18th June 2018
The College established a partnership to develop the marine leisure industry in South Korea last year.
The South Korean leisure marine industry has seen significant growth over the past 10 years, which has now led to a skills gap emerging within the service/repair and aftersales industry. South Korea has developed an excellent infrastructure to support leisure boating and with the experience of South Devon College is now set to develop a quality-training programme for future technicians. This will further improve the leisure boating experience and create additional opportunities for employment within this growing industry.
Chung Hwan Kim is the project lead and organiser of the South Korean International Boat Show. Chung Hwan has special status within the marine sector, due to the growing success of the marine leisure industry. The Provincial Government are now reforming technical vocational training due to the success of the partnership. Currently, Korea has excellent infrastructure for higher education and efforts are being made to match it for vocational training.
Mr Ahn (Manager for ARA Marina) and Mr HG Kim (Technical Trainer) visited the College as part of the phase 1 ‘train the trainer’ package.
Steve Caunter Assistant Principal at South Devon College said, “This exciting initiative is allowing us to support an important strategic aim for the South Korean boating and marine industry. By working in collaboration and sharing best practice we can all gain in raising the standards in this industry.
“The project has the potential to develop further courses to include higher-level engine diagnostic training and marina and boatyard training skills.”
South Devon Marine Academy is recognised as a centre of excellence for both on and off the water marine training with a wide breadth of vocational and higher education courses for the marine sector; including marine engineering, boatbuilding and marina and boat yard operations, together with sailing and powerboat license courses.
For more information on South Devon Marine Academy email [email protected] or call 08000 380 123