College chosen by Government to pilot revolutionary new T Level qualifications

THE UK Government has chosen Hugh Baird College as the only education provider in the Liverpool City Region to pilot the delivery of new:- 'revolutionary' technical qualifications called:- 'T Levels.' T Levels will provide students with high quality vocational / technical alternatives to A Levels. They will also combine theory and practical learning with an industry placement. The placement will involve at least 315 hours, or approximately 45 days, where students will work with local employers in order to further enhance their skills in their chosen field. The College will be part of a second wave of providers nationally delivering T Level qualifications and, from September 2021, will offer T Levels in Construction, Digital, and Health Care. In addition to the College's impressive links with employers in the sectors outlined, Hugh Baird College was chosen by the Government's Department for Education for the quality of their technical education.

Commenting on the Department for Education's announcement, Hugh Baird College Principal and Chief Executive, Yana Williams, said:- "We are delighted to have been named as the sole provider in the Liverpool City Region to deliver these new and exciting technical qualifications. This announcement endorses our commitment to working closely with the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership in order to address the skill gaps in the Region's labour market. Our involvement with the T level pilot also complements our ambitious strategic vision to ensure our students progress to well paid and successful careers upon leaving Hugh Baird College. As an organisation, we have worked tirelessly to nurture relationships with a wide range of employers from across the Liverpool City Region. I believe that this announcement is further recognition of our innovative approach to partnership working. This is no more evident than in our exciting collaborations with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and other NHS Trusts from across Merseyside."

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust provide a Life Rooms facility and health, social care and mental health training in partnership with Hugh Baird College and their Chief Executive, Joe Rafferty, said:- "Our relationship with Hugh Baird College is one of our most important partnerships because we're able to help young people at a really vulnerable point in their lives. Many congratulations to Hugh Baird College for receiving this recognition as one of the most forward-thinking Further Education Colleges in Liverpool."

Chair of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, Asif Hamid MBE, said:- "This is fantastic news for many students across the Liverpool City Region. By providing a high quality alternative to A Levels, we are taking another significant step towards ensuring more young people are getting the right skills and are technically prepared in their chosen field for the workforce."

Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, said:- "Everyone agrees that a radical shake up of technical and vocational education in this country is long overdue. T Levels are our chance to do that; offering young people high quality alternatives to our world class A Levels from September 2020. The 2nd wave of post 16 providers we have announced demonstrates our commitment to making this happen. They will play an important role in ensuring more young people across the country can access these courses and help develop the skilled workforce the country needs for the future."

For more information please visit:- HughBaird.AC.UK or call:- 0151 353 4444.

Design challenge - rethinking the connected home

DO you have a concept about living together in the connected home? The VIRT-EU Project is holding a design challenge to address how communal living can be supported and enhanced by the Internet of Things (IoT). The deadline for submissions has now been extended to 24 June 2019. For years we have heard that the 'smart home' is coming, using connected devices to transform everyday life. Personal assistants, remotely triggered thermostats, responsive lighting and cooking, cleaning and food preparation apps and services promise to make our individual lives better by personalising aspects of the environments and information around us.

At the same time, the very idea of home is changing. Younger people now live longer with their parents, or return to their homes after study. People of all ages experiment with collaborative living and share spaces and experiences. Families change shape, and some people at home need extra care to accommodate age, illness or different abilities. These issues of difference and care challenge the idea that connected systems are just for personal use. We share our space, our information and our devices in complex ways, even as we simply try to get through 'ordinary life at home.' How might connected Internet of Things (IoT) systems and products enter into and change communal spaces of home?

"We share our space, our information, and our devices in complex ways, even as we simply try to get through ordinary life. We want people to think about how we can use connected Internet of Things systems and products to re-imagine collaborative and communal living that is sensitive to differences between members of these living spaces. How might we design for supporting the infinite diversity of human social configurations?" says Irina Shklovski, coordinator of the VIRT-EU project, which is creating tools and activities that help IoT developers bring ethics into their conversations.

Participants can submit their initial concepts now. VIRT-EU will respond with feedback and provide access to its custom tools to support the last stage of concept development. 24 June 2019 is the final deadline for full concept development, including a technical diagram, user storyboard and business plan. Finalists will be announced between 24 June and 27 June 2019, and will be invited to present their concepts as part of ORGCon 2019, on 13 July 2019. in London, where former US Intelligence Officer and whistle blower Edward Snowden will be remotely delivering a speech about mass Government surveillance.  The winning team will receive ₤1200, while the runner up will receive ₤750. Both will receive an hour of 1 to 1 mentoring from an IoT industry leader.  Find out more about the challenge here.