Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) and Aylesbury University Technical College (UTC) have agreed a new strategic partnership which will benefit local students by providing a “clear and seamless transition” to degree programmes in the digital and healthcare sectors, right on their doorstep and tailored to meet local employers’ needs.
BNU offers a broad range of courses across both digital and healthcare subject areas including computer games development, visual effects, computer science, social work, nursing and midwifery.
Professor Nick Braisby, Vice-Chancellor at BNU said:
“The strong and enduring partnership between our learning institutions expands routes into higher education and helps local young people to secure the knowledge and skills that employers in our region need. We’re looking forward to welcoming the UTC’s students to taster sessions at BNU to find out more about our employment-focused courses in digital and healthcare. We’re proud to be the UTC’s sponsor and the county’s principal university, providing access to high quality teaching that was recently ranked 10th best in the UK, all backed up with award-winning student support, right on local learners’ doorsteps.”
Joe Dunckley, Principal of Aylesbury UTC said:
“This collaboration is set to significantly enhance the educational journey of our students and teaching teams, ensuring they benefit from BNU’s esteemed and extensive skills and experience. We will align our curriculum with the University’s standards, providing our students with a clear and seamless transition to higher education. Our students will gain access to BNU’s state-of-the-art facilities, enriching their learning experience and providing them with the tools they need to excel and progress. With a shared commitment to provide exceptional educational opportunities within our community, together we’re paving the way for a brighter future for our students in the digital and healthcare sectors.”
In 2021, Aylesbury UTC became a member of the Merchant Taylors’ Oxfordshire Academy Trust. The focus of the Trust is to deliver high quality education in a small number of schools including the Aylesbury UTC and two in Oxfordshire.
John Marston, Chief Executive Officer at Merchant Taylors’ Oxfordshire Trust, said:
“BNU has been hugely supportive of the UTC over a long period of time, recognising its place within the local education landscape and understanding how its specialisms in healthcare and digital can provide pathways into higher education for its students. These are exciting times at the UTC with new industry-standard facilities in place for both specialisms and this renewed strategic partnership only adds to the growing sense of momentum in its journey.”
A university technical college is a type of secondary school in England that is sponsored by a university and has close ties to local business and industry. Pupils study academic subjects as well as practical subjects leading to technical qualifications. The university and industry partners support the curriculum development of the UTC, provide professional development opportunities for teachers, and guide suitably qualified students on to higher education or industrial apprenticeships. The UTC’s governors include representatives from the sponsor university and partner employers.