AOC BEACON AWARDS PROSPECTUS - ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES

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AOC BEACON AWARDS PROSPECTUS - ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES
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                    1995 - 2020

AoC Beacon Awards
2020 -21
PROSPECTUS
AOC BEACON AWARDS PROSPECTUS - ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES
02   AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

                                                               ‘‘
CONTENTS
03     About the awards
                                               We’re still ‘glowing’
04     Why you should apply                      and everyone is
                                                   really pleased
05     Benefits of applying
                                                to have won the
06     The application process                     Award. It was
       General criteria and
                                                   a great boost,
07     eligibility to apply                     especially in this
                                                  current climate
08     Assessment

                                                   Principal of Beacon
09     Award winners
                                                       winning college
       Individual awards
10     and sponsors
AOC BEACON AWARDS PROSPECTUS - ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES
03    AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

ABOUT THE
                                                                                         Awards
AWARDS                                                                                    aims

The Association of Colleges (AoC)               This year we have amended              Recognise innovative and exemplary
Beacon Awards celebrate the                     the application and assessment         teaching and learning practice in
best and most innovative practice               process; this is part of our           colleges.
among UK further education (FE)                 ongoing review and led by
colleges. It is managed by AoC and              the AoC Beacon Awards Chief            Draw attention to provision which
run through AoC Charitable Trust -              Assessor. We have also taken on        encourages and supports students to
a registered charity.                           board feedback from colleges           approach challenges positively and
                                                regarding the additional               creatively.
The aim of the awards Programme                 demands placed on colleges and
is to demonstrate and promote the               staff due to Covid 19. We have         Support learning and continuous
far-reaching impact of colleges on              also ensured the guidance to           improvement through sharing best
their students and the communities              applicants and what assessors          practice.
they serve. The commended and                   will be looking for is more explicit
winning case studies will be used to            to help applicants capture the         Promote and celebrate the college
increase understanding of colleges’             information assessors require.         sector’s commitment to pioneering
contribution to educational skills                                                     approaches to equality and diversity.
policy and economic and social
development.                                                                           Project profiles of past ‘Commended’
                                                                                       and ‘Winning’ colleges are available
                                                                                       via the website AoC Beacon Awards.
AOC BEACON AWARDS PROSPECTUS - ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES
04    AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIP
Our Sponsors
                                                    ‘‘
                                                    There is
                                                    considerable
                                                    value to
                                                    us being
We are as always extremely grateful to
our award sponsors who have once again              associated with
demonstrated their commitment to the college        the awards -
sector by sponsoring our awards.
                                                    the examples
The support of sponsors is crucial to the success   and best
of the Awards and we are delighted that the
sponsors have demonstrated their commitment
                                                    practice helps
and support to the 2020/2021 awards                 inform how we
programme.                                          develop our
Our sponsors also provide valuable advice           support and
on award categories, the application and            services to
assessment process and assist with promoting
the college sector and sharing best practice.       colleges
AOC BEACON AWARDS PROSPECTUS - ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES
05    AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

WHY YOU                                                             Benefits of
                                                                     applying

SHOULD APPLY
                                                                    1
                                                                        Colleges can reflect on the successful
The awards offer colleges            Feedback from applicants           approaches they have developed to teaching
the opportunity to showcase          tell us how they use the           and learning, as well as review the positive
the inspiring and innovative         Beacon process to help staff       impact that they have on their students.
ways they support students,          to examine their practice,

                                                                    2
staff and communities. It            evaluate what is working           Commended colleges that have reached the
represents the very best             well or could be developed         Beacon Standard will have their individual
approaches that colleges             further, create plans for          case studies profiled on the AoC website
have developed and are               improvement and inform             and will also feature in the AoC Annual
implementing to meet                 college strategic planning         Conference programme.
the skills needs of local            and CPD support.
employers and the career
aspirations of their students.                                      3   Winning and finalist colleges will be invited
                                                                        to showcase and share their outstanding
                                                                        practice at various AoC events in 2021.

                                                                    4   Award sponsors will promote and share

‘‘
                                                                        winning and commended college best
       We ask staff to tell us the areas they feel                      practice case studies to their partners and
       we should be put forward for a Beacon                            affiliates.
       and we have a cross college group who

                                                                    5
       look at the examples and vote on the one                         Commended, Finalists and Winners will
       to take through to application                                   receive a relevant logo to use on their
                                                                        college headed paper, websites and other
                                                                        promotional materials.
AOC BEACON AWARDS PROSPECTUS - ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES
06    AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

THE APPLICATION PROCESS
The application and assessment process              Please note no awards are confined by age,           We are confident applicants will find that
have been redesigned and streamlined                gender, other groupings, size, or category of        this structure will help them navigate the
this year given the challenges facing               provision.                                           application process more easily and provide
colleges due to Covid 19.                                                                                the evidence to show they meet both Beacon
                                                    We have designed a simpler, more accessible          criteria, sponsor criteria and the elements of
Please see our updated Guide for Applicants         application form to help guide applicants.           innovation, impact and sustainability.
which provides information on how to apply          This form will set out the assessment criteria
and the key dates and deadlines.                    (inclusive of Beacon and Sponsor criteria) as a      By submitting your online application, you
                                                    series of questions which are then organised         agree to the terms and conditions in the AoC
                                                    into three main sections: Innovation, Impact         privacy notice.
                                                    and Sustainability.

                  THE
                PROCESS

                                                                                    Celebratory lunch for all finalists and staff   Beacon best practice
    Online                                                                                hosted by AoC and Sponsors
 application via             Announce                                                                                               Webinars hosted by
  AoC College               commended           Announce     Assessor visits to       Afternoon Parliamentary reception to          Award sponsors and
Awards Wesbite                colleges           finalists       finalists                 announce Beacon winners                         AoC

 Opens: 9 July 2020             Early            17 / 18     December 2020- Early                    Spring 2021                          June 2021 -
Closes: 21 September          November          November        February 2021                                                            October 2021
      12 noon                   2020              2020
AOC BEACON AWARDS PROSPECTUS - ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES
07    AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

GENERAL CRITERIA
AND ELIGIBILITY TO
APPLY
                                                                                                      ‘‘
                                                                                                      The guide to
                                                                                                      applicants
                                                                                                      and the Chief
                                                                                                      assessors
The Beacon awards recognise exemplary             All entrants must be FE colleges incorporated       report is
initiatives that are truly innovative, can        under the Further and Higher Education Act          the go-to
demonstrate impact and are sustainable.           1992 and be eligible for membership of the
The awards seek to highlight and promote          Association of Colleges. Please check your          documents and
outstanding practice of further education         colleges eligibility in the Guide for Applicants.   helped us make
colleges by highlighting the positive impact on                                                       a really strong
students and the communities they serve.          Please note a college or college group can          application and
                                                  only submit three applications in 2020/21.
Applicants must check that they meet the                                                              we won
eligibility criteria to apply as specified in     All initiatives should show evidence of
the Guide to Applicants.                          imaginative yet sustainable teaching and
                                                  learning practice or other relevant practice. An
Applicants are invited to complete a bespoke      application can relate to a programme, course,
application form for each Beacon Award            project or other form of teaching, learning,
(maximum three awards). This form will give       advice, guidance or support. The application
applicants the opportunity to address all the     process will be in two stages.
criteria that will be assessed.
                                                  Applicants must also take account of the specific
                                                  requirements set out by the sponsors for their
                                                  award and it is advisable to refer to the AoC
                                                  Beacon Awards Chief assessors report 2019/20.
AOC BEACON AWARDS PROSPECTUS - ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES
08    AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

                                                 ‘‘
                                                 Great opportunity for the College and especially
                                                 external stakeholders to showcase their involvement

ASSESSMENT                                       and hard work. The assessors were very
                                                 approachable, knowledgeable and supportive
                                                 Beacon finalist

Assessment of applications is carried out
by a team of independent assessors, led
by the Chief Assessor and overseen by the
AoC Charitable Trust.

All Beacon award winners and commended          Obligations for Award winners
colleges are awarded or withheld at the
sole and absolute discretion of the AoC
Charitable Trust and those acting on its
behalf. No explanation will be provided on      There are certain requirements that a college will need
these decisions.                                to follow, and these are explained in the Guidance for
                                                Applicants. It applies to each college and AoC Beacon
Please see the AoC Beacon Awards Guide          Award.
for Applicants for more information.
                                                Those applying should confirm with their college
                                                Principal/CEO that the college will honour these
                                                requirements before applicants apply and proceed on
                                                this basis.

                                                Winning and finalist colleges will be expected to take
                                                part in a best practice workshop hosted by the Awards
                                                Sponsors and AoC during 2021 to showcase and share
                                                their outstanding practice. These workshops will be
                                                free to AoC member colleges and staff to attend.
09   AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

THE AoC                                        Individual awards and sponsors

BEACON                                            BRITISH COUNCIL
                                                  International Award
                                                                                 Inclusive Learning
                                                                           Leadership Award supported

AWARDS                                              The CAREERS &
                                                                            by the NATIONAL CENTRE
                                                                                  FOR DIVERSITY

PROGRAMME
                                                ENTERPRISE COMPANY
                                                 Award for Innovation in    JISC Award for effective
                                                 Careers and Enterprise     use of Digital Technology
                                                                              in further education
2020/21                                         CITY & GUILDS Award for
                                                College Engagement with     NOCN Award for Mental
                                                       Employers             Health and Wellbeing

                                                COPYRIGHT LICENSING         NOUS GROUP Award for
                                                   AGENCY Award for         Education for Sustainable
                                                 Creative Industries and         Development
                                                  intellectual property
                                                                              PEARS #iwill Award
                                                                              for Social Action and
                                               EDGE Award for Excellence
                                                                            Community Engagement
                                                 in Real World Learning

                                                                            RCU Support for Students
                                                                                    Award
10   AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

BRITISH COUNCIL                                                                         About the British Council
INTERNATIONAL AWARD                                                                     The British Council is the UK’s international
                                                                                        organisation for cultural relations and
                                                                                        educational opportunities. We create friendly
This award will celebrate an outstanding example                                        knowledge and understanding between the
of a college’s international work. The winner will                                      people of the UK and other countries. We do
have exceptional strategies to embed international                                      this by making a positive contribution to the
activity within the broader college aims and have                                       UK and the countries we work with – changing
identified how this contributes to improved                                             lives by creating opportunities, building
organisational, staff and curriculum development                                        connections and engendering trust.
and learner outcomes.
                                                                                        Our work in Skills encourages closer links
In particular, assessors will look for effective                                        between education, employers and policy
and imaginative approaches undertaken to use                                            makers in the UK and the countries we work
international work to raise aspirations, share best                                     in to help enhance the skills and employability

                                                                  ‘‘
practice and act as a catalyst for improvements in                                      of young people globally. Our work creates
teaching and learning. Outcomes will be measured                                        opportunities for individuals to broaden their
by evidenced improvements to key college                                                horizons and be equipped with the skills
objectives through international work. International                                    needed to face today’s global and multicultural
work is varied and so long as applications meet             Our Beacon Award            world of work.
the criteria there is no absolute requirement for        celebrates and promotes
international travel to have taken place.                the value of international
                                                          exchange for systems,
                                                       organisations, staff, learners
                                                        and the wider community.
11   AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

THE CAREERS                                                                            About The Careers &
                                                                                       Enterprise Company
& ENTERPRISE
COMPANY AWARD FOR                                                                      Our mission is to prepare and inspire young people
                                                                                       for the fast-changing world of work.
INNOVATION IN CAREERS                                                                  We support schools and colleges by linking them

AND ENTERPRISE                                                                         to employers and helping them deliver world class
                                                                                       careers support for all young people. We do this by:

This award will celebrate an outstanding example of                                    • Building Networks: Linking schools and colleges to
innovative careers leadership and practice. In a world                                    employers and other external careers providers
where enterprise, education and work opportunities                                        through the Enterprise Adviser Network and
are constantly changing, students of any age need                                         Careers Hubs.
easy access to high quality support and information.
Learning how to make informed decisions is                                             • Supporting Careers Leaders: Providing training

                                                                   ‘‘
increasingly critical to a successful working life.                                       and support for Careers Leaders in schools and
                                                                                          colleges.
The award is aimed at Careers Leaders in colleges and
                                                                                       • Backing the Gatsby Benchmarks: Supporting
will celebrate careers programmes that demonstrate
                                                            We are delighted to be        implementation of a best practice standard for
examples of innovative practice when engaging with        once again supporting the       careers support, the Gatsby Benchmarks, with
schools, employers and other agencies, to provide         AoC Beacon Awards and           tools and targeted funding.
learners with excellent impartial careers education,       look forward to hearing
advice and guidance.                                      about the great examples
                                                         of innovative approaches in
Assessors will be particularly interested to see                   colleges.
applications where colleges are able to provide
evidence of either meeting or making rapid progress
towards achieving the eight Gatsby Benchmarks (GB).
12    AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

CITY & GUILDS                                                                                    About City & Guilds
AWARD FOR COLLEGE                                                                                City & Guilds is a global leader in skills

ENGAGEMENT WITH                                                                                  development with a rich history over the last
                                                                                                 140 years within the UK and more recently
                                                                                                 world-wide. We work closely with employers and
EMPLOYERS                                                                                        providers with all aspects of skills development
                                                                                                 and training to enable learners to reach their
                                                                                                 potential. We have been an affiliate subscriber
This award will recognise exemplary practice in the delivery of                                  of AoC for many years and value the work that
provision: responsive to the needs of employers. The winner will                                 AoC undertakes with its college members,
need to demonstrate an outstanding ability to work with and                                      specifically the Beacon Awards.
provide a direct service to employers, be highly effective in meeting
employers’ skills needs and/or apprenticeship requirements.

                                                                        ‘‘
In addition, it is likely that there will be excellent
examples of the college engaging with
employers - to support the development of
employability skills within the curriculum.
                                                               City & Guilds is delighted to
                                                              sponsor this award. We have
The award is not targeted at a specific group,            worked with the further education
but applications should demonstrate a clear,                 sector for many years and this
long-term vision of partnership and working                award recognises the enormous
with employers. The provision offered should                contribution that colleges make
enable the development of a skilled workforce              in working closely with their local
and contribute to local and regional economic            employers to ensure learners receive
development. The successful programme is also             the most relevant training and best
                                                            chance of recruitment following
likely to be very responsive to identified skills
                                                               completion of programmes.
priorities and levels of unemployment.
13   AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE                                                                     About the Copyright
                                                                                         Licensing Agency
IN SUPPORTING
CREATIVITY- COPYRIGHT                                                                    We are the Copyright Licensing Agency and
LICENSING AGENCY                                                                         we exist to simplify copyright for content users
                                                                                         and copyright owners. Our mission is to help
                                                                                         customers legally access, copy and share
                                                                                         the published content they need, while also
Creations abound in the everyday life of                                                 making sure that copyright owners are paid fair
a college, and colleges play a vital role in                                             royalties for the use of their work. For more
supporting the creative industries and                                                   than 30 years we’ve been providing rights,
promoting their importance to the UK                                                     licences, and a growing range of services, that
economy. Knowing how to responsibly                                                      simplify copyright by making it easier to access

                                                               ‘‘
source and use copyrighted material and                                                  and re-use content.
protect intellectual property rights are
also crucial life and work skills. We want
to recognise and celebrate colleges who           We are thrilled to sponsor an AoC
nurture and support creativity through the      Beacon Award, and we’re so excited
promotion and understanding of intellectual    to see the best practice conducted by
property. Examples of best practice will see    colleges. From writing, technologies
that students are taught the value of their      and through to the visual arts, staff
creative output, and are given guidance on         and students in every corner of
seeking fair remuneration once they enter         the college will be using and also
employment.                                        generating ideas. We welcome
                                                entries from colleges that equip their
                                                community to use and protect these
                                                        creations responsibly.

                                                      Julie Murray, Education
                                                         Account Manager
14   AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

EDGE AWARD FOR                                                                      About Edge Foundation
EXCELLENCE IN REAL                                                                  Edge is an independent education

WORLD LEARNING                                                                      foundation which via its projects, research,
                                                                                    policy and campaign work, strives to make
                                                                                    education relevant.

This award will celebrate colleges that have developed                              The world is changing fast, education needs
excellent practical teaching and learning. Assessors                                to keep up. Edge believes that all young
will be looking for initiatives which:                                              people need to be equipped with the
                                                                                    skills that today’s global, digital economy
• Develop a curriculum which enables learners to have                              demands, through high quality training, a
   experiences that are real, meaningful, challenging                               broad and balanced curriculum, interactive
   and life changing                                                                and engaging real world leaning and rich
                                                                                    relationships between education and
• Develop a responsive curriculum for professional                                 employers.

                                                                 ‘‘
   and vocation education which has a direct and
   sustainable impact on employment and enterprise                                  Edge gather evidence through research,
                                                                                    trials and projects on the ground and use
• Demonstrate excellent engagement with employers                                  this to lead the debate around future policy
                                                                                    and practice. For more information visit
   and local communities, leading to sustained and          As a longstanding
                                                                                    www.edge.co.uk
   successful involvement of learners in the workplace    sponsor of the Beacon
                                                              Awards we are
• Demonstrate innovative best practice that delivers    impressed every year at
   identifiable results and benefits for both learners    the standard of entries
                                                               for our award
   and teaching professionals.

• Develop and implement flexible teaching, learning
   and assessment methods
15   AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

INCLUSIVE LEARNING                                                                 About the National
                                                                                   Centre for Diversity
LEADERSHIP AWARD
- SUPPORTED BY THE                                                                 The National Centre for Diversity’s mission is
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR                                                                ‘fairness for all, everywhere’. For us the most
                                                                                   critical element of Diversity is not where you

DIVERSITY                                                                          are on your journey; it’s where you want to
                                                                                   be. Diversity and Inclusion are very much on
                                                                                   the corporate agenda for forward-thinking,
                                                                                   ambitious companies.
What makes people feel included in
organizations? That they feel that they are
treated fairly and respectfully, are valued and
belong. And this really matters because the

                                                             ‘‘
more people feel included, the more they
speak up, go the extra mile, and collaborate
— all of which ultimately lifts performance.
Inclusive leadership is emerging as a unique
and critical capability helping colleges adapt        We are delighted to be
to diverse and changing markets, and               working in partnership with
nurture ideas and talent.                          AoC Beacon to recognise and
                                                  celebrate examples of colleges
                                                   who champion and practice
                                                       inclusive leadership
16   AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

JISC AWARD FOR                                                                              About Jisc
EFFECTIVE USE OF                                                                            Jisc is the further education and skills

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IN                                                                       sectors’ not-for-profit organisation for digital
                                                                                            services and solutions, embedded in the
                                                                                            education community.
FURTHER EDUCATION                                                                           As a member of Jisc, you are part of this
                                                                                            community and all the benefits that brings,
                                                                                            from the power of shared effective practice
This award will celebrate an outstanding example
                                                                                            to access to the latest digital products and
of the ‘use of digital technology’ carefully designed
                                                                                            thinking.
to improve the student experience - in a digital age.
Underpinning the best applications with evidence
demonstrating enhancements to teaching, learning
and assessment and/or the creation of business

                                                                         ‘‘
efficiencies. In every case, changes made will be
valued by learners and easily evidenced. The
innovative use of technology might be applied across
specific provision or support a college wide approach.
                                                              Jisc is delighted and proud to
                                                           sponsor this AoC Beacon Award as
Applications should show how the college goes above       we see daily the amazing work being
and beyond what is the ‘norm’ and applications              done across our members within
are not restricted to a specific type of course, for        further education. So, this award
example, ‘Information Technology’. Outstanding use of         provides the opportunity for a
technology might be targeted at specific age groups        spotlight to be placed on colleges to
or more generally those who study for all their time at   share their innovations and effective
a main campus or remotely.                                  practice and show the community
                                                                 what can and is possible.
17   AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

NOCN GROUP AWARD                                                                                      About NOCN
FOR MENTAL HEALTH
                                                                                                      As a leading education and skills charity, our focus
AND WELLBEING                                                                                         is on social and economic mobility, not profit.

                                                                                                      We offer a wide range of high-quality education and
This award will celebrate the important work                                                          skills services, including regulated qualifications,
colleges are doing to support the mental health                                                       EPA for apprenticeships, Job Cards in construction,
and wellbeing of their students and staff. The rise                                                   Access to HE Diplomas, bespoke accreditation,
in ill health amongst learners and the greater public                                                 endorsed courses and educational and skills
is of great concern and is attracting heightened                                                      support training.
attention nationally. Support in mental health and

                                                                     ‘‘
wellbeing has never been more important, as the                                                       We are committed to improving the opportunities
impact of the COVID19 pandemic on the mental                                                          of all learners, and we are proud to be an
health of the nation becomes apparent.                                                                accredited Leader in Diversity (awarded by the
                                                                                                      National Centre for Diversity) and a Silver Investor
                                                          Colleges care deeply about their
Proposals will be expected to take                                                                    in People.
                                                students and staff. Their primary purpose is to
into account the 11 points of the AoC             educate, to help students gain qualifications,
mental Health Charter (2019).                     to progress in work and further study but we
                                                know that we also need to support them to gain
Applications that show how colleges              skills to lead happy, successful lives. To achieve
                                                all these outcomes, we need to help all students
have successfully supported people                  to be healthy, to develop skills in resilience,
in their local communities, existing               to manage what life throws at them and we
students or teaching and support staff            need to target specialist support to students
will be welcome. Of importance will be             with particular challenges. NOCN Group are
the sustainability of such innovation,             delighted to once again sponsor this Beacon
and some recognition by those outside                Award for Mental Health and Wellbeing.
the college that this work has longer                      Graham Hastings-Evans –
term benefit and is sustained over time.                   Group Managing Director
18   AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

NOUS GROUP                                                                                     About NOUS Group
AWARD - EDUCATION
                                                                                               Nous Group is an international management
FOR SUSTAINABLE                                                                                consultancy operating in 10 locations across
                                                                                               the UK, Australia and Canada. For over 20 years
DEVELOPMENT                                                                                    we have been partnering with leaders to shape
                                                                                               world-class businesses, effective governments
                                                                                               and empowered communities. Our work
                                                                                               reflects our optimism and ambition for a better
Education for sustainable development gives                                                    future.
students the knowledge, skills, values and
attitudes to create a more sustainable and just                                                We are delighted to sponsor this award with
society. This award celebrates colleges that                                                   the support of the AoC and the UK Climate
have incorporated sustainable development

                                                                    ‘‘
                                                                                               Commission for HE and FE Leaders.
into their teaching and operations, including
issues Climate change, Biodiversity. Sustainable
consumption and production, and Disaster
risk reduction. Learning about these issues will       We are delighted to support this
empower students to change their behaviour            award. It recognizes those colleges
and shape their future society.                    helping the UK to transition to a cleaner
                                                    economy, a fairer society, and a more
                                                       sustainable future. These are the
Colleges may be emerging, established or
                                                   colleges equipping the next generation
leading in this area highlighted within the             to take on the jobs of the future,
Climate Commissions FE colleges Roadmap            adopt more sustainable lifestyles, and
and we look forward to hearing about your           become more engaged citizens locally
examples that others can learn from.                 and globally. We can’t wait to see all
                                                              the brilliant entries.

                                                       Simon Lancaster, Nous Group
19   AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

PEARS #IWILL AWARD                                                                       About Pears #iwill Fund
FOR SOCIAL ACTION
                                                                                         Pears #iwill Fund, is a match fund created
AND COMMUNITY                                                                            by Pears Foundation, the National Lottery
                                                                                         Community Fund and the Department for
ENGAGEMENT                                                                               Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in support
                                                                                         of the goals of the #iwill campaign – to make
                                                                                         involvement in social action a part of life for
                                                                                         young people, by recognising the benefit for
This award will celebrate an outstanding example                                         both young people and their communities.
of a college’s ability to engage in social action
and engagement in their communities. The
winner will have exceptional strategies to provide
transformational educational opportunities through
social action and learner participation for students.

                                                                      ‘‘
Assessors will look for effective and imaginative
approaches to enhancing communities through
student-led initiatives, especially those which benefit        The Pears #iwill Fund is
‘non-traditional’ students.                                  delighted to be partnering
                                                            with Association of Colleges
Outcomes will be measured in the successful                to recognise and celebrate the
acquisition of skills, knowledge or qualifications        incredible contribution students
and clear progression routes to further learning or          and colleges are making to
employment for students, and impact on students             communities across the UK.
and communities beyond the college.
                                                          Sir Trevor Pears CMG, Executive
                                                               Chair, Pears Foundation
20    AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

RCU SUPPORT FOR                                                                                  About RCU
STUDENTS AWARD
                                                                                                 RCU provide market intelligence and research
                                                                                                 for the further education sector. Our
This award will celebrate outstanding examples                                                   mission is to develop and deliver practical
of student support provided by a college for a                                                   and relevant research solutions for clients
significant group of students, across a whole                                                    through innovation, professionalism and
                                                                                                 market expertise. Our products and services
provision or college wide approach. This award
                                                                                                 help our clients to improve what they do
might cover both learner and learning support.
                                                                                                 through increasing efficiency, effectiveness
                                                                                                 or reputation. We constantly refresh our
The provision will be above and beyond what                                                      approaches and scan the outside world for
is the ‘norm’ and applications are not restricted                                                better ways to deliver value to our clients
to a specific type of course or programme. For                                                   and we strive to be seen by the sector as the

                                                                     ‘‘
example, applications would be welcome from                                                      market leader in innovative data analysis and
colleges describing their bespoke provision for                                                  pragmatic and effective research.
students with autistic spectrum disorders, or
an outstanding example of information, advice
and guidance, or excellent learner or learning            We are extremely proud to be
support for adults returning to learn.                 sponsoring this award. We feel the
                                                    Support for Students Award provides
                                                     a wonderful opportunity to showcase
                                                        the exceptional work colleges are
                                                    doing to support students of all abilities
                                                       and from all backgrounds, within a
                                                       quickly changing and often difficult
                                                     environment to ensure that they have
                                                       a fair chance to progress and fulfill
                                                                 their potential.
21   AoC Beacon Awards | 2020 -21 Prospectus

                                                                                 Welsh Government

                                                                                 We are proud to continue to sponsor the AoC
                                                                                 Beacon Awards as an opportunity to highlight
                                                                                 success in the further education sector.
                                                                                 The awards are beneficial to showcase best
                                                                                 practice and promote the high standard of
                                                                                 work delivered.

                                                                                 The Welsh Government is the devolved
                                                                                 government for Wales and consists of the First
                                                                                 Minister, Welsh Ministers and is supported by
                                                                                 Civil Servants. The work of the organisation
                                                                                 varies across areas such as health, education
                                                                                 and the natural environment.

                                                           ‘‘
                                                It’s important to take time to
                                                 celebrate the achievements
                                                  of colleges and the impact
                                                 their contribution has on the
                                               students and communities they
                                                      serve across Wales.
AoC Beacon Awards were set up by The Partnership Trust in 1994.

            Since August 1996 they have been administered by the Association of Colleges.

   AoC Beacon Awards are run through AoC Charitable Trust which is a Registered Charity in England
          and Wales (charity number 1040631) and in Scotland (charity number SC039064).

© AoC Charitable Trust 2020 2-5 Stedham Place, London WC1A 1HU 01935 823444 | awards@aoc.co.uk

                                    @AoC_info | #AoCBeacon

          www.collegeawards.ac.uk
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