The Royal Society has called for more investment in computing education following the results of a study finding more than half of schools in England do not offer students a computer science GCSE. The organisation believes a £60m investment in computing education is needed over the next five years to ensure young people are learning necessary skills.
At Solihull College & University Centre major investment has been made in the area. In 2014 a £5 million Computing & IT Centre was opened at the College’s Blossomfield Campus. This has since been followed by the introduction of state-of-the-art virtual reality labs this September. Courses are offered at both further education and university level across a range of computing disciplines.
Showcasing the advancements and investment in computing, staff and students from the College recently attended The Skills Show at the NEC where alongside 200 national and local employers and training organisations they displayed the latest advancements in virtual reality to over 72,000 members of the public. The free event provided a number of ‘Have a Go’ experiences aiming to inspire young people to explore careers and motivate them to find out more about the world of work.
The Skills Show, the nation’s largest skills and careers event helps to shape the future of a new generation by helping young people to go further, faster in their careers. Alongside demonstrating a number of VR games and experiences, as part of the College’s careers initiative a virtual reality ‘Fast Forward’ bespoke VR experience was created. This introduced students to the College’s ‘Fast Forward’ careers explorer website which allows students to explore their future. The VR experience featured a virtual robot that leads the user on a career journey. Picking a career to explore, they are led along a series of facts on each career, taking them through each stage and recommending courses the college provides which can move them toward the career they desire.
The Skills Show was a huge success with many attendees stopping at the College’s stand to discuss computing courses and have a go at what the college had to offer. In a time where computing skills are not being invested in enough, the college ensures it is at the forefront of this field and The Skills Show was the perfect platform to showcase these investments.
Find out more about Solihull College & University Centre’s Computing & Emerging Technologies courses.
