A BASINGSTOKE college has had a visit from its Chinese partners for a two-week programme.

Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) welcomed staff and 11 students from its partner college, the Jiangsu Food and Pharmaceutical Science College, in Jiangsu, China.

The students took part in a two week programme of English lessons and taster sessions, as well as having the chance to experience life in the UK.

The students also ate at The Restaurant at BCoT, had a tour of Basingstoke, and had days out to London, Bath, Winchester, Windsor and the University of Oxford.

The two colleges have held an annual school summer programme to develop the partnership they share and collaborate on various practices. While in Basingstoke, the Chinese students were able to see some of the college’s facilities, including hair, beauty, hospitality and animal management.

BCoT principal Anthony Bravo, who has led the college’s international development programme, said: “We have always seen this as a two-way partnership where our expertise and know-how are fully utilised to develop the English skills and advanced technical skills of our international visitors.

“However, this is very much a reciprocal partnership. There is much we can learn from the Chinese way of teaching and learning and when you firmly believe, as we do, that you can always improve your practice, then this partnership is as equally beneficial to the entire team here at BCoT as it is to our colleagues from Jiangsu.”