Dudley College wins Queen's Award
Dudley College of Technology has been awarded a Queen's Anniversary Prize for Education.
The prize recognises outstanding work by UK colleges and universities that shows innovation, quality and delivers real benefit to public through education and training.
The college was one of only four further education colleges out of 98 entries to receive the award.
Dudley College has been recognised for 'transforming a location through technical education' and having a positive impact on the town.
Lowell Williams, chief executive officer at the college, said: "I see this honour as recognition that further education can be the driver for economic regeneration, particularly of struggling towns in areas of the country that have been left behind by the under investment of successive governments, over many years.
"We never gave up on our vision. We took investment risks. And we always believed in the transformative power of further education. It goes to show so much can be achieved by so many people working together in one place for the good of that place."
In recent years, the development of the Dudley Learning Quarter, in particular the training centres Evolve, Advance I and Advance II, have been commended for promoting technical education for young people and rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted.
The Queen's prize, which is awarded on behalf of HM The Queen by the Royal Anniversary Trust, credits the college for its major contribution to the West Midlands economy through advanced vocational and technical education and apprenticeships.
Neil Thomas, principal, said: "I believe the award is a mark of the progress the college has made over the last twelve years and reflects the growth in our learner numbers.
"The year-on-year improvement in our achievement rates and the positive destinations achieved by our learners, who contribute to the gross value of the regional economy in the thousands of businesses they participate in."
