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Four more colleges join the UK’s largest education network
18/07/05
Calderdale College, Dewsbury College, Wakefield College and Leeds College of Building signed ‘collaboration agreements’ with Leeds Met on 18 July.
Leaders from eight further education colleges have recently joined Leeds Met’s regional university network, whose membership already includes Park Lane College in Leeds and Bradford College. The combined student populations of the original three partners amounted to over 100,000 and was described as the UK’s largest network of post -16 education. Now, the partnership is heading towards enhancing opportunities for up to 250,000 students, stretching beyond Yorkshire from Nottinghamshire to Tyneside.
Four colleges, West Nottinghamshire College, York College, Leeds College of Technology and Thomas Danby College, signed a ‘collaboration agreement’ on Monday 11 July at Leeds Metropolitan University on the same day as Brendan Foster was installed as the Chancellor of Leeds Metropolitan University.
A further four colleges, Calderdale College, Dewsbury College, Wakefield College and Leeds College of Building, signed collaboration agreements at events on Monday 18 July. Newcastle College will also be signing a partnership agreement, through which they will be offering up to nine Leeds Met degrees in 2005/06.
The collaboration network will see the education establishments working together to widen access and increase participation by those under-represented in higher education. As a result of joining with one of the country’s most innovative universities, students at the colleges will benefit from access to a wide range of degree programmes and progression opportunities. Leeds Met will validate a variety of qualifications, in particular foundation degrees at each of the colleges and students who successfully complete foundation degree courses will automatically be able to “top-up” their qualification to a full honours degree at Leeds Met with an extra year’s study.
In addition, the colleges are already taking the opportunity to develop new course programmes with Leeds Met and establish closer links with employers.
Commenting on the partnership with Leeds Met, Wendy Pawson, Principal of Dewsbury College said, ‘I am delighted that Dewsbury College will be part of the regional university network. I can see great benefits for our students and am confident that this partnership will offer opportunities for those who might otherwise have never considered a higher education course. We are looking forward to a close and creative relationship.’
The Vice-Chancellor of Leeds Metropolitan University, Professor
Simon Lee, commented, ‘Our vision is a great north university
network in the spirit of our Chancellor’s Great North Run,
involving both mass participation and world-class performance.
We aim to be the equivalent of a major American state university
system in a partnership of equals.’
