This project is the only means by which the beneficiaries will be able to experience different ways of building, apart from the traditional Maltese way. This transnational experience will be able to provide a wider horizon for the students and thus enriches the students' learning experience.

Our project called DRIC unites the two colleges, the BKK in Recklinghausen and the Malta College for Art, Science and Technology. About 15 students from the BKK with a completed vocational qualification in building technology as well as students from MCAST courses (2nd and 3rd years draughtsmanship) take part in the project.

During the DRIC project the participants improve and enlarge their respective knowledge under a common European perspective by studying different ways and methods of working in their sectors in the cooperating countries Malta and Germany.

For the German students the actual situation in the building sector makes it necessary to show a high degree of mobility to qualify for a job in the European Union. To support this the results of this Leonardo project will be certified adequately by the two institutions.

In both countries there exists a rising need for measures in heritage skills and conservational measures. Furthermore, both partners count among the regions with the highest density of population in 'Europe and so find themselves in a comparable situation concerning the necessity of the protection of their buildings. Therefore the procurement of qualifications concerning the conservation of buildings gains a rising importance in the building and construction sector of both countries.

With the help of this project existing qualifications concerning the recording and documentation of the substance of historical buildings can be enhanced with the help of the building chosen by the respective partner. Furthermore intercultural knowledge will be procured and widened concerning an environmentally friendly conservation of buildings.

The integration of the project results is intended to become part of the national curricula.

The beneficiaries of this project are students between the ages of 19-21 who attend the Institute of Building and Construction within MCAST. They are following the Draughtsmanship Course (Civil). They will be chosen among all the interested students by means of an interview.

The objectives of this Leonardo project are the following:

1. To gain essential work experience which will help the beneficiaries to encounter constructional criteria not met locally.

2. To give a practical dimension to certain aspects of the beneficiaries' academic knowledge.

An enduring cooperation is being intended by the department of Building technology in Recklinghausen and the Institute of Building and Construction Engineering of MCAST. The project shall start in September 2003 in Recklinghausen. The second phase will happen at MCAST in Malta in March/April 2004.