FVC Strengthens International Partnership with South Africa through British Council Going Global Partnerships Programme

Forth Valley College (FVC) has strengthened its international partnership with South Africa through a British Council funded, Going Global Partnerships Programme, TVET International Skills Partnership.

Working with Ekurhuleni West TVET College (EWC) in South Africa, the £29,000 project has focused on clean energy and green hydrogen, combining knowledge exchange, curriculum development, continuing professional development (CPD), and technical expert insights, to strengthen institutional and workforce capability.

The partnership is designed to address shared skills challenges and support the development of the workforce needed for the emerging clean energy and hydrogen economy.

Representing FVC during the programme visit to South Africa were Jamie Allan, Global Partnership Manager, and Martin Purnell, Lecturer in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. They were joined by Dr Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu of Heriot-Watt University, FVC’s industry project partner, who provided specialist academic expertise to support the clean energy, green hydrogen project.

Building capability for the clean energy transition

The intensive programme brought together academic staff, senior leaders, industry and national skills stakeholders, creating opportunities for genuine two-way exchange between the Scottish and South African partners.

The FVC delegation visited EWC’s Germiston, Kempton and Kathorus campuses, meeting senior leaders, campus management teams and lecturers. The visits provided a deeper understanding of both countries’ technical and vocational education systems and identified opportunities to share approaches, expertise and good practice.

A key focus was strengthening teaching capability in response to emerging clean energy and green hydrogen technologies. FVC and its academic partner delivered CPD and technical knowledge exchange with EWC electrical lecturers, sharing approaches to teaching and learning while exploring the technical skills required by the developing hydrogen economy.

The partnership is also supporting the review and development of four new hydrogen programmes at EWC. FVC and Heriot-Watt University have provided expert input, with the programmes now progressing through the relevant South African approval processes.

Importantly, the work goes beyond curriculum development. It is strengthening the institutional capability and lecturer capacity needed to deliver emerging clean energy provision sustainably over the longer term.

Connecting education and industry

Industry engagement was another important element of the programme. The delegation visited Isondo Precious Metals and Air Products South Africa, providing insight into green hydrogen technologies and the skills and workforce requirements emerging across industry.

The exchange was deliberately two-way.

FVC shared its experience of developing direct, employer-responsive relationships that inform curriculum, facilities and workforce development. In return, FVC colleagues gained valuable insight into the South African TVET system, EWC’s approach to technical education and the role of South Africa’s Sector Education and Training Authorities in connecting national skills priorities, employers and education providers.

The programme culminated in a national knowledge exchange seminar hosted by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), with representatives from the Department of Higher Education and Training, the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA), Vhembe TVET College and the University of South Africa.

The seminar placed the partnership’s learning within the wider South African skills landscape, generating discussion around qualifications, quality assurance, clean energy skills, curriculum development and the role of TVET in supporting economic and industrial development.

From project to long-term partnership

A significant outcome of the programme has been the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FVC and EWC.

Signed at the UK Department for Business and Trade offices in Johannesburg, and hosted by Chim Chalemera, Director for Southern Africa at the Department for Business and Trade, the agreement provides a framework for the relationship to continue beyond the initial British Council-funded project.

Future collaboration could span curriculum and staff development, student engagement, entrepreneurship, digital learning and wider technical disciplines.

FVC Principal Kenny MacInnes said: “We are delighted to sign this important Memorandum of Understanding with a dynamic South African College such as Ekurhuleni West TVET College and are excited to see how the relationship progresses over the coming weeks and months. It is essential for Forth Valley College to participate in British Council projects such as these, to maintain a high profile and to showcase our expertise on a global stage. I would like to thank Jamie Allan our Global Partnership Manager and Lecturer Martin Purnell for working on this project, which will undoubtedly conclude successfully.”

Jamie Allan, Global Partnership Manager at FVC, said: “The British Council International Skills Partnership has provided an excellent platform for developing a genuinely collaborative relationship with Ekurhuleni West TVET College. While our initial focus has been on hydrogen and clean energy education, it quickly became clear that both institutions share a much broader ambition to work together in developing the skills needed by industry.

“The £29,000 investment from the British Council has enabled us to build relationships that will have a lasting impact beyond the lifetime of the project. Signing this Memorandum of Understanding marks the beginning of what we believe will be a long-term partnership that delivers real benefits for learners, staff, employers and both institutions. There is strong alignment between our employer-led approach to technical education and South Africa's ambitions to strengthen skills provision in support of economic growth and the energy transition.”

Pertunia Mothiba, Skills Programme Manager (TVET), British Council, South Africa, said: “The South Africa visit was an important milestone in the partnership, providing an opportunity to move beyond planning and dialogue into practical knowledge exchange and collaboration. The visit brought the partnership to life by creating opportunities for colleagues from Forth Valley College and Ekurhuleni West TVET College to engage directly with one another around the development of clean energy and hydrogen skills. Through engagement with college leadership, campus teams and lecturers, as well as visits to industry partners, the delegation was able to gain a deeper understanding of the skills requirements emerging from the clean energy sector.

The visit also demonstrated the value of international partnerships in strengthening lecturer capability, supporting curriculum development and building stronger connections between TVET institutions and industry. The signing of the MoU provides an important foundation for this relationship to continue beyond the initial funded intervention and to deliver longer-term value for learners, staff and industry.”

The next phase

The partnership now moves into its next phase, with colleagues from EWC expected to make a reciprocal visit to Scotland later this year.

The visit will continue the two-way exchange, giving EWC colleagues the opportunity to explore Scotland’s hydrogen and clean energy landscape, experience FVC’s employer-led approach to technical education and identify approaches that could be adapted to the South African context.

Further activity is expected to include lecturer CPD, expert knowledge transfer, curriculum support and building the capacity required to implement the four hydrogen programmes.

Through the Going Global Partnerships TVET International Skills Partnership, the British Council has provided FVC and EWC with a platform to address shared skills challenges, strengthen institutional and workforce capability and establish a sustainable relationship beyond the initial funded programme.

With the South African visit completed, reciprocal activity planned and a strategic MoU now in place, the partnership provides a strong foundation for continued collaboration and long-term benefits for learners, staff and industry in both countries.

International Skills Partnerships are funded as part of the British Council Going Global Partnerships Programme. Further information is available through the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships and Going Global Partnerships TVET programme pages.

https://www.britishcouncil.org/education/skills-employability/opportunities/going-global-partnerships-tvet-grant-call-2026

https://www.britishcouncil.org/education/skills-employability/programme/going-global-partnerships-tvet 

The photo shows from left to right Jamie Allan, Chim Chalemera (Regional Director Southern Africa - Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), Frank Duarte – Deputy Principal, Ekurhuleni West TVET College, Pertunia Mothiba (Programme Manager, TVET South Africa – British Council)