College Leaders From Across UK Converge At Ayrshire College

Senior figures in education from across the UK were welcomed to Ayrshire College yesterday for The College Alliance’s annual network meeting.  
  
The College Alliance is a UK-wide collaborative network which brings together college principals and stakeholders responsible for developing and enabling educational policy from across Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Wales. The College Alliance exists to understand and learn from international best practice and provides increased opportunities for knowledge exchange.  
  
Yesterday’s meeting focused on the future workforce requirements for colleges across UK and Ireland; taking stock of the current position, sharing innovative practice to overcome challenges and to consider new ways of working.  
  
Angela Cox, Principal and CEO at Ayrshire College, who chaired the event and delivered the opening address, said: “At Ayrshire College our mission of Empowering People for a Changing World shapes everything we do. Hosting The College Alliance network meeting gave us a valuable opportunity to share our best practice, consider the longer-term strategy we need to develop through learning from experts in the field and college leaders, and talk over challenges with leaders in the sector from across the UK.” 

Lewis Cooper, Director of the College Alliance, said: "It’s been fantastic to spend time at Ayrshire College with college leaders and policy makers from across the four UK nations and Ireland. We’ve learnt a great deal from the approach taken to workforce development at Ayrshire College, as well as examples from colleges from across the other nations. 

"With key challenges and changes facing all of our national systems, including across the climate emergency, AI and the need to drive sustainable, inclusive growth, it’s clear that the role of colleges across the UK and Ireland will only become more critical, and there’s huge benefit to sharing lessons across our different national systems. 

“Thanks to Angela Cox and everyone at Ayrshire College for being such great hosts, and for sharing lessons from the ‘Ayrshire Way’."