City of Glasgow College: Industry Academy Model – Creating a 21st Century Workforce

The Industry Academy model is designed to integrate the College curriculum with the industry experience of staff to meet the needs of both learners and employers.

The model enables a virtual hub to be created for each of the college’s six Faculties. The model addresses skills gaps in industry through working collaboratively with employers to develop a range of pathways supporting learners into specific industries, upskilling existing employees and retraining staff wishing to change career. The college will launch eighteen further Industry Academies.

This submission focuses on a cross-section of the industry academies to provide case studies of how the model works and the types of benefits accrued by the students, the college and employers.

The key aim is to maximise student attainment and employability through tailor-made training delivery which goes beyond that of conventional public funding sources and is a result of sustainable employer engagement and partnership working.

In short, the Industry Academy model enables innovative collaborations with industry and employers. It not only develops fit for purpose curriculum, but identifies sustainable employment opportunities that students can access and within which they can flourish. This provides students with the necessary vocational and employment skills demanded by industry