Member Article

Newcastle College launches ‘Recognise Me’

Newcastle College is the first further education college in the country to offer a unique online service that can enable students to study a degree course in a way that is quicker and more cost effective than traditional routes.

The new service, called ‘Recognise Me’, uses a process which allows applicants to part-time degree courses to link their previous experience and learning to count towards their new qualification.

This approach allows qualifying students to gain exemption from certain modules, which can significantly reduce the cost and time it takes to gain the qualification.

As one of the largest providers of higher education within a further education college, and with a very diverse student population, Newcastle College became aware of the number of students who were entering higher education with significant work experience and / or qualifications which could be used to gain formal recognition and accreditation for part of a degree.

John Rowe, Assistant Principal for Higher Education at Newcastle College, said ‘This is a fantastic way for people in work to gain access to degree courses in a flexible and innovative way, which is very important in this tough marketplace’’.

The Recognise Me website offers applicants an innovative online assessment, with the facility to upload documentation as evidence of any previous qualifications and or experience.

Newcastle College’s tuition fees for degree courses are £5,800, significantly lower than most universities. By recognising prior qualifications, knowledge and skills, the college can offer part-time students the opportunity to turn that experience into university credits for modules on a chosen degree course. Less modules means a reduction in study time and in tuition fees.

The Recognition Service also has great benefits for employers. Because the assessment is delivered wholly online, employees working anywhere in the UK can easily access the service, meaning that no time is taken out of the workplace.

Newcastle College offers over 90 Foundation Degrees and BA Honours top-up’ qualifications. Recognise Me is initially available for 25 higher education qualifications in areas such as Business Management, Health and Social Care, Engineering, Science and Construction, Sport, Leisure and Tourism and Digital Media, IT and Computing. More courses are being added all the time.

John continued, “The Recognition Service represents a major development in promoting the accreditation of prior learning. There is no doubt that the current economic climate and funding changes have created a need for institutions to offer more flexible and cost effective ways of studying.

‘Newcastle College is committed to making higher education accessible to all. Our higher education fees, courses and facilities are developed in direct consultation with employers to enhance careers and help businesses’’.

Newcastle College is running its ‘Get Recognised’ seminar on Saturday 13 October at Rye Hill campus in Newcastle. The seminar will give people a chance to find out more about saving time and money on higher education by using the Recognition Service.

More information on the Recognition Service and ‘Get Recognised’ seminar can be found at www.ncl-coll.ac.uk/recogniseme

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Hall .