THE UNIVERSITY of Wales Trinity Saint David has signed a strategic partnership with one of the UK’s leading digital learning organisations.
The big Learning Company (BLC) will support the Institute of Education’s plans for teacher education and further enhance the opportunities available to partner schools and Yr Athrofa staff.
It is anticipated that the university’s Yr Athrofa will work with BLC to provide new digital education content, teacher development programmes and state-of-the-art education technology.
The partnership will also see the creation of Yr Athrofa: Cardiff, a new satellite centre for the institute’s work in the welsh capital.
Yr Athrofa: Cardiff will be based at BLC’s headquarters in Tramshed Tech, near Cardiff Central Railway Station.
BLC and the university have already announced a partnership in relation to Yr Egin, the university’s creative and digital media cluster based on the Carmarthen campus.
BLC is working with the Welsh Government to expand the number of ‘Code Clubs’ in Wales and has attracted high praise from Education Secretary Kirsty Williams.
Professor Dylan Jones, Director of Yr Athrofa, welcomed the partnership and the many possibilities it brings.
He said: “BLC has developed a strong reputation as a leader in the field of digital learning and technology and we are delighted to be working so closely with them.
“Their expertise will be invaluable as we look to further develop our professional learning partnership of schools across Wales and we are exploring a number of exciting projects to support our new teacher education offer.
“Having a permanent base for Yr Athrofa in Cardiff will open new doors for us in the Welsh capital as I’m sure colleagues will also benefit from having a BLC presence in Carmarthen.
“These are exciting times for Yr Athrofa and the signing of this agreement is further evidence of our lofty ambition for teacher education in Wales.”
Louise Harris, Chief Executive of BLC, said: “We are delighted to have this opportunity to cement our long-standing relationship with UWTSD – one of Wales’ foremost HEI’s in the field of education and training – to develop teacher education and the EdTech sector generally in Wales.
“Working in tandem with the university’s Yr Athrofa: the Institute of Education on innovative digital services, technology products and high-level digital content across the whole of the education sector, this new strategic partnership will create a range of exciting possibilities for both parties: both through the creation of Yr Athrofa: Cardiff at BLC’s headquarters in the heart of the Welsh capital at Tramshed Tech; and through working closely with Yr Athrofa in Carmarthen to deliver digital training and education services.”
