Minister for Higher and Further Education visits Digital and Data Centre
Exeter College is delighted to welcome Minister of State for Higher and Further Education, Michelle Donelan, to their sector-leading Institute of Technology Digital and Data Centre which helps to drive growth and widen opportunities in the digital industry.
The Digital and Data Centre at Exeter College focuses on providing employer-led education opportunities in the digital sector, including courses around data analytics, cyber security, software development, Esports and providing training for Apple’s app development.
Minister for Higher and Further Education Michelle Donelan, was given a tour of the centre and spoke to adult learners and apprentices studying digital skills at the college about their course and future career aspirations. She said:
“It was my pleasure to visit Exeter College today, a key partner in the South West Institute of Technology (SWIoT), to see first-hand why they rightly deserve their outstanding Ofsted ranking.
“Institutes of Technology are a game changer in technical education, and SWIoT is leading the country in delivering world-class degree apprenticeships in cutting edge industries such as technology, and digital skills.
“From their world-class Data Science Degree Apprenticeship to offering exciting opportunities in marine engineering, South West IoT shows what is possible when local education institutions and businesses join forces.”
John Laramy CBE, Exeter College’s Principal and Chief Executive, said:
“It was an absolute privilege to host the Minister for Higher and Further Education, Michelle Donelan, today. The city of Exeter is a great example of a place whereby the education eco-system works collaboratively with other training providers, employers and stakeholders to make a difference to the communities we serve.
“The Minister toured our Digital Data Centre, which is part of the South West Institute of Technology (SWIoT), talking to students from an array of different programmes from Boot Camps to Data Analytics.
“The Exeter College part of the South West IoT, alongside the University of Exeter, aims to provide employers and students with a digital skills escalator to help equip both the city and region with the skills that it needs to grow and thrive”.
How Being a Centre of Online Excellence Has Helped Our Students Achieve Their Goals
Following the Government’s lockdown of all schools and
colleges from mid-March, education faced a huge, unprecedented shift to online
teaching and learning.
For many, this leap to digital education was an immense
learning curve. However, thanks to our longstanding commitment to digital
transformation, we at Exeter College were remarkably well-placed for the
transition.
From the very beginning, we made it our priority that all
our students and Apprentices continued to receive the outstanding education
they joined us for. Our online learning portals became a key tool in providing
students with expert online tuition through recorded lectures, live interactive
seminars, and independent study sessions.
Our readiness for using digital learning to its full potential
was aided through our long-term digital strategy. Due to this, our students and
staff were able to quickly become fully-fledged digital citizens and were able
to utilise online learning and unlock its full potential. Although the shift to
digital learning came much quicker than anyone could have expected, our digital
strategy meant that we already had the building blocks in place to ensure the
process would be a success.
Microsoft Showcase College
We’re proud to be one of only a handful of further education
providers in the country to be named as a ‘Microsoft Showcase College,’reflecting
our commitment to providing outstanding online learning opportunities. During
the lockdown, our Microsoft Showcase status helped to enable both our staff and
students to confidently move to online learning, with great results.
Students studying subjects from Barbering to Maths, and
everything in between, were able to receive tuition purely online. Sam
Pestridge, A Level student studying Spanish, Politics and History has been very
impressed with the transition to digital learning during the lockdown.
“Teachers have been calling us online, this is especially
useful for a subject like Spanish where it’s important that we keep practising
our speaking,” said Sam.
“Teachers have been doing PowerPoints and recording sessions
for us. I feel I’m supported in my learning and the teachers are always
available for us if we need them.”
As a College, we’ve received an exceptional amount of
positive student feedback, proving the success of our digital strategy. We aim
to continue using our digital prowess in future by helping other schools and
colleges make the most of remote learning opportunities, throughout the current
pandemic and beyond.
EdTech Demonstrator College
We were recently announced as an EdTech
Demonstrator College by the Department for Education. This means that we
will be using our digital expertise to help other education providers deliver exceptional
teaching and learning online.
The EdTech Demonstrator Programme, which is backed by the
Department for Education, The National Grid for Learning, The Education
Foundation and Sheffield Hallam University, provides a platform for
peer-to-peer support in education. We are very excited to now be tasked with providing
tailored support to other schools and colleges to upskill their staff,
technology and, ultimately, their online teaching.
Exeter College Assistant Principal Jenny Leach, who led our
offer of help on the Programme, said, “We wanted to get involved in this scheme
to help other schools and colleges in any way we can. We aim to deliver the
best possible online learning experience for their students.
“The EdTech Programme is in response to some of the
challenges schools have faced during the Coronavirus lockdown, but this will
also be an opportunity to make a lasting impact on how education works for a
lot of schools.
“The aim is obviously to help schools through the current
uncertain period, but online learning can be used to enhance teaching, learning
and assessment beyond this, and that’s one of the secondary aims of the programme.
We want this to have a lasting impact on schools and help enhance the learning
environment of their learners for many years to come.”
Exeter College – The College of the Future
Here at Exeter College, we have a reputation as an education
innovator, continually developing in line with the needs of our learners and
the local area. In addition to outstanding online learning resources ready for
the future, we are also evolving our education offer, helping individuals and
businesses to thrive for the economy of the future.
The construction of our new Digital and Data Centre is
currently underway, which is due to be completed by early 2021. The new Centre
forms part of a South West Institute of Technology plan to revolutionise
digital, engineering and manufacturing technology education across the region.
The bespoke digital facilities will provide skills training to create the
digital and data professionals needed for the economy of tomorrow.
Next Steps
We are currently preparing for enrolment for a
September 2020 start.
There is also still time to apply online to study with us. Once
all completed documents have been sent in and reviewed, students will be given
a conditional offer.
Specialist Teachers and World Class Facilities building Exeter College’s Success
Since being named as the UK’s first ever tertiary college 50 years ago, we’ve built ourselves into the exceptional education provider we are today and are now ranked as the only Ofsted Outstanding College in Devon.
We’ve managed to reach this prestigious position by putting students at the heart of everything we do. We know there’s nothing more impactful on a young person’s education than the environment they’re learning in and, of course, who’s teaching them.
Subject Specialist Teachers
As a further education provider, our teachers differ to what you would find at a lot of sixth forms. Here, we pride ourselves on having subject specialist teachers. Unlike at school, our staff don’t teach across different subjects; they dedicate their time exclusively to the subject they teach in the classroom.
This means that our students are taught by people who have a real passion for the topic that they teach. As a result, our students can fully develop their skills and explore their passion within a specific field, which links directly to their chosen further study or employment option.
On top of this, our vocational subjects are taught by teachers who are still actively involved in their respective industries. This means they are constantly developing and updating their own skillset to pass on to the next generation of learners.
Jade Otty, Vice Principal of Exeter College and lead on academic performance, believes our specialist teaching staff positively impacts our consistently impressive vocational and academic results.
“Having specialist teachers is one of the cornerstones of what contributes to the outstanding education environment at Exeter College,” said Jade.
“Students who study with us are choosing to learn from teachers who have a genuine passion for what they’re teaching and, more importantly, have the skills to transfer that knowledge to students in the classroom.
“When a teacher chooses to work with us, they do so because they want to have their teaching time dedicated solely to a subject they love, and to supporting young people with that same passion succeeding with their ambitions. We’ve found that students really respond well to being taught by specialist teachers and appreciate the inside knowledge they can learn from teachers who are still involved in the industry.”
Tom Matthew, A Level student studying Geography, Sociology and Politics, added, “The teachers have been really helpful. They always have their students’ best interests at heart and go over and above expectations.
“My Geography teachers have experience with the exam board, and they are two of the best teachers I’ve had; their experience has been particularly useful to us.”
World Class Facilities and Partnerships
We’re proud to offer subject specialist teaching, but we also know that this is only one of the features which has helped to make us into the Ofsted Outstanding provider we are today.
Here at Exeter College, we offer all our students access to world class facilities and equipment in their chosen subject(s).
To make sure our learners have the very best chance to enhance their education, all our students have access to eight Learning Resources Centres, complete with IT labs and Mac suites.
Additionally, we have specialist campuses for different subjects. Through this, we ensure that we are providing our learners with industry standard-facilities, ranging from construction to media production.
The Centre for Creative Industries is home to a range of cutting-edge equipment and software. It also gives students access to the space they need to hone their skills in media, drama, art or photography, as they transform their academic studies into creative practice.
Our Maths and Science Centre, which opened in 2015, holds 11 purpose-build laboratories. These are all designed to the highest specifications, providing a space for inspirational teaching and learning.
Likewise, our Technology Centre offers students the latest technical software used in the industry. We’re also currently investing in our Construction Centre by way of a new state-of-the-art mezzanine which, from September, will host the new T Level qualifications.
Our Digital and Data Centre is also currently under construction. When complete, this will form part of the wider South West Institute of Technology plan, aiming to transform engineering, digital and manufacturing technology in Devon. Opening early 2021, the Centre will provide learners with educational opportunities in the digital field. This will include courses around software development, data analytics and cyber security.
On top of this, our college also works in partnership with leading regional and national businesses and sports teams. This month we announced our newest collaboration, as the BBC is set to open a new studio in our Centre of Creative Industries. All our partnerships provide students with the opportunities to continually achieve their educational goals and even develop beyond the curriculum.
It’s not too late to apply online to study with us for the September start. Once the requested documents have been submitted and reviewed, all students will be given a conditional offer.
April 1991: City top of the class in further education
As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s firstever tertiary college, we are looking back on some key events which have helped us to become the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today.
In April 1991 it was reported that, for the first time, the majority of young people in Britain had decided to stay on in education after finishing school at 16. The south west was above the national average, with Exeter College leading the way for further education institutions.
Educationalist Professor Ted Wragg said at the time, “Here in Exeter we are very fortunate – Exeter College offers every kind of course for school leavers. It can cater for everything from vocational courses to A Levels.”
Professor Ted Wragg said in 1991, “We underestimate the influence of parents. More parents are now recognising the value of further education and training and are supporting their children, and we hope they will continue to.”
Indeed, further education has grown and developed since 1991, and our education offer has grown and adapted with the needs of industry and the local community.
As well as being a government-appointed early adopter of new T Level qualifications, we are also hosting a new South West Institute of Technology Digital and Data Centre that’s part of a wider bid to revolutionise digital, engineering and manufacturing technology education across the region. The Centre will play host to industry-standard digital technology and will provide learners the skills to move directly into the workplace or further study. Construction is underway and is scheduled to be completed in early 2021.
Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share, contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50
