East Coast College has officially been accredited by the Energy Institute in London, joining another 40 institutions worldwide.
Accreditations follow rigorous due diligence by the Energy Institute, including on-site visits to meet with students and staff and inspect the engineering facilities.
In their report to the Energy Institute’s accreditation and approval board, the accreditation panel noted that the college and its predecessor, Lowestoft Technical College, have been offering engineering-related courses since 1898, with East Coast College continuing to adapt and provide relevant training and skills in support of energy engineering and energy-related industries.
Rachel Bunn, Director of Skills, said “This prestigious approval has allowed East Coast College to ensure that our higher Education training can become an accessible and endorsed degree for those working in the Energy Sector.”
The accreditation panel were impressed with the college’s enthusiasm for accreditation from the Energy Institute as the college looks to the future and sees this move as a partnership. The panel commented that a partnership is a natural fit with the area being at the heart of the UK’s energy sector surrounded by offshore windfarms, gas installations, solar and nuclear power as well as emerging themes.
In addition, the college has received invaluable input and advice from local industry, emphasising the importance of a provision to Higher Education Engineering Apprenticeships, providing a clear career progression path as well as the option of developing and becoming engineering technicians (EngTech), incorporated engineers (IEng) and chartered engineers (CEng).
The Panel was delighted to see that East Coast College are committed to forming partnerships with industrial partners to drive change within the local community so as to provide support and work towards achieving net zero and have been establishing and maintaining these relationships for years.
In its report, the Energy Institutes accreditation panel made the following commendations.
- Submitted paperwork for accreditation was very thorough and professional.
- Links to local and national industry. The needs of local and national industry clearly informed teaching and research content at East Coast College.
- Students are engaged, enthusiastic and appreciative of the industry experience of the tutors and links to industry.
- The integrated Level 2 to 6 approach to learning.
- Outstanding facilities available to not only students but also to industry.
- Approachability of the staff.
- Standard of student work reviewed was of an extremely high standard.
This accreditation reinforces East Coast College’s existing status as an Energy Institute Learning Affiliate.