On Friday 16 March, the Campus welcomed local MPs Rt Hon Teresa Pearce (Erith and Thamesmead) and Rt Hon David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford) to tour the new facilities, meet and talk with staff and students and take part in a number of ‘taster’ activities to acquaint themselves with everything the ‘new-look’ Campus has to offer.
The MPs started with a visit to The Nido Volans Centre - Bexley, where they observed students with SEN taking part in lessons. They were using new facilities and specialist equipment designed to enhance their learning experience and reflect the world of work in a number of different vocational areas.
Both were then taken to #ThePlatform where media and TV production students Selina and Callum were waiting to interview them for the College’s very own student-led TV channel. They were asked questions ranging from where they started their careers to how they became MPs and what drove them into politics.
#ThePlatform has been equipped with a whole range of modern media and IT kit that includes 20 high-speed Apple 27” iMac Retina stations, 16 Apple MacBook Pros, 20 Intel Core i5-6400 processor PCs, all with the latest operating systems, Microsoft Office 2016 and Adobe Creative Cloud Suite. The space itself has been designed to give all users ample room to manoeuvre, and work comfortably alone or in teams.
This investment has been made in order to compliment a number of new courses in art, business, computing, creative media, TV and video production, graphic design, fashion, games design and animation, photography and much more. It provides students with industry-standard tools and software that they can expect to be using once they enter the job market.
Rt Hon Teresa Pearce MP was very enthusiastic in her praise for the work done, and investment made by the College to open the new facility at Bexley. She said: “This is a fantastic new resource that makes me want to enrol on a course here myself. I’m very proud and honoured to have been invited to come along today; these are truly inspirational spaces and vital in mirroring the modern workplace.”
Rt Hon David Evennett MP was also clearly impressed by the experience and added: “I am delighted to be here today for the launch of #ThePlatform. The students were clearly passionate about their work, and it was good to be able to participate in the recorded interview.
“It is great to see such forward and innovative thinking going in to the design and development of this learning space, where students can gain the vital skills needed to begin a career in the media and tech industries.”
Principal and CEO of London South East Colleges, Sam Parrett OBE, thanked our guests and all of the staff who have been instrumental in modernising the Campus over the past six months. She said: “Since its inception back in August 2016, London South East Colleges has fervently planned and prepared for bigger and better in terms of teaching and learning methods, facilities and equipment that match or even exceed those used in every industry we cover.
"We have recognised from the outset that students simply have to be taught the skills that employers need. The work we have done to create #ThePlatform is only the beginning. We are constantly bidding for funds to invest in our campuses and also to build new ones. One good example of this is the successful bid we have made in partnership with London Biggin Hill Airport, Bombardier and the GLA to build a new Aviation and Technology Campus in Biggin Hill. There are lots more in the pipeline and the future is looking very exciting indeed.”
PW