From 18–22 May 2026, SOL Baltics participated in an Erasmus+ job-shadowing study tour programme in Dijon, France. Our partner was Académie de Dijon, the French public education authority operating under the Ministry of Education and coordinating educational activities in the Bourgogne region. The aim of the study tour was to gain insight into the French vocational education system through job shadowing, develop professional knowledge and skills, and gain international experience.
During the job shadowing, we also visited the Lycée Professionnel Nelson Mandela vocational school in Audincourt, where we learned about the French vocational education system. The school offers education at various levels of vocational training and in various fields of study, including hygiene, cleaning and sterilization.
This is a three-year national vocational education program that prepares specialists for work in the cleaning, hygiene and healthcare fields. The study combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills to prepare students for real-world work situations.
As part of the job shadowing, we also visited the Sterilisation Centrale Dijonnaise sterilization center, which was jointly created by a public hospital and private clinics to ensure professional cleaning and sterilization of medical instruments in one center.
During the visit, we got an overview of the entire sterilization process: from receiving, washing, and disinfecting instruments to checking, assembling, packaging, storing, and issuing.
The job shadowing at Sterilisation Centrale Dijonnaise provided a good overview of an invisible but extremely important area of healthcare. As part of the Erasmus+ study tour, it was a valuable opportunity to learn about the best practices in European healthcare and compare them with Estonian experiences.
The Erasmus+ study tour to the Académie de Dijon region was a valuable experience both professionally and personally. Visits to vocational schools and healthcare institutions broadened the horizons and showed how vocational education and working life work in France.
The values of French schools are based on the principle of “Liberté – Égalité – Fraternité” (“Liberty – Equality – Brotherhood”), which emphasizes the importance of freedom, equality, and solidarity.