Robert Gordon University (RGU) and North-East Scotland College (NESCol) have announced an ambitious enhanced alliance to deliver a seamless skills-rich educational pathway for learners in Scotland’s North-east.
Building on a well-established partnership and a shared commitment to present an innovative and inclusive tertiary education model, the new TWO PLUS partnership will see the two institutions take new active steps to strengthen their connection within and beyond traditional higher and further education streams.
The Principal of RGU, professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, says: “RGU has a deep and successful partnership with NESCol, but we are now moving to the next phase of educational innovation to break down barriers to learning and create new pathways that will allow all talented learners, whatever their background, to realise their ambitions and open up exciting careers.
“We have a firm commitment to work collaboratively to deliver a high-value, inclusive, unified tertiary education system in the region which meets the needs of learners and employers across Scotland’s society and economy.”
“By re-imagining the existing collaboration between the two institutions, NESCol and RGU will also enable talented individuals to achieve their ambitions by ensuring they have clear and timely guidance to make informed decisions,” says Liz McIntyre, the Principal of NESCol. “We’ll aim to make the system more accessible and understandable for young people across the North-east.”
The joint approach to addressing access and inclusion across the two institutions will find new methods of collaborating to meet Scotland’s ambition for a world class education and skills system, supporting findings from the recent 15-24 Learner Journey Review and Enterprise and Skills Review, as well as the Developing Young Workforce agenda.
The initiative will build on the success of the existing Degree Link programme between the two institutions, which provides a stepping stone to further study by allowing students to gain advanced entry to a degree at RGU after completing a relevant HNC/D at NESCol.
It will create new and efficient routes to progress to higher education by incorporating additional discipline areas into the articulation programme and will ensure young learners receive clear advice to make informed decisions about progression pathways between college and university.
TWO PLUS will also look at ways to maximise the opportunities to progress into second year of a degree and/or HN study with an advanced higher qualification and will deliver a new cohesive and integrated approach to outreach activity for school-age learners which enables access and supports attainment.
It will also support the Developing Young Workforce Agenda by delivering an integration of work based learning pathways for learners and business.
