High profile Chinese delegation visit Coleg y Cymoedd

Coleg y Cymoedd have benefited from hosting an international event of high profile delegates designed to improve partnerships between the UK and China.

As part of a wrap-up event during the ‘UK-China People to People Dialogue’ the college hosted a vocational education roundtable and student showcase to 30 further education professionals from across the UK and China.

The delegation of high profile visitors which included council members, Principals and Presidents of colleges and schools from Chongqing in China was welcomed by Judith Evans, Principal of Coleg y Cymoedd.

China UK People to People Dialogue is an initiative to explore the benefits of international partnerships with particular focus on skills for employability. All representatives have participated in the UK-China Principal Shadowing Programme and developed UK-China college partnerships.

Coleg y Cymoedd has participated in successful skills for employability projects such as the ‘Principals’ Job Shadowing Programme’ and delivering a ‘Train the Trainer’ programme to staff in China on the principles and practices of Work Based Learning.

The delegation were given an insight into the experience of teaching in the UK first hand by Alice Likelei, who is currently at Coleg y Cymoedd on a job shadowing programme in partnership with Chongqing City Management College.

Principal Judith Evans participated in a ‘round table’ event with the delegation to discuss how international partnerships impact on skills development in relation to achievements and impact, challenges and responses and further recommendations.

All participants took part in a discussion as to how further collaboration opportunities areas can be developed in next three years. Discussions were learner centred and focused on how international partnerships impact on skills development and how colleges can support more young people to benefit from international learning.

The visit also included a student showcase to celebrate and demonstrate the achievements of learners from both UK and Chinese colleges with a focus on partnership activities that best demonstrate student confidence, creativity and entrepreneurship.

Coleg y Cymoedd International Officer Kath Bishop said: “It is fantastic for the college to be part of this scheme to improve partnerships between ourselves and China. The opportunity to network with other experts in UK-China collaborations in the vocational sector helps us to build on the excellent work we are already doing, and scope new areas to focus on that will benefit learners both in Wales and China.”

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