Beatriz Correa Sola and Marta Cayrols Cervera showcase their delicious cakes with Slice of Heaven Managing Director Heather Boyle and manager Gareth Brown and SERC International Project Manager Elaine McKeown.

South Eastern Regional College (SERC) played host to two Spanish students as part of an international placement programme funded by Erasmus+.

Beatriz Correa Sola and Marta Cayrols Cervera from FEGREPPA College in Valencia, had the unique opportunity to participate in classes with SERC’s professional cookery students where they got the opportunity to work in the Colleges very own commercial restaurants and experience first-hand the Northern Ireland cuisine.

The duo also enjoyed a two-week work placement at Miel et Moi where they experienced life in a flagship kitchen and the production of a very varied menu. The duo also spent two weeks at Slice of Heaven Bakery in Newtownards preparing high quality bakery and patisserie goods.

SERC International Project Manager Elaine McKeown explains: “The aim of the exchange was to provide opportunities for the students to develop professional skills and English language proficiency, as well as increase the students understanding and tolerance of other cultures.”

Elaine went on to explain the programme further, “During the four weeks, students got the opportunity to experience amazing new insights, from learning a new culture, cuisine and language, to making new friends from diverse ethnic and national backgrounds, as well as sampling some of the courses offered by SERC.”

Feedback from the employers was very positive with both stating that they were ‘very impressed’ with both the skills set of the students and their work ethic.

SERC developed the partnership with FEGREPPA to exchange students over the next two years through Erasmus+, the EU programme for education, training, youth and sport supported by the European Commission. This visit is just one in a series of work placement programmes, which will see SERC students completing work placements in Malta and Belgium.

SERC provides a range of full and part-time courses designed to give students’ the edge’. To find out how SERC can help you ‘get the edge’ call 0345 600 7555, visit www.serc.ac.uk or find us on Facebook, search: South Eastern Regional College.