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Largest Education Collaboration in Country Finalised
03/02/05
Leaders from two of the region’s largest education providers met in Bradford today to finalise a new collaboration that will form part of the largest provision of post-16 education in the country.
Bradford College and Leeds Metropolitan University formally agreed a partnership to provide enhanced opportunities for students in Bradford. Michele Sutton, Principal of Bradford College, and Simon Lee, Vice-Chancellor of Leeds Met, signed the agreement at the meeting held at Bradford City Football Club on 3rd February.
The collaboration, which will see Bradford College becoming an Associate College of Leeds Metropolitan University, will involve the University taking responsibility for validating the large number of the College’s degrees in areas such as Business and Law.
Bradford College is the largest provider of higher education courses outside of the university sector in England. Approximately 4,000 students study for university level qualifications on over 170 courses at the College. As a result of joining with one of the country’s leading universities, students at Bradford College will benefit from access to a wide range of degree programmes and progression opportunities particularly in established areas such as the Law School. They will also receive their degrees from a highly regarded university and have access to the University’s first-rate facilities.
In addition, Bradford College will have the opportunity to develop new course programmes with Leeds Met and establish closer links with employers throughout West Yorkshire. The College believes that Bradford students will benefit from this additional link with Leeds which will offer an extended range of opportunities for the people of Leeds and Bradford.
41,000 students study at Leeds Met, which has also recently agreed a similar partnership with Park Lane College in Leeds. Added to Bradford College’s 26,000 students over 100,000 learners in total will be part of a collaboration providing post-16 education to the region.
Commenting on the partnership with Leeds Met Mrs Sutton said: “As Principal of Bradford College I am proud that we have trained and educated many of the teachers, social workers, youth and community workers, lawyers, business and computing experts and health care professionals who live and work in Bradford. We are also delighted that talented and renowned artists and designers have been through the Bradford College School of Art.
“Our partnership with Leeds Met is based on a shared vision of wider access to higher education for many more people from Bradford, including school leavers and mature students who wish to continue with their professional development whilst maintaining existing relationships. Our two organisations will work together to jointly share the development of a range of new courses to meet the emerging needs of business, technology and public sector employers. We are very excited about the potential of this very powerful partnership.”
Professor Simon Lee commented: “As I said in my inaugural lecture, I was very impressed with Bradford College’s wonderful and courageous work in the community when I visited from Northern Ireland fifteen years ago, at the height of the Salman Rushdie saga. In my own subject of law, the College hosts the Bradford School of Law as Leeds Met has the Leeds School of Law. Likewise, the College includes the Bradford Business School and Leeds Met has the Leeds Business School. Together, we have a long track record in opening up opportunities for lifelong learning into the professions and beyond. The title of my lecture was ‘Beyond Boundaries’ and we are both committed to working together in going beyond any boundaries between communities or cities or colleges and universities, while respecting autonomy and diversity. As founding partners, with Park Lane College, of what is fast becoming a regional university network, we already have over 100,000 students in association. More will follow the example of Bradford College so we are well on the way to pioneering an approach to lifelong learning and partnership here in Yorkshire which will help all-comers in the region to use our talents to the full.”
