The unique partnership between the city’s college and Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, has been awarded a prestigious Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Award for Practical Teaching and Practical Learning.
The unique partnership between the city's college and Flybe,
Europe's largest regional airline, has won a major national
education accolade with the announcement that its aerospace
engineering training has been awarded a prestigious Association of
Colleges (AoC) Beacon Award for Practical Teaching and Practical
Learning. The College was announced as winner of the award,
sponsored by Edge, by John Hayes MP, Minister for Further
Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning at the AoC Annual
Conference in Birmingham on 15 November.
The award recognises the exacting programme of technical training
in aerospace engineering, set to the requirements of the Civil
Aviation Authority that has been designed by Exeter College as part
of its pioneering partnership with Flybe. The partnership,
launched in 2007, secured Exeter College as lead academic partner
for Flybe's commitment to increase the numbers of licensed
aerospace engineers, and to invest in workforce training across all
sectors of their industry. Flybe engineering students receive
training through Exeter College's engineering specialists spending
time in the college's workshops and now within the state of the art
Flybe Training Academy opened in 2011.
The four year, full-time course was recognised in the award as
challenging and stretching students in a real work environment with
trainee engineers learning from highly experienced practitioners in
the industry. The partnership with Flybe ensures that
theoretical study is supported by real accident and incident
information and practical workshop sessions use aircraft parts and
components to ensure industry-standard technical skills and
competence. The first Flybe Aerospace Engineering 'graduates'
are due to finish in July 2012, keenly taking up their offers of
employment at Flybe.
The partnership has been recognised as being successful not just
nationally but also locally with introductory engineering groups
being launched in local schools for 14 - 16 year olds who are keen
to develop their practical and engineering skills in preparation
for applying to the prestigious Exeter College Flybe Engineering
Academy at 16.
Richard Atkins, Principal said, on receiving the Beacon Award from
the Minister, "We're very proud of this award since it
evidences not only the strong relationship we have with Flybe but
also the commitment we have to ensure the college's courses meet
the needs of our students and also the ever changing demands of
industry. Exeter College's role is to ensure all students are
equipped with the skills and knowledge to successfully progress
into their chosen career and our partnerships with local, regional
and national employers are helping us to train the high quality
experts of the future. We are delighted that this ground-breaking
partnership with Flybe, that has developed such high quality
engineering training for our future aerospace engineers, has now
gained this national recognition. We will be celebrating this
award with all those who have been involved across the two
organisations.
Jan Hodges, CEO of Edge and sponsor of the award, said: "Edge
has sponsored an AoC Beacon Award for several years. Edge is
dedicated to raising the status of technical, practical and
vocational learning and is proud to be associated with an award
that recognizes excellence in practical teaching and
learning.
"The Exeter College initiative provides a highly regarded pathway
into employment in the aerospace engineering sector. The Flybe
Diploma in Engineering combines practical and theoretical elements
in a course that equips students to become licensed aircraft
engineers. I congratulate them on their Award and hope they
continue to lead the way for other Colleges across the UK."
Roger Marriott, AoC Beacon Awards Chief Assessor, said:
"I am consistently impressed by the excellent quality of the work
that colleges are producing; their efforts provide exemplary
support for learning to a wide range of students across the
UK.
"The sector's commitment to addressing the needs of students and
the high standards of work displayed by colleges during our
assessment visits was outstanding. Through this award programme the
AoC is highlighting best practice, innovative development and
continuous improvement; it is a showcase for Beacon colleges that
others can look to for help, inspiration and encouragement."
Chair of the AoC Beacon Awards, Dame Patricia Morgan-Webb,
said: "These awards serve to highlight and celebrate
the achievements of colleges and the impact they have on the lives
of students, their families and the wider college
communities.
"As Chair of the National Steering Group it is a privilege each
year to be among the first people to learn about the new and
creative ways in which colleges are meeting the challenges of this
tough economic climate through responsive collaborative approaches
to engaging with students and developing the curriculum to meet the
needs of individuals and businesses alike; all of which are
underpinned by strong and supportive leadership and
management.
"I should like to congratulate all of this year's winning colleges
and encourage them to really make the most of this opportunity to
celebrate their achievements and invigorate the sector as a whole
through the dissemination of their outstanding teaching and
learning practices."
The AoC Beacon Awards are now in their 18th year and are
awarded each year to UK colleges who capture and celebrate the
positive impact they have on their students, staff and
communities.
Exeter College will host a local celebration event in the New Year
and will be presented with their Award by John Hayes MP, Minister
for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning at a national
presentation ceremony due to be held at Westminster on 8 February
2012.
Ends
For more information, photographs or to arrange an interview
with Exeter College, please contact Sylvia Jarman, Head
of Marketing and Communications
For more information about the AoC Beacon Awards, please contact
Louise Duffy, AoC Charitable Trust and Communications Officer, at
louise_duffy@aoc.co.uk
or 020 7034 9957. Alternatively, contact Alice Thiagaraj, AoC
Charitable Trust Manager, at alice_thiagaraj@aoc.co.uk
or 020 7034 9917.
Notes to Editors:
Exeter College was established in 1970 as the UK's first tertiary
college and provides education and training for approx 4,200 full
time students drawn from schools and colleges across Devon and
further afield; 6,000 part time adult learners; 1,600 work-based
learning students, including Apprentices with over 500 employers
and over 600 14 - 16 year olds from schools across Devon.
The
AoC Beacon Awards highlight the breadth and quality of
education in Colleges throughout the UK and increase understanding
of Colleges' contribution to UK educational skills policy and
economic and social development
The Awards are administered by the
AoC Charitable Trust which was established to advance the
education of members of the public over the age of 16 years
Edge is an independent education foundation. It is dedicated to
raising the status of technical, practical and vocational learning,
so that all young people have the opportunity to achieve their
potential, and the UK's future workforce is equipped with the
skills to be successful in the modern economy. Edge believes that
'learning by doing' is as important as academic learning, and that
there are many paths to success. For more information visit www.edge.co.uk, or please contact Susan Higgins, Press
Officer, on 020 7960 1546, e-mail: SHiggins@edge.co.uk