THE principals of two leading international colleges were in Kendal this week to mark the launch of a new partnership.

Louis Van Niekere, of the College of Cape Town, South Africa, and Odd Henning Johanneson, of Hauguland College, Norway, met with Kendal College principal Graham Wilkinson to sign an official memorandum.

It is hoped the partnership will open up exciting opportunities for the colleges to work together to deliver vocational training and education.

It will also include collaborations between students, staff and college management both remotely and through cultural exchange visits.

" It’s about promoting a similar ethos and competition between the colleges to raise standards,” said Mr Wilkinson, who added they would be working together to enter the WorldSkills final in Brazil next year.

The first contact between the College of Cape Town and Kendal College occurred in 2012 at a Quality Conference in South Africa, where Mr Johanneson was impressed by a Kendal College presentation.

“We liked what we saw and were very interested with the way they work with ICT,” he said.

“Our colleges share the same subjects so we asked if we could come visit and are now looking forward to working together in the future.”

Mr Niekere added: “I’m excited to be here and to see what can happen in the future.”