| |

New Coatbridge College/Open University partnership opens up local learning routes | 26.01.10

A new partnership launched today  between The Open University in Scotland and Coatbridge College, will give local people access to one of the country’s most flexible and comprehensive learning packages.

The partnership agreement links up Coatbridge College’s suite of higher education qualifications to The Open University’s extensive range of courses and degrees to create progression routes between the two learning providers. This means that local people will be able to benefit from multi-optional learning programmes that offer them a range of ways to develop their skills at the different stages in their lives.

Anyone studying HNC, HND or a range of other courses at the College will be able to count credit points from their studies towards an Open University degree. This will help them to build on the knowledge and skills they’ve already gained, and in many cases to reduce the length of time it takes to get a degree.

Peter Syme, Director of The Open University in Scotland, explains the rationale behind the partnership. “In today’s economic climate lifelong learning is an essential tool in helping people to stay one step ahead in the labour market. They need to have access to flexible, affordable ways to upskill and reskill when they need to in order to ensure their skills stay current and relevant.

“This partnership gives us the opportunity to bring together Scotland’s leading provider of part-time university education with the College at the heart of the North Lanarkshire community,” he said. “This gives us the reach and the expertise to contribute directly to the skills and learning needs of individuals and employers throughout the area.”

Many college/university progression partnerships link to a limited number of specific learning pathways. The OU/Coatbridge College agreement gives current and former college students access to the OU’s entire range of nearly 600 courses. From this they have the option of working towards a degree in a specific subject area, or of tailor-making a degree profile to suit their individual interests.
The flexible, part-time nature of OU study means that it is likely to offer particular benefits to people who have studied part-time at the College to fit around their other commitments, or who are looking to commence or remain in employment while they work towards a degree. The progression opportunities offered through the new partnership are open to former Coatbridge College students irrespective of how long it is since they studied at the college.

The partnership also offers considerable benefits for local employers, by offering a one-stop-shop for many of their training needs and supporting their employees to develop their skills ‘on-the-job’.

John Doyle, Principal and Chief Executive of Coatbridge College, said: “I am delighted that the College will be working so closely with The Open University. This will provide great progression opportunities for all our students – past and present. Local people can now benefit from a huge range of learning programmes which can be customised to develop their own skills at all stages of their lives.’

Anna Styles, Curriculum Leader for Early Education and Child Care at Coatbridge College, completed her Masters Degree through The Open University. She said:
“I had a really positive experience with The Open University. The learning materials are first class and the tutor support is excellent. The use of blended learning also enhances your skills and knowledge. One of the most important aspects of an OU course is that it allows you to deepen and widen your knowledge in your subject area. I would recommend an Open University course to anyone at any stage in their learning journey. “