Learners of FET Centre – Drumshanbo on Erasmus+ trips to Milan and Vienna

The tour group with the spectacular backdrop of Lake Como

placeholder image — The tour group with the spectacular backdrop of Lake Como

The hosting organisations provided excellent work experience for the learners

On the 12 of May 2024, 17 of our VTOS learners from our QQI Level 5 Business Administration and Tourism with Business courses and on the 19 May 2024, 13 of our VTOS learners from our QQI Level 5 Traditional Irish Music course, accompanied by their tutors, from the Mayo Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB), Further Education and Training Centre – Drumshanbo, availed of the opportunity to travel to Milan and Vienna respectively for two weeks work placement as part of the Erasmus+ programme.

With flights and accommodation paid for, in addition to a weekly living allowance, this was a fantastic opportunity for our learners to gain hands-on experience of working in two of Europe’s most cosmopolitan cities, in an organisation related to their vocational area. And once again the trips did not disappoint!!

The tour group pictured at Dublin Airport before departure.

The hosting organisations, with their welcoming staff members, provided excellent work experience for the learners. The Business Administration learners worked in the offices of logistic and digital media companies, the Tourism students worked in the reception area of different hotels and travel agents and the Traditional Irish Music learners provided and participated in various workshops in Traditional Irish Music, Austrian music and music from various other countries and cultures.

But it was not all work and no play!

The students in Milan, despite at times, the torrential rain, enjoyed the fantastic city sites such as the Duomo cathedral, the Sforzesco Castle, day trips to Lakes Garda and Como not to mention the amazing fashion in streets such as the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. With the fantastic train network available in Milan some learners had the opportunity to visit neighbouring cities such as Genoa and Florence.

Over in Vienna, the learners played and learned music every day in a local ‘Conservatoire’ where they also enjoyed workshops by an Austrian folk violinist and yodeler (Austrian mouth music), a professional vocal coach and a classical cello player with whom we tried to play the famous ‘Radetzky March’ by Johann Strauss (Father).

Other activities included a visit to Henriette Lersch, a luthier who makes very fine violins, violas and cellos, a visit to the ‘Haus de Musik’ museum which explores all the aspects of the science of music and the Viennese heritage and a visit to the house where Mozart and his family lived for many years.

The course hosted sessions on several nights, including one that was attended by Eoin O’Leary, the Irish Ambassador to Austria.

Of course, time was also made for introducing the Viennese public to the joys of jigs, reels, polkas, hornpipes and songs such as ‘Raglan Road’ and ‘Down by the Sally Gardens’. The course hosted sessions on several nights, including one that was attended by Eoin O’Leary, the Irish Ambassador to Austria and we were delighted to be joined by local violinists, viola players and some Irish musicians based in Vienna.

Some of them even joined in the tunes by looking them up online and reading them from their phones. More photos and videos are available on Facebook and Instagram by searching for ‘Drumshanbo Irish Music Course’. The Erasmus+ work experience gave learners a chance to be immersed in new and exciting cultures, to work independently and as part of a team and helped to improve their soft skills while building a greater confidence in themselves while working abroad.

Activities included a visit to Henriette Lersch, a luthier who makes very fine violins, violas and cellos.

With the creation of the new and exciting Leitrim College of Further Education, we plan to offer the Erasmus+ programme as an integral part of all our courses, going forward. For more information on our courses please go to our website www.vtosleitrim.ie or Facebook.