College News

Gower College Swansea commended by AoC

Gower College Swansea has been commended for its best practice and innovation in three separate categories in the 2019/2020 Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards.

The Association of Colleges’ Beacon Awards celebrate the best and most innovative practice among UK Colleges. They are awarded every year by AoC to provide recognition for excellence while acknowledging the talents of staff at all levels. They highlight the breadth and quality of education in the College sector.

Gower College Swansea’s commendations are for:

A brand new Student Union for Gower College Swansea

Gower College Swansea has a brand new Student Union and - overseeing the smooth running of the organisation – a new full time (sabbatical) SU President, Laimis Lisauskas.

Laimis, who was an engineering student at the College before starting in his new role, will work across all campuses and represent all the College’s students. He will lead on events and initiatives and ensure that students’ opinions are fed back to senior management.

FE/HE collaboration sees classroom transformation

Thanks to a successful bid to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), a classroom at Gower College Swansea has been transformed into an active learning space complete with videoconferencing facilities, interactive boards and VR headsets.

Swansea University led on the bid - entitled Growing Comms: to enhance HE and FE collaboration in innovation and engagement activity – and will now work in partnership with Gower College Swansea, NPTC Group and Pembrokeshire College to deliver collaborative learning opportunities for students.

College HR team up for top award

Gower College Swansea’s HR department is in the running for another top award.

The team have been shortlisted in the Best In-House Team category at the CIPD Wales Awards, which take place at Cardiff City Hall on 15 November.

This particular award recognises HR teams that have worked closely together to deliver value through people-focused initiatives and practices. 

Ambitious plans for Sketty Hall given green light

Gower College Swansea’s vision to redevelop Sketty Hall as a Business School will proceed following a successful bid for capital funding from Welsh Government.

University joins forces with College to help students

Swansea University and Gower College Swansea have teamed up to support students with autistic spectrum conditions as they prepare to make the transition from college to university.

They are collaborating on a year-long research project to investigate potential challenges that these students experience when making the change from further education to higher education.

College awarded NEBOSH Gold status

Gower College Swansea has been awarded Gold NEBOSH Learning Partner status – an official seal of approval for its delivery of health and safety courses.

College launches HE+ and Seren Academy for 2019

Gower College Swansea has welcomed over 400 learners to the Gorseinon campus for the launch of the HE+ programme and Seren Academy for 2019/20.

Gower College Swansea, at the invitation of and in collaboration with, the University of Cambridge, is the ‘hub’ institution in the Swansea HE+ Consortium, working with the seven state sixth-form schools in the City and County of Swansea.

£6.6m EU funding to support Gower College Swansea employability programme

A major £6.6m EU investment is set to expand and extend a Swansea employability programme through to 2021.

Five new projects, part of the ‘Better Jobs, Better Futures’ programme, will be delivered by Gower College Swansea, in partnership with local employers.

The programme is targeted at people who are unemployed, under-employed or in lower paid jobs, and will offer a range of individualised support including coaching, mentoring, work placements, and opportunities to achieve qualifications.

New students welcomed to College

New students had a chance to find out more about campus life when they attended the Gower College Swansea Freshers’ Fayre.