Visiting Danish learners enjoying a day of outdoor team-building and intercultural exchange at the Kilfinane Outdoor Education and Training Campus.
Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board was delighted recently to welcome a group of 15 learners and 3 teachers from FGU Midt- og Østsjælland, Køge, Denmark for a week-long cultural and educational exchange that celebrated inclusion, diversity, and the shared values of learner support and opportunity. FGU Midt- og Østsjælland is a Danish school working with young people and shares many similarities with Limerick and Clare ETB’s Youthreach programme.
Students enjoyed a range of activities throughout their visit including an arts and crafts class and cooking class at the Hospital Campus.
This visit offered an inspiring opportunity to explore new ideas, build friendships, and foster mutual understanding between students and staff from both countries. The group was based at our College of FET Kilfinane Outdoor Education and Training Campus and over the course of the week, visited several College of FET campuses across Limerick and Clare.
The group received a tour of the Motor Technology programme from trainees at Limerick and Clare ETB’s College of FET, Hospital Campus.
Their itinerary included a visit to our College of FET, Hospital Campus, where learners engaged in art and cooking projects with local Youthreach students and trainees from the Motor Technology programme. The next day the Youthreach learners from the Hospital Hospital Campus made their way to Kilfinane Outdoor Education and Training Campus for a day of outdoor team-building and intercultural exchange with the Danish students.
Some of the visiting group getting a tour of our Green Innovation Campus at Roxboro.
The group also paid a visit to our College of FET, Kilmallock Road Campus, where they explored Apprenticeship, FAI Player Development LTI, Barista Skills, and spent time in classes and sports programmes with Youthreach learners. The next day they visited Limerick and Clare ETB’s College of FET, Raheen Campus, where they toured the innovative Xplore Hub, participated in a virtual welding workshop led by trainees, and then visited the Green Innovation Campus at Roxboro.
The visiting students took part in a virtual welding workshop led by trainees at our College of FET, Raheen Campus.
During their stay in Ireland the group also had the chance to take in the cultural sights of the local region, including Limerick’s Milk Market, King John’s Castle, and Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, immersing themselves in Irish heritage and hospitality.
The collaboration behind the visit traces back to an Erasmus+ event in Copenhagen in May 2024, which focused on inclusion in mobility opportunities for learners with fewer opportunities. From that initial connection, Limerick and Clare ETB hosted preparatory and job-shadowing visits in September and October 2024, laying the groundwork for this successful learner mobility experience.
Director of FET, Paul Patton chatting with the Danish students on their recent visit to our College of FET Raheen Campus.
Limerick and Clare ETB’s Director of Further Education and Training, Paul Patton, met with the group during their visit at the Raheen Campus and spoke about the breadth of opportunities in Further Education and Training in Ireland, highlighting the importance of partnership and learner-focused innovation in the sector.
The visiting students took part in lots of outdoor adventures during their visit to our Outdoor Education and Training centre in Kilfinane.
This visit not only fostered intercultural learning but also reinforced the value of collaboration across borders in the shared mission of inclusive, accessible education. A heartfelt thank you to all the learners, tutors, and staff across our various campuses who gave such a warm welcome and made this visit such a memorable and meaningful experience for our Danish visitors and let’s continue building connections and learning together.
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