News
Last call for nominations!
added on 23/05/2013
The deadline for Agored Cymru’s Access Learner of the Year award is fast approaching.
This award recognises the great achievement of the Access learner who often studies while undertaking other responsibilities and/or working and therefore frequently suffer considerable financial hardship as a result of their decision to return to education.
It is not too late to nominate. For more information go to our Access to HE Learner of the year web page.
Nominations and work should be submitted by Friday, 24 May 2013 to Cheryl.crook@agored.org.uk
Putting Education at the Heart of Sustainability
added on 12/04/2013
Agored Cymru will be launching its 100th qualification in Leadership for Sustainability, at its inaugural Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship conference (ESDGC) held at Coleg Morgannwg on Wednesday, 17th April 2013.
This marks a significant milestone in Agored Cymru’s journey since it was established in 2009 to offer flexible and responsive qualifications and accreditation opportunities to meet needs and priorities of learners in Wales.
The conference, held at the college’s new sustainably built campus in Nantgarw, responds to the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Development proposed Bill due to be introduced in 2015 and follows the launch of the Welsh Government’s legislation for a Single Environment Body, Natural Resources Wales, which come into operation this month.
Janet Barlow, chief executive of Agored Cymru said “Agored Cymru is leading the way by responding to the Bill by providing units and qualifications which embed ESDGC across all curriculum areas. We place education at the heart of sustainability and our conference will be a hub for discussions and workshops on how to engage with ESDGC.”
The conference will be an opportunity for people to share good practice and debate the importance of embedding and accrediting ESDGC within the educational environment, across all curriculum and learning materials, qualification routes, vocational areas and occupations.
Hosted by Jane Davidson, former Minister for Environment and Sustainability in Wales and director of award-winning INSPIRE Institute at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, delegates will attend interactive workshops, take part in a question and answer session and listen to inspiring speakers.
Janet Barlow continues “We will be launching our suite of QCF Level 5 Leadership for Sustainability Qualifications. These will build upon our existing suite of accredited units that support ESDGC.
“ESDGC should not be seen as an additional or stand-alone subject: it involves the whole curriculum and impacts on organisational development throughout all aspects of the organisation: be it a school, college of further education, university or work-based learning provider.”
Response to the 14 – 19 Qualifications Review in Wales
added on 25/02/2013
Agored Cymru welcomes the thorough approach taken by Huw Evans and his Review board in addressing a range of complex and important educational issues and is eager to engage fully in the debate about 14-19 qualifications in Wales. Following our response to the consultation which took place in 2012, we look forward to working with Welsh Government and other awarding organisations to implement change in the interest of learners in Wales.
Janet Barlow, Agored Cymru chief executive said: ”We welcome the announcement from Jeff Cuthbert on the direction of travel for 14-19 and agree with the Welsh Government’s view that the recommendations made should form the basis of a five year programme of collaborative development work.
“We welcome the acknowledgement of the importance of both vocational and academic qualifications to young people and the recognition in the report that young people need to progress at pace that suits them.
“Agored Cymru is particularly keen to work with the Welsh Government and others to ensure that young people in Wales continue to have access to a wide range of appropriate, regulated vocational qualifications that support their progression both to further study and to employment. We believe that stakeholder engagement is essential if we are to ensure wide acceptance of the proposed reforms and deliver on their implementation.
We welcome the intention of new body Qualifications Wales to build strategic partnerships and expect that Agored Cymru will play an instrumental role in contributing qualifications to the new framework.”
Agored Cymru on Board with FAB
added on 27/11/2012
 |
Janet Barlow has been Chair of the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) Wales Advisory group for the past 2 years where she has worked with colleagues to successfully increase the influence of Awarding Organisations on policy development in Wales. Janet was seconded to the FAB Board in January 2012 and was recently elected to the Board for a further 3 years. Janet says: “Both roles have helped broaden my understanding of the diversity of the awarding organisation industry and enabled me to contribute to FAB’s work in influencing and promoting high quality vocational education and qualifications. I believe that FAB has grown in influence in the time that I have been a member and that it will play a vital role for us all in the complex and fast changing environment in which we operate”. For more information about FAB go here |
