College celebrates another year in style

FIVE HUNDRED balloons marked the official launch of South Devon College’s £8million University Centre by Sir Alan Langlands FRSE, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

VIPs, dignitaries and associates, including Dr Colin Williams, Dean of the University of Plymouth, who validate the College’s Foundation Degrees and the Vice-Chairman of their Board of Governors Michael Pearson, were welcomed to a special afternoon showcasing the College’s community work and recognising the past year’s highlights – including gaining another prestigious Beacon Award, alongside the official opening ceremony of the University Centre.

University Level students have been using the new centre since it was completed in October 2010, but this week Sir Alan unveiled a commemorative glass plaque in the Centre reception, signalling the release of 500 purple College balloons up to the modern glass roof above – one for each of the College’s existing Foundation Degree students.

“This fantastic University Centre is South Devon College’s ‘jewel in the crown’,” said Sir Alan, “It’s a true showcase for Higher Education in the West Country region. Its objectives are to raise the aspirations of young people and keep them in the region. It will serve young people very well.”

The high-tech 2,300sqm building, on four floors, is already being entered for design awards. Boasting superb views, it has state of the art teaching facilities, learning resource centre, breakout, classroom, lecture, social and cafeteria space. The Centre boasts an ‘excellent’ environmental rating on the ‘BREEAM’ scale thanks largely to its water recycling, solar power facilities, good use of daylighting, natural ventilation and external shading, coupled with the green and ecological methods used in the project’s construction.

Principal Stephen Criddle welcomed the first arrivals into Torbay’s newest Higher Education resource back in October, and is still singing the praises of the latest addition to the College’s Vantage Point campus,

“Our new University Centre is world class! The innovative building is a landmark facility for Torbay, providing superb local university level resources, and it shouts quality from the moment you see the inspiring glass and copper frontage,” said College Principal Stephen Criddle, “It will be a superb facility for current and future generations of South Devon students. The style and quality of the University Centre is a testament to the architects Lacey Hickie Caley and contractors Morgan Sindall, and is truly a shining asset for Torbay & South Devon.

I’d like to thank everyone involved in the project for playing their part in giving birth to a truly inspirational new University Centre, inspirational for future generations of Higher Education students as well as for those benefiting this year from this investment in learning.”

The University Centre is not just a home to Higher Education students. Business Advantage, the College’s Business leading edge department supporting innovation, enterprise and employers, also have an area of their own tailor-made for their business centred operations, and the College’s Paignton Adult & Community Learning section also benefits from purpose built space within the building.

Prior to the official opening, the College was officially presented with a national Beacon Award by Peter Lauener, Chief Executive of the Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA) and Rachel Hansford, YPLA Policy Manager, as well as Ian Munro, South West Regional Director of the Association of Colleges (AoC). The College was announced back in November as the national winner of the YPLA Beacon Award for 14-19 Collaboration, which singles out the College’s partnership work amongst 400 further education colleges across the UK.

The College was recognised for the ‘successful and committed way it works with partners’ to meet and address the education and training needs of 14 to 19 across the local area - through its ‘Raising Aspirations through Collaboration’ project. Nicky Corbett, Manager for 14-16 Curriculum & Learning Community at the College commented:

“This is recognition for the collaboration between schools and our further education college to provide the best possible curriculum and courses for young people. We provide flexible and diverse education working in partnership with South Devon Secondary Schools – from Plymouth through to Dawlish. This is a wonderful confirmation that in all the UK our College has been singled out for this award.”

The YPLA Beacon Award for 14-19 Collaboration is one of the highlights of the last year for the College, following on from the previous year’s “Outstanding” rating from Ofsted and prestigious “Beacon” status. Local councillors and invited guests, along with College governors, also got the opportunity to see other highlights in the College’s Annual General Report, released on the same day. The report outlines student achievements and successes across a huge range of courses, and notes the College’s strong position as a major employer - now in ‘outstanding’ financial health as measured by the Skills Funding Agency. A successful Integrated Quality and Enhancement Review (IQER) for Higher Education, increased enrolment and further improved success rates, ensure that the report makes for proud reading for anyone associated with South Devon College.

The College run a number of Foundation Degree programmes, validated by the University of Plymouth, for more information call free on 08000 21 31 81 or visit www.southdevon.ac.uk.

For more information visit http://www.southdevon.ac.uk/