Young visitors from Kirkcaldy’s twin town of Ingolstadt have been making the most of their two-week stay in the Lang Toun as part of a long-running exchange programme.

Six students, accompanied by two teachers, from the Fachoberschule und Berufoberschule Vocational and Technical College arrived on workplace placements organised through the Kirkcaldy Ingolstadt Association (KIA), which has organised the initiative for a number of years.

The success of the student programme relies heavily on the continued support of local employers who generously give their time and resources to host the students. Their commitment ensures that each participant gains meaningful insight and a positive experience during their time in Kirkcaldy.

Beyond the workplace assignments, the educational links between FOSBOS and Fife College continue to grow.

Robert Main (left) with the visiting students at the Sandtner model in the Town Square (Pic: Kirkcaldy Ingolstadt Association)

placeholder image — Robert Main (left) with the visiting students at the Sandtner model in the Town Square (Pic: Kirkcaldy Ingolstadt Association)

As part of the visit, the Ingolstadt students spent a day at Fife College, experiencing campus life and learning more about further education opportunities. Work is also ongoing to develop a reciprocal exchange, which would see Fife College students visit Ingolstadt in the future.

The students also enjoyed a busy cultural programme, including a walk along the Fife Coastal Path, a heritage trail tour, and visits to the East Neuk and St Andrews.

Trips to Edinburgh and Glasgow gave them a wider experience of Scotland. The group also had the opportunity to meet with Councillors Kathleen Leslie and Altany Craik in the Town House where they discussed the importance of educational links, school partnerships and youth exchanges between the two twin towns.

Robert Main, chair of Kirkcaldy Ingolstadt Association said: “This programme continues to go from strength to strength thanks to the dedication of our partners in both Ingolstadt and Kirkcaldy and, in particular, the support of our workplace hosts.

“These exchanges provide invaluable opportunities for young people to develop skills, broaden their horizons, gives valuable life and work experience and strengthens the longstanding international friendship between Kirkcaldy and Ingolstadt. The visit underlines the continuing strength of the Kirkcaldy–Ingolstadt twin town link and the important role these exchanges play in building future opportunities for young people."

It has been a particularly active period for the wider twinning partnership over the past month, with members of Kirkcaldy and District Pipe Band being invited through the twin town exchange links to perform next month at a concert in Opole, Poland – one of Ingolstadt’s twin towns.