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Gorseinon College is celebrating after being named as an Association of Colleges Beacon Award winner. The Awards, which this year celebrate 16 years of rewarding outstanding teaching and learning in further education Colleges, were announced at a ceremony hosted by comedienne and author Shappi Khorsandi at the AoC’s Annual Conference in Birmingham on November 17.
Gorseinon College won the Welsh Assembly Government Award for College Engagement with Employers. The Award recognises best practice in meeting the needs of employers. The College won the Award for its Knowledge Transfer Partnership, which is a UK-wide programme for collaboration between business, further education, universities and research organisations.
The Knowledge Transfer Partnership is a three-way alliance between an employer with a particular strategic project, the College (or knowledge partner) and a recently qualified student (or associate). The associate is employed by the College to work with the employer to help them deliver their project. The student benefits from opportunities to develop personally and academically, as well as gaining commercial and industrial experience. The employer gains from the knowledge transfer facilitated by the College.
More than 100 jobs have been created in companies involved and there is strong evidence to show that their profits have increased. The College also benefits from the on-going professional development for College staff who gain access to current industry practices to inform their teaching.
The UK-wide Beacon Awards provide national recognition for excellence and innovation as well as acknowledging the talents of staff at all levels. They highlight the breadth and quality of education in the College sector.
Chair of the AoC Beacon Awards, Dame Patricia Morgan-Webb said: “Beacon winners blaze a trail in finding new ways of doing things; they contribute to social justice and are instrumental in local economic and social re-generation, essential during these turbulent times. Whilst the winners this year are located all across the UK, what they all share are the key traits of innovation, creativity, responsiveness and a collaborative approach. I am delighted on behalf of the AoC Charitable Trust to reward the contribution that these Colleges make; they are the pillars of our communities.”
Nick Bennett, Principal of Gorseinon College, expressed his delight at the news: "This award is national recognition for our work with employers throughout South Wales. Gorseinon College has built a reputation as one of the leading providers of KTP in the UK and we intend to extend this to many more companies in the future. The College has also benefitted from KTP through the development of expert knowledge transfer skills in many of our teaching staff.”
Eddie Brittain, AoC Beacon Awards Lead Assessor said: “Having seen the Awards programme expand in the past 16 years, I am heartened, not only by the number of nominations and the engagement of the sector, but also by the degree of excellence that my fellow assessors and I witnessed when we spent time in these centres of learning. By presenting these Awards, the AoC showcases best practice, innovative development and continuous improvement, creating beacons that other Colleges can look to for help, inspiration and encouragement.”
Gorseinon College will host a local celebration event in the New Year and will be presented with their Award by the Rt. Hon. Kevin Brennan MP, Minister of State for Further Education, at a national presentation ceremony due to be held at Westminster in February 2010. |
