Programming a robot and witnessing the technology behind how the world’s most popular drink is bottled were just some of the highlights of a trip to the USA by students from Redcar & Cleveland College.

For the 13th year running, engineering students from Redcar & Cleveland recently visited Cleveland State Community College in Tennessee.

During their ten-day visit the young people, who were hosted by local families, undertook a number of activities linked to their college course.

These activities included robotics, where they were tasked with programming a robot, and manual handling course, which involved a visit to the local Coca-Cola factory to see how the bottling is automated.

Another part of their visit saw them touring a home that uses alternative energy, in this case ground heat, to power the property.

It was not all work for the students though. In the last few days of their trip they visited local places of interest and went hiking and mountain biking in the Smoky Mountains, where they stayed in a log cabin.

Engineering Course Leader Neil Walker said: “The students all found the trip very worthwhile and they were so well received that their host families have already invited them back.

“We have excellent relationships with Cleveland State Community College and the 13 years of visits have proved very beneficial to students, both in terms of their academic programme and the social and cultural experience it gives them.

Unfortunately, in recent years, students from the USA have not been able to visit Redcar & Cleveland. However, when we were at the college we discussed resurrecting these trips and we are hopeful of being able to reciprocate the kind hospitality we always receive in Tennessee.”

The visit was made possible thanks to generous sponsorship from the Sir William Turner Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline, Sabik, TTE, and Redcar & Cleveland College’s Aim Higher Fund.