SAAM, a pilot project funded by the European Commission to promote vocational education and training (VET) mobility between Africa and Europe, held its second international training from February 28 to March 2 focusing on internationalization strategy

The second SAAM seminar, titled "A Journey towards Internationalization, was held in Brussels from February 28 to March 2, bringing together more than 60 participants from 24 African and European countries. The seminar was aimed at explaining how an international department is established in an educational center to organize and coordinate training mobilities.

SAAM is the first-ever project financed by the European Commission to promote VET mobility between Africa and Europe for both VET professionals and students. It is promoted by San Viator (Spain) and coordinated by Mundus (Spain). In 2022, the project conducted its first seminar in Brussels, focusing on capacity building for leadership in VET mobility. The SAAM partners learned about the basic tasks of a mobility coordinator and tips for taking part in cooperation projects. Following the success of the first training, the SAAM team organized a second seminar where networking and successful international networks were presented, and partners were taught how to create an internationalization strategy. The event was hosted by two important European networks that are also part of SAAM, the European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB) and the European Forum for Vocational Education and Training (EfVET).

The 2023 training focused on establishing an international department to continue the exchanges between Africa and Europe even after the project's funding period ends. The objective was to encourage centers involved in the project to apply for new projects, create new partnerships, join existing networks, and inspire other centers to do the same.

The 3-day seminar's agenda featured external keynote speakers, including (in order of participation):

• Mr Nicholas Ouma - Senior Youth Advisor at the African Union Commission Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI)
• Mr Nicola Bellomo - Head of Pan-African Affairs Division (AFRICA.1) at the EEAS
• Ms Susanne Nielsen - Human Capital Development Expert at the European Training Foundation (ETF) and coordinator of the partnership 'Greening Responses to Excellence through Thematic Actions' (GRETA)
• Ms Unami Dube Mpofu - Head of Unit Skills and Employment for Youth at the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)
• Mr Roland Farkas - Project officer at Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)
• Ms Silvia Homberger - Project officer at Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)
• Mr Ntale Geofrey - CEO of KREATREE
• Ms Deirdre Lennan - Head of Sector Human Development at Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA) of the European Commission
• Ms Dolores Sánchez Bengoa - Vice-president and Professor for International Business and Intercultural Studies at University of Applied Management Studies of Mannheim
• Ms Claire Herrmann - Policy Officer at DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the European Commission

The SAAM team expressed their gratitude to the keynote speakers for their participation and involvement in the event.

For more information, please follow @saammobility to or visit saam.global

Contact person: Marina Tarragual (comm@saam.global / +34 687 96 01 33)