I started Day 269 with 328 miles to go and set off for Ceredigion College http://www.ceredigion.ac.uk/
Coleg Ceredigion is a lively,
vibrant and caring college that puts learners’ achievement and well-being at
the top of its agenda. They believe all learners can succeed and the College
works hard to ensure that everyone who enrols on a course at Coleg Ceredigion
reaches their full potential. They actively promote equality for all, and
recognise that every one of their learners is unique. Their college environment
is important to them and they work hard to ensure that they do all they can to
protect their environment.
The Welsh language and culture is
central to their ethos and they actively promote bilingual and Welsh medium
learning.
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| With Jacqui Weatherburn-Principal of Ceredigion College |
Coleg Ceredigion’s Mission is;
“Fulfilling Potential - Changing Lives”
Their Values are to:
·
Strive for excellence in teaching, learning and support.
·
Value all members of the college community in a culture of mutual respect.
·
Behave ethically and with integrity in an environment that actively promotes
the individual.
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| Talking to students about the charities I support as a Patron or Ambassador |
Coleg Ceredigion is a bilingual
further education college which has two campuses – one in Aberystwyth and one
in Cardigan. Their courses provide a wide range of exciting learning
opportunities for both school leavers and adults and each year around 700
full-time students and 2000 part-time students enrol at the college.
The College offers a variety of
courses in the following areas: Art, Catering, Construction, Business,
Engineering, Furniture, General Education, Health and Care, IT, Performing Arts
and Secretarial.
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| Art at Ceredigion College |
Coleg Ceredigion offers a wide
range of courses ranging from entry level to Level 3 Diplomas allowing
progression within and between the following programme areas: Art, Catering,
Construction, Business, Engineering, Furniture, General Education, Health and
Care, IT, Performing Arts and Secretarial. The college also offers financial
assistance in the form of EMA(Wales) funding for 16-18 year olds and ALG(FE)
funding for students aged 19 years and over.
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| Interviewing and Film Making at Ceredigion College |
Coleg Ceredigion offers various
types of Work Based Learning programmes to help you get ahead, including the
Foundation Modern Apprenticeship, Modern Apprenticeship and the Modern Skills
Diploma. To enrol on any of the Work Based Learning programmes you must be
employed in the relevant sector. The Apprenticeships are practical, work
related programmes where students will learn and develop the necessary skills
to further their career.
Higher Education, Post
Graduate and Professional
Coleg Ceredigion offers a range
of higher level courses designed as a stepping stone to Higher Education. These
include:
·
Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)
which leads to a professionally recognised Level 4 AAT Technician
qualification.
·
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Post
Compulsory Education) which is franchised from the University of Wales,
Newport.
·
QAA Access to Nursing and Health Professions
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| Students braving the rain at Ceredigion College on Day 269 of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
Adult Learners
Coleg Ceredigion provides a range
of options for adult learners who would like to develop new skills for career
or personal development. There are short day time and evening classes in a
variety of subjects including IT, DIY and Catering. There are also plenty of
full-time options to choose from.
I am sincerely grateful to Jacqui
and her team for their support and hospitality. It was an absolute pleasure to
meet some of the students of the College.
After my visit to Ceredigion
College I travelled to Aberystwyth University http://www.aber.ac.uk/ who were also hosting Day 269 of my
#BRIT 2012 mile walk.
The establishment of Aberystwyth
University is one of the great romantic, indeed heroic, stories of modern Welsh
history. It was the work of a small group of patriots, led by Hugh Owen, a
London Welshman, who sought from the 1850s onwards to raise enough money by
public and private subscription to establish a college of university status in
Wales. It was almost an impossible ambition. In 1872, the University was opened
in a half-finished hotel building on the sea front in Aberystwyth. There were
26 ill-prepared students and a teaching staff of three.
The first dozen or so years were
a desperate hand to mouth struggle for survival. The generosity of a few
individual beneficiaries and organised appeals for support from the ordinary
people of Wales, kept the University in being, and, perhaps more importantly,
deeply rooted it in the affection of the Welsh people. A matter of considerable
pride is that the University has made a significant contribution to the
education of women, being one of the first institutions to admit female
students.
Despite continuing expansion both
of buildings and of student numbers, Aberystwyth has retained its traditional
friendly intimacies, its vigorous student social life, and its high academic
standards.
In 2007, all the colleges of the
University of Wales entered a new phase of existence as independent
universities, though strong bonds of co-operation remain, re-affirmed in the St
David’s Day accord of 2009 between Aberystwyth and the other four leading
universities of Wales. Newly independent, Aberystwyth University reflects with
pride on the heritage of its past, and faces the future with the confidence.
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| With students at Aberystwyth University on Day 269 of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
It was an absolute pleasure to
meet staff and students of Aberystwyth University. I am most grateful to Steve
Pickup, Events Coordinator, for meeting me and to Lyn Morgan (Head of
Communications and Public Affairs) and Carolyn Parry (Careers Advisory Service)
for hosting me.
I was honoured to meet Rebecca
Davies, Pro Vice Chancellor, for joining me for the whole afternoon. It was a
pleasure to talk to Rebecca and I look forward to working closely on a
relationship between Aberystwyth University and BRIT in the future.
I was also delighted to meet Jess
Leigh the Education Officer (Students’ Union), Carys Thomas, the UMCA &
Welsh Affairs Officer (Students’ Union), Ioan Evans the Activities Officer
(Students’ Union) and Frank Rowe, the Director of the University Sports Centre.
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| Seiont Manor Hotel |
From Aberystwyth I travelled to
Caernarfon in Gwynedd, North Wales where I have been generously provided with
accommodation by the Seiont Manor Hotel http://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/hotels/seiont-manor/
for the next few days.
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| The grounds of the Seiont Manor Hotel |
Thank you to all the staff at the
Seiont Manor Hotel for their warm welcome this evening.
I thoroughly enjoyed today and my
visits to both Ceredigion College and Aberystwyth University.
I ended the day with 322 miles to go.
Kind regards,
Phil