Erasmus+ Job Shadowing in Portugal
Braga & Porto | 5-Day KA1 Programme | PIC XXI
The Erasmus+ Job Shadowing in Portugal programme delivered by PIC offers a structured, mentor-based and highly practical professional mobility experience for teachers, trainers, school leaders and education staff from across Europe. Designed in full alignment with Erasmus+ Key Action 1 (KA1), this job shadowing programme enables participants to observe, analyse and reflect on real educational practices within authentic Portuguese educational environments.
Rather than attending a traditional training course, participants engage in job shadowing as an experiential learning activity, observing professional routines, pedagogical approaches, organisational models and leadership practices directly within host institutions. This approach ensures that learning outcomes are concrete, transferable and immediately relevant to participants’ institutional contexts.
✔ Fully Erasmus+ KA1 compliant
✔ Real educational environments
✔ Dual-city experience: Braga + Porto
✔ 5 days | €350 per participant
👉 Eligible for Erasmus+ funding
What is Erasmus+ Job Shadowing?
Erasmus+ job shadowing is a short-term professional mobility activity funded under Erasmus+ Key Action 1 (KA1). It allows education professionals to develop their competences through direct observation, guided participation and professional exchange in a host organisation located in another European country.
In contrast to formal courses or seminars, job shadowing focuses on learning through immersion in real professional contexts. Participants are placed within schools, training centres or educational organisations, where they follow experienced professionals during their daily work. Through this process, job shadowing offers a realistic understanding of how educational systems function in practice.
Within Erasmus+, job shadowing is particularly valued because it supports professional development that is practical, contextualised and aligned with European priorities. By engaging in job shadowing, participants gain insight into real educational challenges and observe how institutions across Europe respond to them in practice.
From a European perspective, job shadowing generates strong added value by enabling direct comparison between education systems, pedagogical approaches and organisational cultures. Through job shadowing, participants gain a broader European outlook, develop intercultural competence and strengthen their sense of belonging to a shared educational space. This comparative dimension is essential for fostering cooperation, innovation and mutual understanding across Europe.
Instead of attending a formal course, participants:
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Observe real professional practices
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Engage with teachers, trainers and school leaders
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Analyse pedagogical and organisational models
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Exchange ideas on innovation, inclusion and sustainability
This practical approach ensures high-impact, transferable learning outcomes for schools and institutions.
While often associated with classroom teachers, job shadowing is equally valuable for non-teaching education staff. Administrators, project managers, inclusion officers and leadership teams benefit from job shadowing by observing school management processes, student support services, quality assurance systems and European project implementation practices. This makes job shadowing a versatile mobility activity suitable for diverse staff profiles involved in Erasmus+ projects.
Why Choose Job Shadowing with PIC XXI?
PIC delivers high-quality Erasmus+ job shadowing programmes designed to support institutional development, professional growth and internationalisation. Each programme is carefully structured to ensure relevance, depth and compliance with Erasmus+ requirements.
One of the strongest advantages of job shadowing with PIC lies in its capacity to generate institutional-level impact. When job shadowing is strategically planned, it becomes a driver of organisational learning, supporting curriculum development, pedagogical innovation and quality improvement. PIC ensures that job shadowing activities are aligned with institutional priorities and contribute directly to European Development Plans.
From an Erasmus+ evaluation perspective, job shadowing is recognised as a high-quality mobility format when it demonstrates clear objectives, structured implementation and tangible outcomes.
PIC supports institutions in aligning job shadowing with Erasmus+ quality criteria by ensuring coherence between learning objectives, activities and expected results, strengthening both final reports and future applications.
✔ Observation in authentic educational settings
✔ Clear learning objectives
✔ Mentor-based supervision
✔ Suitable for teaching and non-teaching staff
✔ Strong focus on Erasmus+ priorities
✔ Full compliance with Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026
Each activity includes a main mentor, ensuring quality, engagement and meaningful learning.
Beyond the mobility period itself, job shadowing with PIC delivers long-term professional value. Participants return to their institutions with renewed motivation, concrete ideas for implementation and increased confidence in managing change. Institutions, in turn, benefit from stronger staff engagement, improved practices and a more robust European project culture.
Job Shadowing Locations: Braga + Porto (2 in 1)
The Erasmus+ job shadowing programme offered by PIC combines two complementary Portuguese cities within a single mobility experience. This dual-location model is intentionally designed to provide participants with exposure to different educational contexts, organisational cultures and pedagogical approaches, while remaining within the same national education system.
By experiencing job shadowing in both Braga and Porto, participants are able to compare institutional realities, leadership styles and classroom practices, strengthening their capacity for critical reflection and European benchmarking.
Portugal represents an increasingly attractive destination for Erasmus+ job shadowing due to its strong commitment to inclusive education, digital transformation and community-based learning. Through job shadowing in Portugal, participants gain insight into how educational institutions balance tradition and innovation while responding to contemporary European challenges.
The combination of Braga and Porto enhances the job shadowing experience by offering both a reflective academic environment and a dynamic urban context, enriching learning outcomes and professional perspectives.
Braga
Braga is recognised for its strong educational and academic tradition, with a focus on citizenship education, inclusion and pedagogical innovation. During job shadowing activities in Braga, participants benefit from close interaction with local educators and school leadership.
Job shadowing in Braga allows participants to observe inclusive teaching practices, learner-centred methodologies and institutional strategies that promote social responsibility and community engagement. The environment encourages professional dialogue and reflective observation, supporting deep learning through job shadowing.
Porto
Porto provides a more urban and internationally oriented educational context. Job shadowing activities in Porto focus on innovative pedagogical and organisational practices, particularly in relation to digital education, diversity and multicultural learning environments.
Through job shadowing in Porto, participants observe how schools respond to the challenges of urban education, integrate digital tools into teaching and learning, and promote inclusion within diverse student populations.
Programme Overview
📆Duration: 5 days
📍Locations: Braga + Porto
💶Fee: €350 per participant
Framework: Erasmus+ KA1 Job Shadowing
The programme is structured to ensure that job shadowing activities lead to meaningful and measurable professional outcomes. The five-day duration allows sufficient time for observation, professional exchange and structured reflection, without placing excessive burden on institutions.
Each participant benefits from:
✔ Guided observation within host institutions
✔ Active participation in professional routines
✔ Structured reflection sessions
✔ Final certification of participation
✔ Fully suitable for Erasmus+ KA1 funding
Job shadowing within this programme is not a passive experience. Participants are encouraged to engage actively with host professionals, observe critically and reflect continuously on transferability to their own institutional contexts.
Sustainability & Environmental Education
Sustainability is a core priority within Erasmus+ and an integral dimension of job shadowing with PIC. Participants observe how educational institutions integrate environmental awareness, climate action and responsible resource management into daily practice.
Through job shadowing, participants gain practical insight into the development of green skills, ethical leadership and sustainability-oriented curricula. Observing these practices in real contexts supports the transfer of sustainability principles into participants’ home institutions.
Inclusion & Diversity
Inclusion and diversity are central themes within Erasmus+ job shadowing activities. Participants observe inclusive education strategies that promote equity, differentiated learning and social inclusion.
Job shadowing enables participants to analyse how institutions support learners with fewer opportunities, address diverse learning needs and foster inclusive school cultures. These observations contribute to more equitable and responsive educational practices across Europe.
Well-being & Mental Health
Well-being and mental health are increasingly recognised as fundamental to effective education. Through job shadowing, participants observe how schools promote positive learning environments, emotional intelligence and resilience.
Job shadowing activities include observation of strategies related to stress prevention, well-being promotion and the creation of supportive school climates for both staff and learners. These insights are essential for sustainable professional practice.
School Innovation & Educational Leadership
Innovation and leadership play a decisive role in educational quality. Job shadowing with PIC allows participants to observe innovative pedagogical models, leadership practices and organisational strategies in action.
By engaging in job shadowing, participants gain insight into how educational leaders manage change, support staff development and implement strategic planning processes within their institutions.
Digital Education & Artificial Intelligence
Digital transformation is reshaping education systems across Europe. Through job shadowing, participants observe how digital tools, collaborative platforms and emerging technologies are integrated into teaching and learning.
Job shadowing also provides opportunities to explore the pedagogical use of artificial intelligence, digital inclusion strategies and institutional approaches to digital competence development.
Language Education & Multilingualism
Language education and multilingualism are essential components of European cooperation. Job shadowing activities allow participants to observe innovative approaches to language teaching, CLIL methodologies and multilingual learning environments.
Through job shadowing, participants gain insight into how linguistic diversity is promoted and how language education supports inclusion and European identity.
Citizenship Education & European Values
Citizenship education and European values are embedded across job shadowing activities. Participants observe educational practices that promote democratic participation, civic engagement and European identity.
Job shadowing strengthens understanding of how schools contribute to active citizenship and the development of shared European values through education.
Vocational Education & Skills for Employability
Job shadowing also addresses vocational education and employability. Participants observe how institutions support the development of transversal skills, work-based learning approaches and career guidance.
Through job shadowing, participants analyse the alignment between education and labour market needs, strengthening the relevance of vocational education pathways.
Inclusion through Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Universal Design for Learning is a key framework observed during job shadowing activities. Participants observe practical applications of accessibility, inclusive curricula and learner-centred methodologies.
Job shadowing supports reflection on how UDL principles can be integrated into diverse educational contexts to improve learning outcomes for all students.
Digital Safety, Ethics & Media Literacy
Digital safety and ethics are increasingly important in educational settings. Through job shadowing, participants observe how institutions address responsible technology use, data protection and cyber safety.
Job shadowing also includes observation of media literacy practices that promote critical thinking and responsible digital citizenship.
Social-Emotional Learning & Soft Skills
Social-emotional learning is essential for 21st-century education. Job shadowing enables participants to observe how institutions develop communication, collaboration, problem-solving and creativity.
These observations support the integration of social-emotional competencies into teaching and learning practices.
Quality Assurance & School Development
Quality assurance is a recurring theme within job shadowing activities. Participants observe evaluation practices, quality management systems and self-assessment processes used to support continuous improvement.
Job shadowing provides concrete examples of how quality assurance contributes to sustainable school development.
Community Engagement & School–Community Partnerships
Job shadowing highlights the importance of cooperation between schools and local communities. Participants observe practices related to parental involvement, inter-institutional partnerships and social responsibility.
These observations reinforce the role of education as a driver of community engagement and social cohesion.
Tailored Job Shadowing Experience
Job shadowing with PIC is flexible and needs-based. Each programme is designed according to the specific context and objectives of participating institutions.
Programmes are tailored based on:
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Erasmus+ project objectives
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Participants’ professional profiles
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The institution’s European Development Plan
This tailored approach guarantees relevance, impact and sustainability.
A critical element of tailored job shadowing is the transfer of learning to the home institution. PIC supports participants in reflecting on observations, identifying transferable practices and planning implementation. This ensures that job shadowing contributes to collective learning and long-term institutional development.
The strategic flexibility of job shadowing allows programmes to be adapted to different institutional priorities, experience levels and national contexts. PIC uses this flexibility to design job shadowing experiences that remain focused, coherent and outcome-oriented.
How to Organise Your Job Shadowing
Organising an Erasmus+ job shadowing experience with PIC is a clear, structured and fully supported process. PIC works closely with sending institutions to ensure that every stage of the job shadowing mobility is aligned with Erasmus+ requirements and institutional objectives.
The organisation of job shadowing focuses on clarity, quality and impact, ensuring that participants and institutions benefit fully from the experience.
Step-by-step process
Initial Contact
Institutions initiate the process by sharing their Erasmus+ project goals, target group and general expectations. This initial exchange allows PIC to understand the institutional context and the intended role of job shadowing within the project.
Programme Design
Based on the information provided, PIC designs a tailored job shadowing programme. Learning objectives, observation focus and institutional priorities are defined to ensure coherence between job shadowing activities and expected outcomes.
Erasmus+ Documentation Support
Where required, PIC provides support with Erasmus+ documentation, including Mobility Agreements and Learning Agreements. This ensures that job shadowing activities are clearly documented and fully compliant with Erasmus+ KA1 requirements.
Implementation & Certification
The job shadowing programme is implemented in Portugal according to the agreed plan. At the end of the mobility, participants receive final certification confirming their participation in the Erasmus+ job shadowing activity.
Fee Information
Erasmus+ Job Shadowing – PIC XXI
📆 Duration: 5 days
💶 Fee: €350 per participant
The fee covers the full design and implementation of the job shadowing programme, including mentoring, coordination, observation activities and certification.
✔ Eligible under Erasmus+ KA1 staff mobility rules
This cost-effective structure makes job shadowing accessible to institutions while ensuring high-quality delivery and full Erasmus+ compliance.
Contact & Pre-Registration
Interested in organising an Erasmus+ job shadowing experience in Portugal?
📩 E-mail: info@picxxi.com
PIC XXI supports institutions throughout the entire mobility process, from initial planning to final reporting. This continuous support ensures quality assurance, regulatory compliance and real professional impact through job shadowing.