Further Education (FE) Colleges and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with campuses across the seven West London boroughs [1] have worked with the West London Alliance [2] and West London Business [3] to develop a pioneering agreement to help students progress from courses in further education to higher-level study.
The agreement is designed to increase the number of people progressing into higher level study in important sectors to West London, helping the sub-region’s economy grow – and local residents to benefit from and support that growth.
Focused on courses in some of the most significant growth sectors for West London’s economy – Digital, the Creative & Cultural sectors, the Green Economy and Health & Care – this multi-institution agreement builds on earlier local, bi-lateral agreements between individual institutions, often focusing on just one course. Taking a wider, multi-institutional, multi-course approach, this new progression agreement provides clear pathways for students across West London to a wide range of further study.
The agreement commits participating HEIs to offering places to students securing specific grades in a range of Level 3 qualifications at participating colleges on a number of ‘matched’ degree programmes - provided students meet relevant admission requirements.
Participating institutions have also committed to work together to promote these specific progression opportunities to students and to facilitate attendance at open days and other taster events.
To support the roll-out of the agreement, participating institutions will be collaborating to produce a programme of promotional activities to be delivered throughout the year, aimed at ensuring that both students and staff in FE colleges are fully up to speed with HEI partners’ application processes and expectations, and the experience offered through the ‘matched’ degree programmes.
‘This agreement underlines the willingness of higher education institutions across West London to provide accessible routes for local residents into higher level qualifications which can lead to good jobs in growing sectors. By partnering with colleges across West London, we’ve been able to produce a progression agreement with real potential to allow the communities in which our institutions are based to benefit from the high-quality education on their doorsteps.’ Prof. Andrew Jones, Vice-Chancellor of Brunel University and chair of the West London Universities Partnership
‘As colleges, we’re committed to helping our students reach their full potential, including through supporting them in their next steps. By working closely with our higher education partners across West London on this progression agreement, we’re delighted to be putting in place a mechanism which should make progressing from further to higher education – in courses really important to our boroughs’ future labour market – all the more seamless.’ Tracy Aust, Principal of West Thames College and chair of the West London FE Principals Group.
Details of the signed agreement can be found here.
[1] Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow.
[2] The West London Alliance is the sub-regional partnership of local authorities covering the West London boroughs.
[3] West London Business is an Employer Representative Body with a membership of businesses across West London.
