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Universities, Colleges and Employer partners sign multi-million pound partnership deal for South West Institute of Technology

  • Partners across the South West have signed a partnership agreement signalling a multi-million pound investment in the region.  
  • The SWIOT will train thousands of students in technical subjects across the region, bringing unparalleled skills development and career opportunities  
  • The government has plans for twelve new IOTs to equip the British workforce with skills across key sectors. 

The SWIOT is a unique collaboration between a number of partner organisations, including the University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, Bridgwater & Taunton College, City College Plymouth, Exeter College, Petroc and Truro & Penwith College, each investing in the development of state-of-the-art facilities for training in technical subjects to create Britain’s next generation of highly skilled technicians and engineers.  The SWIOT also draws on expertise from a group of ‘anchor employers’ who will lead its strategic direction and ensure focus on the latest industry skills – they include Oxygen House and the Met Office in Exeter, Babcock in Plymouth and TDK Lambda in Ilfracombe, with investment from the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) for the Heart of the South West and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 

Catering for up to 2,500 students in apprenticeship and full-time courses, from post-16 to Masters degree level, the SWIOT’s combined facilities will match the best available in the UK and help put the South West region at the forefront of digital and engineering education. They will include virtual and augmented reality environments, digital learning laboratories, artificial intelligence arenas, new clean workspaces, workshops, emergent manufacturing spaces with industry level equipment, and shared learning spaces. 

John Laramy, Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive, said: “Exeter College is delighted that the collective Institute of Technology submission for the South West has been successful, this shows what we can achieve when businesses, universities and colleges all work together as one. The Exeter component of the Institute of Technology focuses on digital, data and the high level skills required by employers in the Exeter area, we are therefore delighted that the Met Office and Oxygen House were a key part of the successful bid.” 

Charles Ewen, Director of Technology at the Met Office, said: “The Met Office relies on the talent of our people in order to deliver world-class technology supporting world-leading science and services.  An Institute of Technology in the South West will align the delivery of very high quality technology education and skills from a range of higher and further education providers in the region with significant benefits to learners and employers.  We are delighted to be part of this” 

Glenn Woodcock, Director of Oxygen House in Exeter, said: “The South West has an abundance of talent and to be able to provide new opportunities to our young people through the IOT is a key step forward to ensuring not only high-quality skills and qualifications, but also a strong future economy for the area. Oxygen House are excited to collaborate and support HE, FE and other businesses across the region as we look to evolve from traditional to innovative technical training.”

Exeter College Celebrates Graduation for Degree Level Students

Degree level students at Exeter College celebrated their graduation in the breathtaking setting of Exeter Cathedral last week.

Hundreds of guests, friends and family came together to watch more than 170 students graduate from the college’s Centre for University Level Studies.

Students donned their gowns and caps to be awarded their degree level qualifications in subjects ranging from business to mechanical engineering.

The graduation ceremony marks the completion of a tremendous effort from each and every student at Exeter College. The college’s degree level qualifications include full degrees as well as Foundation Degrees, Higher National Certificates and Higher National Diplomas and cater for young students as well as those returning to education.

The students were welcomed into the Cathedral with music from the Exeter College Orchestra ahead of the formal graduation ceremony.

Inspirational speeches were made by The Dean of Exeter Cathedral, The Very Reverend Jonathan Greener, Exeter College Principal John Laramy and Chief Executive of the Met Office Penelope Endersby.

Upon receiving their qualification certificates, students were congratulated on their achievements by Chair of Governors at Exeter College David Allen OBE and Catherine Taylor, the Head of Higher Education at the college.

Exeter College’s Principal and Chief Executive John Laramy said, “Graduation marks a significant step in the education journey of our students. To achieve a degree level qualification is a magnificent achievement and I am incredibly proud of each and every student that has made it to this stage with us.

“It has been a terrific day for everyone involved and it’s great to see our students from a range of courses join together in celebration of their achievements.”

TEF ‘Gold’ Education

Exeter College is rated ‘Gold’ in the UK Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework, a level that puts the college alongside the very best universities in the country when it comes to degree level provision. Courses at Exeter College are available across a range of sectors, with degrees at the college currently awarded by the University of Exeter, Kingston University London, Plymouth Marjon University, the University of Plymouth and City & Guilds.

Find out more about university level learning with Exeter College.

Let’s Chalk About Mental Health

On Thursday 10th October 2019, the city of Exeter took part in World Mental Health Day.  As a college, we took the opportunity to raise awareness of mental health by taking part in the ‘Let’s Chalk About Mental Health’ campaign. The campaign aims to tackle stigma, supporting sufferers of mental illness and raising awareness around mental health and suicide. 

On Thursday there was a city-wide event taking place where everyone was invited to chalk their messages at events across Exeter city centre. Our students chalked their own messages of support on the pavements of our Hele Road campus. Take a look at their messages on our social pages. 

Rosa Brown, College Nurse said:  “Suicide remains the biggest killer of young people in the UK, particularly young males. We’re keen to reduce the devastating statistics and ensure our learners can have an open conversation around mental health. Talking really does save lives but it can be daunting to know how to respond. We hope to equip our learners and staff with confidence to tackle suicide head on.” 

Jake Cole, Emotional Health & Wellbeing Advisor at the college added: “It’s great to show support to those that may be struggling and it’s not always obvious who those people are.” 

Students also had the opportunity to attend workshops with Action to Prevent Suicide. They provide training, advice and guidance to help people recognise and support those at risk, whilst also raising awareness and breaking the stigma around mental health.  The Samaritans were also on site on the day to offer support.

Lucy Chard-Maple, Health and Wellbeing Officer for the Exeter College Student Union said: “There are so many stigmas around mental health and I think as a student union we need to encourage students to talk about it more. It’s one thing to say ‘let’s talk’ but it’s another thing to actually talk about mental health. I think the Let’s Chalk idea helps students see the support available, without necessarily having to input if they are uncomfortable with it. It makes them aware that there are things being spoken about and that there is a presence and support available.” 

Students and staff from various faculties also supported the charity, Young Minds, by wearing yellow. Young Minds asked people to wear yellow and share their photos using the hashtag #HelloYellow. 

As part of our ongoing commitment to staff wellbeing and coinciding with World Mental Health Day 2019, Exeter College is delighted to announce the launch of its Mental Health First Aid provision for staff.

The college has a fantastic programme in place to support the mental health of its learners and has now moved to reinforce the support on offer to staff at the college.

Statistics indicate that one in four people will experience difficulties around their mental health at some time during their working life and this can have a significant impact for some staff at the college. As a response to this, in June of this year, a number of staff from a cross-section of departments, faculties and sites attended a two-day training course and were awarded Mental Health First Aider status by Mental Health First Aid England.

There are now 21 members of staff who have been trained as Mental Health First Aiders. They have developed their existing skills of non-judgemental listening and can offer initial reassurance, with the idea being that they are the first port of call for staff needing someone to talk to. They will be able to give initial support and signpost staff to appropriate help if required.

Speaking about the course, Faculty Coordinator at Exeter College Victoria Davy, a Mental Health First Aider, said: “The Mental Health First Aid course was a fantastic opportunity to hone my skills, learn more about different types of mental health and to better help and guide my colleagues.”

Lisa Cummings, Exeter College’s Deputy Head of Funding, Finance and MIS, another of the college’s Mental Health First Aiders said: “I am proud to be part of an initiative that is working towards breaking down the taboos surrounding mental health conditions. Everybody’s lives have been touched by mental ill health in some way or another and this can affect all aspects of life. The Mental Health First Aider role is there to provide a safe space to talk and to offer support and guidance to staff experiencing mental health conditions.”

Could a T Level be the Right Course for You?

Exeter College is one of the first colleges in the country – and the only one in Devon – to be offering new T Level qualifications from September 2020.  

The technical-based qualification aims to give 16-18-year-olds the chance to work towards the industry of their choice through a full-time, two-year study programme. Here’s our guide to what T Levels are and how they could be the right course for your future.

What are T Levels? 

The government describes T Levels as a ‘revolution in technical education in the UK’ and has named Exeter College as one of the first providers of these pioneering new qualifications. T Levels are the equivalent of three A Levels and their primary aim is to offer post-16 students a clear choice between academic and technical education. 

Providing students with a clear line of sight to industry by combining classroom learning with focused industry experience, a T Level programme lasts for two years and has been designed alongside employers and businesses. 

The course consists of 80% of time spent in the classroom gaining theoretical knowledge, whilst the remaining 20% is a valuable industry placement. 

The industry placement element ensures at least 45 days of industry experience over two years and will help students develop the skills, behaviours and knowledge that employers are looking for. 

Upon completing a T Level, students can go in a variety of directions.  The skills developed through the course could lead directly to employment, an Apprenticeship, a higher technical qualification or degree level studies.  

Is a T Level right for me? 

T Levels are for any post-16 students who have completed their GCSEs and are eager to develop technical skills with a view to moving in to a specific industry.  

T Level courses will give students the opportunity to gain a combination of technical knowledge and industry experience in a chosen field. 

Because they have been designed with businesses and employers in mind, T Levels are geared specifically towards equipping students with the skills, knowledge and expertise that will set them apart when seeking work in their chosen industry. 

What T Levels are there? 

T Level courses at Exeter College will start with three qualifications available to commence study in September 2020. T Levels in Construction, Digital and Education and Childcare will launch in 2020, before further T Level routes roll out for September 2021.  

How do I apply for a T Level? 

Find the right T Level for you via our course search.  

If you want more information on one of our T Level courses then visit one of our upcoming Open Events or contact the College Advice Team on 01392 400600 or cat@exe-coll.ac.uk. 

Applications are open now for those wishing to start studying with Exeter College in 2020. Find out more about how to apply to study at Exeter College. 

Local Schools and Colleges Join Together for Exeter College Model UN

Over 100 students from Bristol, Devon, Dorset and Somerset came together at Exeter College for a Model United Nations Conference where students engaged in lively debate and discussion while representing different UN member states.  

The conference gave students from local sixth forms and colleges the chance to learn about diplomacy, international relations and how the United Nations operates.  

As part of the event students got to propose and debate resolutions to the major global issues of the day. Pupils were appointed to represent different countries, all with competing interests on the international stage. Students are expected to reach a consensus and deliver changes to international policy based on the scenarios laid out before them.  

Students from Maynards, Exeter School, West Exe, Clayesmore, Bristol Grammar School and Queen’s College Taunton all attended the event and debate topics included democratic integrity in elections, the issue of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation world wide and the implications of the growth of industry in Africa.  

The afternoon session saw all the students come together as representatives of their respective countries for a General Assembly to go through a world war style crisis. In a fevered session of debates and negotiations, students had to choose sides, plan attacks and build alliances to make the most of what military might they had at their disposal. The large-scale conflict concluded when member states who were accused of committing war crimes were put on trial by their accusers.  

Student View

Exeter College student Tom Matthew, who was the Under-Secretary-General at the conference, said he was pleased students had the chance to develop their skills in an engaging and informative way.  

“The event gives students the opportunity to develop their researching skills but also get to grips with some incredibly complex global issues,” said Tom, who will now become the Secretary-General of the Exeter College Model UN. His predecessor and Secretary-General of this year’s conference, Jacob Harris, has now left Exeter College to study History and German in Nottingham.  

Tom continued: “Students got to develop their public speaking skills as well as their teamwork and leadership abilities when tasked with coming up with solutions to some of the most difficult challenges we face.” 

Teacher View

Exeter College teacher and Reach Academy Coordinator Dr Martin Gilbert was pleased with how the schools came together to create a successful event. 

“It’s always great to see the students come together and develop their skills together in such an engaging way,” said Dr Gilbert.  

“Our Exeter College students helped facilitate the whole day for the benefit of everyone involved and I’d like to thank them for the role they played in putting on the event.”  

The Future

Exeter College’s Model UN team will be competing at several different conferences over the coming months and the Exeter College Model UN Conference will reconvene in September 2020.  

Come and meet University of the Arts London at Exeter School of Art.

On Thursday 10 October 2019, University of the Arts London (UAL) will be hosting a regional roadshow at Exeter School of Art. The roadshow will bring together student workshops and portfolio guidance. Each session has been designed to provide attendees with exciting new updates and advice about studying at UAL.

Location: Exeter School of Art, Centre for Creative Industries, Queen Street, Exeter, EX4 3SR

Timing: 9.45am arrival – 3pm departure

Student Schedule:
10am – 10.30am: UAL welcome
10.30am – 12pm: Student workshops 
12pm – 1pm: Lunch 
1pm – 2.30pm: Student talk 
2.30pm – 3pm: Wrap-up talk

The workshops on offer are a chance to develop new skills and meet UAL academics. On the day the workshops will be hosted by BA (Hons) Acting and Performance and BA (Hons) Graphic and Media Design. 

The Regional Roadshow is open to all Level 3 learners studying a creative subject and academics who support students on their journey to university. UAL has an undergraduate portfolio of over 100 courses, covering Art, Design, Media, Screen and Performance.

To book places for the event please email carolkennedy@exe-coll.ac.uk. (Places will be confirmed on a first come first served basis). 

Exeter College Hockey Academy Coach Gus McVey helped Zimbabwe Ladies to a bronze medal in the African Olympic Qualifying Tournament which was held in Cape Town.  

Gus, 48, combines his role as Exeter College Hockey Academy Coach with being Head Coach of the Zimbabwe Ladies’ Hockey side and his developing team outperformed expectations to bag a bronze medal in the qualifying tournament held in South Africa over the summer.  

The third-place finish represents the highest position the country has finished in the tournament since 1990 and Gus was thrilled to help his side on their way to a medal.  

“Getting that bronze medal was a great way to end what had certainly been a challenging two months in Zimbabwe fraught with many challenges,” said Gus.  

“What’s particularly pleasing for me is that this result means that Zimbabwe’s world ranking of 66 will improve and give the team a much higher standing when it comes to future tournaments.” 

Since speaking, Zimbabwe Ladies’ Hockey side has indeed risen in the rankings, leaping up to 46th in the world.  

During their training in the build-up to the tournament, Gus and his side had to deal with blackouts and fuel shortages but the entirely self-funded team still managed to train four times a week.  

The tournament itself wasn’t without drama, as Zimbabwe Ladies were informed that their first two games would be against the top two ranked teams in the competition, Ghana and South Africa.  

Gus’s side fell to a late 3-1 defeat against Ghana and then pushed African champions South Africa all the way and, despite losing 2-0, the result represented the best performance against the host nation for any team in the tournament – all the other teams that faced South Africa lost by five goals or more.  

Zimbabwe went on to defeat Kenya 2-0 and then played out a frenetic match with Namibia and ran out 3-2 winners to secure the bronze medal.  

“To win a medal of any colour is really quite an achievement,” said Gus.  

“If we had won the tournament we would have been going to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 but we’re all thrilled to have come away with the bronze medals. Thank you to all who followed, supported and helped me and my team have a chance of an Olympic dream.”

Data Conference to Help Devon’s Businesses Achieve their Potential

Devon’s businesses are getting the chance to learn how to transform their organisation through data thanks to a free conference taking place in Exeter next month.  

The Exeter Analytics Network, a group of industry leaders on the use of data within organisations, are hosting their first ever conference for businesses and those who want to learn how to use their data better or develop skills in data analytics. 

The interactive conference takes place on Thursday 10th October 2019 at the Environmental Futures & Big Data Impact Lab at Exeter Science Park and those interested in attending should register their interest on the Eventbrite page.  

The Exeter Analytics Network is made up of organisations in the city that harness data in work and understand the ways in which it can transform processes, performance and productivity in a range of environments. The group includes experts from the University of Exeter, Exeter College, Oxygen House, The Met Office, Digital Skills Partnership and the Exeter Institute for Science and Technology. 

Kicking off with an optional networking lunch at 12.00pm, the conference will then officially start at 13.00pm as experts from the Analytics Network share tips and trends around embedding data analysis in an organisation. Those attending will learn about data already available that isn’t being used to its full potential and how to upskill staff to become data-savvy professionals.  

Kathryn White, Innovation Manager at the Big Data Impact Lab, will be talking at the conference on ways that businesses can get the skills they need to thrive in a data-driven world.  

“Businesses are increasingly recognising the power of data in the modern world and realising that without their own data analytics capability they risk being left behind,” said Kathryn. 

“The Impact Lab is one of a number of groups working to help companies in Devon unlock the potential of their data and this event will help people to understand what they can do with their data and where to access support to develop data skills in their businesses.” 

The keynote speaker at the conference will be Director of Oxygen House and Founder of Exeter City Futures Glenn Woodcock and attendees will not only learn how to collect and gather meaningful data; they’ll also learn how to interpret and act on the information found.  

Stephen Mariadas is one of the driving forces behind the event and is especially well-placed to provide insight on data in the workplace in his role as the Chief Executive Officer of the SW Institute of Technology, where he’s helping shape some of the fresh talent in the data sector.  

Talking at the conference about the positive impact that higher-level Data Apprenticeships can make, Stephen is looking forward to introducing people to ways they can get the skills they need. 

Stephen said, “The potential is there for any business or organisation to develop by learning some simple data analysis techniques. 

“We will be exploring the very latest trends as well as showing how data skills can be embedded in an organisation through the training and skill development of existing staff.”  

Exeter College are supporting the event and their Vice Principal of Schools, Partnerships & Curriculum Rob Bosworth said, “We’re thrilled to be helping bring together data experts for the common good of Devon’s business community. 

“It’s an exciting time to engage in data analytics and this conference will provide the toolkits needed for businesses to integrate analytics into their organisation and grow the skills ecosystem.” 

Registration for tickets is open now and anyone interested in the subject, from business leaders to those interested in learning some data skills, are welcome to attend.  

Exeter College Opens New Mini Data Hub

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw visited Exeter College’s Victoria House site to open a brand new Mini Data Hub; a state-of-the-art new facility which will provide industry-standard IT resources to the college’s students.  

The newly created space plays host to two comprehensive IT suites complete with industry specification computers, analytics software and optimised large-screen display equipment.  

Senior leaders and students of the college attended the launch event as Ben explored the new facilities and then formally opened the area by cutting the ribbon on the new Mini Data Hub.  

The new digital workspace utilises the area in Victoria House that was vacated when the new £2.4million Gym and Dance Studio opened earlier this year.  

The new IT suites combine the traditional classroom environment with cutting edge computer equipment, helping students to learn the IT skills required to thrive in the digital world. Full-time 16-18 students and others studying specialist data and analytics-focused courses will access the industry-standard technology during their studies.  

Exeter College’s Principal and Chief Executive John Laramy was delighted with how the vision for the space has been realised. John said, “The size of the space gives our students the opportunity to explore theory and then put that immediately into practice on high spec, fantastic IT equipment. 

“The fact that there are two rooms together where we can run specialist classes side-by-side really benefits the teaching and learning that can take place.” 

John also thanked Ben Bradshaw for coming to support the opening.  

“We were delighted to have Ben here to open the space. He is an advocate for Exeter College and for Colleges more widely, so it is great that he was able to fit this opening into his busy schedule. In this area, we have been very fortunate to have Ben as an active and extremely supportive MP.  

“I would also like to mention East Devon MP Sir Hugo Swire, who has also been a real advocate for us here at college.” 

Want to look around the facilities for yourself? Book in for our next Open Event.

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