The Association of Colleges

Working with UK Colleges

The Association of Colleges

Lesley Davies

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Lesley_davies@aoc.co.uk

John Mountford

International Director

John_mountford@aoc.co.uk

The Association of Colleges

• National representational body for Further Education Colleges

• Established in 1996 by Colleges - 98% of 363 Colleges in England are members

• Work closely with Welsh Colleges in Wales and Colleges Northern Ireland and with Scotland’s Colleges through the UK College Council

The Association of CollegesWhat we do:

• Work for and behalf of FE Colleges

• representation and lobbying role to Government

• Serves as a channel for communication, dissemination of information and consultation with the FE sector

• Provides professional support and services to colleges: Curriculum and Quality, International activity, Funding, Governance, Public Relations, Employment; Estates

• Celebrates Excellence in Teaching and Learning ‘Beacon’ Award Scheme

• Quality Mark for International work – the AoC’s International Charter

• Provides a consultancy, events and conference service for members

Our Colleges

• General Further Education Colleges

• Sixth Form Colleges

• Specialist Colleges – Art & Design, Agricultural Colleges

• Work in partnership with:

Universities and Higher Education Institutes

Work-based learning providers

The Engine Room for Economic Recovery

The Mission for Colleges include:

•Driving economic recovery by equipping young people and adults with the skills, competences and qualifications that employers want

•Prepare young people and adults for productive, rewarding, high-value employment in a modern economy

•Meeting the needs of employers and the communities they serve

•Develop the skills and attributes for enterprise and self-employment

•Colleges are supported by a skilled, talented and world class workforce

‘

What we offer:

• High Quality academic and vocational education and Training

• Serve our communities: meeting the needs of young people, adults and deliver community projects

• Offer qualifications at all levels fully accredited by external awarding bodies

Our Colleges provide:

Educate and train over 3.3 million people per annum

Train over 2.4 million adults Work with employers to deliver bespoke skills training

Provide 80% of adult ‘Skills for Life’- literacy, numeracy, language and employability training

35% of entrants to university

81% of Higher National certificates (HNC ) and 59% of Higher National Diplomas (HND) delivered by Colleges

67% of Colleges delivery Higher Education and Foundation Degrees

What is special about UK FE colleges?

Colleges:

Our success rates:

81% overall

73% Apprenticeship

• Are responsive to the needs of employers/industry sectors and local communities; ‘demand led’

• Are major players in local economies and skills/regeneration agendas

• Excel at teaching and learning – 96% of Colleges pass external inspection

• Partnership working a key factor to our success

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Qualifications Framework

LEVEL QUALIFICATION MOSTLY OFFERED BY

Entry Entry level certificates e.g. basic skills Colleges

1 National Vocational Qualifications Colleges & Schools

2 NVQ 2, GCSEs (A to C) Colleges & Schools

3 NVQ 3, A levels,

BTEC National Diplomas

Colleges & Schools

4 Higher National Certificates Colleges & Universities

5 Higher National Diplomas Colleges & Universities

6 Batchelor Degrees Universities & Colleges

7 Masters Degrees,

Post-Gradate Certificates

Universities

8 Doctorates Universities

Colleges’ international work:Well established and experienced

• Recruitment of international students to the UK

• Working with international companies and industry in the delivery of training programmes – including distance / e learning / blended solutions

• Institutional twinning and international partnerships including student exchanges and joint educational programmes

• Consultancy and advisory services to assist with VET programmes on a national, regional and institutional level

• Involvement in aid programmes/capacity-building for institutions in developing countries

Quality AssuranceAoC Charter for Excellence in International Education and Training • Establishment of a formal ‘International

Strategy’ with ownership at all levels of the institution

• A supporting infrastructure and adequate resourcing

• Related staff development

• Quality assurance of all services delivered in the UK and abroad

• Celebration of cultural diversity and cultural exchange

• An ethical approach to all areas of activity.

• Quality Mark

Our approach:Working together to find solutions

• Every Country is different

• Every School and College is different

• Every student is different

•Every partnership is unique

Thank you