Education leaders from Taiwan have visited a Warwickshire college to discover how it works with employers to develop and deliver progressive technical apprenticeships.
Warwick Trident College, part of WCG (Warwickshire College Group), welcomed key decision makers from major universities in Taiwan as well as directors from the Department of Technological and Vocational Education of Taiwan's Ministry of Education (DTVEMOE).
The group of 22 delegates were greeted with an overview of the college before a presentation from Peter Husband, WCG’s Group Principal and Chief Operating Officer, on the electric vehicle apprenticeships delivered by WCG which focus on high-tech and green technology.
Guests were also given a tour of Warwick Trident’s Electric Vehicle Training Facility, led by Warwick Trident College Director Alan May.
The visit was recommended by The British Council to give delegates an insight into apprenticeships in high-tech and green technology due to Taiwan’s current focus on electric vehicles.
It came as part of a wider week-long visit to the UK to explore its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system and how this could be applied in Taiwan, as well as to develop knowledge on degree apprenticeships and how these can enhance the development pathways for technical and vocational talent.
WCG was selected to host the visit after previously welcoming a British Council delegation of visitors including government ministers and officials, training providers, employers, Further Education leaders and other key stakeholders from across the globe who were also looking to gain an insight into TVETs.
Ben Fairhurst, Head of International, FE Quality and Professional Studies at WCG, said: “It was a privilege and honour to welcome such high-profile visitors to Warwick Trident College to discuss our work in technical education.
“We pride ourselves on the strong relationships we have with employers right across the region, particularly in prominent sectors such as Electric Vehicles, to ensure we are delivering the skills to meet their current and future needs.
“The delegates were extremely engaged and it was a fantastic opportunity to not only showcase the work we are doing at WCG, but develop connections with our international partners in Taiwan.
“We hope that our visitors have gained an insight into the UK’s TVET delivery which will have a positive impact on their own education system.”
Yang Yu-Hui, Director General of the Department of Technological and Vocational Education within Taiwan's Ministry of Education, said: “This visit represents a significant milestone for both the United Kingdom and Taiwan in the field of technological and vocational education.”
President Yang Neng-Shu, of the National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, added: “We would like to express our gratitude to WCG and eagerly anticipate further academic collaboration and development with the college group in the coming future.”