The visit forms part of a British Council-supported Going Global Partnerships initiative between Northern Regional College and Northern Cape Rural TVET College, a technical and vocational education and training college with five campuses across South Africa’s Northern Cape region.
Representing Northern Regional College were Mark Walker, Principal Lecturer for Productivity and Sustainable Development, and Adam O’Boyle, Lecturer in Green Skills, Renewable Energy and Sustainability.
During the visit, college staff worked with colleagues at Northern Cape Rural TVET College on the co-development of introductory hydrogen curriculum modules, online learning resources and industry engagement case studies.
The project is designed to support practical training in hydrogen fuel cell technology and green energy systems, ensuring that learning is closely aligned with employer needs and future skills demand.
As part of the visit, they also travelled to the college’s Namaqualand campus, located in a key region for solar energy production.
Mark Walker, Principal Lecturer for Productivity and Sustainable Development at Northern Regional College, said the visit highlighted the value of international collaboration in preparing learners for emerging opportunities in the green economy.
He said: “It was a privilege to spend time with colleagues at Northern Cape Rural TVET College and to work together on a project with such strong relevance for both regions.
Mark added, “Although Northern Ireland and the Northern Cape are thousands of miles apart, we found that many of the challenges are very similar. Both colleges are focused on developing practical, industry-relevant training, supporting lecturers to build their knowledge, and creating clear employment pathways for students.
“This partnership is about sharing expertise, learning from one another and building a strong foundation for long-term collaboration in green skills.”
Adam O’Boyle, Lecturer in Green Skills, Renewable Energy and Sustainability at Northern Regional College, said: “This has been an incredibly worthwhile project to be involved in. The visit gave us the opportunity to work directly with colleagues who are committed to creating meaningful opportunities for their students and staff.
Adam added, “The welcome from Northern Cape Rural TVET College was outstanding, and we are very grateful to all of the stakeholders involved, including the British Council in South Africa and the Energy and Water Sector Education Training Authority. We are looking forward to continuing the work and welcoming our South African colleagues to Northern Ireland later this year.”
The next phase of the partnership will include further curriculum development, with colleagues from Northern Cape Rural TVET College expected to make a reciprocal visit to Northern Ireland in September.
A final project report will be submitted to the British Council, capturing the outcomes of the partnership, lessons learned and recommendations for future development.