German College group tours Falkirk Campus

Students and staff from Berufliches Schulzentrum für Agrarwirtschaft und Ernährung Dresden (BSZ AE DD) visited Forth Valley College’s Falkirk Campus recently.

Around 40 students and two staff from the BSZ AE DD made the trip on Friday 18 September, marking the sixth time the German institution has visited in recent years.

The group enjoyed a two hour programme which included a campus tour and time to try out the Skills Transition Centre’s state of the art simulators and Virtual Reality kit. The 40 students were split into four groups and the tours were kindly supported by staff members Jamie Allan, FVC’s Global Partnerships Manager, Laura Fraser the College’s Skills Transition Centre Project Manager, and STEM and Construction Curriculum Managers Des McCabe and Graeme Williamson.

As part of the visit, BSZ students also had the chance to learn more about FVC’s pathways for international students, with two already indicating a desire to study here from 2027. 

Looking ahead, both institutions are keen to strengthen links through collaborative projects, particularly in areas such as Industrial Biotechnology and FVC’s exciting BSc Brewing and Distilling programme. With the college now seeking to rejoin the Erasmus+ programme, it is hoped that FVC students and staff may be able to visit Dresden some point in the future.

Ralph Laspe, Counsellor, PE and English teacher from BSZ who led the trip, said: “We were all deeply impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities and the incredible range of opportunities available to students at Forth Valley College. Touring the various workshops and learning areas was a real highlight, particularly because of the enthusiastic lecturers who shared their expertise and passion with us. Testing out the VR suites of the college was a fantastic experience for our students. We are already looking forward to returning next year."

Jamie Allan, Global Partnerships Manager of Forth Valley College, said:
"It is always a pleasure to host our colleagues and students from BSZ AE DD, and we are proud to have welcomed them for a sixth time. Visits such as this underline the importance of international partnerships in enriching the student experience, broadening horizons and building pathways for future collaboration in fields where we have common expertise and interest."

“The visit further cements Forth Valley College’s commitment to international engagement and to creating opportunities for learners from across Europe and beyond.”