By Mr Joan Rosselló, Head of Agriculture Department, IES Felanitx, Conselleria d’Educació, Cultura i Universitat

I am Mr. Joan Rosselló, teacher of the Agriculture Department at IES Felanitx (Upper secondary school in Mallorca, Spain). I have been lucky to visit JAO on a preparatory visit to arrange some Erasmus+ on-the-job training experience for our students next April and May.

Our college is situated in the town of Felanitx on the east coast of Mallorca island at about fifty kilometers far from Palma capital city. This village was once known by its wine production and now for its agricultural and touristic industry. There, students can get their Vocational Education Training diploma on the branches of Business and administration, Electricity and electronics and Agriculture. In this last case, we teach Horticulture, Gardening, Florestry, Landscaping and Rural environment. We have already had European Programs with many countries and Erasmus programs with United Kingdom and Poland.

During this preparatory visit, thanks to the accompaniment of Prof. Jari Järvenranta, I have visited the JAO colleges and most of their very well equipped installations in Jyväskylä and Jämsä. I have been able to see how teachers work and how they organize the classes in a very flexible way to offer the best chance to any student. I have visited the classrooms, the workshops and their open-air activities as well as their cozy common areas. I also have been accompanied to interview with many entrepreneurs of collaborative companies: plant nurseries, garden centers, florists and forest exploitations.

I have felt very welcome everywhere and fortunate to know firsthand very interesting places and people dedicated to vocational training. I could realize about the differences in educational, cultural and economic issues. I think none of them can be a problem for my students’ stay but a challenge and an opportunity to know, respect and love your culture and lifestyle. At the same time the Erasmus+ on the job training is a way to let you know somehow about our formation and lifestyle.

Finally, I think this preparatory visit has been widely worth to break the ice for many future good cooperation between Jyväskylä Educational Consortium and the Balearic Vocational Formation high schools. It is definitely about continuing working for the best formation and job opportunities for our Finish and Balearic students.

Thanks to anyone who has made this preparatory visit so helpful.