Mr Hunt is interviewed by media production student Jack Mannix, presenter of visioncreate.tv
Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt has praised the way West Nottinghamshire College prepares young people for employment.
Mr Hunt said the college “successfully combines traditional educational models while focusing on some of the industries of the future.”
His comments came during a visit to Create – a £5 million centre for creative industries and digital technologies at its Derby Road campus in Mansfield – yesterday (Thursday 19 December 2013). Touring the building’s state-of-the-art theatre, video editing suites and television studio, Mr Hunt saw students learning their trades and working on live projects set by employers.
He spoke to interactive media students producing work for clients such as JCB using specialist LightWave 3D graphics software used in the film industry to produce Hollywood blockbusters before being interviewed in the television studio by media production student Jack Mannix – co-presenter of the college’s student-run online television channel visioncreate.tv. He also heard how students apply for lighting, camera and production roles to help run the station.
The Stoke-on-Trent Central MP’s visit was part of a fact-finding mission to learn more about the approach colleges are taking to vocational teaching and learning. It comes on the back of Labour plans to create specialist institutes of technical education in a bid to transform vocational education and training; with only the best colleges being licensed to deliver its proposed technical baccalaureate and apprenticeships.
Mr Hunt MP said: “I’ve seen a hugely-impressive college focused on making sure its young people can get the jobs of the future. I’m absolutely passionate about making sure we have excellence in vocational and technical routes and what I’ve seen at West Nottinghamshire College is quality of teaching, state-of-the-art equipment and, above all, a sense of motivation about what young people can achieve.”
Principal and chief executive Asha Khemka OBE said: “It was a pleasure to show the Shadow Education Secretary just some of the many ways we equip students with the skills and technical competencies to secure jobs and then build successful careers in a range of exciting industries.”
Source: West Nottinghamshire College
