FVC Global Partnership Manager speaks at UK policy seminar

Forth Valley College’s Global Partnership Manager was invited to give a presentation at a recent British Council Going Global Partnerships (GGP) UK Policy Seminar, at the City of Glasgow College recently.

Jamie Allan was one of three speakers from the Scottish Further Education Sector who spoke on the morning of Wednesday 5 February, on ‘Innovative Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) colleges models – Delivering impactful industry-led TVET for a greener future’ and providing ‘Insights of innovative FE provision in the greening of skills through industry partnerships’.

Titled ‘Developing industry-led Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) for a greener future’, the seminar took place from 4-6 February and welcomed delegations from Bangladesh, Botswana, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

It aimed to provide a unique opportunity for policy makers and educational leaders in GGP countries to build their understanding of key aspects of the UK’s skills systems, explore how the UK’s approaches might help inform the development of their own skills systems, and forge mutually beneficial relationships with leading UK and international stakeholders.  

The event included a range of expert speakers, visits to employers, interactive workshops, and a visit to an FE College. The programme also included formal and informal networking, including an initial ice-breaking session and dedicated time in the programme for networking. It focused on identifying specific approaches and innovations to help ensure that TVET funding can be directed in the right ways to equip current and future workforces with the skills that countries need to thrive.

The British Council fed back that Jamie’s presentation was extremely well received by delegates. This led to an impromptu visit to FVC’s Falkirk and Stirling campuses on Friday 7 February by Ellie Utterson, TVET Consultant for the British Council, Dr Sabrina Iranah, Director of the Design and Innovation Academy of Mauritius, and Yan Hookoomsing, Head of Sustainability for HSBC Mauritus, before they flew back the next day (picture attached separately)

Jamie, said: “It was a privilege to be able to speak to over 13 countries’ delegates who were enthusiastically engaged on the presentation topic. With our leading position in the TVET Energy and STEM areas, there were some great questions posed about how we could support their needs, offer our valuable insight and experience, and partner to develop particular projects in the energy transition space.

“The colleagues from Mauritius who visited the College on Friday 7 February, were specifically interested in where we can support their blue economy and creative industries opportunities, and I look forward to continuing those discussions going forward.”