News

Go Back

Lisa image

Why Colleges Matter

To mark national Love Our Colleges week, Lisa O’Loughlin, Principal of The Manchester College, discusses the College's commitment to working with all communities to improve the learning and skills outcomes of our residents and Greater Manchester’s (GM) future workforce.

We’re delighted at The Manchester College to have signed-up to support Love Our Colleges Week. The campaign, running from October 15-19, will see staff and students from colleges across the country coming together to celebrate the brilliant things we all do.

Further education colleges like ours are central to their local communities and an essential part of the national education system. Whether it’s through top-class technical education, basic skills or lifelong learning, we help people of all ages and backgrounds to make the most of their talents and ambitions.

We’ve already had some great achievements this term - with many 16-18 learners passing short qualifications – and have held brilliant open events in the past month, with more to come, where we continue to enrol students.

During College’s Week, not am I only really pleased to say we’ll be welcoming the ACCESS: VFX national roadshow to Manchester; but I’m proud to say we’ll be hosting it at our Openshaw Campus. The event, on Monday 15 October, will champion inclusivity, diversity and inclusion in the Visual Effects industry and will be a great way to mark the start of Love Our Colleges Week.

The cultural, creative and digital sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the region and will play an increasingly vital role in the success of the Greater Manchester’s economy. That’s why we are delighted to be hosting such an event at our College. During the day young people from across the regions schools will attend. There will be the chance for them to meet mentors and learn more about a wide range of opportunities in the region’s animation, visual effects, software and computer gaming industry.

At The Manchester College we are committed to working with all communities to improve the learning and skills outcomes of our residents and Greater Manchester’s (GM) future workforce. We are the largest provider of 16-19, adult and higher education in GM; with more than 25 per cent of the regions learning provision undertaken by the College.

We have a shared vision in GM to make the region one of the best places in the world to grow up, get on and grow old. This includes a commitment to good jobs, with opportunities for people to progress and develop. We equip our students with the skills to participate, advance and adapt in a rapidly evolving world of work.

At The Manchester College we play an important part in making the region’s economic strategy a success, not only as an employer but in providing skills, training and education pathways to underpin a wide range of key growth sectors in the city.

Colleges like ours are central to inclusive, economic prosperity and social fairness. Colleges matter and that’s why we should all be proud to celebrate Love Our Colleges Week.

See what Lisa had to say when the College welcomed Cllr Sean Fielding to the Access VFX event on 15 September: