Home

Virtual Learning Angus is a collaborative partnership with Robert Gordon University, the primary objectives of which are to:

• Address the degree deficit in Angus to aid labour market response to employment growth in new occupational areas.
  
  
• Widen access to learning for groups who have faced barriers to post-school learning in the past as a result of rurality and/or work commitments.

The project aims are to transform the way in which learning is delivered across Angus in a way that takes cognisance of the barriers faced in accessing higher education in a rural environment. In order to achieve these goals the partners will use virtual learning as a vehicle to increase participation in lifelong learning in a manner not previously possible due to geographical isolation. As a consequence the partners will develop new training materials and content that better reflect the labour market demands. Over a period of 1 year elements of these courses will be adapted, developed and tested via collaboration between Angus College, The Robert Gordon University (RGU), employers and local learners.

Angus College will accrue immediate benefits from this programme in terms of greater capacity to reach and address the learning needs of the local community, a blueprint for development of further virtual learning opportunities and a model of best practice from which to roll into other vocational areas.

The partners will also host a joint dissemination event to highlight this HE/FE collaboration and invite businesses and key partners from industry and education to attend. In addition those learners involved in the piloting activity will have a special section at the College graduation to celebrate their achievements as learners.

The project is host to a further 3 work streams which include:

• Development of a range of HNC qualifications which can be accessed on-line
• Development of a Personal development Plan process to support individual need and action planning
• Development of a range of on-line courses to support business improvement

For further information please contact either Iverene Bromfield (tel: 01241 432723) or Beverley Adamson (tel: 01241 432690).

This project aims to improve English language, ICT skills and cultural awareness of 520 migrant workers in order to enhance their opportunities within the Scottish labour market. Delivery will build on an approach piloted in Angus which supported 220 workers and 26 employers and will involve the roll out of high-quality learning opportunities to a greater number of beneficiaries, across a wider geographical area. A secondary aim is to create a cultural shift in the attitudes and understanding of employers of the needs of migrant workers.

Communities Scotland 2005 cited that there are 4,000 migrant workers across Tayside as a whole with 5.7% of total Scottish migrant worker registrations concentrated in Angus and Perth & Kinross. Research has highlighted that their main support requirement is help to overcome language barriers to inclusion. Over a two year period partners will engage with 520 migrant workers currently working across Perth & Kinross and Angus who face long-term disadvantage as a result of their poor grasp of the English language. Specific activity will involve:

• Employer and participant training needs analysis
• English language classes leading to SQA certification
• Ongoing guidance, support and referral to further learning opportunities
• Development of a migrant workers welcome pack which will help increase accessibility to support services
• ICT skills development
• Support for employers to increase awareness of issues pertinent to migrant workers – 2 regional dissemination events

Use of the inter-college virtual hub will allow learners to access state of the art learning materials, interactive support for language development and to develop tutor-student relationships from the comfort of their own home or learning centre. Traditional classroom-based support will be available in addition to delivery of learning within the workplace.

Those participating will directly benefit through increased linguistic skills, qualifications and confidence. These outcomes translate into better employment opportunities and also address wider social inclusions through better access and understanding of mainstream services. Interventions will be focused upon those working in key growth sectors with focus on: tourism, agriculture and food and drink.

Local SMEs will be secondary beneficiaries as benefits will accrue to their businesses as a result of the availability of an increasingly skilled and adaptable pool of labour. Ongoing evaluation of learner experience will ensure that training continues to meet the needs of individuals and their employers. The results of the project will be disseminated widely through FE networks, employers and within local communities. The SQA will be invited to develop further case studies of work with employers which follows on from work undertaken through a previous project.

For further information please contact either Iverene Bromfield (tel: 01241 432723) or Beverley Adamson (tel: 01241 432690).

NEET (Not in Education Employment or Training)

Cooperation with, ROC AVENTUS (NL) and Baaring Hojkole (Denmark) provided a structured programme of staff development for 4 staff from Angus College. This helped to develop the quality of staff skills within the Business, Administration and Technology team to better equip them to deal with the growing number of learners from marginalised groups on their courses. Particular reference was made to supporting the NEET group and building on the low rates of NEET reported by UNICEF for Denmark and Netherlands in a recent report.

The group gained a better awareness of learning and engagement techniques and increased personal and professional confidence.

The project began in August 07 with two flows of two staff in Nov 07 (Denmark) and then in Feb 08 (the Netherlands). Receiving partners organised programmes in line with participant personal objectives and included: work shadowing, analysis of teaching resources, working with students and visits to local training projects.

The partnership is continuing with 2 lecturers from ROC Aventus Holland visiting Angus College Arbroath in September 2008.

For further information please contact either Iverene Bromfield (tel: 01241 432723) or Beverley Adamson (tel: 01241 432690).

Denmark Presentation
(1,235KB)

Creating Opportunities for Mobility in Catering

Activity enhanced the vocational training experiences of 13 students engaged on National Certificate level hospitality courses by using transnational mobility through European work placements to strengthen vocational and core skills hence employability. It was achieved through the cooperation of Angus College (UK), Hronov Vocational & Secondary School of Hospitality & Travel Industry (Czech Republic) and The Consorcio Hacienda La Laguna, (Spain).

Students travelled in November 2008. Over 2 weeks students dealt with a new culture and language and undertook learning within partner colleges' work placements to get a taste for living abroad via cultural and social activities and educational visits. Students experienced cultures where hospitality is viewed as a profession and not a career stop-gap.

Activity addressed sectoral skills gaps and helped to meet the training needs of those entering the industry.

Following on from the success of this project another application was submitted and has also been granted funding.

Therefore further opportunities to work, live and learn in Spain and Czech Republic will occur in October 2008 and January 2009.

The project also aims to meet the needs of the students to be able to develop softer skills which will enhance their employment prospects through broadening their horizons, raising aspirations and confidence and introducing them to alternative career opportunities.

Expected outcomes are that students will have acquired the following:

• Improved employment and employability skills;
• Increased vocational skills through new knowledge of the catering and hospitality industry;
• Increased knowledge of food, recipes, cooking methods, service, employment opportunities;
• Increased cultural awareness;
• Acquisition of basic language skills.

Additional outcomes are:

• Strengthening of partnerships between European training organisations;
• Greater awareness by all participating organisations of the ECVET framework;
• Setting up future exchange visits for 2009 between participating organisations.

For further information please contact either Iverene Bromfield (tel: 01241 432723) or Beverley Adamson (tel: 01241 432690).

"EXCITE" focuses on the transnational exchange of methods, experiences and best practice to increase digital competences of senior or underprivileged learners from different backgrounds. Learners outside the learning path should be attracted and engaged to improve their ICT skills which are vital today for all personal or occupational contexts. This will result in an enhanced number and range of learning opportunities for learners and educators. Special needs of target groups addressed by varying tools and methodologies will be tested and assessed to contribute to the reduction of digital illiteracy and divide.

There are different target groups and environments for the involved partners.

• Germany: older employees in industry companies which have to maintain their employability;
• Italy: underprivileged, e.g. senior citizens or disabled persons;
• Sweden: older people or persons with low educational level;
• Latvia: older people without access to learning opportunities;
• UK: rural learners handicapped by far distances.

The common objective of all partners is to reach learners which are not yet able or capable to access learning and which are not yet able or capable to use ICT for their individual benefit. All partners have long-term experience in working and methodical approach with their specific target groups.

What is missing for all is a comparison with other organisations in Europe, working in a similar context. The partners want to exchange best practice and share approved methods for improving digital competences of their target groups. With this the partners intend to enrich their possibilities for learners and trainers by use of additional educational approaches provided by the partnership.

For further information please contact either Iverene Bromfield (tel: 01241 432723) or Beverley Adamson (tel: 01241 432690).

Angus has experienced a large influx of Polish students and workers since EU enlargement in 2004. Co-operation between Angus College and the School of Public Administration and Management in Przemysl (Poland) aimed to provide a structured programme of staff development for 4 staff from Angus.

The resulting activity increased understanding between the 2 countries and thus developed the quality of English teaching for the UK staff to better equip them to deal with the growing number of learners coming from Poland to work and study. Particular reference focused on VET.

Outcomes included a comprehensive understanding of the Polish educational system, recognition of qualifications, transferable skills, exchange of learning and teaching techniques, cultural awareness, employability and analysis of expectations and values. This should now increase the personal and professional confidence of staff. Dissemination has taken place within Angus College to College management, external funding staff and into other curriculum areas.

Staff visited Poland in March 08. The receiving partners organised programmes in line with project objectives and included: work shadowing, analysis of teaching resources, meeting governing bodies, forming links with a wide range of educational establishments, meeting students including some who wish to work or study in Scotland, and understanding recruitment and employment in Poland. Future mobility opportunities will follow.

For further information please contact either Iverene Bromfield (tel: 01241 432723) or Beverley Adamson (tel: 01241 432690).

Poland Presentation
(2,046KB)