Global Gold for Weston College’s ‘Strategic Leadership’ in superb West of England Institute of Technology model
Last week, Weston College was internationally recognised in the field of education, when the Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College Sir Paul Phillips collected the GOLD Strategic Leadership Award on June 17th at the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) global awards of excellence. The awards, which were running alongside the WFCP 2022 Congress in San Sebastian Spain, recognise the very best educational strategies for vocational and technical education sector in the world and are hosted by the WFCP - a prestigious international network of colleges and polytechnics, who provide leadership to deliver education that is fit for a 21st century global economy.
Attended by over 300 College leaders worldwide, the Strategic Leadership award was collected by Sir Phillips for the College’s leadership in creating and leading the West of England Institute of Technology (WEIoT). This unique collaboration consists of 4 Colleges, I University and 13 anchor employers, who are successfully bridging the higher technical skills gap across the West of England, covering key sectors such as Creative, Digital and HighTech, Health & Life Sciences, Skills for Net Zero, Advanced Engineering & High Value Manufacturing.
Judges were quick to applaud the responsive and innovative partnership approach, which has also been designed to widen participation. In doing so, the partnership has created an inclusive talent pipeline, supporting learners (whatever their starting point in life) to access aspirational careers which are centred around the region’s high growth sectors.
On receiving GOLD, Sir Phillips added “The West of England Institute of Technology, is a strong collaboration and I would like to thank Bath College, Gloucestershire College, UWE Bristol, Yeovil College and all the anchor employers for helping us create an innovative long-term strategic vision, which continues to be driven by industry and which has created state of the art facilities and opportunities for successful higher technical inclusive careers’.
The Director for the WEIoT Claire Arbery said ‘This is an amazing international accolade which reflects the very ethos of Weston College, enabling the WEIoT partners to build their specialisms in partnership with employers in a highly inclusive strategy led from the very top. The provision is highly ambitious in its engagement of learners, many of whom who have succeeded, thinking initially that a high growth technical career was beyond their reach. It is fitting that the WEIoT led by the College, is now not only recognised as a UK model of excellence, it is now recognised globally made possible by our amazing partners and employers’.
Find out more:
- World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) global awards of excellence
- The West of England Institute of Technology
