Emtec to develop centre in China
Emtec Colleges Ltd is developing a specialist Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) assessment centre in China after winning a new contract in Nottingham’s sister city of Ningbo.
Emtec, a division of Central College Nottingham which specialises in automotive training, has partnered with Ningbo Vocational Educational Centre School (VEC) for the project. The development of the IMI Assessment Centre at VEC will enable young people in China to be trained to the high technical standards required in the global automotive marketplace.
Stephen Turner, sector development manager (automotive) at Emtec, recently became the first person to qualify as an IMI International Regional Quality Assurer. As a result he is responsible for quality assurance of Emtec’s work as the provider of IMI training in China. Stephen has since travelled to Ningbo to carry out the IMI centre approval process at VEC.
This project was conceived in September 2015 during a visit to Nottingham by Ningbo leaders. The contract was signed following a meeting with director general Shen of the Ningbo Education Bureau and school leaders in Ningbo in June 2016. The project will take place over the next three years and the recruitment of new students will begin in September 2016. The next step will commence with five members of staff from Ningbo VEC travelling to Nottingham in early September to undergo an intensive three week training course at Emtec.
Andy Moore, managing director for Emtec Colleges Ltd said, ‘Emtec is continually working to expand its China provision. The benefits to the East Midlands’ regional economy in terms of sharing best practice and opening up the market in China are really exciting. On the flipside it will also help us develop more of a global market focus when devising future apprenticeships for employers here in the UK.
‘The strong link that exists through the successful sister city relationship with Ningbo is a great boost to this education partnership, along with the cultural exchange that is reinforced during each reciprocal visit.’
