Awarded Microsoft Showcase College Status

Weston College is one of just 14 providers in the UK to be recognised as a Microsoft Showcase College.

As a ‘Microsoft Showcase College’, the College will benefit from the IT giant’s support in the personalised learning of students. This includes the use of one-to-one devices and Office 365 Education, Microsoft Teams, OneNote, Skype, Minecraft and more.

Microsoft will also share ideas to enhance staff development, student employability and innovation, and provide the College with opportunities to host Microsoft-branded educational events.

The status is awarded to Colleges that demonstrate “a commitment to education transformation and empowering educators and students to innovate and exercise a growth mindset”.

This new global education programme is an extension of Microsoft’s global network of institutions that use technology to improve teaching and learning.

Tina Jones, UK Education Engagement Manager at Microsoft, said: “We recently held a two-day session for our Showcase Schools and Colleges, which was a tremendous success.

“It was an amazing opportunity for our team to share updates on Accessibility, STEM, Apprenticeships, Azure and plan together for the future as well as learning from these amazing institutions on how they have achieved such inspirational digital transformation in their school or college.”

Jon Hofgartner, Weston College Assistant Director for Technology, Learning Resources and Skills for Progression, said: “It’s exciting to be working with one of the world’s leading technology corporations.

“Weston College is dedicated to using innovation in technology for learning and business, and this commitment will be enhanced by the partnership with Microsoft and its family of pioneering institutions across the globe.

“As a Microsoft Showcase College, we will benefit from billions of pounds of research and knowledge that we would never usually have access to.

“Microsoft technologies empower people and businesses around the world, and many jobs that young people apply for will require them to use digital working environments such as Office 365, so embedding this technology as well as digital skills and capabilities into our teaching and learning is vital for all our students.”