First Wales-Spain Work Based Learning Exchange 

The first Wales-Spain work-based learning placements ended successfully today with the return of two vocational learners to Spain following eight weeks in Wales working with companies specialising in the installation and maintenance of renewable energy systems.

Both Manel Margalef Mateu (21) and Martí Montagut Martí (22) are coming to the end of a three-year course focusing on the industrial maintenance of equipment adapted to the renewable energy sector at the Institut Pere Martell, Tarragona in Spain.  An assessed work placement is a compulsory part of their course. 

Their college, the Institut Pere Martell, has been organising work placements for their final year students for a number of years, at home in Spain and also in France and Finland. But this is the first time that they have worked with companies in Wales:  Manel and Martí were the only ones of their group to come to Britain.

Martí was placed with Neath-based Solar Installations Wales, following initial contact with the company by Gower College Swansea and Manel was placed with Green Home Wales based on the Gower.

Both trainees have been involved in a whole range of renewable energy installations and have become practiced in assembling and maintaining solar electricity and solar hot water systems, heat pumps and high pressure unvented hot water cylinders.

Gareth Thomas, Company Director at Solar Installations Wales reported that Martí adapted to new tasks well and improved in skill and confidence throughout the programme. Softer skills, too, were an important aspect of fitting into the team, and Martí got along well with the team as well as with the customers. His English improved in leaps and bounds over the course of his stay.

Manel’s placement with Green Home Wales was clearly a highly successful match.  Manel has made good friends among the Green Home team and was complimented by many clients.  He made such a good impression that the company offered to extend his placement. 

Green Home Wales Company Director, Dee McCullough, said: “I can’t believe that the time is over!  We will definitely miss Manel – we did try to persuade him to stay a little longer!”

Coordinated in Wales by ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, the work placements were the first of a series being organised for students from Europe to come to Wales for international work-based learning and vice versa: Welsh students will soon have opportunities to have work placements in Europe.

Vocational and cultural exchanges between Wales and Europe are increasing. Usually, a group of students visits a foreign country accompanied by their tutor for a few days whilst staying in a hotel.

But this new work-based learning exchange scheme is much more ambitious and challenging for learners. This scheme offers work experience for individual students in the workplace. Their tutors settle them in to the host country but then return home, leaving the learners to fend for themselves. They have to cope on their own in a foreign country, communicate in an unfamiliar language, get along with work colleagues in a new environment, and sometimes, with a local family.

Chief Executive of ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, John Graystone, said: “ColegauCymru is working hard to provide opportunities for learners in Wales to broaden their horizons and find their place in the global economy.

“This was the first time that ColegauCymru has coordinated work placements for students from other countries in Europe. I am delighted that it has proved a success for the two Welsh companies, the students, and their college in Spain. It augurs well for future international placements between Wales and other countries in Europe. Indeed, another three work placement students are arriving from Spain today.

“I am looking forward to expanding these opportunities to Wales and to Welsh learners.”
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Contact: Sylvia Davies on 029 2052 8384 or 07968 771913.
Notes to editors:

1. ColegauCymru / CollegesWales used to be called fforwm. It is a national educational charity that represents all 21 further education (FE) colleges and institutions in Wales. Its mission is to raise the profile of further education with key decision-makers to improve opportunities for learners in Wales. For further information about ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, and the colleges it represents, visit www.colegaucymru.ac.uk or www.collegeswales.ac.uk
2. Solar Installations Wales, Neath, is a company that takes a whole solution approach to renewable, working with domestic, farming or commercial customers. 
3. Green Home Wales, Swansea, offers design, supply, installation and maintenance services in renewable energies to private householders, businesses, housing associations, the public sector, charities and community groups.
4. The work placements have been funded through the Erasmus internship programme, sourced by the Institut Pere Martell in Spain.