Telford College is among more than 20 further education providers in the West Midlands to sign up to an education and skills pledge which spells out a learning structure for current and future students.
The college, which has this week welcomed a limited number of students back on site to complete vocational training, says it recognises Covid-19 may change ways of studying and working in future.
As Shropshire’s only member of the Colleges West Midlands network, it has joined the 20 other members in signing up to an eight-point pledge to provide the best possible education in a post-Covid world.
The pledge says:
- All students will continue to receive online or distance learning delivery through to the end of the summer term.
- All full-time students, whether new or continuing, will receive an enhanced transition programme at the of the new academic year to ensure they are able to successfully move on with their studies.
- Young people who are not in education, employment or training, or long term unemployed, will be supported directly through college-focused programmes and with specialist help and referrals.
- Adult education provision will be reconfigured to focus on areas of need and to support more flexibilities in the way adults may wish to study.
- Unemployed adults, recently redundant, or long-term furloughed employees from high-risk industries will have access to an expanded range of redeployment programmes to enable a prompt return to employment.
- Apprentices will continue to receive learning and reviews online until safe working arrangements at employer premises are agreed by both parties, and employers will still be able to sign up new apprentices and begin their programme at any time during the period where access to college sites is restricted.
- Students progressing to higher education will be able to access an optional transition programme to support their next steps.
- A single access point will be created to support employers looking to recruit new employees.
Graham Guest, Telford College’s principal and chief executive, said: “The impact of Covid-19 on students and businesses has been unprecedented, and colleges have had to adapt very quickly.
“I’m proud of our team for the way in which they have embraced this challenge, using a wide range of online resources to continue delivering the curriculum throughout lockdown.
“As we move towards yet more challenging times for our economy, it is clear that further education colleges will play a pivotal role, and that some of these measures will remain in place.
“We are delighted to sign this pledge, and to be working collaboratively with Colleges West Midlands to present a united vision for the future of education and training across the region.”
Telford College is currently carrying out video interviews for students looking to enrol for the new academic year, starting in September.
It has also produced a ‘virtual’ open event, where students can take an online tour of the campus, see 360-degree images of facilities, hear from course tutors, and ask questions.
For more details, see virtual open event
