Last Friday Kidderminster College were overjoyed to see their first cohort of graduates receive their degrees. Held at Kidderminster Town Hall, with support from the Mayor David Ross, Councillor Graham Ballinger and Deputy Councillor Fran Oborski, together with Cllr Shazu Miah, NCG’s David Balme, the first Kidderminster College graduation was a true celebration of the achievements of our learners.
Fifteen graduates took to the stage to receive their BA (Hons) in Creative Industries; this top-up degree encompasses specialised areas of Kidderminster College’s infamous Creative Industries sector with particular focus being placed on music and dance. Jonn Penney, of Ned’s Atomic Dustbin fame, delivered an inspiring guest speech to attendees and students, drawing on both his extensive industry involvement and personal degree experience to motivate and congratulate the Kidderminster College graduates.
Kidderminster College re-introduced the HE provision with the support of NCG three years ago, in response to a regional demand for more skilled graduates within the Creative Industries regulation. Kidderminster College’s vision is to offer a degree with a difference – merging a university experience with all of the benefits of studying at a college. For its students, this means smaller class sizes in place of lecture theatres, more one-to-one support and gaining hands-on industry experience in real working environments.
Andy Dobson, Principal, who presided over the afternoon’s events, commented: “Here at Kidderminster College, we pride ourselves on making things happen, and on giving our students the best possible chance to go out and forge successful careers in their chosen industries. Graduating is only the start of what you can do and I know that you’ll go on to even greater successes.”
Andy added “…This is also a very proud day in the life of the college – today’s graduation is the very first time that we have students graduating with a degree from Kidderminster College.
A lot of staff have worked very hard to make this possible, and we can’t underestimate the encouragement they received from students, who really wanted the opportunity to do a top-up year and turn their HND qualifications into a full degree.”
Kidderminster College’s graduation celebration marks the end of the first successful degree programme run at the college, extending on from the HND and HNC qualifications Kidderminster College already offers. Further Education institutions play a pivotal role in both social change and the local community. A vital bridge between school and future life, a helping hand between an unfulfilling, low paid career and that long-searched for job satisfaction and career boost, colleges prepare and reinforce the foundations of our future society, community and business. Further education does more than support the next generation of workers, carers and politicians. Further education provides an educational lifeline to adult learners, allowing anyone to retrain, to locally hone their talents and skillsets; further education provides a lifetime of learning and a lifetime of support.
Following on from an incredible annual award ceremony and preluding, not only the KAF moon landing festival in September, but also college’s 140 anniversary celebrations which will begin in 2020, the graduation has set an inspiring precedent for Kidderminster College’s ever-growing reputation and role within the local community.
For more information about the courses Kidderminster College offer, both full time, part-time, HE and online, check out our website
