
- Trade Missions are geographic or sector specific. They are organized in close
public administrations, associations and even universities for companies to learn first-hand
about international markets, establish contacts and open market for their products and
services. Delegates on a Trade Mission travel together and participate as a group in
briefings, site visits, and networking receptions.
- Leonardo da Vinci supports the exchange of experiences between teachers, trainers,
different vocational training systems in Europe and foster their modernisation through
learning from each other.
- Grundtvig was designed to encourage the European dimension of lifelong learning, to
availability, accessibility and quality of other educational pathways, and to promote the
learning of languages.
A study visit is an encounter — but it is first and foremost a journey in small groups
(participants are constantly on the move visiting places of importance to their fields). This
allows participants to meet and interact with specialists in the host country. We organize
delegate fact-finding visits for other EU countries and non-Community members alike. Please
review a sampling of our programming in the Professional Exchange category.
Since 2003, MS Barcelona has participated as
a competent partner in the Professionals in
Vocational Education and Training (VETPRO)
projects of the Lifelong Learning Programme.
Additionally, we have managed trade missions
organised outside the LLP, as well as other
professional exchanges that aim to foster
business and professional relationships
worldwide.
The purpose of Trade Missions is to explore
international business opportunities, make
contacts with colleagues and meet with officials
in the public and private sectors. Trade Missions
can be organized by sector or geographic interest,
and expert interpretation and translation services
are available for all scheduled activity.
Lifelong Learning Programmes, both in the case
of Leonardo da Vinci as well as Grundtvig, focus
on the teaching, professional development and
study needs of those in education and alternative
education streams, including adult education.
VETPRO mobility projects focus on the transfer,
improvement and update of competences and/or
of innovative methods and practices in the field of
vocational training. It can also cover vocational
language learning of professionals.
Leonardo da Vinci has as the objectives of
this mobility action to:
• Support participants in training and further
training activities in the acquisition and the use
of knowledge, skills and qualifications to facilitate
personal development, employability and
participation in the European Labour Market.
• Support improvements in quality and
innovation in education, vocational training,
teacher training, educational systems, institutions
and practices. A specific priority is given to the
development of the competences of teachers,
trainers and tutors and to cooperate with SMEs.
Grundtvig programming supports lifelong
learning and mobility that focuses on the teaching
and study needs of those in adult education and
alternative education streams, as well as the
institutions and organizations delivering these
services. Specific aims are to:
Increase the number of people in adult
education and improve the quality of their
experience, whether at home or abroad;
Improve conditions for mobility to enable
people to benefit from adult education abroad;
Improve the quality and amount of co-operation
between adult education organizations;
Develop innovative adult education and
management practices, and encourage
widespread application;
Ensure that people on the margins of society
have access to adult education, especially older
people and those who left education without basic
qualifications;
Support innovative ICT-based educational
content, services and practices.
Actions include support for Mobility, including
visits, placements, 'assistantships', adult
education exchanges (i.e. staff training and
professional development) and the preparations
needed to plan the exchanges. Learning
Partnerships focusing on themes of mutual
interest to participating organizations are also
supported, as are multilateral projects for
improving adult education systems through the
development and transfer of innovation and good
practices. Finally, networks of experts and
organizations working on developing adult
education, spreading good practices and
supporting partnerships are able to participate
in these programmes.
a competent partner in the Professionals in
Vocational Education and Training (VETPRO)
projects of the Lifelong Learning Programme.
Additionally, we have managed trade missions
organised outside the LLP, as well as other
professional exchanges that aim to foster
business and professional relationships
worldwide.
The purpose of Trade Missions is to explore
international business opportunities, make
contacts with colleagues and meet with officials
in the public and private sectors. Trade Missions
can be organized by sector or geographic interest,
and expert interpretation and translation services
are available for all scheduled activity.
Lifelong Learning Programmes, both in the case
of Leonardo da Vinci as well as Grundtvig, focus
on the teaching, professional development and
study needs of those in education and alternative
education streams, including adult education.
VETPRO mobility projects focus on the transfer,
improvement and update of competences and/or
of innovative methods and practices in the field of
vocational training. It can also cover vocational
language learning of professionals.
Leonardo da Vinci has as the objectives of
this mobility action to:
• Support participants in training and further
training activities in the acquisition and the use
of knowledge, skills and qualifications to facilitate
personal development, employability and
participation in the European Labour Market.
• Support improvements in quality and
innovation in education, vocational training,
teacher training, educational systems, institutions
and practices. A specific priority is given to the
development of the competences of teachers,
trainers and tutors and to cooperate with SMEs.
Grundtvig programming supports lifelong
learning and mobility that focuses on the teaching
and study needs of those in adult education and
alternative education streams, as well as the
institutions and organizations delivering these
services. Specific aims are to:
Increase the number of people in adult
education and improve the quality of their
experience, whether at home or abroad;
Improve conditions for mobility to enable
people to benefit from adult education abroad;
Improve the quality and amount of co-operation
between adult education organizations;
Develop innovative adult education and
management practices, and encourage
widespread application;
Ensure that people on the margins of society
have access to adult education, especially older
people and those who left education without basic
qualifications;
Support innovative ICT-based educational
content, services and practices.
Actions include support for Mobility, including
visits, placements, 'assistantships', adult
education exchanges (i.e. staff training and
professional development) and the preparations
needed to plan the exchanges. Learning
Partnerships focusing on themes of mutual
interest to participating organizations are also
supported, as are multilateral projects for
improving adult education systems through the
development and transfer of innovation and good
practices. Finally, networks of experts and
organizations working on developing adult
education, spreading good practices and
supporting partnerships are able to participate
in these programmes.
Professional Exchanges
Comparison of human resource policies and practices between two European
countries and sharing best practices;
Staff from a regional employment office within the public sector studying re-
employment and other back-to-work initiatives for the un- and under-employed;
Assessment of the use of ICT in diverse educational settings, particularly in
relation to e-learning, e-commerce, social media and digital learning practices;
Investigating new methods and delivery of telemedicine;
Identifying best practices in the delivery of career counseling and workforce
preparedness, especially for recent graduates, those with low skills or the chronically
unemployed;
Understanding and being able to promote sustainable ecotourism, organic farming,
viniculture and horticulture in rural areas;
Exploring innovations in architecture, energy and sustainability in urban areas;
Learning about highway safety issues toward the drafting of a common European
standard;
School administrators studying best practices in collaborative learning
environments;
Vitners visiting vinicultural enterprises in Catalunya´s wine country;
A delegation of entrepreneurs visiting for business acumen;
Architecture professors taking the Modernist Tour or studying sustainability issues
related to urban development;
A trade mission sponsored by a regional Chamber of Commerce;
The founders of a start-up enterprise that aspire to global markets;
Faculty observing child development training;
Human and social service staff expanding programming for social inclusion;
University professors, government agency administrators and business executives
wanting to learn more about Barcelona´s technology parks and innovation initiatives,
smart growth, entrepreneurship and public-private partnerships;
Technical aspects of tunneling equipment and urban planning for a new light rail.
countries and sharing best practices;
Staff from a regional employment office within the public sector studying re-
employment and other back-to-work initiatives for the un- and under-employed;
Assessment of the use of ICT in diverse educational settings, particularly in
relation to e-learning, e-commerce, social media and digital learning practices;
Investigating new methods and delivery of telemedicine;
Identifying best practices in the delivery of career counseling and workforce
preparedness, especially for recent graduates, those with low skills or the chronically
unemployed;
Understanding and being able to promote sustainable ecotourism, organic farming,
viniculture and horticulture in rural areas;
Exploring innovations in architecture, energy and sustainability in urban areas;
Learning about highway safety issues toward the drafting of a common European
standard;
School administrators studying best practices in collaborative learning
environments;
Vitners visiting vinicultural enterprises in Catalunya´s wine country;
A delegation of entrepreneurs visiting for business acumen;
Architecture professors taking the Modernist Tour or studying sustainability issues
related to urban development;
A trade mission sponsored by a regional Chamber of Commerce;
The founders of a start-up enterprise that aspire to global markets;
Faculty observing child development training;
Human and social service staff expanding programming for social inclusion;
University professors, government agency administrators and business executives
wanting to learn more about Barcelona´s technology parks and innovation initiatives,
smart growth, entrepreneurship and public-private partnerships;
Technical aspects of tunneling equipment and urban planning for a new light rail.
We are able to organize a wide variety of Professional Exchanges, always with an eye toward
the opportunities that present themselves to establish and nuture relationships. The specific
objectives of any professional exchange programming should be made clear in advance so
that appropriate visits can be arranged. Upon completion of the programming, each
participant will receive a Europass. Our final report contains all the contact information of the
visits and relationships established during the programme.
Organizing a Professional Exchange
takes approximately 6-8 weeks, and
is contingent upon the availability of
host organizations to receive the
group in a professional visit and/or
experts to conduct seminars and
other organized activity. We require
an application form accompanied by
a list of beneficiaries with their titles
and a short description of their duties
and functions in the organization
promoting the project. We look for
indicators that inform us of the
applicant´s background and interests
so that we can match these with
colleagues at the same level and
undertaking similar responsibilities
in the spirit of a true expert exchange. Once an appropriate host or hosts are identified, MS
Barcelona staff work on organizing logistics and calendars, and prepare background material
to be made available to participants once they arrive.
Most VETPRO programming is conducted in English, and our interpreters always accompany
the group on all official activity to translate for the group. Therefore, we require that all
groups come with at least one person who can translate from English to the target language
of the group. VETPRO programming is usually carried out over a period of one week, and
occasionally two. We discourage organizing VETPRO programming that is longer than two
weeks. We are also able to offer auxiliary services such as group airport transfers, local
transportation and accommodations at hotels and university residences with rooms for
adults, as well as a whole range of cultural programming.
the opportunities that present themselves to establish and nuture relationships. The specific
objectives of any professional exchange programming should be made clear in advance so
that appropriate visits can be arranged. Upon completion of the programming, each
participant will receive a Europass. Our final report contains all the contact information of the
visits and relationships established during the programme.
Organizing a Professional Exchange
takes approximately 6-8 weeks, and
is contingent upon the availability of
host organizations to receive the
group in a professional visit and/or
experts to conduct seminars and
other organized activity. We require
an application form accompanied by
a list of beneficiaries with their titles
and a short description of their duties
and functions in the organization
promoting the project. We look for
indicators that inform us of the
applicant´s background and interests
so that we can match these with
colleagues at the same level and
undertaking similar responsibilities
in the spirit of a true expert exchange. Once an appropriate host or hosts are identified, MS
Barcelona staff work on organizing logistics and calendars, and prepare background material
to be made available to participants once they arrive.
Most VETPRO programming is conducted in English, and our interpreters always accompany
the group on all official activity to translate for the group. Therefore, we require that all
groups come with at least one person who can translate from English to the target language
of the group. VETPRO programming is usually carried out over a period of one week, and
occasionally two. We discourage organizing VETPRO programming that is longer than two
weeks. We are also able to offer auxiliary services such as group airport transfers, local
transportation and accommodations at hotels and university residences with rooms for
adults, as well as a whole range of cultural programming.
