GeoCamp Iceland partners the Erasmus+ project On the Move: Enhancing Employability and VET Mobility through Real-World Learning (Project No: 2021-1-IT01-KA220-VET-000034780), an ambitious and timely initiative that aims to strengthen vocational education and training (VET) through experiential learning and international mobility.

Funded by the Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training, the project brings together institutions and organisations from Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Spain, and Greece. Together, we are working to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace by designing innovative tools and methods that make VET more dynamic, inclusive, and future-ready.

What is “On the Move” about?

The core idea of the project is simple yet powerful: to make vocational learning more mobile, practical, and connectedto the real world. Through partnerships between schools, employers, training centres, and educational innovators like GeoCamp Iceland, the project seeks to promote mobility as a core value in VET. This includes not only physical mobility through exchanges and internships abroad, but also the development of mobility mindsets—encouraging flexibility, adaptability, and resilience in young learners.

Key themes include:

• Enhancing the employability of vocational learners through real-world and place-based learning
• ​Supporting inclusive and sustainable mobility schemes in VET;
• Providing educators with tools and training to deliver experiential learning and guide international placements effectively;
• And creating a shared European framework that promotes meaningful learning in both local and cross-border contexts.

GeoCamp Iceland’s Role

At GeoCamp Iceland, we believe learning comes alive when it steps outside the classroom. That’s why this project is a perfect fit for us. Our contribution focuses on making mobility meaningful through place-based learning, community engagement, and sustainability education in the dramatic landscape of Iceland.

As part of the project’s Dissemination and Sustainability work package (WP6), GeoCamp Iceland leads the communication efforts, ensuring the project’s tools, methods, and results reach a wider audience of educators, VET providers, and learners across Europe. We’re also deeply involved in co-creating mobility models that connect VET learners to real-world challenges—from sustainable tourism and environmental stewardship to green energy and digital skills.

Ólafur Jón Arnbjörnsson will serve as coordinator for GeoCamp Iceland's participation in the project. A leading figure in Icelandic vocational education and training, Ólafur brings over fifty years of experience to the table. As the former Director of the Icelandic College of Fisheries and principal at several upper secondary schools, he has helped shape national VET policy and curriculum development—most notably by designing the certified training programme for fish technicians.

​With a Mag. Art degree in Education and Pedagogy from the University of Copenhagen, and decades of experience leading Nordic and EU projects, his insight into real-world learning, curriculum design, and labour market relevance has been instrumental in aligning the On the Move project with both Icelandic priorities and broader European goals.

Project Outcomes

The outcomes of the On the Move project reflect a strong commitment to transforming vocational education by grounding it in real-world experience and mobility. One of the central results is a comprehensive research report that maps current practices across partner countries, offering a critical understanding of how real-world learning and international mobility are already being implemented within VET systems. This report lays the foundation for future development and cross-country comparison.

Building on this foundation, the project delivers a set of training modules designed specifically for VET teachers and mobility facilitators. These modules provide practical guidance and pedagogical tools to help educators implement experiential learning and manage mobility opportunities in inclusive and meaningful ways. Alongside the training, a digital toolkit for real-world learning is being developed. This open-access resource will include adaptable methodologies, templates, and planning tools to support institutions in integrating mobility into their curricula.
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To illustrate and contextualise these tools, the project also gathers case studies and mobility models from across Europe. These serve as replicable examples, demonstrating how vocational learners can benefit from immersive, hands-on experiences both at home and abroad. Finally, the project will culminate in a major conference hosted in Italy, where educators, policy makers, and stakeholders will come together to explore the project’s findings and to foster a broader community of practice dedicated to modern, inclusive, and responsive vocational education.

Why It Matters

In an increasingly uncertain world, vocational learners need more than technical skills—they need confidence, curiosity, and a sense of purpose. Projects like On the Move show how education can foster those qualities through international collaboration, mobility, and real-world experience.

We’re honoured to be working alongside dedicated partners to make this vision a reality—and to ensure that every learner, no matter where they come from, has the opportunity to move, grow, and thrive.

To learn more about the project, visit https://vet-onthemove.eu

On 12–13 May 2025, partners in the Erasmus+ policy experimentation project On the Move gathered in Athens for the official kick-off meeting. The two-day event, hosted by Action Synergy, marked the launch of a three-year effort to support the design and implementation of blended mobility in vocational education and training (VET). The project brings together partners from Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Greece.

GeoCamp Iceland leads the project’s dissemination and sustainability work and plays an active role in developing frameworks for mobility coordination and integration. GeoCamp’s involvement builds on extensive national experience in VET and mobility-based education, drawing on the background of Ólafur Jón Arnbjörnsson, director of GeoCamp Iceland. His longstanding work in vocational and adult education, ranging from heading the Comprehensive College of Sudurnes and founding the Icelandic College of Fisheries to supporting applied learning and international cooperation, adds valuable perspective to the project, especially in adapting blended mobility models to smaller VET systems.

During the kick-off meeting, partners explored the core components of the project, including:

• The development of a qualifications framework for Mobility Coordination Offices
• Institutional strategies for hosting and sending apprentices abroad
• National pilot testing in each partner country
• Integration of digital tools for blended mobility
• Policy impact pathways through dialogue with decision-makers and VET authorities

For GeoCamp and the Reykjanes region, On the Move represents a timely opportunity to strengthen links between education and industry. The project aligns with regional goals to increase access to VET, promote international mobility, and develop training structures that respond to evolving labour market needs, particularly in sectors such as sustainable tourism, energy, fisheries, and environmental sciences.

Moreover, the project supports efforts already underway in Reykjanes to enhance outdoor learning, strengthen cooperation between schools and companies, and create pathways for youth engagement in local innovation and sustainability initiatives.

As the project moves forward, GeoCamp will lead communication and outreach efforts while also contributing to the national implementation pilot in Iceland, engaging VET institutions, municipalities, and local stakeholders.

We look forward to bringing you updates and information about the progress of On the Move in the future.