Our International Services team gives support by providing our members and partners with information, guidance, training and development with the intention of removing any barriers preventing successful cross-border co-operation and working. We have worked with a range of international partners and are able to utilise these for the benefit of our members and domestic partners. 

EMFEC’s commitment to supporting the international dimension in learning and skills has continued with a number of projects and activities as highlighted below.

EMVET - China Links

Co-ordinated by EMFEC, the EMVET (East Midlands Vocational Education and Training) Group comprises a membership of nine colleges from the region.  Its purpose is to provide an overarching identity for the promotion of VET and English language courses offered by East Midlands FE colleges and a framework for collaboration for international partnership working.

Priority areas for collaboration are:

·      In-country training in the full range of VET curriculum areas;

·      Construction, Motor Vehicle, Land-based, Engineering, Electronics, Business  Management, Travel and Tourism, Health and Social Care, Motor sport, Footwear, Printing, Childcare, Sports Science, Hospitality and Catering, CAD-CAM;

·      English Language training for specific purposes (eg Business English);

·      Preparation and implementation of training courses for Chinese employees and trainees wishing to work in the UK and the wider global economy as well as working in international companies established in China;

·      Marketing of UK VET colleges and courses for employees, students and trainees wishing to study in the UK.

It was decided that the Group would take advantage of the long-established partnership between the East Midlands and Sichuan of China and continue to develop more substantial links with VET institutions in that Province.  Six colleges sent representatives to Chengdu and Chongching in early April, visiting a range of Sichuan VET colleges, covering a number of vocational disciplines.

Having secured financial support from the Prime Minister’s Initiative 2 Fund, a return inbound mission of Chinese educationalists will take place during November 2008. 

Languages for Tourism - modules on CD-Rom for those working in, or training to work in, the UK tourism industry

As part of an innovative project aimed at improving the language skills of the UK's tourism sector, EMFEC has produced language learning modules in CD-Rom format which, unlike traditional language learning modules that target those travelling abroad as tourists, are unique in that they equip people currently working within the sector and travel and tourism students with the appropriate language skills to give a warmer welcome to those inbound tourists whose first language is not English.  They are available in French (intermediate level) and Spanish, German and Italian (for beginners) and the training package features:

• Introduction, including tips for language learning
• Tourist Attractions module
• Accommodation Providers module
• Tourist Information Office module
• Travel and Transport module
• Reference and Grammar section

Included within the price of the CD-Rom is a range of supplementary texts with tourism-related scenarios and vocabulary in addition to integrated assignments to assess the progression of the learner towards National Language Standards, on which Awarding Bodies' accreditation is based. In its initial phase, the project was funded by European Social Fund Objective 3 monies, co-financed by the Nottinghamshire Learning and Skills Council.  Loughborough College was involved in the development of the language content of the modules and the Project Steering Group included representation from Nottingham Trent University and Experience Nottinghamshire.  The materials have been awarded both a 'European Award for Languages' (2004) and an 'East Midlands International Business Communication Award' (2006).  They have been trialled successfully with both employees within the tourism sector and travel and tourism students within Nottinghamshire FE colleges. 

For sample material please click here.