Working abroad in a foreign country is a challenge which implies a great effort in order to familiarize with the customs and the culture of the new country as well as the chance to assume bigger roles and greater responsibilities in their professional career. Either the culture shock or even issues like support, the uncertainty, etc. can directly affect the professional efficiency. For this purpose, the project aims at finding out, which components an ideal intercultural preparation and an integration programme for companies should contain.Usually the need for being prepared for international exchanges is restricted to those who will go abroad. But a decisive role for a successful exchange program plays also the mobility partner that is i.e. training instructors or those who work with foreign employees. Similar to employees they have to deal with intercultural and communicational challenges. Combining these two target groups permits an overall preparation of all parties involved in mobility programs: foreign participants as well as companies and their employees. In the first step, there will be a research and collection of studies regarding early termination of mobility and significant problems during mobility experienced by expats and apprentices/trainees. On this basis, the main reasons for early termination of mobility will be summarized.In the second step, the opinions, fears, hopes and experiences of different target groups (see below) in connection with their mobility will be discovered. This will be done by interviews and surveys with these target groups. 1. Expats- Expats, who are going to go abroad (e.g. their aspirations, aims, fears, hopes and, most importantly, their opinion on how a perfect preparation should be like.)- Expats, who are currently abroad (e.g. their current challenges, whether they participated in some kind of preparation and if it was adequate to prepare them for those challenges)- Expats, who just got home from abroad and especially those, who terminated their mobility earlier than planned. (e.g. their experiences and difficulties during the mobility, especially reasons (e.g. whether they do have preparation programs, what components they include and how successful they are)2. Companies, who work with expats (e.g. whether they have some kind of integration programs for their employees and incoming expats and how successful they are)There will be a minimum of 25 surveys per partner and per target group (Expats and companies), so 50 surveys per partner, thus 250 surveys in total.There will also be a minimum of 12 interviews conducted by each partner, so 60 interviews in total.The aim of the research, the surveys and interviews is to identify and categorize:1. The most crucial factors in the different areas (such as intercultural competence, language, building a social environment, psychological aspects, etc.), which lead to severe problems or early termination of mobility.2. The factors/components which should be included in every expat preparation program3. The factors/components which should be included in every integration program for incoming expatsThe final aim is the Elaboration of a report which summarizes all findings from the surveys and interviews. This analysis will reflect the real situation of abroad assignments as well as a list of recommendations or best practices to improve this kind of professional mobility in all the countries involved (Germany, Italy, Belgium and Spain). For this reason, we expect significant findings, as there will be a deeper knowledge of the key factors which guarantee a successful expatriate assignment.The participants can use the results in order to improve the quality of their work, intercultural communication skills and the success of their foreign assignments. The project partners benefit from the project from gaining insights regarding education paths in other countries, establishing and broadening their international network and moreover, they can use the results as a basis for further projects in this area, such as the design of a preparation/integration program, that contains all of the most crucial factors that were found during this project and to use it.The results will be disseminated even after the project has ended, so its sustainability implies results in the short and long-term. Also, every person with whom the results are shared, can use them for their own creation of preparation/integration programs. Besides, the participation of project partners in international networks ensures its incorporation and multiplier transfers to other people interested in or even companies which want to develop good strategies for their present or future expats.