Recently Wellantcollege in the Netherlands welcomed a group of Finnish students in the field of floristry, gardening and dairy farming, who aimed to gain professional knowledge and learn about Dutch culture. In September the Dutch students travel to Finland and follow a similar program.
Europea International partner schools
The exchange was a collaboration between SASKY and Wellantcollege. Years ago, the two partner schools started their collaboration via the Europea International network. The Finnish students stayed in a hotel the first week, and at the Dutch students’ homes the second week. An unforgettable, positive experience for both sides.
Flower auction and Blaarkop cows
The program consisted of practical lessons, joining our students on their internships, and various field trips that matched their education and future field of work. For example, the Finnish students have visited the world’s largest flower auction in Aalsmeer and have seen the Keukenhof, one of the world’s largest flower gardens, in full bloom. In addition, they have visited a farm and cheese factory with traditional Dutch Blaarkop cows and goats. They also participated in a workshop aquaponics; a closed, sustainable system for growing food. After the theoretical part, the students crafted a small aquaponic system and tried to catch fish.
International experience for EQF level 2 students
Although the Finnish National Qualifications Framework (FNQF) is compatible with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), the FNQF has no formal qualifications on levels 1 and 3. This makes comparing lower levels with other countries a bit challenging. However, based on the responsibility and complexity that the students can handle both partner schools could make a substantiated estimate.
By exchanging with a group of students under the supervision of a teacher, students at EQF level 2 can also gain a foreign experience during their study. The exchange has been made possible thanks to the great efforts of enthusiastic teachers and the hospitable parents who made their home available. The exchange was partly funded by Erasmus+.
