<< Background >>Due to the shut down of schools as the result of the pandemic and growing need for new forms of teaching and training, including hybrid learning in all of Europe we have come to a conclusion that in order to continue our international cooperation activities and offer cultural exchange, relevant skills and experiences to our students a new online hybrid learning course module is needed in the field of baker confectionery studies. In the project coordinator organisation the teachers have already experimented with online learning content creation including making instructional videos and carrying out some hybrid learning workshops. The teachers are eager to share best practices and learn from their colleagues in other schools in order to create an truly engaging hybrid learning experience for students. With travel restrictions also new forms of international cooperation have emerged. When the students and teachers cannot participate in physical mobilities to enhance their professional skills they are looking for new ways to learn about different traditions in different countries in the culinary arts. During the distance training period the coordinating partner staff also noticed that teachers’ digital skills in our school as well as our partner schools are at different levels. Therefore the proposed project addresses the development of teachers and students digital skills through actively learning by participating in project activities.<< Objectives >>The objectives of HYBAKE project is to create a student centered and engaging hybrid learning course for baker confectionery studies and pilot the course with students from all partner countries. The project aims to enhance teachers and students digital skills through active participation in course creation and piloting.The project aims to create a strong professional network of teachers, foster international cooperation and enhance participants' language skills.HYBAKE project objectives include creating Model structure for a hybrid learning course;Online learning material for baker-confectionery online course, including video instructions for practical workshops;Piloted hybrid learning course on a mutual platformTeachers will have a knowledge and experience of European culinary heritage and will be able to pass it on to students in a modern format.<< Implementation >>The project will include developing hybrid learning course module that will consist of 3 different intellectual outputs, the course design and structure, the course materials and hybrid learning course platform. The online learning materials will include three different baker-confectionery product instructions per partner representing three national holidays, in total eighteen products which are related to three different national holidays of their country and step-by-step instructional videos. In total the project results include at least 9 instructional videos on different traditional holiday bakery products.During the project period 3 physical meetings and monthly online meetings will take place between the project teams to discuss the project progress and content development. During the project period 5 Learning, Teaching and Training Activities will be held spread between partner countries. Each LTT has a specific topic that is related to the hybrid learning course development. In each country, teachers involved in the project will make the products and instruct their colleagues how to prepare the workshop. At the end of the project the coordinating partner will organise a hybrid conference in order to disseminate project results.<< Results >>As result of the HYBAKE project teachers have developed their digital competencies in using IT tools for virtual online meetings (Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, Google Meets), creating virtual tours and videos online, Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Word for recipes and calculation purposes. The participants have benefited from cultural exchange, language training, new social skills in an international context and developing close cooperation relationships.The project contributes to the prestige of vocational education establishments by introducing a hybrid learning course module in practical workshops and develops virtual cooperation possibilities between VET schools. The students that have participated in piloting have knowledge of different European holidays and traditions including culinary traditions and new skills in preparing different national products from partner countries. They have also developed their communication and language skills, have higher self-esteem and developed their digital competences. The hybrid learning course created will be available to other schools to incorporate into their curricula and will be used to develop further virtual and blended mobilities between partners.

"From September 1st, 2015 till August 31st, 2017, Daugavpils Construction Technical School within theframework of the Erasmus + 2nd Strategic Partnership project “Dual vocational educational system implementation and strengthening, adapting vocational training to labour market, ensuring the quality of training, actuality and attractiveness”, contract Nr. 2015 -1-LV01-KA202-013456, was implemented several professional project activities.The direct aim of the project is to improve the quality of initial vocational education programs in the field of construction and civil engineering in order to ensure balanced and qualified continuing education in professional activities.The overall goal of the project is to provide an opportunity to get work, life and professional experience in another country, expanding its horizons and promoting intellectual and professional development.Project target group: vocational education students and vocational education teachers.The total amount of the project is EUR 102 370,00 (one hundred two thousand three hundred and seventy euros 00 cents). Project eligible costs are funded at 100% of the European Structural Fund.Daugavpils Construction Technical School as a project applicant, having taken into account the project application, implemented several professional project activities:1. short term joint stuff training event – one event (25.01.2016.-29.01.2016.);2. transnational project meetings – tree times (10.05.2016.-12.05.2016.; 01.06.2016.-03.06.2016.; 22.05.2017.-24.05.2017.);3. blended mobility of VET learners – three times (12.10.2016.-21.10.2016.; 28.03.2017.-06.04.2017.; 15.05.2017.-24.05.2017.);4. development of the methodical tool ""Dual vocational education system implementation - methodological tool for dual training"" – one tool;5. multiplier event – international seminar/conference – one event.Within of the project framework Daugavpils Construction Technical School had three cooperation partners:1. Austria, Regional vocational school Nr.5 in Graz (Landesberufsschule Graz 5);2. Lithuania, Utena regional vocational training centre (Utenos Regioninis profesinio mokymo centras);3. Latvia, limited liability company “KNAUF” and “KNAUF AKADEMIJA” (Latvia).Within the framework of the project short-term joint staff training event and transnational project meetings, the project management group visited the best construction and civil engineering companies in Latvia, Lithuania and Austria, which are specializing in construction and civil engineering, participated in the practical discussion on the introduction and strengthening of the elements of the dual vocational education system by adapting vocational education to the needs of the labor market, ensuring the quality, relevance and attractiveness of the training, learned about co-operation of vocational education institutions with entrepreneurs, practical training and qualification practice in companies, as well as elements of dual education and work environment based on partner countries point of view.As a result, the international project management group came to the conclusion that at least half of the study time must be mastered by practical skills in the real working environment of the company, working with new and high-quality materials, but theoretical knowledge to acquire in vocational education institutions. Within the framework of the project, vocational education students improved their professional knowledge, gained international experience, got the opportunity to work with the CUBO system, its elements and necessary materials, had got acquainted with building assessment systems, that ensure sustainable quality of buildings, due to the detailed ecological, economic, social, functional and technical aspects of evaluation, which are particularly relevant and topical in Germany.The range of events within the framework of the project was aimed at increasing the capacity of the students vocational, social and communicative skills.As a result of all activities, which was implemented within the framework of the project, the project management group developed methodical tool ""Dual vocational education system implementation - a methodical tool for dual training"", which consists of six sections:1. General information about the project;2. Group of project managers;3. Students' professional activities within the project;4. Dual elements used in the project;5. Creating a CUBO system. Work plan6. LLC ""Knauf"" materials for the creation of the CUBO system.The final event within the framework of the project was an international seminar / conference, which held in Daugavpils on August 30, 2017, during this developed methodical tool was presented for entrepreneurs, to focusing attention on the implementation of entrepreneurs for practical training, work environment-based training, for development cooperation with vocational education institutions."