The principal of Letterkenny Vocational School in Co Donegal, Hugh Strain, tells E&L he has noticed a positive change in students after a 17-week work experience stint in Bremen, Germany, recently.

According to Strain, they are "walking with their shoulders back, pep in their step and a much more confident approach to their work. You have to hold them back from studying.

"It's incredible compared to their approach to work during the Leaving Cert."

Fiona Temple, co-ordinator of the PLC teleservices course who organises and instructs the students, spent two years in Germany and helped to prepare the students for the trip. She is also delighted.

For most of the 12 girls and five boys, it was their first time away from home. They will graduate in May next year after completing the two-year teleservices course. "They are more confident, I can't get over it," says Strain. Their studies in Letterkenny include communication skills, business management, telephone techniques and customer care.

"We were wondering what effect it would have on them. It's done their confidence a world of good. They were able to cope and cope well." Letterkenny Vocational School has a student population of 430, including 125 PLC students.