Strong competition between further education colleges is expected this year as the categories for the ColegauCymru / CollegesWales Awards 2010 are opened to applications.

The annual awards aim to identify and celebrate excellence in the further education (FE) sector. They offer an opportunity to demonstrate excellence and best practice across a wide range of areas and form part of ColegauCymru / CollegesWales' drive to raise standards through self regulation.

Two of the awards will recognise outstanding teaching and learning by individuals: Teacher of the Year and Learner of the Year.

Eight of the awards are likely to see strong competition from institutions. They are:

• Effective 14-19 collaboration
• Innovation in leadership and management of vocational education
• Outstanding use of technology
• College engagement with employers
• Return to and widening the scope of learning
• Excellence in Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC)
• Effective use of the TRIBAL benchmarking tool
• Digital Learning Resources

Head of Quality at ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, Berni Tyler, said: “The awards recognise outstanding achievement, highlight the breadth of provision in further education and celebrate collaboration between institutions and other organisations.

“ColegauCymru / CollegesWales is delighted to have received sponsorship for the awards from a number of influential bodies. They all recognise the keen competition that exists for the awards, and see the awards as a stimulus for improving quality across the whole of the sector.”

A ceremony to announce the winners will coincide with the ColegauCymru / CollegesWales' Annual Conference dinner on 27 May 2010 in Cardiff.

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Contact: Sylvia Davies on 029 2052 8384 or 07968 771913.

Notes to editors:

1. ColegauCymru / CollegesWales is the new name for fforwm. It is a national educational charity that represents all 24 further education (FE) colleges and institutions in Wales. Its mission is to raise the profile of further education with key decision-makers to improve opportunities for learners in Wales. For further information about ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, and the colleges it represents, visit www.colegaucymru.ac.uk

2. Further information on the Awards 2010 is available from here.

3. Sponsors of the 2010 Awards:

• Agored Cymru
• City & Guilds/Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM)
• ColegauCymru / CollegesWales
• Edexcel
• Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK)
• OCR
• RSC Wales
• Tribal Education
• Welsh Assembly Government (WAG)
• WJEC

4. The independent Panels judging the applications for the ColegauCymru / CollegesWales Awards 2010 comprise of senior staff from influential bodies, including:

• Awarding Bodies
• Estyn
• Welsh Assembly Government (WAG)
• Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK)
• Tribal Education
• RSC Wales