A Maria Regina College Erasmus+ Group Mobility in a VET School in Croatia
A group of six Year 9 students, two secondary school teachers, one from each MRC Secondary school, and a Head of school, participated in an Erasmus+ Group mobility. This was the fourth Erasmus mobility for scholastic year 2024/25 as part of MRC Erasmus+ Accreditation. From the 5th to the 11th of April, the team travelled to Croatia and visited Srednja Skola Oroslavje, a VET School, on a journey focused on one key goal: exploring how to embed sustainable development in the Curriculum.
The Maltese group received a warm welcome from the school community, including the staff and the town’s mayor, Viktor Šimunić. The visit began with a fun quiz that encouraged both the Maltese and Croatian students to learn more about each other’s countries. Afterward, they were given a tour of the VET school and introduced to how it operates. Despite being a small school, its dedication and creativity stood out. Together with their Croatian peers, the students explored topics such as renewable energy and the process of extracting hydrogen from water.
Throughout the week, the students participated in various workshops and collaborative activities focused on sustainable energy sources. By the end of the visit, the students presented their own recommendations on renewable energy and shared what they had learned with the rest of the school. One of the week’s highlights was attending WorldSkills Croatia 2025, the largest event of its kind in the region, celebrating vocational education. With over 370 students from more than 200 vocational schools across Croatia, the event showcased 44 skill competitions, from traditional trades like carpentry, hairdressing, and pastry-making to high-tech fields such as mechatronics, robotics, CAD-CAM, IT administration, and even automotive painting technology.
It was more than just a competition. It was a celebration of talent, innovation, and sustainability. MRC students had the chance to engage hands-on, try new skills, connect with Croatian peers, educators, and industry professionals, and gain real insight into various career paths. With over 10,000 visitors, including international guests, the atmosphere was electric and truly motivating.
This experience tied perfectly into the Erasmus+ theme of sustainability. From eco-conscious trades to innovative technologies, the event emphasised how vocational skills are key to building a greener future. It reminded everyone that education, especially practical, skill-based learning, has a major role to play in achieving global sustainability goals.
All the team returned inspired, empowered, and more committed than ever to shaping an education system where sustainability is not just a subject, but a way of life.
