Coleg Ceredigion recently offered a hearty Bienvenue to twelve Engineering students from the Lycée Professionnel Julien de Balleure, Chalon-sur-Saône in Burgundy.  The students, accompanied by two members of staff visited Coleg Ceredigion’s Cardigan Campus to gain a taste of Wales and to develop their linguistic skills.

The visit was arranged by John Jones, Engineering Lecturer at Coleg Ceredigion, and his French counterpart Mdme Nadine Perceau.  The students enjoyed a very busy itinerary during their visit, which began with a “Taste of Wales” themed meal at Coleg Ceredigion’s Park Place Restaurant, prepared and served by the college’s Catering students.  Present at the lunch were Principal Jacqui Weatherburn, Allison Coleman, Chair of Governors, and Cllr Catrin Miles, Mayor of Cardigan. Also visiting the college was the Vice-Principal of Julien de Balleure, M. Mathieu Liegault and the Head of Vocational training M. Rachel Maricq.

Activities during the stay included visits to the ski and toboggan slopes at Gwersyll yr Urdd, Llangrannog, the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea and the Museum of Internal Fire at Tanygroes.  The students were given a tour of the various departments at the Cardigan Campus and spent some time in the Motor Vehicle workshops working with their Welsh counterparts.

Following the visit, John Jones thanked  his colleagues at Coleg Ceredigion who had helped with the visit, particularly those who had accommodated the French party during their visit.  He also wished to thank the various shops and people in Cardigan who had welcomed and helped the French students.  This was the second time that students from Julien de Balleure have visited Cardigan, with Coleg Ceredigion students having travelled to Chalon-sur-Saône in April 2011.  He was sure that many a friendship had been formed and hoped that this link would continue for many years to come.