Spades in the ground for institute ‘by 2022’

Details were provided of the Guernsey Institute’s intention to upgrade Les Ozouets campus to provide first-grade facilities in one campus rather than the current five for its College of Further Education, Institute of Health and Care Studies and GTA University Centre students – with a spade set to be put in the ground in 2022 and maybe even earlier.

In attendance were speakers from the Guernsey Institute, including chairman of the shadow board of governors, Julian Winser, and its executive director, Louise Misselke, as well as Andrew Essa, founder and managing partner of Rocket and Commerce, a strategic insight and change advisory, who spoke of the effect of Covid on businesses.

Mr Winser told guests at the lunch of his excitement to finally get the Guernsey Institute under way.

‘Despite the first proposal to upgrade made in 1993 and the seven other attempts to upgrade the quality of the infrastructure, we’re finally on a master plan to put the new institute on Les Ozouets in the next couple of years,’ he said.

‘The planning will take place between now and next year and hopefully, according to the original plan, we’ll get a spade in the ground [in] 2022, but we’re hoping that as part of the Revive and Thrive strategy and the government wanting to spend some money on something to stimulate the economy, that we might bring it forward.’

Ms Misselke spoke of the importance of the institute in the future.

‘We have bold ambitions,’ she said.

‘The time for education, knowledge, skills, development and a real notion of lifelong learning is more important than ever.’

She said there were four key areas they wanted to put emphasis on within the institute, including increase use of technology, increased opportunities for basic skills, such as English and maths, future-proofing occupations and skills, and increased partnership and collaboration with the community.

‘We already offer a full range, flexible learning opportunities to support the community to thrive in the pandemic,’ she said.

‘In lockdown we worked with Employment & Social Security on a range of programmes to support those people recently made unemployed, we are now also exploring a range of courses to be offered as part of the Revive and Thrive strategy with particular focus on those that may need to change career.’

In addition, she said their plans for the institute going forward would need to continue this theme of development, growth and adaptability.

‘The workforce of the future will require a workforce that is highly skilled and full of experts,’ she said.

‘Therefore the development of higher level technical skills will become increasingly more important.

‘The Guernsey Institute will partner with a UK university to offer increased levels of higher education that will be flexible and relevant to our local industry.’

Mr Winser agreed and added that the key requirements now for those working in industry was to ensure that education kept up with its evolution.

‘The Guernsey Institute will become demand-led rather than supply-led,’ he said.

‘The board can work with industry, the States, and the community to determine the curriculum going forward.

‘We now have a catalyst for change at last, that’s been Covid and recognition.

‘AI [artificial intelligence] and the move to data technology is changing how we operate. This won’t exist in 10 years’ time. We want to train people to adapt, be ready for anything and have the skills essential for Guernsey’s future.’

Education, Sport & Culture recently submitted plans to provide £51m. of funding to help develop the Guernsey Institute as the first major project of the States’ Revive and Thrive strategy.

ESC has pressed the case to Policy & Resources to make it a priority over the next 12 to 18 months.