College Courses Gain Top Engineering Approval - 30/11/10

Canterbury College has become the first college in Kent to have its Engineering and Construction courses approved by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

IMechE is licensed by the Engineering Council to approve Modern/Advanced Apprenticeships in Engineering from companies, colleges and training providers. The IMechE recognised status is a reflection of the high quality of industry standard teaching and facilities that are available at the College and will help the College as it works closer with employers and apprentice engineers in future.

Michael Gaughran, Section Manager Engineering Technologies, Fabrication and Welding, said: “The department has been working hard with employers, discussing their requirements with the onus on learners going into industry with a good practical and theoretical understanding.”

Michael added: “We felt that we needed to back the students’ qualifications with a professional body and started a discussion with IMechE who were readily responsive. The benefits for the department are tremendous as it endorses and recognises the qualifications and hard work of the staff to get these courses accredited as well as producing quality courses. Most importantly, Canterbury College is sending out very good engineering students to our employers at a standard recognised by the industry.”

The following courses have gained approval:

• Edexcel BTEC Extended Diploma in Engineering
• Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Engineering
• City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Engineering
• Edexcel Level 3 BTEC National Award in Engineering
• City & Guilds Level 3 NVQ Fabrication & Welding
• Edexcel Level 3 BTEC National Diploma in Operations & Maintenance Engineering
• Edexcel Level 3 BTEC National Certificate in Operations & Maintenance Engineering
• Edexcel Level 3 BTEC National Certificate in Engineering VRF
• Edexcel Level 3 BTEC National Certificate in Engineering QCF
• Edexcel BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Engineering

The IMechE recognition joins an already extensive list of accolades achieved by Canterbury College this year alone. In May Canterbury College was awarded the Training Quality Standard (TQS) which recognises the high quality Business and Employer facing services provided by the College.