Preston College
Global Learning Award winners 2004
Preston College and the Lancashire Global Education Centre (LGEC) won the 2004 DEA Global Learning Award for their collaborative literacy programme Global Perspectives in English Project.
The project had introduced a range of 'global' issues such as fair trade, refugee and asylum seeker experiences and human rights into Preston College's pre-GCSE English course. This roll-on, roll-off course for learners looking to improve their literacy skills was so successful in incorporating the new topics that learners forgot they were doing the English course "because the topics were so interesting".
The majority of students involved were white British working class. Their feedback indicated that the pilot had a real impact on their outlook and several are making tangible changes in their lives:
- "Every time I hear something on the news I will feel stronger and more informed."
- "I have changed my views on asylum seekers, because before I thought they were here for a free ride."
- "I will read the newspapers and take more interest."
On fair trade:
- "I think it's disgusting that poor farmers get such a poor return for their hard work."
- "I will always think what I am buying."
The College is now planning to introduce a global dimension to other programmes and to work with the LGEC to develop some resources. Janet O'Sullivan, project leader, said: "The course is already creating a buzz in the Centre" and the College management have described the impact of bringing global perspectives into this basic skills programme as: "buy one, get one free".
More examples of practice:
- Devon Development Education
informal community education at the Global Centre in Exeter - Walsall College of Arts & Technology
'Achieving Together' citizenship programme for young people - Amicus-MSF
distance learning course for trade union members - Cornwall College: working with trainee teachers in the post-16 sector
to develop their expertise to disseminate global educational values - Croydon College: Constructive Dialogue on Globalisation Issues
project focussing on the A level Economics, Business Studies and Sociology programme - Pendleton College and Christian Aid
developing a sustainable global learning strategy across the college - Wigan and Leigh College: Dispelling the myths
making links with FE instutions in India and China a springboard for teaching and learning about global interconnectedness.