Colleges deliver the skills needed for the future workplace

This AoC Colleges Week, Jisc celebrates the fantastic work being done by further education (FE) providers to digitally prepare learners for the UK workforce and support local communities.

Robin Ghurbhurun, managing director for FE, skills and training at Jisc said:

“Colleges and FE providers serve as vital partners in driving economic growth, fostering innovation and ensuring the long-term competitiveness of UK industries.

“By offering a variety of academic, vocational and apprenticeship routes, they provide access to a pool of well-trained professionals, equipped with the skills employers need.

“Since the pandemic, the FE sector has had to swiftly embrace the use of digital technologies across teaching, learning and assessment, with some truly transformational results.

“From developing blended learning solutions that fit the needs of both students and teachers, to using advanced technology such as extended reality and artificial intelligence to enhance curriculum, it is clear innovation is at the heart of FE.”

Providers are using a host of digital tools to educate and upskill their students, whether that’s equipping them with digital skills or developing more engaging learning environments to prepare them for a range of sectors.

Construction: Coleg Y Cymoedd

As the UK’s largest industry, contributing more than £122 billion to the UK's economy in 2021, the construction sector is a key employer of academic and vocational students and apprentices.

Coleg Y Cymoedd, which operates across four main campuses in South Wales, used their knowledge of augmented reality (AR) to ensure construction students continued to receive high-quality teaching during the pandemic.

By using AR smartglasses to stream practical techniques carried out by course instructors, students were able to gain real-time insight into best practice for individual tasks. By recording and sharing the footage, learners were also able to re-visit the video, allowing them to delve deeper into aspects of the process they felt they needed to work more on.

Using first person point-of-view video capture made the students feel as if they were carrying out the task themselves, but with the added bonus of being able to interact with the content at a time and place that best suited them.

Digital: Basingstoke College of Technology

The role of digital in education, industry and our everyday lives has changed dramatically in recent years. To keep up, learners must possess the digital skills that will help them integrate into the workforce across any number of key industries.

Scott Hayden, head of digital learning, and his team at Basingstoke College of Technology have developed innovative new learning spaces that support students to do just that.

Built at the height of the pandemic, Launchspace, a set of digitally enhanced suites which enable practical, skills-based learning and cater to industry demands, has been operational for more than three years. The facilities aid the development of essential digital skills in students and apprentices, and create pathways and progression routes.

Launchspace allows teachers and learners to be more adaptive with their lessons, providing them with a safe space to try new things with the support of the on-site digital team.

Scott says the space acts as “preparation for what our industry expert teachers and their local connections need it to be. For example: flexible, agile, collaborative, dynamic, working alongside different people, and providing a glimpse into the future for users.”

Green Skills: East Coast College

Essential for driving economic growth in a rapidly evolving global marketplace, green skills will be a fundamental component of the future workforce, contributing to a more sustainable and prosperous world.

East Coast College, which has been around in some form for almost 150 years and has campuses across the south east, understands how green skills and a sustainable agenda can benefit local communities as well as the planet as a whole.

As part of their award-winning Energy Skills Centre based at the college’s Lowestoft campus, East Coast is using virtual reality (VR) to replicate the construction of offshore wind turbines for students considering a career in renewable energy, as well as exploring sustainable behaviors and domestic energy consumption.

In addition to their commitment to green skills, East Coast College was the first FE institution to complete Jisc’s vision for sustainable change workshop, helping them to embed sustainable practices throughout the organisation.

Health and social care: Edinburgh College

Colleges are integral to the UK health and social care industry, providing education, training and support for healthcare professionals. Many FE providers partner with local employers and the wider community to ensure the learning they provide corresponds directly with the issues affecting the region.

A great example of this comes from Edinburgh College, who are using virtual reality (VR) simulators to help their students care for and empathise with dementia patients.

The college won the Jisc sponsored innovative use of technology award at the 2022 Herald Higher Education awards for their inspirational project that uses real-life interviews with those living with dementia, and those caring for them, to create a realistic and empathetic experience.

With Scotland’s ageing and growing population, the demand for qualified health and social care workers is set to rise over the next ten years. By using innovative technologies, Edinburgh College seeks to address this demand, alongside the amplified skills shortages caused by the pandemic.

Hospitality: Coleg Sir Gâr

In 2019, the hospitality industry accounted for 3 per cent of total UK economic output. However, the devastating impact of the pandemic led to many businesses closing due to a lack of custom. As the sector builds itself back up, there is a reinvigorated need for staff to work in the many roles the sector provides; but finding applicants can be difficult.

Coleg Sir Gâr, based in Carmarthenshire on the Welsh coast, identified this as a particular issue for their region, and applied for government funding to launch their Cook 24 project, an intense course providing the skills needed to work in a commercial kitchen.

They were keen to be visible to the community, and make opportunities for learning as accessible as possible, and that meant setting up shop off campus. Once a suitable space was acquired to house the project, digital experts at the college used multiple cameras to live-stream lessons in a studio setting, giving students access to an extensive bank of content.

The set-up allowed for real-time face tracking of local industry experts, including Michelin starred chefs, which meant that, as each task was carried out, those watching could examine actions in detail.

They also used QR codes instead of textbooks, giving students the freedom to download tutorials directly relating to the course and learn at their own time and pace.

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