SOUTH African students were given a taste of Blackburn and its culture as part of a college’s bid to forge links with international education institutions.

Blackburn College has been working hard to form relations with universities, colleges and high schools in Cape Town in a bid to secure its financial future in light of higher education funding cuts made by the coalition government.

The college currently gains £1million income from international students who pay upto £9,000 per year and it hopes to raise an extra £500,000 this year.

The South African students visited Blackburn Cathedral, Lambeth Street mosque, a Jewish Rabbi’s house and synagogue to explore the diversity of the region.

Blackburn College also donated stationery to the eight Zulu students from Mozambique, aged 17-24, who visited the UK as part of the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council initiative.

The exchange programme was also set up to break down stereotypes and create understandings between different religions and cultures.

Sir Bill Taylor, chair of governors at Blackburn College, said: “Over the last six months the college has been working on developing positive links with organisations in South Africa as we see it as a potential growth area for our international strategy.

“It is through our strong links with other parts of the world, that we are best placed to offer our students the opportunity to participate in exchange programmes, which are a fundamental way for young people to learn about themselves, the world they live in, and how to work together.

“These projects help us to strengthen our existing links.”