A Mansfied college welcomed visitors from Estonia

Principals from two colleges almost 3,000 miles apart met in Mansfield to look at the different styles of education curriculums, administration and management between the UK and Estonia.

West Nottinghamshire College’s principal and chief executive Andrew Cropley welcomed Raini Jõks, principal of the Tartu Vocational Education Centre (TVEC) in Estonia, and four of his senior executive team members to the college in Mansfield.

Arne Küüt, head of automotive department, Mariann Karja, vocational curriculum manager, Andrew Cropley, principal and chief executive of West Nottinghamshire College, Raini Jõks, principal of the Tartu Vocational Education Centre, Silver Püvi, head of IT support and Berit Hipponen, director of HRplaceholder image
Arne Küüt, head of automotive department, Mariann Karja, vocational curriculum manager, Andrew Cropley, principal and chief executive of West Nottinghamshire College, Raini Jõks, principal of the Tartu Vocational Education Centre, Silver Püvi, head of IT support and Berit Hipponen, director of HR

Thanks to the Erasmus+ European study and cultural exchange programme, West Nottinghamshire College and TVEC students and staff have enjoyed a number of exchanges.

Every year since 2016, construction and catering students have taken part in work placements at the Kutsehariduskeskus, a vocational college in Estonia.

And now it was the turn of the Estonian college staff to visit the UK on a three-day educational fact-finding mission.

During the visit they were introduced to the many systems which West Nottinghamshire College has in place to give its students and staff a first-class experience.

During the visit Mr Jõks and his colleagues spoke with West Nottinghamshire College executive members about the management systems it has in place.

This was followed by a visit to the college’s Engineering Innovation Centre in Kirkby and the Construction Centre in Sutton.

Raini Jõks said: “We’re really thankful to our hosts at West Notts College.

“We’ve been made to feel very welcome and it’s been incredibly useful to see how people work here.”

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