INTERNSHIPS IN OVERSEAS COMPANIES
The Department of Oenology promotes and facilitates the completion of abroad internship (work placement). Abroad internships for higher level students are recognized within the Erasmus programme. To participate in this project, the school must be holder of the Erasmus Charter. The INS Priorat has asked its concession to the European Commission. If Erasmus Charter is achieved and a student will make the practices in a country of the European Union or associate, the INS Priorat will automatically ask an Erasmus scholarship for him. If the grant is approved (it is usually like that), the student will receive a grant evry month while he/she are performing practices abroad.
WHY TO DO ABROAD INTERNSHIPS?
Viticultural and oenological practices contain important territorial component. Studying and living in a particular winemaking territory, is learning about ways to do in the land where you live and study, but not the practical realization of many others. The fact of working using own practices in other territories and understanding from the people of the country why they work as they work and then watching the results, may open or enlarge the vision of those who do the work placement and provides a more solid viticultural and oenological knowledge.
On the other hand, is a powerful boost in language learning. The decision of doing the internship in a foreign country, means a motivating challenge to learn the language. In addition, the student agrees to acquire basic knowledge of the country language. During the internship months, the student finds himself/herself in a situation of language immersion, which means an important progress in his/her learning.
HOW TO WORK ABROAD
The tutor explains to students how abroad internships run (in December of the first year). Students who are interested in doing the work placement abroad have to communicate What country and what vineyard region they want to do this internship to the tutor. Students have to report if they have contact with any specific company. The tutor will first look for a local winemaking school and after a company for the completion of the placement. If they are found, an agreement will be signed among the INS Priorat, the host school, the company and the student. Otherwise, the most similar possible alternative to his/her demand will be offered to him/her.
The INS Priorat will request an Erasmus scholarship for higher grade students within the Erasmus + programme. The non-award of the grant, is not reason for the contract rescission. Intermediate students who want to practise abroad should be included in other programmes.
The host school to appoint a tutor who will help students to find accommodation (paid by the own students) and appropriate services. The tutor will be the first local contact for the student to provide him/her all the needs. The host tutor must ensure the compliance with the internship programme in the company. If the student request it, the host school will provide him/her with language teaching (usually paid by the student).
The company will appoint a mentor for the student. The mentor is responsible for the achievement of agreed training programme and he will assess the student in accordance basically with the local tutor and the tutor of origin.
The tutor of origin (from INS Priorat) will be in contact with students, local tutors and company mentors. He will ensure that the planned programme is fulfilled and he will try to resolve any problems that may arise from Falset or from the practice site if necessary.
The student is protected by an insurance policy of the Catalonia Ministry of Education, both for civilian and medical issues. The student must provide himself/herself with the European health card before leaving home.
FOREIGN STUDENTS WHO WANT TO TO DO INTERNSHIPS IN
THE PRIORAT AND NEIGHBORING COUNTIES
Foreign students wishing to do internships in the area reached by the INS Priorat; DOQ Priorat, DO Montsant, DO Tarragona, DO Terra Alta, DO Conca de Barberà, and DO Costers del Segre, may ask their mobility tutor, or equivalent in their school, to contact the INS Priorat.
The INS Priorat will assign a tutor who speaks their own language or English. Students, therefore, should have an acceptable command of Catalan, Spanish or English. The students must acquire some minimum level of Catalan or Spanish before the beginning of placement. If the student requests them, the INS Priorat will provide Catalan or Spanish classes (paid by own students).
The INS Priorat tutor, will look for a company in the area with similar characteristics to that one requested by the students. A training agreement will be signed between the school of origin, the INS Priorat, the company and the student.
If the origin school has the letter Erasmus may apply a Erasmus + grant for its students.
The local tutor (from INS Priorat) will help students find accommodation and all the required services. He will also provide with about the area where they stay (public transport, libraries, medical services …). He will be the first contact for different issues from the job (medical care, accidents, thefts, conflicts with neighbours or the police authorities…).
The student must be insured from their country of origin. If have to work more hours than those previously agreed because of the company needs, those hours will be remunerated, and insured under contract by the same company.
LANGUAGES PROMOTION IN INS PRIORAT
The INS Priorat participated in the PIL program (Linguistic impulse programme) of the Ministry of Education of Catalonia from 2010 to 2014 (the maximum time allowed). That fact implied having extra English language teachers for students. Now a day INS Priorat has asked to participate in the “Multilingual Programme”.
Each year secondary education students have at least one non linguistic subject in English. Moreover, the students receive a reinforcement of oral English with native speakers thanks to an agreement with the parents association. Finally, every year the students of 3rd year ESO, do a language exchange with the school Emmaus in Rotterdam.
All the intermediate VET students have a module of English during their studies. In the higher grade cycle, students starting from the academic year 2016/17 will receive at least one module in English.
Students belonging to the intermediate VET cycle of oil and wine and upper VET cycle of winemaking, can perform the work placement abroad. The INS Priorat has requested the Erasmus letter to facilitate the carrying out of these practices abroad for upper VET students.
The INS Priorat currently offer the French language as the second foreign language, being an optional subject.
