The College of West Anglia Art Design and Media Department in Kings Lynn now has more links with courses in Europe than any other Visual Arts Department in the country. And, subject to approval, it is on the verge of establishing a partnership with a college near Valetta, capital city of Malta. It will become another source partner, adding to ones already created with colleges in the Netherlands and Germany. Programme Manager Emma Forrest-Leigh, and driving force behind the initiatives, and Debbie Henriques, business lecturer, have just returned from a week in Malta, organised by ACER, the Association of Colleges in the Eastern Region, which they have used to develop new links. They were joined by representatives of other colleges in the region who are members of ACER. The College of West Anglia’s European programme now makes it even more attractive for young people to study art, design and at King’s Lynn. Currently it has four students exchanging with Bonn in Germany with a potential increase to 12 for the coming academic year, subject to approval, and there is still the opportunity for people, aged 16 to 19 years old, to join courses in September, which could give them a chance to go to colleges abroad in 2015. Students lives with host families, with those from the Netherlands, Germany, and probably Malta, coming to stay in the UK. The placements are fully funded for the student; from travel to accommodation, it is all covered. While abroad students from the College of West Anglia follow the same timetable as their hosts and work experience is arranged in such areas as art, design and media. The growth of the scheme at King’s Lynn has delighted Emma. She said: “I want to provide students with something special and offer students something extra, if they come and study Art Design or Media in King’s Lynn. “Our courses equip you with the skills to stand out from the crown for University applications or to employers. That’s why students should choose to study with us. No one else is offering this and we think it makes such a difference to a study experience and student development.” PICTURE Emma Forrest-Leigh, right, and Debbie Henriques, fourth right, with Maltese hosts and other college respresentatives.