Internationalization strategy

Introduction

Fjölbrautarskóli Suðurlands (herafter FSu) is one of the largest upper-secondary schools in the country outside the Capital – was established in 1981. It is situated in Selfoss, in the municipality of Árborg. The school serves the counties in South Iceland with a population of approximately 19,000. FSu has around 1000 students and 130 members of staff. Most of the students are aged between 16 and 20 but adults may also attend classes. About a fifth of the students come to school daily by public transport from towns and rural areas.

FSu offers academic and vocational studies with a wide range of courses. Most of the programmes take 3 to 4 years. The school has several academic lines of study leading to matriculation examination and several vocational training programmes for the skilled trades. Students in vocational studies also have the option of graduating with a matriculation examination. Academic matriculation programmes include different lines of study such as Natural Sciences, Social studies, Languages and Business studies. The vocational training programmes include Nurse Assistant and the skilled trades: Hairstyling, Carpentry, Industrial Metal Work, Horticulture,  Electrical Work and Horticulture.  FSu also offers matriculation programmes and shorter lines of study in Horsemanship, Sports and Arts, as well as a special education programme for students with learning disabilities. In addition to this, the school supervises adult education in Icelandic prisons.

FSu has always been active in foreign cooperation and teachers and students take part in exchange programmes through participation in Erasmus+ and Nordplus. Every year the school receives groups of educators, students and others interested in education in Iceland. Recently the only horticulture college in Iceland has merged with FSu and this part of the school as been actively participating on cooperation projects as well as mobilities within Erasmus+ for more than 10 years.

International cooperation

Benefits from internationalization

We believe that mobilities are one of the most productive ways to enhance and strengthen many personal skills for our participants. Such as:

• Social skills – through cooperation and meeting new people
• Cultural skills and understanding – through visiting other countries and learning about different cultures
• Geographical knowledge – through travelling on mobilities
• Language skills – through communication
• Practical and theoretical skills – through participating in workshops and seminars

Mobilities create opportunities for people that they may explore later on in life, seeing new and different things spark ideas for participants that they can bring back home and often benefits the school community. They are also a vital part of internationalization of the school.

Schools on the upper secondary level can benefit greatly from international cooperation. Many courses are directly connected to language and social skills and young students are developing these skills at the age from 16-20 and learning to be a part of their community. These skills can be strengthened by mobilities and participation in Erasmus+.

Vocational studies require practical training in workplaces for students to increase their skills. Participation in Erasmus+ allows our students to finish a part of their practical training abroad. Mobilities like that are beneficial not only for the student but also the school. Students practical work through Erasmus+ can be evaluated for ECTS at FSu.

Through Erasmus+ FSu has not only established connections to schools in Europe but also other institutions and associations in Europe and in Iceland. FSu wants to strengthen relationships like these as it important to work closely with professionals in the fields that FSu offers studies in. Relationships like these can result in increased access for FSu to professionals to teach courses or seminars on specific subjects.

Receiving students and teachers from our partners abroad is a chance to enhance language and social skills as well as introducing Icelandic culture and nature to our visitors. This is beneficial for teachers and staff, students and the school. This can strengthen relationships between partners and create new connections.

Internationalization is a way to broaden the view of everybody involved in projects and mobilities. We are sure it will help our students and teachers be more welcoming of visitors from abroad, minorities and other disadvantaged groups. They key to eradicating racism and intolerance is education and information and we see as an opportunity through internationalization to work on these problems.

Plan of action

To reap the benefits from internationalization we must have a plan of actions.

• We will make new 2-4 contacts to cooperate with each year
• We aim to apply for funding for 20+ teacher and staff mobilities through Erasmus+ mobilities each year.
• We aim to apply for funding for 50+ student mobilities through Erasmus+ and Nordplus each year
• We aim to welcome at least 50+ visits from partner organizations each year