Edinburgh College hosts Mauritius delegation for EV maintenance training
Trainers from Mauritius completed a UK IMI Certificate Level 3 course at Edinburgh College as part of a British Council-funded skills partnership.
Edinburgh College welcomed a delegation of TVET colleagues from Mauritius, made up of training staff from project lead Saint Gabriel Technical College (SGTC) and the Mauritian Institute of Training and Development (MITD), Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce said. The visit formed part of a British Council-funded project helping partner organisations develop their electric bus maintenance skills while sharing their own expertise and approaches.
The group of four, SGTC’s Bruno Chellamootoo and Terry Leveque along with MITD’s Vijaysingh Chuttur and Khemrajsingh Rampersand, completed an intensive three day heavy electric vehicle maintenance course at the Sighthill campus, achieving a UK IMI Certificate Level 3, according to Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.
The college’s Kieran Lydon, Curriculum Team Manager for Automotive Engineering, and Alan Phillips, Automotive Lecturer, led the training on specialised equipment including a Ford Transit EV trainer, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce said. The delegation also visited the college’s Midlothian campus engineering facilities, tried virtual reality welding equipment, and received presentations on equality, diversity and inclusion and STEM from college staff.
The partnership, supported by funding from the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships programme, aims to help trainers in Mauritius develop their heavy electric vehicle maintenance skills and share their own methods, with participants expected to transfer knowledge within their institutions on their return, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce said. It noted that electric bus fleets have been introduced in Mauritius as part of efforts to modernise public transport.
The group also visited Lothian Buses’ central depot and head office, where they were welcomed by Engineering Director Dylan Dastey and Chief Engineer Paul Baxter and shown the maintenance facility and vehicle tracking systems. Dastey said: “As the city’s main public transport operator, we are committed to working with key partners, sharing best practice to maintain high standards and support compliance across the sector.”
Jon Buglass, Deputy Principal, said: “The skills needed to work on electric vehicles are becoming increasingly vital as Scotland transitions towards a net-zero future, and we are proud to share our expertise with international partners who are pursuing their own green objectives.”
The week concluded with an open top bus tour of the city, and the partnership has also engaged with stakeholders including the Mauritius Qualifications Authority, the National Transport Corporation, HSBC Mauritius and government representatives, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce said.