SERC Share PBL Expertise through International Projects

South Eastern Regional College (SERC) has been sharing its expertise on Project Based Learning (PBL) through international projects which have supported colleges and networks across two continents.

Funded by the British Council, SERC have delivered tailored training as part of Improving Work Opportunities Relaying Knowledge (I-WORK) which aims to enhance vocational education and training to give people across the Commonwealth better opportunities to gain meaningful employment.

Paula Philpott, Head of SERC’s Learning Academy said, “SERC’s strategic employability model focuses on ensuring that our employer-led curriculum meets the current and future needs of employers. We deliver this through a full programme of project-based learning (PBL) which includes internal and external vocational competitions, equipping students with tools for entrepreneurship and enterprises, industry projects, employer visits and forums, placements and addressing employer skills gaps."

She added, “We were able to share our expertise with bespoke training for I-WORK participants which focussed on preparing students for employment using work-based learning models such as enterprise and entrepreneurship,  and piloting skills training centres in Ghana, Malaysia, India and South Africa alongside online teacher training on  SERC’s PBL pedagogical approach.”

A participant from Gert Sibande TVET College, South Africa said, “As College practitioners, we have learnt better strategies to develop an employer led curriculum, improved interactions with employers and getting employer support by making College graduates more marketable and first choice employees for the partner employers.”

In addition, SERC were also funded by the British Council to upskill over 100 participants from the Vocational Training College network in Hong Kong who sought to improve student learning outcomes using innovative approaches to curriculum delivery through PBL.

Paula concluded, “Our expertise is testament to the path that SERC has taken to ensure our students are equipped to deal with the challenges of an ever-changing work environment.   As well as qualifications, students need to have the transversal skills and knowledge to fit with careers and jobs that haven’t even been thought about throughout their working lives.”

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