Two students from Eastleigh College have achieved podium positions in a competitive inter-college World Skills heat.
Joshua Benson-Armer and Joshua Attard of Eastleigh College were two of twelve competing in this South Coast heat between five colleges, achieving 2nd and 3rd place respectively. World Skills electrical competitions are renowned for their intensity and high skill threshold, with 120 competing this year nationally across ten heats. Each student had to produce industry standard circuits and containment systems within a strict timeframe of 4.5 hours, and each finished product was assessed via a score by specialist judges. The top eight highest scorers across all ten heats will compete in the UK national final later this year, meaning all podium finishers still have the potential to clinch a coveted spot in the final.
World Skills competitions are designed to develop vocational skills through global training standards and inspire young people to develop their abilities and pursue excellence in their industries. Held for the first time in 1950, the competitions have become known for their rich heritage and enticing global staging, now hosted in 85 countries across the world.
Paul Austin, Curriculum Area Manager at Eastleigh College commented: “Competitions like these make for fantastic additions to a CV and we are now seeing more and more students actively seeking out participation in these heats which is great to see.”
This student success is testament to the department’s fantastic teaching provision, which has been acknowledged in the 2024 Pearson Teaching Awards. This week the electrical team at Eastleigh College received a Certificate of Excellence in the FE Team of the Year category.
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It is also an exciting time for competitive excellence at South Hampshire College Group. Students put on a fantastic display at Southampton College earlier this week during the 2024 Inter College Culinary Challenge. 90 students competed, representing eight colleges across the South, with Southampton College being crowned the overall winners!