South Tyneside College is delighted to announce the donation of a Nissan Qashqai and a Nissan Juke hybrid, providing Motor Vehicle students with invaluable access to modern automotive technology as part of their training.
The vehicles are already being used within the College’s industry-standard workshops, enabling students to develop practical skills in diagnostics, fault finding, suspension systems and modern vehicle technology, including exposure to hybrid systems through the Nissan Juke.
The donation comes at a time of continued growth for the College’s Motor Vehicle provision, with increasing learner numbers year-on-year and a growing industry focus on hybrid and electric vehicle technologies. By introducing modern petrol and hybrid vehicles into the workshop environment, students can gain hands-on experience with the systems and technologies they are likely to encounter in the workplace.
The vehicles will be integrated into practical lessons across a range of Motor Vehicle programmes, helping learners build the confidence, technical knowledge and employability skills required to succeed within the automotive sector.
The College currently supports more than 160 learners across its Motor Vehicle programmes, with students progressing into apprenticeships, further study and employment within the automotive industry. The donation will help ensure learners continue to train on relevant technologies that reflect modern industry practice.
Neil Bowen, Head of STEM Automotive and Green Initiatives at South Tyneside College, said:
We are delighted to have received the donation of two vehicles from Nissan to support students within our Motor Vehicle department. This type of industry support provides our students with valuable opportunities to develop their knowledge and practical skills using modern vehicle and hybrid technologies, ensuring their learning reflects the changing needs of the automotive sector. The addition of these vehicles will help students build and refine key industry skills, including fault finding, diagnostics and working with modern vehicle systems. Partnerships with industry are vital in helping us enhance the student experience, keep our curriculum relevant and develop a highly skilled talent pipeline for the automotive sector and the wider region.
The donation highlights the importance of collaboration between education and industry, helping to ensure training remains aligned with employer needs while supporting the development of skilled technicians for the region’s automotive workforce.
As vehicle technologies continue to evolve, exposure to hybrid systems and modern diagnostic processes is becoming increasingly important. Support from industry partners such as Nissan helps South Tyneside College provide learners with the experience and knowledge needed to succeed in a rapidly changing sector.
Claire Jones, Head of Skills at Nissan Motor UK, said:
At Nissan, we recognise the importance of investing in the next generation of automotive talent. Donating training vehicles to education providers such as South Tyneside College gives students hands-on experience with the technologies they will encounter in the workplace, helping to bridge the gap between education and industry. Strong partnerships with local colleges are vital in developing the skilled workforce our sector needs for the future, and we are proud to support initiatives that inspire, develop and prepare young people for successful careers in automotive manufacturing and engineering.
The donation was facilitated through the Nissan Sunderland Plant, further strengthening links between the College and one of the region’s most significant employers.
Businesses interested in supporting skills development, providing industry insight or exploring partnership opportunities with South Tyneside College are encouraged to contact Neil Bowen at nbowen@tynecoast.ac.uk.
