Raising bar for students tops Davies agenda
PRODUCING the next generation of entrepreneurs has become a key mission at City College Plymouth and one that can benefit the city's future, its head says.
Phil Davies, principal at City College Plymouth, said the college had to be "rooted in the community" and particularly ensure "what we are doing is employer led and employer driven".
"That means developing the employability skills of our students, entrepreneurial skills are really important," he said.
"We want to use entrepreneurship as a driver in strategic change in the organisation. Changing the way we do things to deliver the curriculum for our students.
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"We have a critical role. We have 12,000 enrolments a year, the majority from the Plymouth travel-to-work area. A lot of them will stay locally.
"We are trying to make a significant contribution to the economic and social fabric of the city.
"It's not just about an individual but raising aspirations and having high expectations of our students so they can go out and make the city a more successful place and build a better Plymouth."
Mr Davies said a college team, of staff and students, was sent to MADE: The Entrepreneur Festival so they would be inspired by meeting established entrepreneurs.
"And to show them what we are doing here really will lead to successful career opportunities for them," he said.
He said that being invited to become part of the Gazelle Group, the organisation behind the two-day MADE event in Sheffield, is "particularly pertinent for supporting an economy such as Plymouth's".
He said: "The vast majority of our businesses are micro or small to medium sized enterprises.
"However, this is also a national trend with employment opportunities coming from smaller and more varied companies.
"In the current economic climate it is essential we foster an enterprising spirit in our students, equipping them with the skills and attributes required to add value to our communities.
"To do this the college is changing the way we do business and the way in which we deliver our courses.
"It means we are creating a learning environment in which our students get more than their core qualification.
"They will be taken on a journey that helps them to discover and develop their innate creativity, to take informed risks and be confident in taking opportunities for themselves.
"Studying with City College Plymouth will improve their chances of employment, self-employment and business creation."
Comments
by CharlieDodd
Thursday, September 27 2012, 2:35AM
“The main thing anybody needs to be an entrepreneur is simple plain commonsense..:) Just look at the twerps on the Apprentice, they've got uni edoocashuns and stuff, but they ain't got an ounce of commonsense between 'em!”
by brianfaulder
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 5:35PM
“well said”
by SwillySwine
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 5:13PM
“Ok Phil,
And how are you going to produce the next generation of entrepreneurs if what you are doing is "employer led and employer driven".... ummm that would be employees, not entrepreneurs?
You didn't need to go to a festival with Peter Jones, the Duke of York??? and Duncan Goodhew???? to be inspired by meeting established entrepreneurs. Surely if you want to be embedded in the community you should look to your local community for inspiration?
And explain a bit more about your master plan for developing enterprising individuals, how you are changing the way you do business and changing the way you deliver your courses, sounds like baloney to me.
Here's a suggestion, don't spend money on superficial cladding, wind turbines whose main purpose appears to be pigeon mincing and a succession of principals who really aren't up to the job. Then channel all these savings into a funding programme that provides micro funding to students who really want to develop a business....eureka”
by SwillySwine
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 5:12PM
“Ok Phil,
And how are you going to produce the next generation of entrepreneurs if what you are doing is "employer led and employer driven".... ummm that would be employees, not entrepreneurs?
You didn't need to go to a festival with Peter Jones, the Duke of York??? and Duncan Goodhew???? to be inspired by meeting established entrepreneurs. Surely if you want to be embedded in the community you should look to your local community for inspiration?
And explain a bit more about your master plan for developing enterprising individuals, how you are changing the way you do business and changing the way you deliver your courses... sounds like baloney to me.
Here's a suggestion, don't spend money on superficial cladding, wind turbines whose main purpose appears to be pigeon mincing and a succession of principals who really aren't up to the job. Then channel all these savings into a funding programme that provides micro funding to students who really want to develop a business....eureka”
by SwillySwine
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 5:12PM
“Ok Phil,
And how are you going to produce the next generation of entrepreneurs if what you are doing is "employer led and employer driven".... ummm that would be employees, not entrepreneurs?
You didn't need to go to a festival with Peter Jones, the Duke of York??? and Duncan Goodhew???? to be inspired by meeting established entrepreneurs. Surely if you want to be embedded in the community you should look to your local community for inspiration?
And explain a bit more about your master plan for developing enterprising individuals, how you are changing the way you do business and changing the way you deliver your courses... sounds like baloney to me.
Here's a suggestion, don't spend money on superficial cladding, wind turbines whose main purpose appears to be pigeon mincing and a succession of principals who really aren't up to the job. Then channel all these savings into a funding programme that provides micro funding to students who really want to develop a business....eureka”