The Wessex Academy of Performing Arts (WAPA) at the College has welcomed two visiting lecturers from one of the entertainment capitals of the world, Las Vegas.

Michael Lugering, Professor of Acting, and Louis Kavouras, Professor of Dance, both from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), spent two days running specialist master classes for students on Foundation Degrees in Performing Arts and Musical Theatre, run in partnership with Bath Spa University, as part of a recently launched collaborative performance project between WAPA and UNLV.

The project involves a number of staff exchanges, along with the sharing of workshops via platforms including Skype, Facetime and YouTube. This will culminate in a unique joint performance in two different time zones via Skype in April 2015 which will be televised across the USA.

The partnership between the two institutions will also potentially provide students with the opportunity to study in Las Vegas, and students from UNLV will be joining WAPA students to perform at Move It! 2015, a large national dance event in London.

Beau Coleman, 22, is studying the BA (Hons) in Performing Arts. She said: “The workshops have been really interesting. My favourite part was breaking down the aspects of a movement and learning how emotions influence movements. I think this partnership is going to be fantastic for the future students, and everyone is really excited about it already.”

Michael Lugering said: “We’ve loved working with the fantastic staff and students in the wonderful spaces they have available to them here at Weston College. It was very important for us to come and have a face-to-face interaction with them in a real space. Our challenge going forward will be to maintain the connection we have built once we return to the States. I am hopeful though that the power of performance will transcend the physical distance.”

The workshops run by Michael and Louis form part of a suite of workshops organised by WAPA and run by visiting professionals, including:

• Tim Richards who teaches the MA in Musical Theatre at Royal Welsh College in Cardiff
• Dr Ed Blake, a leading physiotherapist from Harley Street, who came to talk about the physiology of the voice and specific medical disorders relating to the vocal organs
• Joe Miller, Resident Director for Spirit Productions, who came to teach choreographies for the shows WAPA take on tour

WAPA maintains many close links with employers and professionals, and students will continue to benefit from the embedding of such workshops within the degree courses run at Weston College.

Weston College is officially a Further AND Higher Education establishment following a successful bid to the Government.

The move towards offering more degrees at the College ties in with North Somerset Council’s strategy for the regeneration of Weston-super-Mare and will lead to an eventual aim of having a ‘University Centre’ in the town.

Although Weston College already offers degrees, its new status means it will be able to expand its provision significantly, leading to many more new jobs for the town and surrounding area.

Welcoming the news, Dr Paul Phillips, Weston College Principal and Chief Executive, said the College’s new status tied in with the continuing development of its South West Skills Campus (SWSC) on Locking Road, extensions to Loxton Campus on Locking Road, the development of the North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College at Junction 21and improvements at its Knightstone Campus.

He said: “The time was right to go for this bid, particularly when the town of Weston-super-Mare will be seeing major regeneration in the very near future in the form of Junction 21 and the Dolphin Square development. I am jointly working through the Local Enterprise Partnership and North Somerset Council so that the idea of regeneration in Weston-super-Mare leans towards a ‘town centre urbanisation project’ with HE a major feature of this.”

Mike Jackson, Chief Executive of North Somerset Council, said: “This is excellent news for North Somerset, and Weston-super-Mare in particular. We work very closely with the College and I am delighted that their bid to Government has been successful. Weston College already plays an extremely important role in Weston-super-Mare’s economy. As we look to the future, Higher Education should play a significant role in delivering development and investment in the town centre, which is a priority for the council.”

HE provision at Weston College has grown rapidly, with around 800 students now on HE courses with partners Bath Spa University and the University of the West of England. It is hoped that a new centre may easily double this number in the next few years.

Weston College’s aspirations tie in with a speech made recently by Universities Minister David Willetts, who said that HE provision should focus on economic ‘cold spots’.

The minister said that he hoped the removal of controls on student numbers from next year would result in more campuses being set up. He added: “There are no barriers to setting up a higher education campus. If this is your town’s dream we want you to pursue it.”

Two graduates from the BA (Hons) Graphic Design, run in partnership with Bath Spa University, have taken up graduate designer roles with Dyson.

Amelia Hurrell and Laura Hughes both graduated with First Class Honours in 2013 and had been working as freelance designers as well as taking up intern positions - Amelia at Sky Creative, having won the New Designers Sky Award 2013, and Laura at Proctor and Stevenson, a prestigious web design company.

Thanks to the strong reputation of the College’s degree provision in Graphic Design, Victoria Norcross, Programme Co-ordinator for FdA and BA (Hons) Graphic Design, was contacted by Ben Tappenden, Creative Head of Graphics and Packaging at Dyson and asked to recommend some graduates for the role of Junior Designer. Amelia and Laura were both successful at interview.

Ben said: “The candidates from Weston College were strong in interview and had encouraging portfolios. Laura and Amelia are competent and exciting graduate designers with a good sense of fun, enthusiasm, confidence, professionalism and ambition in abundance.”

Victoria said: "The achievements of these students are testament to the excellent work-based opportunities they had whilst studying at Weston College. It's great to see them being so highly regarded and working in high-profile companies so soon after graduating."

Amelia said: “The BA (Hons) in Graphic Design degree at Weston College was the perfect springboard for me. It provided the necessary skills and experience - through work placements and communication with local design agencies - to be successful at interview and secure a graduate job with Dyson. I’ve really enjoyed my time at Dyson so far, having been involved in a wide range of projects that have allowed me to exercise the skills I learnt at the College, and I can’t wait to see what challenges await me in the future.”

Laura said: “Studying at Weston College equipped me with skills and real world experience to give me the best possible start to my career. If I hadn’t been to Weston I doubt I could have gained my position at Dyson. Since starting in my role I have been involved in a wide range of really interesting projects and been through a great graduate induction programme. It’s amazing to work for such a big company that is so well respected and always at the cutting edge of design."