SOUTH West College is to develop and deliver education and training courses for the automotive industry in partnership with an institution in China.
A `memorandum of understanding' has been signed between SWC and Wuxi Vocational and Technical Higher School of Automotive Engineering.
It forms part of SWC's growing international education strategy.
It is hoped the partnership will benefit the wider automotive industry by helping address the global skills shortage.
SWC Chief Executive Michael McAlister said Wuxi School had an exceptional reputation in China, having forged a close partnership with the BMW Group and the Chinese Ministry of Education, winning the delivery contracts for three major projects.
"The school is also cooperating with the AHK Shanghai Representative Office (AHK) and Wuxi Commercial Building Group Dongfang Automobile Co Ltd. to carry out the development of a pilot project of modern apprenticeship to train highly-skilled personnel in automotive technology and we are delighted to be a part of this partnership," he said.
The project will improve the mutual understanding and delivery of world-class professional education and training in automotive industry skills through joint initiatives in curriculum development and delivery.
Partners will benefit from collaboration on curriculum design with the specific aim of developing a ‘sandwich’ programme at Level 4, enabling Chinese students to spend a year in the UK; and to share knowledge, expertise and experience in industry engagement.
