Reaseheath College appointed for Eden project
A multimillion pound dairy training project is to go ahead at Reaseheath College, Cheshire, with the aim of producing world-class staff for tomorrow’s dairy industry.
Reaseheath has been chosen as education provider for Project Eden, a groundbreaking initiative driven by industry to provide degree level dairy qualification for dairy processing and manufacturing personnel. Eden is a partnership between dairy processors, The National Skills Academy (NSA) for Food and Drink and Dairy UK, the industry’s trade organisation.
Project Eden’s Steering Group Chairman, Jens Termansen of Arla Foods commented: "The dairy sector is looking forward to working with Reaseheath in launching this cutting edge training initiative. Our dairy students will benefit from the college’s dairy expertise and state of the art training dairy, which is currently being built. "
Reaseheath Principal Meredydd David adds, "We are delighted to be awarded the Eden training programme, and we are confident that we can work with the industry to produce the dairy technologists of the future. With a £6m investment to enhance our dairy training, we will provide world class facilities for a world class education".
NSA Chief Executive Justine Fosh said: "The academy will work closely with Reaseheath to ensure that that our dairy industry has access to the best training resources available anywhere and our employees of the future will have the skills to keep the industry competitive on a global basis."
Dairy UK, the dairy industry’s trade association, has played an important part in co-ordinating the development of the project on behalf of all its members and the industry. Commenting on Reaseheath’s appointment, Director General Jim Begg said: "This is a great step towards the delivery of truly world class dairy education for our industry. It is vital for the dairy sector that we remain competitive on the world stage, and Eden is a vital tool in achieving this."
The Eden Steering Group will now work closely with Reaseheath to prepare for the first intake of Eden students in September this year. Students will work towards a globally recognised, degree level qualification in dairy technology.
The new qualification will provide comprehensive dairy training for three years, with at least 18 weeks per year at college studying dairy theory, science and practical skills. The remainder of the time will be spent "hands on" in the dairy industry. The new qualification will become the benchmark across Europe, taking the UK Dairy Education programme to the highest level in vocational training. It is likely that it will become accredited by AEDIL (the European Dairy Technology Diploma Holders Association) through the Society of Dairy Technology.
Eden provider Reaseheath College is recognised by Ofsted as an outstanding specialist college and as an international centre of excellence for dairy training and is dairy champion within the National Skills Academy (NSA) for Food and Drink Manufacture. The college’s investment into its food and dairy department is part of a total £51m spend on new building and technology across campus.
