The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has announced that another 52 further education colleges will join the Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) programme once they have successfully completed their costed audit and development plans in October 2002.
The LSC is now more than half way towards meeting its revised target of around 225 (increased from 175) further education CoVEs by March 2004. The CoVE programme is designed to improve and deliver vocational skills vital to the economy by developing a nationally co-ordinated network of centres that will address local, regional, sectoral and national skills priorities. The programme has a focus on level 3 vocational specialisms, with a particular emphasis on adult learners.
Bryan Sanderson, Chairman of the Learning and Skills Council, said: "The CoVE programme is a cornerstone of the Government’s policy to reinvigorate technical and vocational specialisation within the further education sector. There are now around 140 colleges working towards full CoVE status.
"Together, these centres will underpin a modern further education sector, contributing fully to the nation’s vocational skills and the drive to boost competitiveness and quality."
