🗓️ FRIENDS Mobility – Job Shadowing Programme

 

 

Transforming Education: An Innovative Approach for Improving Mental Health, Well-Being & the School Climate

Location: A. Iria School/OLHÃO, Portugal
Duration: 5 Days
Target Group: School leaders, teachers, and education professionals

Objective:

This job shadowing experience offers a hands-on immersion into the integration of the Quiet Time with Transcendental Meditation (QT/TM) program in Education. Participants will have the opportunity to experience the practice of the QT/TM program in the classes, to experience themselves the practical benefits of TM  and its impact on students and teachers, and engage in meaningful exchanges with peers and with members of the extended education community in school and in the territory, including parents, students,  educators, researchers, and training institutions supporting the QT/TM program as a tool for well-being, inclusive education and  social inclusion.

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🗓️ Program Overview

This is a provisional schedule: the final schedule will be provided prior to the participants’ arrival. The course provider may make minor last-minute changes to the schedule if the situation requires it.

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🗓️ Day 1 – Meeting with the  school Leadership and Introduction to the QT/TM program & Its Benefits in Education

Morning:

• • Reception & Welcome to the school
  • Meeting with the Principal and the Vice-principal: The school’s vision, the decision to implement QT/TM, and the impact on school climate
  • Introduction to the QT/TM program in Schools: Overview of the program and its benefits for stress reduction, creativity, well-being, and inclusion

Afternoon:

• • Meeting with Parents: parents’ involvement in the program and experiences
  • TM Training – Day of Personal Instructions

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🗓️ Day 2 – Understanding QT/TM Role in Teacher Training

Morning:

• • Participation to QT/TM  session in a class
  • Visiting the school
  • Exchange with QT/TM Coordinators and Teachers: Insights and experiences on integrating QT/TM into daily school life.

Afternoon:

• • Meeting with public institutions: Understanding how QT/TM can be formally integrated into teacher career development
  • TM training – Monitoring Day 1

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🗓️ Day 3 –  Experiencing QT/TM Impact in Schools

Morning:

• • Participation to QT/TM  session in a different grade class
  • Group Meditation with Teachers: Shared TM session
  • Exchange with QT/TM Coordinators and Teachers

Afternoon:

• • Presentation of the FRIENDS research findings on TM’s impact on students, teachers, and school communities
  • TM training – Monitoring Day 2

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🗓️ Day 4 – Peer Learning, Implementation &  Reflections

Morning:

• • Participation in QT/TM session in a different grade class
  • Visiting classes: exchange of experiences and points of view with teachers and students

Afternoon:

• • Participation in QT/TM session in a different grade class
  • Group Meditation with Teachers: Shared TM session
  • Exchange of impressions/ experience with project coordinators: QT/ TM’s role in classroom harmony
  • TM training – Monitoring Day 3

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🗓️ Day 5 – Future Steps & Certification

Morning:

• • Sightseeing tour of Olhão and surroundings.

Afternoon:

• • Certification ceremony for job shadowing participants
  • Final reflections, future steps, networking, and farewell session

💳 Payment Options & Policies

This Job Shadowing activity is eligible for funding through your Erasmus+ KA1 grant, specifically under Organisational Support. For full details, you can consult your National Agency webpages, or refer to the official Erasmus+ Programme Guide.

🧾 Payment Procedure

Once you complete the registration form and the course is confirmed, you’ll receive a proforma invoice along with the bank details for proceeding with the bank transfer.

Please keep in mind:

• Payments must be made in advance and in euros (€)
• Any bank transfer fees should be covered by your school or institution

We’re here to support you at every step and are happy to assist with any documentation or administrative questions along the way.

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📋Pricing for job shadowing

5-day Job Shadowing:  €350 per participant

This includes:

• • 🧩 Preparation of the job shadowing experience at the host organisation
  • 🗓️ 5-day Job shadowing (Mon–Fri) Mentoring and support of the participants during mobility
  • 👩‍🏫 Daily sessions with expert QT/TM trainers
  • 🛠️ Services, tools, and equipment needed for project implementation at the host organisation, including providing access to necessary facilities for the participants (e.g., meeting rooms for discussions)
  • 🗂️ Administration costs
  • 📜 Certificate of Attendance
  • ✅ Assistance with Erasmus+ documentation (Mobility & Learning Agreements)
  • Making the European Union funding visible to the public (as relevant to the host organisation)
  • ✈️ We’re happy to suggest accommodation options

🟦 The pricing for this Job Shadowing is in line with the Erasmus+ KA1 funding guidelines for short-term learning mobility activities and  fully eligible for Erasmus+ KA1 funding (Organisational support)

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Billing Procedure

Once your participation is confirmed:

• • We will send you a proforma invoice with all the payment details.
  • Payment can be made by bank transfer to the account indicated in the invoice.
  • Deadline: The full payment is required no later than 4 weeks before the course start date to secure your place
  • If your institution requires delayed payment until Erasmus+ funds are received, please contact us at mobility@friends-project.eu 

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❌Cancellation & Changes Policies

✉️ If you need to cancel your participation, please send us an email at  mobility@friends-project.eu  – If you’re unable to attend, you’re very welcome to transfer your spot to a colleague from the same organisation — just let us know by email. 🌍 Please note that in case of cancellation, we cannot take responsibility for any costs related to travel, accommodation, or meals.

💬 That said, we’re here to help — and always committed to finding the most supportive and flexible solution together!

Cancellation Policy:

1. Cancellation by the participant:

• • • More than 30 days before the course start date: Full refund of the course fee, minus  €50 for administration costs
    • 15–30 days before the course start date: Full refund of the course fee, minus €100 for administration costs
    • Less than 15 days before the course start date: No cash refund, but 💌 50% credit voucher valid for 12 months to attend a future course
    • After commencement of course: No refund will be provided.

😊 Why the Admin Fee?

We totally understand that plans can change! If you cancel more than 30 days before the course, we only keep €50 to cover the basic admin work already done — like confirming your registration, preparing Erasmus+ documents, and setting up logistics. Between 15–30 days before the course, we’ve usually already started coordinating your host placement and preparing materials for your visit — that’s why the fee is a bit higher: €100. If the cancellation happens less than 15 days before the course, by that time most of the planning is complete and your placement, resources, and schedule have already been finalized specifically for your visit — which is why we offer no cash refund but a 50% credit voucher valid for 12 months to attend a future course.  

We hope you understand, and we’re always happy to help you transfer your spot to a colleague instead, free of charge!

2.  Changes to participation:

• • You may transfer your participation to a colleague from your institution at no extra cost, up to 7 days before the course begins.
  • Changing your participation to a different course date is possible, subject to availability, at no extra charge if requested at least 30 days in advance.

3. Cancellation for Force majeure / Unforeseen circumstances:

• • In case of force majeure (e.g., natural disasters, pandemic restrictions, political unrest), we offer a voucher valid for 12 months, allowing you to reschedule to a future course date, or a full refund, depending on the situation and mutual agreement.

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The organizer is not responsible for any damage or expenses caused by cancellations due to force majeure and strongly recommends purchasing flexible flight tickets and accommodation.

Flexible flight tickets and hotel room reservations should always be the practice.

If flights are cancelled for any reason, the job shadowing provider is not responsible for the financial or other consequences concerning travel, accommodation or food. 

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🧳 To Be Covered by Your Erasmus+ Grant

The following are not included in the job shadowing fee and must be covered by the Travel & Individual support of your school Erasmus+ KA1 funds:

1. 1. ✈️ Travel costs: Your grant includes a budget for travel costs. The amount is calculated based on the distance that you need to travel from your home country to the course. Click here to know more about distance calculator.
   2. 🏨 🍽️ Accommodation & Meals: (Individual support). The amount that you receive to cover the costs of your stay in hotel and meals will depend on the country where the course takes place. For Portugal it is 95 – 169 EUR per day. We do not organise the stay in hotel, but we are able to assist with accommodation in Olhão upon your request as well as providing affordable options for lunch and dinners. Our venue is situated with easy access to plenty of dining options.

 

🎯 Expected Outcomes for Participants

 By the end of this mobility experience, participants will have:

✔ Experienced firsthand the impact and benefits of the Quiet Time with Transcendental Meditation (QT/TM) program on students and teachers in real school environments
✔ Boosted personal and social competence, including optimism, motivation and purpose
✔ Engaged directly with key stakeholders — including parents,  teacher training institutions and the extended education community
✔ Understood how QT/TM is integrated into teacher training and career development systems
✔ Explored a strategic plan to implement the Quiet Time with TM programme in their schools

 💡 Participants will enjoy an enriching experience that blends educational, cultural, and well-being activities — supporting both personal growth and professional development.  

🌍 Through international peer exchange, they will:

• • Experience the practical application of QT/TM across European schools
  • Strengthen leadership, resilience, and emotional regulation skills for fostering inclusive, peaceful, and tolerant learning environments
  • Gain insight into teacher training systems of other countries
  • Build meaningful cross-border connections to co-create future Erasmus+ projects for both teachers and students

This mobility is not only a professional journey — it’s a transformative experience in self-awareness, intercultural learning and education for well-being.

✨ Ready to Join Us? Here’s How It Works!

It’s simple and smooth to be part of the FRIENDS Mobility experience. Just follow these easy steps below 👇

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📋 1. Register to FRIENDS Mobility

👉 You can register by clicking HERE
📝 Fill in the form with your details and submit your application

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⏳ 2. Wait for Confirmation

✅ We will review all registrations and confirm the course as soon as possible.
⚠️ Please do not book travel or accommodation until you receive our confirmation.

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📩 3. Course Confirmation, Info & Payment

💬 Once the course is confirmed, we will contact you with further practical details regarding logistics, schedule, and other important information. 

At this point you will receive a proforma invoice along with the bank details for proceeding with the bank transfer for the Job Shadowing fee.

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✈️ 4. Book Travel & Accommodation

📆 We’ll confirm receipt of the transfer, and at this point you can go ahead and book your trip to Olhão!

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See you in Portugal!

🌞 Get ready for an inspiring, relaxing, and unforgettable experience!

🧳 General Information

✈️ Arrival and Local Transportation

For participants arriving by plane, FARO Airport is the best destination, and  the closest airport to the mobility venue.

• Faro Airport is approximately 15 km from Olhão, where the mobility activities take place.
• The most convenient way to reach Olhão from the airport is by Uber or taxi. It takes about 15 minutes by car. We recommend arranging private transport (Uber or taxi) in advance to simplify your journey.
• Public transport is less direct: there is a bus from the airport to Faro city, but from there you would need to change and take a train, bus, taxi, or Uber to Olhão.

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🚶 Getting Around in Olhão

• From the various accommodation options listed in the section below, it is only about a 5-minute walk to the school and other central locations.
• Olhão is a small and flat coastal town, so walking is easy and pleasant.

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🌤️ Weather in Olhão

The weather in Olhão varies by season:

• Spring (March–May): Mild and pleasant, average temperatures between 15°C and 23°C
• Summer (June–August): Hot and dry, temperatures often range between 25°C and 35°C
• Autumn (September–November): Warm and sunny, with temperatures between 18°C and 28°C
• Winter (December–February): Mild winters, with temperatures between 10°C and 18°C

We recommend bringing comfortable clothing, sunscreen, and a jacket for cooler evenings.

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🗣️ Language

The official language in Portugal is Portuguese.
However, English is widely spoken, especially among people working in tourism, hospitality, and education.
Spanish and French are also commonly understood in tourist areas. All the local partners involved in the mobility programme speak English and Spanish fluently.

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💶 Currency

The currency used in Portugal is the Euro (€).

• ATMs are widely available and operate 24/7.
• Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted in hotels, restaurants, shops, taxis, and most public services.
• Contactless payment is also commonly used.

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🔌 Electricity & Voltage

• Electric current: 230 volts / 50 Hz
• Plug type: Type C and F (European standard two-round-pin plugs)
  If you come from a country that uses different plugs, please bring a plug adapter.

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⏰ Time Zone

Portugal operates in the Western European Time Zone (WET):

• Standard Time: GMT/UTC +0
• Daylight Saving Time (approx. late March to late October): GMT/UTC +1

Please adjust your travel plans accordingly, especially if you’re coming from Central or Eastern Europe.

 

🏨🍽️ Accommodation and Food

Participants are free to choose their preferred accommodation in Olhão. Below are some recommended accommodations within short walking distance from the school and central areas:

🛏️ Recommended Hotels

1.🔹 GuestMar Guesthouse
A cozy and beautifully restored traditional house in the heart of Olhão, offering comfort and local charm.
👉 https://guestmar.pt

2.🔹 Hotel Cidade de Olhão
A modern and affordable 3-star hotel with comfortable rooms, a pool, and breakfast included.
👉 https://hotelcidadedeolhao.com

3.🔹 Pure Formosa Concept Hotel
A stylish, eco-conscious hotel with a rooftop bar and sea views. Modern design and a relaxed atmosphere.
👉 https://pureformosa.com

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🚶 How to Get from the Accommodations to the School?

From the various accommodation options listed above, it’s only about a 5-minute walk to the school and other key locations in town.

Olhão is a small, flat, and walkable coastal town, making it very easy to get around on foot. There is no need for public transport or taxis to move between your hotel, the school, restaurants, or the waterfront—everything is within walking distance.

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🍽️ Food Options

• • Participants have the option to have lunch at the school, where meals are available, at an affordable price, in a friendly and relaxed setting.

  • Olhão offers a wide range of restaurants, many within walking distance. We recommend trying these local favorites:

    🔹 Restaurante Novo Oceano – Traditional Portuguese seafood and fish specialties

    🔹 Vai e Volta – Casual, high-quality grilled fish with generous portions

    🔹 Sabores da Ria – Fresh, local dishes with a cozy atmosphere and a view over the Ria Formosa