University College Isle of Man 'Technical' students achieve outstanding results

  • 93% success rate for Level 3 technical qualifications
  • 70% of all grades are equivalent to A*/A
  • 22 students achieved maximum grades (D*D*D*)

 

Last month saw not only A-Level results being announced, but also results for Level 3 Business & Technology Education Council (BTEC), Council for Awards in Children’s Care and Education (CACHE) and University of the Arts London (UAL) qualifications, known as ‘Technicals’, which combines exams and work-related assessments to make up students’ final qualification, which is equivalent to A-Levels. 93% of all the Level 3 students at UCM who were on these technical courses passed.

Following the recent challenges presented to Manx students who have endured mass disruptions to their education this spring due to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions, UCM has worked collaboratively with awarding bodies to ensure that students are rewarded with results that fairly reflect their achievements.

22 students from IT, Construction, Health & Social Care, Business, Creative Media & Art achieved triple distinction star, the maximum grades possible in their studies.  This demonstrates their hard work and that of their lecturers, despite the challenging circumstances.

Isla Curphey who studied Extended Diploma in Construction & the Built Environment (BTEC) is one of those who achieved maximum grades, “I never expected to get a triple distinction star, but I knew I wanted to continue my studies at university level and to do that I needed to work hard and get good results. Now, I’m preparing to study BSc (Hons) Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying at Loughborough University in a few weeks… I’m very excited!”

70% of all grades for Level 3 technical qualifications were equivalent to or exceeded a grade A at A-Level, many of these students have chosen to progress to higher education with UCM. Average UCAS points per student are equivalent to 120 points (BBB).

Jo Richardson, UCM Vice Principal said, “This year has been a challenging experience for our students, with exam cancellations and the transition to remote working, however, I am incredibly proud and impressed by how well our students have worked and adapted to the sudden upheaval. Every student who has collected their results this summer should be pleased with their achievements.”

Technical qualifications are highly regarded by employers today, mainly due to their focus on the development of transferable, practical skills and because they offer students the opportunity to explore and develop critical employability skills such as: creativity, communication, collaborative working, and presentation skills. Most of the technical courses have been designed together with employers.

Jo Pretty, UCM principal said, “We are committed to supporting the Isle of Man’s economic sustainability, in these challenging times. We believe that education and training are vital to developing the right skills to support local businesses, which at the same time transform people’s lives by helping them to achieve their career aspirations.”

UCM offers over 190 different further education (FE) courses, and this new academic year sees the addition of two new courses: Access to Higher Education and Music Performance and Production.

The Access to Higher Education, a one-year intensive course, is specifically designed to help adult learners (over 18) who wish to progress to degree level, but do not have the current qualifications required for entry.

The new Level 3 Music Performance and Production course provides students with an opportunity to explore, develop and test their creativity in all areas of the music industry through both, hands-on and theoretical study.