Edinburgh's Telford College recognised for innovative contribution to Further Education

Edinburgh's Telford College
recognised for innovative contribution to Further Education

Edinburgh's Telford College was
recognised today as one of 36 colleges selected from over 400 winners featured
in an innovative new piece of research, launched at a prestigious ceremony,
hosted by David Blunkett at the House of Commons.

The research entitled ‘Celebrating Colleges'
celebrates
the achievements of colleges who have contributed to the prosperity and
wellbeing of the country. The research consultant, Pat Hood, identified specific
capabilities that were common across all AoC Beacon Award winners, including
visionary leadership, collaboration, responsiveness and innovation and
creativity.

Edinburgh's Telford
College was recognised
for creating a new FE college for Scotland - creating new pedagogy to meet
changing needs. The college has used the opportunities presented by £75million
capital investment in a new campus to design personalised learning opportunities
for the future.

Chair of the AoC Beacon Awards, Dame Patricia Morgan-Webb
said:

"This research gives the Association of Colleges the opportunity to
formally celebrate colleges' achievements and their contribution to the Further
Education system. It provides evidence that colleges can have a real impact on
the world around them and other colleges should be inspired to emulate their
successes."

FE Facts and
Figures

• The
  research for ‘Celebrating Colleges' was commissioned by the Association of
  Colleges to celebrate colleges' achievements through the previous 15 years of
  Beacon Awards.

• Over 400
  cameos prepared as background to the research will be made available on the AoC
  website to provide a basis of further research.

• The
  AoC Beacon Awards programme was established in 1994 under the auspices of the
  Association for Colleges, at the suggestion of The Partnership Trust. 
  The Partnership Trust wished to establish an awards programme for the Further
  Education sector after a similar awards programme for the Higher Education
  sector proved successful.

• The
  Awards are open to all further education and sixth form colleges in the UK,
  unless specified otherwise by the sponsor.  The awards act as a development grant
  to help realise the full potential of the winning
  project.

• The
  Association of Colleges is the representative voice of further education
  colleges in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.