The University of Brighton's Fashion Textiles Department is responsible for arranging and monitoring all the placements. Staff maintain close contact with each student by telephone, fax and, where possible, personal visits. This enables the tutors not only to check on the welfare of the youngsters and the progress of their work, but also to sustain close contacts with company managers. The Leonardo funding makes these visits possible. During the second year of the course, students are prepared for their experience abroad by a series of seminars, and they sign a contract covering their professional conduct during the placement.
Companies often help to locate suitable accommodation, and very few problems have arisen.
Apart from the placement report, students must make a presentation about their experience as part of a two-day seminar, from which information and results are fed back into future placements. The Leonardo framework has helped Brighton to strengthen its links with European partners, with a view to expanding the scheme. This year, a major woven textiles manufacturer, Vasino of Turin, has joined the project, offering a wider range of experience and more job opportunities. The students receive a salary for their work, but the Leonardo support ensures that no one is excluded because of lack of resources.