Coleg Llandrillo Cymru Receives Prestigious AoC Beacon Award at Westminster

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15 March 2010

Coleg Llandrillo Cymru is celebrating after receiving an Association of Colleges’ Beacon Award for achieving excellence in its international operations at a presentation ceremony in Westminster, London.

The College’s Principal Huw Evans OBE and members of the International team were presented with the British Council Award for International Student Support by Kevin Brennan MP, Minister of State for Further Education. 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 15 countries, including Vietnam, India, China and Sri Lanka. The small scale of the project is seen as a key strength as it enables a personalised ‘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 Swallow Falls at Betws-y-Coed, Snowdonia, Liverpool Football Club and Manchester’s Chinatown. The College is also involved in international partnerships, often training overseas teachers to teach English and Welsh.

Further Education Minister Kevin Brennan said: “The AoC Beacon Awards celebrate the greatest successes of the Further Education sector in responding to the needs of students, local businesses and the communities they serve.

Colleges are vital to giving people the skills and qualifications they need and play an important role in creating partnerships with employers. It is right that these institutions are recognised for their hard work.”

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.

“This week our international students enjoyed a celebratory evening at the College, along with guests from the British Council and visitors from Croatia.”

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, which is 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.”

There will be a local presentation of the award, during the College’s International Week, at the College’s Rhos-on-Sea Campus at the end of February.

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For more information, photographs, or to arrange an interview with the winners, 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.