Following on from the success of last year’s ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign, Havant & South Downs College is dedicating 14 – 18 October to Colleges Week 2019 and highlighting the amazing work colleges do and why long-term term investment is crucial for our future.
As part of Love Our Colleges Week, Havant & South Downs College is joining the #LoveOurColleges week of local activity.
We are getting involved with the ‘Love Our Colleges’ week of activity by celebrating the amazing things we do with the community and valuable links we build with local businesses as well as our successful alumni.
We are proud to be a part of the ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign. Whether it’s through top-class technical education, basic skills or lifelong learning, colleges help people of all ages and backgrounds to make the most of their talents and ambitions. Rooted in local communities, we are crucial in driving social mobility and providing the skills to boost local and regional economies.
Alumni Matt Edmondson returns to Havant Campus
In July, we were delighted to invite Alumni Matt Edmondson from BBC Radio 1, back to the Havant Campus for our New Student Festival.
Prior to his success at BBC Radio 1, Matt studied A Levels at the former Havant College in Media, English Literature and Drama. And says that he still uses a lot of those skills today.
“I had such a good time here it’s nice to be back.”
“I learnt a lot from my Media course especially, I had a lecturer called Kev who was really good at instilling this sense into us that the Media industry isn’t a world that’s impenetrable. I loved those classes so much – I still think back to things I was taught in those sessions all the time when I’m making content for the radio and for the telly.”
Matt added that he made friends at College that he is still in touch with now and are ‘still a big part’ of his life.
T Levels, the next level qualification
Havant & South Downs College has been chosen as the only College in Hampshire to bring you the first three T Levels; Construction, Digital and Education and Childcare.
T Levels will involve Colleges working closely with local employers to ensure students have the opportunity to have their placements with the best employers in the local area.
In addition to providing students with placements, businesses have been involved in designing the qualification.
Employers such as Fujitsu, IBM, Cap Gemini, Action for Children, Morgan Sindall Group and Skanska UK have all had a hand in advising how Colleges can help prepare students for the world of work. Click here to learning more about T Levels at HSDC.
Our very own HSDC student wins Fuller’s College Chef of the Year 2019
Havant & South Downs College Catering student, Jonny Smith, has been named Fuller’s College Chef of the Year for 2019, winning a four-day placement in British Chef Simon Rogan’s new restaurant in Hong Kong.
The final cook-off took place at Havant & South Downs College, where finalists were judged on their techniques, flavour, execution and service by an expert judging panel of 12 leading industry individuals – including Michelin Star Chefs – with seven judges for food and five for service.
Student Jonny won the College category for his malt and barley smoked cod loin served with leeks, Jersey royals, egg and wholegrain mustard, followed by his pumpkin baked Alaska pudding. Fellow HSDC student Chloe Curry also won silver.
Havant & South Downs College is at the heart of its community, working with businesses and helping to educate and train many young people and adult learners each year. Despite this, Havant & South Downs College and other colleges in the country have had to deal with an average of 30% cut to its funding over the last decade.
Mike Gaston, Principal and Chief Executive of HSDC said: “Colleges already contribute so much to the fabric of people’s lives, working in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders within our communities. From schools and universities to businesses and charities, colleges offer their communities the social cohesion, the skills development and academic prowess where everyone can achieve. If we are serious about protecting this jewel in our community crowns, we need to be serious about supporting our colleges.”
David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, said: “The £400m funding boost announced in the spending review and the Secretary of State’s speech at the Conservative Party conference showed that the government is committed to investing in further education and skills. However there are many funding and policy challenges to grapple with to ensure colleges can thrive in the long term. Now more than ever we need highly skilled, well-educated workforces to deliver for our economy and country.”
“Colleges Week this year is about celebrating the amazing work colleges do, educating 2.2 million people every year, including more than 600,000 16 to 18-year-olds. Colleges have been neglected in recent years and proper funding for adult education is still urgently needed. This week is about making our voices heard and campaigning with partners to make sure colleges continue to be a serious political, economic and social priority.”