|
Coleg Llandrillo Cymru is celebrating a double success after being named as an Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Award winner and scooping a Highly Commended prize. 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 17 November.
Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, the largest further education College in North Wales, won the British Council Award for International Student Support for achieving excellence in its international operations. The Award recognises best practice in supporting international students from recruitment to the completion of their qualifications.
AoC Beacon Award assessors praised Coleg Llandrillo Cymru for its approach to supporting international students. The College began recruiting abroad in 2000 and now teaches more than 70 students from over 15 countries, including Vietnam, China and India. The personal attention given to each student is seen as a key strength as it enables a ?family approach? to meeting the students? needs.
Students are fully immersed in British culture as they are placed in host families and the College provides a comprehensive social and cultural programme, including visits to Snowdonia, both Liverpool and Manchester United Football Clubs and Manchester?s Chinatown. The College is also involved in international partnerships, often training overseas teachers to teach UK qualifications in their own countries.
The College has also been Highly Commended for the AoC Award for Widening Participation for its education-led regeneration and widening participation project at Coleg Llandrillo Rhyl. The Award recognises active strategies for widening participation either over a range of courses or on individual courses.
The College was praised for its exemplary practice in developing provision in the Rhyl area which supports access to further education and employment for disengaged adults. This supports the College-wide strategy for economic regeneration and widening participation in the local area. Since 2008, over 200 students have been involved in this initiative with high progression rates to further training and employment. One of the programmes available, ?Get Skilled Up?, enables initial basic skills to be enhanced to prepare students for further study or employment.
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.?
Coleg Llandrillo Cymru Principal, Huw Evans OBE, said: ?The Beacon Award for the College?s International Operations recognises the tremendous effort and support provided by the College staff to its international learners and is testimony to the service they receive. The College is very pleased to have won this award.
?Coleg Llandrillo Rhyl?s Highly Commended Award for Widening Participation recognises the contribution and commitment the College and its team has towards its learners who have previously been disengaged. This is an excellent achievement which reflects the college's ethos for continuous improvement for its learners. Congratulations are extended to the teams involved.?
Louise Jowett, Director of Student Recruitment at Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, said: ?This award recognises the excellent care and support given to our overseas students by College tutors, the international team and our host families. These students come to North Wales from many different countries, cultures, traditions and backgrounds, speak very highly about their experience here and love the people, the area and their studies. All this combines to create an outstanding international learning experience.?
International students joined in the celebrations on hearing the news. Vietnamise student Linh Hoang, who is studying A Levels, said: ?It is one of the best colleges in the UK! I have received excellent support from my tutors and it really is the best place to study.? English as a Foreign Language student, Lovepreet Singh Josan from India, said: ?I enjoy the College because it offers outstanding student support, excellent facilities and first-class teaching. Also, it is set in a beautiful part of the UK.?
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.?
Coleg Llandrillo 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.
For more information, photography or to arrange an interview with the winners or Highly Commended Colleges, 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.
|
