Telford training centre selected for EU education project

The Polymer Training and Innovation Centre (PTIC) has been selected to share its expertise with polymer organisations in Europe.

The Telford-based training centre is working with companies in both Slovakia and Austria to help develop and streamline educational programmes in the plastics industry across Europe.

The 18-month project, entitled ‘Transfer of Learning Standards in the Plastics Sector’, has been funded through the Leonardo De Vinci programme. Led by the Slovak Plastics Cluster, it is hoped the project will contribute to the practical implementation of a European qualification framework. 

Participants will work towards compiling a guide for vocational education in the plastics industry, an electronic multilingual vocational dictionary, an educational programme for teachers, lecturers and trainers from plastic producing companies and project website.

As part of the project the PTIC will be welcoming representatives from Slovakia and Austria in July, when they will be sharing best practice in training skills.  A working group will also examine expertise in the qualification and curriculum-planning sector.

“We are delighted to be involved in this important project, and sharing our knowledge to support other countries in developing their polymer industries,” commented Director of Employment Skills and Commercial Delivery, Georgina Parker.

“We hope this project will lead to further commercial activities between the European nations and create a platform for real employee mobility in the field of plastic production.”

PTIC, based in Telford, was set up by City of Wolverhampton College in 2010 and is an internationally recognised centre of excellence, training around 800 polymer sector employees each year.

The centre boasts over £1m of specialist equipment and offers high quality training and consultancy across all the major plastic processes, including injection moulding, blow moulding and extrusion training.