Erasmus+ Project (School Partnerships) (2019–present)
Abstract
Lycée Josy Barthel has been participating in school partnership projects for nearly twenty years. Between 2005 and 2015, the school took part in several multilateral COMENIUS partnership projects, and since 2019, it has been involved in school partnership projects under the European Commission’s ERASMUS+ program.
The Erasmus+ program (Key Action 2) “promotes the development of partnership projects that enable cooperation among relevant stakeholders in the school education sector, with the aim of collaborating, exchanging best practices in areas of common interest, developing or transferring innovative practices, and improving the quality of school education throughout Europe and beyond. The activities of school education cooperation partnership projects may concern either the school education sector or multiple sectors of education, training, youth, or sport.”
The Erasmus+ School Partnership Project 2023–2025
The current project, titled“Cultural Foodprints – Searching for Cultural Traces of Migration,” is being carried out during the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 school years in collaboration with partner schools in Germany, Belgium, and Spain.
At LJBM, the project is primarily aimed at students in the8th,9th, and10th grades (ESC and ESG). Under the coordination of Mr. Patrick Schmitz, Ms. Sandra Fratini, Mr. Christophe Falzani, and Ms. Diane Schroeder, students participating in the project can take part in various activities organized both locally and during meetings organized by partner schools. In total, five European meetings are planned as part of the project:
- November 5–11, 2023, in Hoogstraten, Belgium
- February 18–24, 2024, at the LJBM in Mamer
- October 20–26, 2024, in Baza, Spain
- February 2–8, 2025, in Neufahrn, Germany
Partner schools
- Spijker Institute, Hoogstraten (BEL)
- Oskar Maria Graf High School, Neufahrn near Freising (GER)
- I.E.S. Pedro Jiménez Montoya, Baza (Spain)
- Josy Barthel High School, Mamer (LUX)
Activities
September 2023 – Project planning meeting in Mamer
From September 28 to 30, teachers from our partner schools in Hoogstraten (B), Neufahrn (D), and Baza (E) visited us to develop a new “Erasmus+” project, which is financially supported under the European Union’s “Erasmus+” program. We worked intensively for three days, and our new “Erasmus+” project, titled “Cultural Foodprints – Searching for Cultural Traces of Migration,” was finalized. We look forward to the next two years, during which a number of our students will have the opportunity to participate in an “Erasmus+”student exchange and, together with students from our partner schools, explore the traces that migration has left behind in our cultures—and especially in our food culture.
October 2023 – Project launch for students
November 2023 – Meeting in Hoogstraten
From November 5 to 11, 2023, six 8th-grade students (from classes 4C and 4GA3D) from the LJBM in Hoogstraten traveled to Belgium, where they took part in the first meeting organized as part of our new “Erasmus+” project. The students stayed with host families and spent the entire week participating in various activities and visits, together with students from Belgium, as well as students from our partner schools in Germany and Spain.
The entire week revolved around the theme “Cultural foodprints – Searching for cultural traces of migration.” The program included five different activities at our partner school, the Institut Spijker in Hoogstraten, as well as visits to Beringen in Limburg and Antwerp. Our students had an eventful and educational week. You can find some impressions at the following link:
https://youtu.be/2vUGQ6UbXNo?feature=shared
We are already looking forward to welcoming the delegations from our partner schools to Mamer at the LJBM from February 18 to 24, 2024.
February 2024 – Meeting in Mamer
Day 1 (February 19, 2024)
“Cultural Foodprints” – Under this motto, 14 students from grades 5 through 9 are taking part in an “Erasmus+” meeting at our school, the LJBM, alongside 18 students from Belgium, Germany, and Spain.
On Sunday, February 18, our students welcomed their guests, and on Monday they spent their first day together at the LJBM. After introducing themselves at their schools, they got to know each other better through a fun team-building activity and began working in groups to explore the topic of migration in Luxembourg. They analyzed, on the one hand, the emigration of Luxembourgers to the U.S. and South America in the 19th century, and on the other hand, immigration to Luxembourg from Italy, Portugal, and other countries.
Over the next few days, they will be conducting a series of visits and activities, interviewing people with a migrant background, and analyzing the impact that migration has had on our culture (and especially on our culinary culture). We wish them all an enriching week!
Day 2 (February 20, 2024)
The second day of the “Erasmus+” meeting at the LJBM began with a presentation by Ms. Caldognetto on the history of Italian culinary traditions in Luxembourg. Afterward, our students and their international guests—under the theme “Cultural Foodprints”—spent time in the city, where they visited the “All you can eat” exhibition at the “Luxembourg City Museum.”
During an interesting visit to Radio Latina, the students from the Geleeënheet class had the opportunity to talk with the staff about their migration backgrounds.
The final stop of the day was Restaurant Chiche, which exclusively employs refugees and immigrants, where the students were also able to conduct interviews with the staff. A joint dinner for students and teachers wrapped up the day’s program.
Day 3 (February 21, 2024)
On the third day of the “Erasmus+” meeting at the LJBM, the group of 32 students and 8 teachers from Belgium, Germany, Spain, and Luxembourg was taken on a tour of the immigration facilities in the southern part of our country.
After an interesting tour of the Italian quarter in Dudelange with historian Ms. Antoinette Reuter, the students and teachers visited the National Memorial Museum in Remlingen.
Days 4 and 5 (February 22–23, 2024)
Last Friday marked the end of an interesting “Erasmus+” week for our 14 students and 18 guests from Belgium, Germany, and Poland. The final day kicked off with a few program highlights. Throughout the week, the students conducted interviews with people from diverse backgrounds and asked them for recipes from their home countries. These recipes were prepared and tasted together during a cooking workshop at the LJBM. This was followed by a talk from our guest speaker, Mr. Jean Asselborn (see yesterday’s post). The former long-serving Foreign Minister gave an interesting talk and then took questions from the students. The focus was once again on cuisine. The recipes prepared by the students were presented, along with the migration background of the person who gave the student the recipe. Each group of students also presented the video blog they created about one of the week’s activities. Conclusion: Kudos—the students did a fantastic job. To wrap up the week, the students finally let their teachers taste the food they had prepared themselves.
We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of this project week, and we are already looking forward to the next two meetings as part of this exciting project: in October 2024 in Baza, Spain, and in February 2025 in Munich.
Visit by Mr. Jean Asselborn as part of the Erasmus+ project (February 23, 2024)
On Friday evening, Mr. Jean Asselborn was our guest of honor. The visit took place as part of the “Erasmus+” project “Cultural Foodprints – Searching for Cultural Traces of Migration.” The long-serving Luxembourgish Foreign Minister gave an engaging presentation to the “Erasmus+” group of students and teachers from Belgium, Germany, Spain, and Luxembourg an interesting lecture on migration in Luxembourg, drawing on his time as Foreign Minister to discuss both historical and current topics in international politics. Afterward, the students had the opportunity to ask Mr. Asselborn questions, and we would like to thank him very much for taking the time to participate in this interesting exchange with young people from different countries.
The 2019–2021 Erasmus+ School Partnership Project
The project titled“Face the past, change our future – Casting light on the shadows of our history”is being carried out during the 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 school years in collaboration with partner schools in Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Sweden.
At LJBM, the project is primarily aimed at students in grades8,9, and10 (ESC and ESG). Under the coordination of Mr. Patrick Schmitz, Ms. Sandra Fratini, and Ms. Diane Schroeder, students participating in the project can take part in various activities organized both locally and during meetings organized by partner schools. A total of five European meetings are planned as part of the project:
- October 20–26, 2019, in Belgium
- February 2–8, 2020, in Germany
- October 6–10, 2020, in Sweden
- February 1–6, 2021, in Spain
- April 25–May 1, 2021, in Luxembourg
Partner schools
- Spijker Institute, Hoogstraten (BEL)
- Oskar Maria Graf High School, Neufahrn near Freising (GER)
- I.E.S. Pedro Jiménez Montoya, Baza (Spain)
- Josy Barthel High School, Mamer (LUX)
- Katedralskolan, Skara (SWE)
Activities
September 2019 – Project launch
October 2019 – Meeting in Hoogstraten (Belgium)
"From October 20 to 25, 2019, five students from the LJBM had the opportunity to participate in the first meeting of the new ERASMUS+ project under the motto 'FACE THE PAST, CHANGE OUR FUTURE – CASTING LIGHT ON THE SHADOWS OF OUR HISTORY.' Together with students from Sweden, Germany, Spain, and Belgium, they spent a week exploring the darker aspects of Belgian history. They gained a deeper insight into Belgian colonial history in the Congo through a visit to the AFRICA MUSEUM in Tervuren and the Matongé neighborhood in Brussels. At the Dossin Barracks and the Breendonk concentration camp, they were able to gain an understanding of Belgian collaboration during World War II. They were accompanied by Ms. Fratini and Ms. Schroeder. »
February February 2020 – Meeting in Neufahrn bei Freising (Germany)
“To explore the darker sides of German history—that was the opportunity afforded to Anna Sehl, Ann Welter, Sophie Lieffring, and Lena Jemming from class 4CL1, as well as Clayton Fonseca from class 4A3D1, as part of the current ERASMUS program. Invited by the OSKAR MARIA GRAF GYMNASIUM in Neufahrn (GER), they spent February 3–7 February 2020, they worked together with students from Sweden, Spain, Germany, and Belgium to explore the Nazi past. The program included visits to the Dachau Memorial Site and the Psychiatric Hospital in Haar (Munich). The students also had the opportunity to conduct interviews with experts in the field and participate in a debate. »
2020–2021 School Year
The three events scheduled for the 2020–2021 school year (in Sweden, Spain, and Luxembourg) had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The project, originally scheduled to last two years, has been extended through June 2022, in the hope that activities can resume during the 2021–2022 school year.
November 2021 – Meeting in Skara, Sweden
It had been a long time coming, but last week it finally happened! The third meeting of the “Erasmus+” project took place! Five 10th-grade students from LJBM, along with their teachers, spent November 14–20 in Skara, Sweden, where they spent a very intense, fun, and interesting week with delegations from Spain, Germany, Belgium, and Sweden. Under the motto “Face the past – Change our future,” they explored the history of the Sámi people and the development and interpretation of Swedish history at the Katedralskolan in Skara, as well as at various museums. In addition to the intensive work, the program included various leisure activities, such as a visit to the capital Stockholm, a rendezvous with the moose, or a fun tour of the ice rink.
April 2022 – Meeting in Baza, Spain
Following the third meeting of the “Erasmus+” project in Skara, Sweden, five 10th-grade students from the LJBM, along with their teachers, were in Baza, Spain, from April 24 to 30. 
During the event, they spent a very intense, lively, and interesting week with delegations from Spain, Germany, Belgium, and Sweden. Under the motto “Face the past – Change our future,” they focused at the Pedro Jiménez Montoya School in Baza on topics including the history of the Spanish Civil War and the Franco era in Spain. In addition to the intensive work, the program included various fun activities, such as a historical rally through the town of Baza, a film about the Spanish Civil War, a visit to the Army Museum in Almería, and a fun kayaking tour on the Negra Reservoir.
May 2022 – Meeting in Mamer, Luxembourg
Just in time for Europe Day on May 9, the four delegations from Spain, Sweden, Germany, and Belgium arrived here in Luxembourg, marking the start of the grand closing week of the “Erasmus+” project at our high school. Under the motto “face the past – change our future,” students from these five countries spent a week exploring the darker chapters of Luxembourg’s history. After watching the film “Heim ins Reich” and visiting the Resistance Museum in Spuer to learn about Luxembourg’s collaboration during World War II, They were able to take a look inside Villa Pauly and, during a quick tour of the History Museum, gained an interesting insight into the colonial era, during which the Luxembourgers also had a stake in the game. The students documented all these impressions at the end of the week on a Padlet.
In addition to the school activities, cultural exchange was also on the agenda. This included, among other things, a great visit to the Héichuewen in Esch-Belval, and of course we took advantage of the opportunity to show our guests the Capital of Culture and the Esch2022 program. The week—and thus the project—finally came to a close with a Friday evening outing to the Escape Room and a barbecue in town.
During this week, our students once again pushed themselves to new limits, gained many valuable experiences, and formed great international friendships.
[This project was funded with the support of the European Commission. This communication reflects only the views of the author, and the Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.]
Erasmus+ Project “European Civil Engineering Internship” (2013–present)
The European Erasmus+ program (Key Action 1), funded by the European Commission, provides young vocational students with a grant that enables them to participate in an exchange program abroad.
Since the 2013–2014 school year, the LJBM’s Erasmus+ “European Civil Engineering Internship” project has enabled several students in the 2TPGC (formerly T2GC) classes of the civil engineering technician program to complete their mandatory four-week internship at an engineering firm or architectural firm in Germany or France.
Applications and information:
Every year, the Erasmus+ program is presented to students in the 2TPGC classes in October.
An information session for interested students and parents will be held in November.
For more information, please contact the project coordinator by email: Mr. Patrick Schmitz, Assistant Professor (patrick.schmitz@education or erasmus@ljbm.cconcept-test.lu)
HISTORY
2023–2024
Five students from the 2TPGC1 and 2TPGC2 classes will receive an Erasmus+ grant to complete a four-week internship in Hamburg, Germany, from June 10 to July 5, 2024.
2022–2023
Five students from the 2TPGC1 and 2TPGC2 classes received an Erasmus+ grant to complete a four-week internship in Hamburg, Germany, from June 12 to July 7, 2023.
2021–2022
After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, six students from our 10th-grade classes were once again able to participate in the Erasmus+ “Civil Engineering Internship” program. From June 11 to July 9, 2022, they received an Erasmus+ grant and completed their internships at an engineering firm or an architecture firm in Hamburg. After their stay abroad, they were awarded a “Europass Mobility” certificate.
from left to right: Mr. Patrick Schmitz (coordinator), Miguel Vieira, Paul Michels, Philip Novcic, Omar Rastoder, Mauricio Tavares, Kim Bocquet
2019–2020
Five students from the 2TPGC class had been selected to do their internships abroad (four students in Hamburg, one student in Dijon). Unfortunately, these internships could not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2018–2019
As part of an information session for students interested in participating in the LJBM’s Erasmus+ “European Civil Engineering Internship” project in 2020, “Europass Mobility” certificates were awarded on November 12, 2019, to the six students who participated in the program in 2019.
The six students were able to complete their mandatory four-week internship as part of the 2TPGC program at engineering and architectural firms in Hamburg, Dijon, and Lyon, while receiving an Erasmus+ grant funded by the European Commission.
From left to right: Mr. Schmitz (professor attached to the administration), Edis Kocan, Daniel Gomes, Sabrina Spruyt, Sébastien Oms, Mr. Pundel (dean) – not pictured: Bruno Delgado, Elise Raulet
2017–2018
Four students completed their internships at an office in Hamburg (Germany), and two students completed their internships in Dijon (France).
As part of an information session for students interested in participating in the LJBM’s Erasmus+ project in 2019, “Europass Mobility” certificates were awarded on November 26, 2018, to the six students who took part in the program in June/July 2018. The students completed a four-week internship at architectural firms and engineering offices in Hamburg and Dijon, respectively, and received an Erasmus+ grant funded by the European Commission for this purpose. Patrick SCHMITZ – 11/2018
From left to right: Brandon Dias, Mr. Michel Pundel (Assistant Director), Joao Coelho da Silva, Olivier Hoffmann, Luc Clement, Andy Schellen, Logan Mourato, Mr. Patrick Schmitz (Coordinator).
2016–2017
Presentation of “Europass Mobility” certificates
As part of an information session for students interested in participating in the LJBM’s Erasmus+ project in 2018, “Europass Mobility” certificates were awarded on November 21, 2017, to the six students who took part in the program in June/July 2017. The students completed a four-week internship at architectural firms and engineering offices in Hamburg and Dijon, respectively, and received an Erasmus+ grant funded by the European Commission for this purpose.
From left to right: Michel Pundel, Tatiana da Silva, Danny Pinto, Joana Fernandez-Ortiz, Yves Michels, Sandra Raulet, Patrick Schmitz (absent: Abel Pires)
2015–2016
Four students completed their internships at an office in Hamburg (Germany)
From left to right: Patrick Schmitz (coordinator), Edin Dreco, Daniel Lagoa, Vanessa Peresi, Sally Fischer, Roland Herrmann (professor and architect), Michel Pundel (deputy director)
2014–2015
Four students completed their internships at an office in Hamburg (Germany)
From left to right: Marc Fischbach (Deputy Director), Tamara Biewers, Gregoria Giordano, Carine Kinarian, Svenja Thill, Patrick Schmitz (Coordinator)
2013–2014
Four students completed their internships at an office in Hamburg, Germany.
This first edition of the project was still carried out under the "Leonardo da Vinci" program, the predecessor of the "Erasmus+" program.
From left to right: Christian Cornette (professor and engineer), Joao Meneses Lopes, David Milosavljevic, Jérôme Lanners, Patrick Schmitz (coordinator), Marc Fischbach (deputy director) (absent: Bob Schmit)
Schuman Exchange Program (2012–present)
Schuman Exchanges 2024 – Applications for 2023/2024
The SCHUMAN interregional program is open to students in 7th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grade who wish to participate in an individual student exchange. This exchange is designed to allow students to experience a two-week stay with a host family across the border in the Greater Region (Lorraine, Wallonia, Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate) and to also host a partner student in their own family for two weeks.
The ministries of education in the four participating countries decide on partnerships based on the information provided by applicants. Once a partnership is approved, the families get in touch and work out the details of the exchange.
Generally, interested students must apply in November to participate in the exchange program the following spring.
Program Coordinator at LJBM: Ms. Lydia Alegria ( lydia.alegria@education.lu)
(The ministry notes that exchange programs are based on reciprocity and that it can only accommodate requests from Luxembourgish students if there is a corresponding request from our neighboring countries. As a result, we have not always been able to arrange exchanges with France in recent years due to a lack of partners from Lorraine, as they prefer to go to Germany to practice the German language. This is why the Ministry is asking candidates who wish to participate in a French-speaking exchange if they would be willing, if necessary, to accept a partner from Wallonia or, failing that, from Germany.)
Download the application form for the 2024 Schuman Exchanges here
HISTORY
2022–2023
Through the “Schuman Interregional Individual Exchange Program,” students in grades 7 through 10 can participate in a two-week exchange in the Greater Region. As part of this program, Mr. Schmitz, coordinator of exchange projects at LJBM, welcomed Louna on March 6, a student from France who will be joining us from March 6 to 17 to participate in the 4GA3D class. Subsequently, Meggy, her partner student, will spend two weeks in France, where she will attend school with Louna. We wish these two students a wonderful time and many great experiences as part of this individual student exchange.
2021–2022
The Schuman Exchanges did not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020–2021
The Schuman Exchanges did not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019–2020
Following the visit of seven of our 6th and 7th grade students to Germany and France (November 2–16, 2019), it is now the turn of their partner students to visit them in Luxembourg (November 16–30, 2019).
As we welcome the seven French and German students currently participating in the program, we hope that all participants continue to have many enriching experiences as part of this school exchange.
2017–2018
From September 25 to October 9, 2017, two German students and one French student visited Luxembourg.
The exchange program took place from November 11 to 25, 2017, with the three students from Luxembourg spending time in Germany and France, respectively. In addition, a student from France participated in the exchange program in Luxembourg from September 11 to 25, 2017.
2016–2017
In 2016–2017, the SCHUMAN program was a great success: 14 students from the 6th, 8th, 7th, and 9th grades at LJBM participated in it.
In October 2016, their partner students spent two weeks in Luxembourg and attended classes alongside their partners.
At the start of their stay, the LJBM organized a day trip to Vianden for the 14 visitors and their 14 Luxembourgish hosts: they toured Vianden Castle and went rock climbing at the “Tree Climber” adventure park in Vianden.
2015–2016
From October 3 to 17, 2015, two students from the LJBM were in Germany for an exchange program. They spent two weeks with their partner students and attended school in Germany. From November 7 to 21, November, two German students came to spend two weeks in Luxembourg. Another student will visit her partner student in Luxembourg from November 21 to December 5. We wish all the students participating in this project many wonderful experiences and new friendships.
1st photo: Patrick Schmitz (Coordinator), Marie Dreisbach (L), Katharina Unger (D), Sally Stocklausen (L), Luisa Quade (D), Claude Christnach (Principal).
2nd photo: Patrick Schmitz (coordinator), Emma Gockel (D), Anastasia Dutkievicz (L), David Nicolay (assistant principal)
2014–2015
From October 5 to 19, 2014, two students from Germany will spend their school days and free time in Luxembourg. From November 2 to 16, 2014, the two students from the LJBM will then spend two weeks with their respective exchange partners in Germany and attend school there. We wish them many wonderful experiences and new friendships as part of this project.
In the photo, from left to right: Claude Christnach (Director), Chloé van den Abeele (L), Sara Fey (R), Nils Jäger (R), Jayson Jacoby (L), Patrick Schmitz (Coordinator)
2013–2014
From September 28 to October 12, 2013, a French student spent two weeks at LJBM. Clément Wenger stayed with the family of Manuel Correia, a 6th-grade student at LJBM.
2012–2013
From October 6 to 20, 2012, a German student was hosted at LJBM for two weeks. Celine Bickelmann stayed with the family of Laura Plein, an 8th-grade student at LJBM.
Laura Plein then traveled to Völklingen, Germany, from November 3 to 17, 2012, where she was hosted by Celine Bickelmann, with whom she also attended school during her two-week stay.
