Ayrshire College and Durham College, based in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, have formalised a new international partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The MoU reflects a joint ambition to support innovation, skills development and a globally connected approach to education. It underlines a shared commitment to ongoing collaboration, knowledge exchange and the development of meaningful learning opportunities for staff and students across both institutions.
This agreement builds on foundations established through The Scottish Government's Education Exchange Programme: Test and Learn, which launched with six delegates from Ayrshire College visiting Durham College in January 2025. This trip included strategic discussions on dual-delivery pilot programs, post-graduation pathways, corporate training and workforce upskilling, with a shared focus on supporting emerging and evolving labour market demands.
Representatives from Durham College completed the exchange in February 2025 with a visit to Ayrshire College where they toured our three campuses, spent time discussing opportunities for collaboration and sharing industry insights in the aerospace sector.
The partnership will support a range of joint initiatives, including training development and collaborative cross-institutional and industry-focused projects in key sectors.
Robin Young, Director, Corporate Training Services at Durham College, said: “This partnership represents an exciting step forward in our commitment to global collaboration. By working together with our colleagues in Scotland, we created meaningful opportunities for our learners and industry partners to innovate and grow on an international scale.”
Alistair Rodgers, Director of Enterprise Development at Ayrshire College, added: “Formalising our collaboration with Durham College marks a significant milestone for Ayrshire College, as we continue to advance our international ambitions. This partnership will open up valuable opportunities for staff, students and industry partners to share knowledge, exchange best practices and drive innovation on a global scale across a diverse range of sectors.”
This global partnership reinforces both Durham College’s and Ayrshire College’s dedication to creating meaningful, future-focused opportunities that benefit students, educators, industry partners and communities at home and abroad.