Donegal ETB at historic France-Ireland Symposium on Vocational Education

Donegal ETB CEO, Anne McHugh was among than 80 participants from 15 French academic regions and 15 Irish Education and Training boards who have come together over four days to reinforce the links between France and Ireland in the field of Further Education and Training and increase the mobility of Irish and French students and staff from Colleges of Further Education or Training Centres.

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Occitanie Academic Region and City of Dublin Education and Training Board, on June 4 at the French Residence marks the first step towards stronger and deeper cooperation.

Speaking at the signing, H.E M. Vincent Guérend, French Ambassador to Ireland, declared: “The links that unite France and Ireland are particularly strong in the field of education. For example, France is the #1 partner of Ireland within the Erasmus+ program. 

ABOVE: (L-R) Paddy Lavelle, General Secretary ETBI, Patricia Janissin, Director for Europe & International Education Ministry of Education and Youth, France, His Excellency Vincent Guérend, French Ambassador to Ireland, Anne McHugh, Chief Executive of Donegal ETB and William Beausang, Assistant Secretary Department of Further and Higher Education pictured at the French Ambassador’s residence at a reception to launch the first France-Ireland Symposium on Vocational Education.

However, this source of opportunities and funding and is still very new to the students and staff from the Vocational Education Sector. With this signature, CDETB and Occitanie academic region are leading the way in strengthening cooperation in the field of vocational education training, further accelerating exchanges and strengthening ties between our two countries.”

Through the 4-day event, the aim of this Symposium on Vocational Education Training was to offer participants a better understanding of each other’s vocational training systems and to provide an opportunity to reflect on cooperation opportunities through workshops, presentations, networking sessions and field visits all over Ireland. 

It is composed of senior members of the Irish Ministry of Further and Higher Education, the French Ministry of Education, ETB Chief Executives, Directors of Further Education and Training and staff, French directors and international relations advisers from the various academic regions.