DUTCH guests will be 'dropping in' for an awards ceremony at Accrington and Rossendale College next week without leaving Holland ...

They will join the international presentation via a big-screen video conferencing link, the first event of its type at the college.

Ten business studies students will receive certificates from Deventer College in Holland following an exchange visit to the Dutch institution in December.

College principal Michael Austin will hand the certificates over, watched by the vice-principal of Deventer College and Dutch businessmen involved with the project.

The trip was part of the college's initiative to ensure that all students on its business studies courses have the opportunity of overseas study. Further international exchanges are in the pipeline. On the day, the college also hopes to link up with Finland on the video conferencing screen to meet students from Kuopio College, who are due to pay their first visit to Accrington and Rossendale College in April.

The awards ceremony, next Thursday in the conference room at the Sandy Lane Centre in Accrington will also be attended - in person - by Italian students from Varese who are at the college on an exchange.

Ross Johnson, of the college business studies team, said: "The team are moving forward into the 21st Century with this initiative, broadening students' horizons and preparing them to meet the new challenges facing the modern world of business in East Lancashire and beyond.

"Local employers will benefit in many ways from the new skills achieved by our students on this programme."

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