WIREDGOV

The Association of Colleges (AoC) has been awarded £2.75 million by the HEFCE Catalyst Fund to enhance the learning of higher education students in colleges. The project will see teachers working closely with employers to ensure they are passing on the most up-to-date industry knowledge to their students. A further £1 million will be provided by local employers and the participating colleges.
 

  

There are 15 core colleges and 32 partner colleges from across the UK  taking part in the Enhancing Professional and Technical Education project to design a new framework which will enhance teaching and learning. At the core of the project is the development of a culture in which teachers make regular visits to employers, to bring real-life experience and work-based projects back to the classroom for students to tackle. This gives students the opportunity to learn how to apply the skills they’re learning on their course to the real world of work.

Nick Davy, Higher Education Policy Manager at the Association of Colleges, said:

‘There is increasing demand for employees with practical skills at a higher level, such as a Foundation Degree or a Higher National Diploma, as the labour market changes and 3.6 million skilled older people will leave the workforce in the next 10 years. We are looking forward to working closely with the participating colleges to see how we can improve learning to ensure more graduates have the skills employers need from their staff.’

The funding was announced at the Association of Colleges Higher Education Conference on Wednesday 4 March 2015.

Professor Madeleine Atkins, Chief Executive of HEFCE, said:

‘Further education colleges have a vital role to play in the development and delivery of high-level technical knowledge and skills, which are a priority for local and national economic growth.

‘HEFCE is delighted to be working with the Association of Colleges and other partners on this project, which aims to bring about a step change in higher technical education scholarship and teaching practice. It will benefit the wider sector by deepening employer engagement, enhancing higher technical education, and improving students’ learning experiences and outcomes.’

For further information about the Enhancing Professional and Technical Education project, visit www.aoc.co.uk/hefceproject.

The colleges involved are:

Notes

1. The National Union of Students, the Higher Education Academy and the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education will provide ongoing support and expertise during the Enhancing Professional and Technical Education project.
2. AoC’s membership includes 336 colleges in England, including general further education, sixth form, tertiary and land-based colleges. It supports, represents and protects the interests of its member colleges, as well as the rest of the further education sector.
3. HEFCE funds and regulates universities and colleges in England. HEFCE invests on behalf of students and the public to promote world-leading research, teaching and knowledge exchange.