30th September 2024
Long-established networks met new contacts when South Devon College welcomed overseas colleagues on a visit from European colleges.
Five staff members from colleges in Germany, the Netherlands and Hungary visited the Paignton college as part of an information sharing trip, planning for the next round of the Business Game, a collaborative business simulation project, working with students from their respective colleges. The colleagues were visiting as part of their staff CPD (Continual Professional Development), made possible by their Erasmus funding.
Long-standing collaborators Matthias Kraski, from RBZ Wirtschaft, Kiel, and Tim Coleman from Rijn IJssel in Arnhem, were joined by new connections Gabriella Belényi, Tímea Kovács and Gabriella Sándor Kőszegi from Szegedi SZC Kőrösy József Közgazdasági Technikum in Hungary. They were warmly welcomed by college staff and participated in both cultural and educational activities, including a very important Devon tradition – cream tea!
The European visitors enjoy a traditional cream tea, accompanied by Antonia Wall from South Devon College
The European partner colleges all run vocational programmes, and the visitors wanted to immerse themselves in South Devon College’s Business curriculum, and to gain an insight into how the College runs its vocational courses. They met with Assistant Principal, Steve Caunter, who gave them an introduction to apprenticeship standards, programme criteria, finances, and how working alongside external employers adds value to provisions.
During the three-day trip, they observed three classes, including one apprenticeship programme with Business Lecturer, Karolina Nowakowska, and two High School Business and Admin lessons with Business Lecturer, Lynsey Mizen-Shaw.
They also attended a staff team meeting focusing on curriculum planning in the Business department, led by Andrew Faulkner, Programme Coordinator for Business and Professional at South Devon College.
The visitors received a tour of the College, including meeting the various residents in the Animal Unit, and viewing the ground-breaking facilities at the Marine Academy at Noss Marina.
A visit to the Marine Academy at Noss Marina, with South Devon College staff members Richard Stratford, Sarah Al-Humaidi and Antonia Wall
Matthias Kraski said: “Our visit at South Devon College was amazing! This was the first time I visited after Brexit. Due to the change in the funding rules and very complicated rules for student exchanges, we had to stop our internship and exchange projects with the UK in recent years. We are so happy to have the opportunity to restart our Business Games with South Devon College.
“Learning abroad is always a great opportunity to experience things that you would never experience at home – for students and teachers. South Devon College is an outstanding college where I saw a lot of interesting ideas to deal with challenges we all have to face, such as inclusion, democratic values, and motivation of students and teachers. I brought a lot of ideas back home and I am looking forward to welcoming students and teachers from South Devon to Kiel in the future.”
The trip included an in-person planning meeting for the Business Game in the next academic year, involving James McCauley, Deputy Head of South Devon High School.
The Turing and Erasmus funded event is a business simulation, where students join partner colleges across Europe with a goal of establishing a hypothetical business using specially-designed software – it simulates a real-world business environment in which learners gain experience in selling products and services during team collaboration. South Devon College students are looking forward to taking part in the new Business Game this academic year.
After the productive working days, there was some much-needed downtime for the team. They visited Dartmouth, took a ride on the Babbacombe Cliff Railway, and listened to live music over a meal at a local restaurant.
Building new connections over a meal
Tímea Kovács commented: “We spent three wonderful days in Paignton visiting South Devon College. During our stay we had an insight into the English structure of education, the versatile profile of the College and the enthusiastic and innovative work they do.
“We also had the opportunity to arrange the Erasmus Business Games for the next school year. We were able to return to Hungary with great ideas and plans for future cooperation, wonderful memories of the trips around Paignton and new friendships with our English, German and Dutch colleagues. Thank you for the school administration, especially Antonia Wall, for the useful and enjoyable program.”
The visit was a valuable networking event, making new connections and partnerships, and will ensure further collaboration in the future, offering new international travel opportunities to South Devon College students.
Antonia Wall, Senior Project Coordinator at South Devon College, said: “It was an honour to host our international colleagues at South Devon College. We had an action-packed three days full of tours, lesson observations, meet and greets, exchange planning and, of course, we shared lots of traditional British foods with our guests.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to engage with our international friends here as well as developing and strengthening our partnerships that will benefit us all in the future.”
