Recognition

At an international conference organised by the British Council in Cairo to promote excellence in employment training in Africa and the Middle East, Pembrokeshire College and Coleg Gwent have won a British Council award for best practice in delivering an international project.

The inaugural British Council award was awarded to the project for the most outstanding skills partnership between the UK and the countries of North Africa and the Middle East.

Pictured are: Hanadi Al Suwaidi. SIT Assistant Director, Patrick Groves, Pembrokeshire College’s International Manager and Reham Mustafa, External relations Manager, at the British Council award ceremony in Cairo.

The Pembrokeshire College’s International manager Patrick Groves collected the award at the ‘Bringing the Learning Home’ event on a visit to Cairo during Egypt’s most recent civil unrest.

The project was delivered in collaboration between Pembrokeshire College, Coleg Gwent and Sharjah Institute of Technology. Its aim was to create a wide range of quality improvements and new directions in the Sharjah Institute of Technology by establishing close working relationships and the transfer of best practice between the institutions.

Working as the lead partner in a collaboration between Coleg Gwent and Sharjah Institute of Technology, Pembrokeshire College developed a project based on working closely with the staff at Sharjah.

Speaking from Cairo, Mr Groves said: ‘It is an honour to receive this award in recognition of the overseas work that we have been developing from Pembrokeshire College working with partners in Wales and overseas. Winning this award can only help raise the profile of this sort of collaboration; help local employers develop skilled workers and develop future employment opportunities.’