1

INTERNATIONAL SKILLS PARTNERSHIPS PROJECT (ADVANCED PROJECT)

Vuselela TVET College, Taletso TVET College and Northern Regional College

21 May 2017 – 25 May 2018

2

PARTNERSHIP VISIT TO NORTHERN REGIONAL COLLEGE (NRC)

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

The ISP Foundation was a partnership between Northern Regional College (UK) and Vuselela

College (SA) with a common vision to enhance the student experience through

internalisation of the curriculum. Six staff and 60 students participated in a one year

“problem based learning” (PBL) project aimed at developing new, innovative, creative

curriculum in the fields of Travel & Tourism and Business Services. Both Colleges acted as a

host for six local businesses to participate.

The PBL project moved students from a theoretical understanding and develop their skills to

enable them to “hit the ground running” in industry sectors that have an in-build bias

towards entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation.

ADVANCED SKILLS PROJECT

The three colleges Northern Regional College (NRC), Vuselela College and Taletso College

embarked on an Advanced Project which would run between March 2018 until February

2019. Two Lecturing staff members from all three Colleges including 1 student, would

participate in a site-visit, One in UK and One in SA.

The common objectives of the project are: To develop a shared approach to problem based

learning, raise the level of student shared learning, enhance student employability skills and

provide a means for sustaining the international partnership beyond the project lifecycle.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Ms T.R. Mokaleng from Vuselela TVET College and Mr J.M Nkoane from Taletso TVET College

visited Northern Regional College in Northern Ireland from 21 May – 25 May 2018.

On the first day of the visit, we visited Farm Lodge Ballymena campus and spent the day

with Ms Karen McLeod (Tourism Lecturer). We had the opportunity to participate in the

World Host Service across cultures workshop and training session, which is designed to

increase awareness about visitors and customers from other cultures.

The tourism students also shared some of their experiences as “A Travel and Tourism

Student at NRC”- which allowed us to learn a bit more about some units of their

studies. The students also prepared food from different cultures which was shared

with us.

3

o Farm Lodge, Ballymena Campus

Tourism and Travel classroom

4

On the same day, we visited Galgorm Resort and Spa whereby the Marketing and

Promotions team did a presentation and gave us a brief background on the Resort as

well as an overview on the new digital marketing environment that Galgorm operate

in. This was followed by a group tour around the Galgorm Resort and Spa including

the “signature suite “ where famous blogger Casey Neistat with 8 million followers

filmed and showed Galgorm Manor and Ballymena the power of video in today’s

digital hospitality and tourism environment. Galgorm Manor and Spa endorses the

Level 3 students of Ballymena Travel and Tourism Work Experience programme.

Students from the class shared their experiences and the positive contribution and

opportunities they enjoyed.

Galgorm Resort and Spa enjoys patronage of International stars and Icons and they

pamper their clients with sheer service, with their Thermal Spa’s which are the very

first in Northern Ireland.

Galgorm Resort and Spa

5

DAY 2:

We went to Coleraine campus, and met with Anne McCallum, Business Studies

Lecturer to discuss Business Enterprise Development support for Tourism students

and to review the overall project action plan. We had a tour around campus and had

interactions with students.

Coleraine Campus Tour.

On the same afternoon, we returned to Farm lodge, Ballymena for a campus tour.

We visited the motor vehicle, Engineering, CNC and Robotics workshops. We were

shown a few demonstrations on some of the machines that the student uses in the

workshops.

6

Ballymena Campus Tour

Welding workshop

Computer Numerical Control Machine (CNC)

Robotics workshop

7

DAY 3: The Travel and Tourism students from Ballymena Campus and Coleraine campuses

organised a Game of Thrones Medieval Fantasy Tour of the Causeway Coast Legacy

project from ISP Foundation. The students showcased their tour guiding and event

planning skills during the tour.

The following places/ attractions were visited: Carrick-a-Rede, Carrick-a-Rede Rope

Bridge, Dark Hedges, Giant’s Causeway

Game of thrones tour

Gracehill house

Dark Hedges Balintoy Harbour

8

Carrick-a-rede (Rope Bridge)

Giant’s Causeway

Spotted famous kickboxer Conor

MacGregor

9

DAY 4:

We went to Trostan Avenue campus and visited different departments, including the

following:

- Hairdressing/barbering

- Beauty treatments

- Student Support (Ms Donna) – assisting learners with an identified physical or

learning difficulties to participate in their learning pathway.

- Digital Learning Team (supporting curriculum in developing on-line and blended

learning resources)

Trostan Avenue campus

10

Hair and beauty

Beauty Spar Reception

11

DAY 5:

We visited Newtownabbey campus and went on a campus tour at the following

departments:

- Social spaces

- Motor vehicle

- Engineering

- Digital Media

- Construction

- Animal care

The day was concluded with a meeting to discuss activities, visit report and action

plan.

Newtownabbey campus

Digital Games (Level 3)

12

Heavy vehicle workshop

Welding Workshop

13

Motor Mechanic Workshop

Woodwork workshop

Electrical workshop

14

Learning Centre

15

VALUE OF THE PARTNERSHIP

Strong management: Ensures that the project delivers the greatest impact possible at

all project activities.

Reach: The partnership has an impact in SA and UK not just at a local level, but at

national and international level through the extended network which each partner

brings. We have explored how models of good practice can be transferred across the

SA and further afield.

Building capacity: The scale of the cross-border activity in this partnership is best

utilised and built on the provision of networking, encouraging new partners to

contribute to its growing success and long term sustainability.

Employer engagement: Through direct engagement with employers, the developed

programmes are aligned with market needs and directly supports employers in

gaining employees with the right skills thus growing their workforce in line with their

needs.

Cultural development: Because there are so many partners and countries involved,

this project enhances the cultural understanding and capacity of the partners,

employers and employees.

Improved impact can be achieved by:

o Good practice case studies

o On-line materials and CPD

o Enhanced links with successful foundation projects

o A framework for mentoring partners new to the project

o Building on existing relationships with national skills agencies and policy

makers

o Further involvement of young people and employers

16

17

CONCLUSION

We would like to thank the British Council, The Minister of Higher Education and

training, College Principals and College Council for allowing us to visit the Northern

Regional College in Northern Ireland.

The visit to the Northern Regional College was a life changing experience and several

valuable lessons were learnt that can be implemented and will be of value at

Vuselela and Taletso TVET Colleges.

Through this International Skills Partnership Project the sharing of best practices and

knowledge between the UK and SA were of great value.

Carrickfergus Castle

18

Titanic Belfast

Report compiled by: Ms. Tsitsana Ruth Mokaleng (Vuselela TVET College- Tourism Studies Lecturer) Mr. Joseph Mputuka Nkoane (Taletso TVET College- Business Studies Lecturer).