Individuals and businesses from Bury and across the region are set to benefit from a recently approved Greater Manchester Institute of Technology (GMIoT) bid.
Institutes of Technology are government supported collaborations between employers, colleges, and universities that specialise in higher technical training and provide opportunities for high quality, flexible education and training in skills areas vital to the local area.
Bury College has been confirmed as a core partner in the GMIoT and will be developing new curriculum opportunities across a wide range of Health and Digital areas such as Technological therapy; Social and community work; Cognitive behaviour; Healthcare; Digital technologies; Digital entertainment; Cyber security.
The GMIoT is a strong collaborative partnership led by the University of Salford, with core further education partners Ada, the National College for Digital Skills, Bury College, Tameside College and Wigan and Leigh College. Core employer partners include GCHQ, Laing O’Rourke, Siemens and TalkTalk.
To support the provision of new curriculum and skills development, the government will be providing capital investment across Greater Manchester. Locally, this will support further development of the Bury College campus, including the College’s brand-new Health, Innovation and STEM centre, due to open Autumn 2022.
Charlie Deane, Principal and Chief Executive of Bury College said: “The College is delighted to be a partner in this key Greater Manchester collaboration, which is a fantastic investment for Bury. The GMIoT provides increased opportunities for individuals to study critical employment sectors including health, innovation and digital technologies, from advanced through to degree level, further supporting local businesses and Bury residents.”
Jo Purves, Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic Development at the University of Salford, said: “We are delighted that the partnership has been successful in our efforts to bring an Institute of Technology to Greater Manchester. The GMIoT will make a valuable contribution to the education and skills system in our city region and offer residents of all ages new routes into high skilled, high paid jobs.”
Bury MP’s James Daly and Christian Wakeford have been advocates throughout the bidding process. James Daly, MP for Bury North, said: “This is absolutely fantastic news; I’ve been campaigning and lobbying Ministers to grant Bury College, with the University of Salford, Institute of Technology (IoT) status and this now will ensure students in Bury can get the skills and education, supported by outstanding employer partners including GCHQ, to enter and excel in a fast-moving, emerging jobs market. The opportunities this will bring to not just 16- to 18-year-olds but learners of all ages are incredible.”
Christian Wakeford, MP for Bury South, said: “I am delighted by the announcement that the University or Salford have been granted the opportunity to become an Institute of Technology. Having lobbied the Department for Education on the bid directly it’s fantastic that Greater Manchester will be at the forefront of the higher technical education revolution in the UK. Technical education is the vanguard of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda and this decision will bring huge benefits to our borough through the partnership with Bury College.”
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