New T Levels will be rolled out from a North East college after it secured £3m Government funding to build a new base described as “the future of learning”.
The 1920s Bede Building at Sunderland College will see its old hall undergo a complete refurbishment, with the inclusion of a new 360-degree visualisation ‘dome’ that will allow students to train in a number of virtual reality environments.
The dome will create virtual realities for students studying in several technical disciplines.
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The refurbishment will also include the creation of an amphitheatre-style seated area, and a number of innovation suites and flexible spaces for employer led training.
North East firm Malcolm Hollis has been appointed to oversee the development and construction partner Engie has been has been signed up to deliver the designs developed by Morpeth architect Seymour Architecture. Work will be completed in October.
Ellen Thinnesen, chief executive of Education Partnership North East, which includes Sunderland College, said: “I am absolutely thrilled that we have secured funding to develop what will become a leading technical skills and digital innovation centre. The centre will be game changer for our college and most importantly for young people and employers from across our region.”
Sunderland College will begin delivery of its new T Level provision from the new centre from September. T Levels will offer a new and unique curriculum, which will include employer-led education and technical training for students, within industries such as construction, digital, health, science and education.
The college is working alongside Sunderland City Council to shape its plans for digitising the city through roll-out of ubiquitous 5G connectivity.
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Council leader Graeme Miller said: “Digital is permeating every sector, so seeing it embedded into education in this way is fantastic – this new space will really bring to life the transformative effect technology can have on not only education delivery, but on our more vulnerable residents, who will be able to make use of this incredible space too.”
The news has been backed by business leaders.
Hannah Matterson, chief executive of Generator, said: “This is the perfect example of leading-edge tech being utilised to enhance the learner’s experience. Sunderland College has a well-earned reputation for always pushing the boundaries of digital learning – it was an early adopter of VR and its NextGen skills academy is a regional leader in the study of games development.
“However, this new immersive environment will improve learning not just for students on the digital courses. It will put trainee paramedics, apprentice engineers and construction students in a “real life” environment, where they can test themselves and their skills, and then replay scenarios to pinpoint strengths and eliminate weaknesses safely and virtually.
“This really is the future of learning.”