Pembrokeshire College has been presented with two Beacon awards by the minister for lifelong learning, further and higher education, Bill Rammell. The event, which took place in Westminster, London, recognises the achievements of the college, winner of the Becta Award for the Effective use of ICT and E-Learning to Enhance and Support Organisational Development and also winner of the MENCAP and RNIB Award for students with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities.
Pembrokeshire College was highly commended for its cross-college application of ICT and e-learning, winning it the Becta Award. College staff have been praised for their confidence in their use of ICT across the curriculum. There is a close working relationship between the governors, the principal, staff and the e-development team leading to engagement of ICT at all levels of the college's organisation.
The college's inclusive learning strategy earned it the MENCAP and RNIB Award. The college was highly commended for its individualised student support, purpose built centre for visual impairment and its wide range of curriculum activities. The Beacon awards, which are presented by the Association of Colleges (AoC), seek to highlight and reward further education colleges displaying high levels of teaching and support to their learners.
Open to all further education providers in the UK, the awards encompass general further education colleges, specialist colleges and sixth form colleges. Almost 300 entries were received for the 2005-2006 awards. The minister for lifelong learning, further and higher education, Bill Rammell, said: "It is a pleasure to present the Beacon awards to colleges that are excelling themselves by providing excellent learning environments, and pushing the boundaries with technology and learning techniques.
"The number of entries, and the high standards of the winning colleges, illustrate the progress that is being made in the further education sector and in providing educational opportunities for learners throughout the UK.
"The awards are a way of championing the diverse achievements of the further education sector in areas such as inclusion, social mobility and creating employer partnerships. This reiterates the need to acknowledge that colleges are assets for local communities and businesses."
Applications are currently being accepted for the 2006-2007 Beacon awards. Details are available at http://www.aoc.co.uk/aoc/beacon">www.aoc.co.uk/aoc/beacon.