Skills Minister pops in for T at Dudley College of Technology

This week the 2-6^th of December 2024 was national #T Levels Week and there was plenty of activity across college; to celebrate the journey we have been on with these programmes.

Monday kicked off with a visit from Skills Minister Jacqui Smith and Sonia Kumar MP, who came to meet some of the students who have been part of the T Level story here at college. Electrical student Prem Singh made a big impression on the politicians, as he sang his praises both of his experience at college at the way he was treated by colleagues on his work placement with E-ON.  T Level Healthcare student Lacey Shuker also praised her T Level Tutors and shared how much she valued the wider employability skills she had acquired whilst studying for her qualification.

Dudley College was an early adopter of the new T Level programmes when they were launched in September 2020 and we now offer T Levels in sixteen sectors.  

The Minister’s visit coincided with the announcement that more students will be able to access T Level industry placements as the government makes changes to the requirements surrounding the 45 day work placement element of the programme.

The number of students taking T Levels has increased every year since they were launched. Over 16,000 nationally students started a T Level in the 2023/24 academic year – almost as many students as in the first three cohorts combined. At Dudley College our T Level learner numbers have grown in each successive year from launch, with 477 learners currently studying  for a T Level qualification.

During the week we also ran an employer lunch to thank business leaders who have supported us by taking on work placement learners. Firms including R & S Gas Ltd, Mott MacDonald/SYSTRA DJV and Housing 21 , attended a “Thank you“ ceremony organised by the Employer Engagement Team and hosted by Susanne Davies.

To find out more about T levels why not visit our next open day Saturday 11^th January 2025.

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