City of Bristol College (CoBC) has reaffirmed its long-standing partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) through the signing of a new Learner Commitment Pledge at an event held at the college’s South Bristol Skills Academy.
The event marks a significant milestone in a collaboration that has spanned more than two decades, focused on improving education pathways and expanding access to Higher Education for learners across Bristol.
The Learner Commitment Pledge sets out a shared ambition to build an inclusive, innovative and transformative education and skills ecosystem that supports learners, employers and communities across the region.
At the event, Julia Gray, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of City of Bristol College, was joined by Professor Marc Griffiths – Vice Chair of Board Members at City of Bristol College and Pro-Vice Chancellor for Regional Partnerships, Engagement and Innovation at UWE Bristol and Steve West – UWE Bristol’s Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Officer to formally sign the pledge.
The strengthened partnership places a renewed focus on putting Bristol learners, skills and progression first; co-designing curriculum aligned to employment, regional growth and opportunity, tackling inequality and supporting thriving communities, driving innovation, research and enterprise, strengthening workforce development and digital capability and investing in sustainability and regional impact.
The two institutions will deliver these priorities through deeper strategic collaboration, shared workstreams and stronger engagement with employers and civic partners.
The partnership continues to play a vital role in supporting social mobility and addressing regional skills needs. By aligning Further and Higher Education pathways, City of Bristol College and UWE Bristol aim to ensure that learners from all backgrounds can progress and succeed.
Opening the event, Julia Gray said: “I have the absolutely immense privilege of being the Principal and Chief Executive Officer at City of Bristol College.
“It’s been a real journey of positive improvement for us here at City of Bristol College. We are so proud of the work that we do and this is a mark of that today, a mark of our continued commitment to our students at all levels, our continued commitment to our investment in our students progressing to Higher Education and our continued commitment to excellence within our city.
“It’s a great place, our South Bristol Skills Academy and we’re really proud of the work that we do here. We’re really proud of the number of students who have left us and progressed to go on to our Higher Education qualifications from here, so thank you for the role that you have played in believing in our students and their futures.
“We will continue that partnership and that work between us and I’m delighted that we can recognise that here today with the official signing.
Speaking of the event, Professor Marc Griffiths said: “As we look ahead to the next decade of partnership with CoBC, we want to go further. Deepening our partnership and building closer strategic and academic ties to strengthen our offer to learners, employers and civic leaders so they can be confident that our skills system is joined up across the levels of study across the city.
“This will see us explore new and emerging subject areas such as digital and media, community practice and aviation, while enhancing our established progression routes in healthcare and education.
“But it also goes beyond programme delivery and into our roles as civic anchor institutions – harnessing our research, innovation, skills and enterprise ambitions and capabilities for the good of the city.
“With CoBC, we want to shape an education and skills ecosystem that is inclusive and transformative, and fuels Bristol’s future as a thriving, adaptive and resilient city. More than ever, at the heart of our partnership with CoBC is opportunity: ensuring learners locally have skilled and valued career opportunities that, in turn, boosts the economic prosperity for the region.”
Professor Steve West added: “The partnerships that we are creating are all about opportunities for learners to engage and to progress throughout their lives to the level that they want to achieve.
“The commitment that we see at every level of our organisation suggests that true partnerships work and create futures; together we then transform lives and that is what this is about, it’s about a deep meaningful approach.
“The partnership is important because increasingly, we will be needing to demonstrate how we collaborate and how we do that with purpose and how we do change lives and for us, this is really, really key.
“I often say that for UWE, we are for the city, with the city and of the city and that is really genuine.”
This renewed commitment signals the next phase of collaboration between City of Bristol College and UWE Bristol, focused on creating opportunity, strengthening progression pathways and supporting Bristol’s future as a thriving and inclusive city.
