CRC was named the STEM Further Education College of the Year in the finals of the national ENTHUSE awards at the House of Commons, attended by leading scientists, education organisations and MPs.
The award recognises the college’s innovative work in promoting STEM subjects to young people, including its special ‘Girls into STEM’ days and outstanding engagement with schools, employers and STEM partners such as the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Its award-winning staff and students helped seal the win, with engineering student Leigh Sessions holding a BTEC student of the year award, Chemistry lecturer Ursula Lowe winning last year’s national FE STEM teacher of the year, and computer games lecturer Michael Warburton the Bafta YGD mentor of the year.
The college’s Science, Engineering, IT and Maths provision includes a pioneering computer gaming department which has built up an international reputation thanks to its student-run Rizing Games company which exhibits at top expo E3 in Los Angeles – the only one to do so.
The college also founded and hosts the national FXP gaming festival, works closely with employers to develop key engineering training for students and teaches science at a high level to national and international students.
CRC principal Mark Robertson said the win was a great honour for everyone in the college.
“We are absolutely delighted that our excellent STEM provision and innovative staff have been recognised at such a prestigious awards event,” he said. “To win the national STEM FE College of the Year title is a huge honour and great recognition of our engagement with schools, employers and STEM partners, as well as the dedicated staff who ensure the success of our students.”
The ENTHUSE Celebration Awards, run by STEM Learning and backed by Wellcome, recognise and celebrate inspirational teachers and technicians from across the UK.
Yvonne Baker, Chief Executive of STEM Learning, said: “It is such an honour to celebrate the amazing teachers and technicians through the ENTHUSE Celebration Awards - every one of the nominees is a winner, and I know that each of them will continue to make a difference to young people’s lives across the UK.”
Image: CRC's Paul Breheny (left) and Mark Robertson with the STEM award
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For more information, please contact Lynn O’Shea, Cambridge Regional College Press Officer, on 01223 418773 or email loshea@camre.ac.uk
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