- Who: Trainees of the SBSZ Jena-Göschwitz
- What: Three-week Erasmus stay abroad
- Where: City of Boden, Schweden (Lappland)
- Special feature: Practical experience in the Scandinavian working world at up to -22 degrees Celsius
Jena, February 25, 2026. For a group of students from the Staatliches Berufsschulzentrum (SBSZ) Jena-Göschwitz, the past few weeks were all about heading to the far north. As part of an Erasmus program, the young adults spent three intensive weeks in the city of Boden in Schweden. In addition to valuable insights into the Scandinavian working world, the focus was also on personal development – under extreme climatic conditions.
Practical experience in Schwedisch-Lappland
The Staatliches Berufsschulzentrum Jena-Göschwitz looks back on a long tradition: For almost 30 years, the educational institution in the south of the Lichtstadt has enabled its trainees to participate in regular exchange programs in other European countries. This year, the choice fell on the city of Boden in the northern Swedish province of Norrbottens län, not far from the Arctic Circle.
For three weeks, the vocational students from Jena immersed themselves in everyday Swedish professional life. The goal of the Erasmus-funded project is not only to test professional skills in an international environment but also to strengthen intercultural communication. Despite the hard work in the companies, there was also plenty of leisure time. With temperatures as low as minus 22 degrees Celsius, the students from the climatically mild Saaletal experienced the real Scandinavian winter firsthand – an extreme but formative experience that provided plenty of fun in the snow.
Background: Why Erasmus is important for trainees
When people in Jena talk about internships abroad and funding programs, many citizens immediately think of the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität or the Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule. However, international experience is also becoming increasingly relevant for trainees in the dual and school-based systems. The SBSZ Jena-Göschwitz, embedded in one of the city’s most important industrial and commercial areas, is doing important pioneering work here.
Stays abroad during an apprenticeship make graduates significantly more attractive on the job market. They demonstrate flexibility, initiative, and the ability to find their way in foreign cultures and language areas. The Scandinavian work culture, which is often characterized by flat hierarchies and a strong team orientation, offers trainees valuable new perspectives for their own professional careers. Especially for the business location of Jena, which thrives on international high-tech companies and a strong export orientation, such cosmopolitan specialists are of invaluable value.
Conclusion: Back in the Saaletal with new impulses
With their return to Thüringen, regular school and company life is now beginning again for the trainees. However, they are bringing the impressions and newly learned working methods from Schweden directly into their local training companies. Based on the positive feedback, the SBSZ Jena-Göschwitz is already planning the next rounds to enable future classes to benefit from this special form of cross-border education.
We wish the students from Jena a good return home and continued success on their professional paths.
Source:
Lernen im hohen Norden – Drei intensive Erasmus-Wochen in Lappland
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.