Bournemouth & Poole College has received an investment of £1.3 million from the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)to provide vital equipment and facility upgrades which will benefit over 10,000 students and 600 staff.
The funding, which has been provided via the Local Growth Fund for two exciting projects at the College, is part of Dorset LEP’s ongoing commitment to improving skill provision and support key business sectors across Dorset.
Lorna Carver, Dorset LEP Director said: “This major skills investment is vital in supporting young people to achieve specialist qualifications in Dorset. Investing in skills our local businesses need is essential to economic recovery following the impact of COVID-19 and in alignment with the Local Industrial Strategy. Supporting further education is also a core component of our Dorset Skills Action Plan.”
The Workstations and Remote Access projects include a major upgrade in IT equipment and the delivery of online teaching, to expand student and staff access to virtual workstations and applications which improve the standard of remote teaching. This tech upgrade will complement the delivery of digital learning and enable students to develop skills they will utilise in their future workplace. Improved virtual education will be useful for any students who may need to isolate due to COVID-19 and remote learning will also reduce the need for travel, making study more sustainable and affordable.
Our Network Infrastructure project includes the replacement of ageing network equipment to improve network bandwidth and throughput used by students, apprentices and staff. Improvements will further expand wireless connectivity, enabling students and staff to use their own device in college. This upgrade will support the increasing use of digital resources at our Lansdowne, North Road and Fulcrum sites, and will also support the online delivery of teaching and learning for those onsite.
Diane Grannell, Dorset LEP Board Member and Principal & Chief Executive of Bournemouth & Poole College concludes: “The recent pandemic has brought into sharp relief the importance of digital skills and digital infrastructure. We’re incredibly grateful to Dorset LEP for this investment, which will benefit our students and staff enormously. Not only will it support the continuation of education even during lockdown periods, but it will also enhance our ability to help our students develop the digital skills they need to thrive in tomorrow’s workforce.”
