News & Events

Ten students studying the part time Foundation Degree in Business & Management will be the first graduates from the Guernsey Training Agency University Centre (GTA).

The GTA partnered with Bournemouth University’s Business School in 2010 to provide the first on-island alternative for Guernsey students, who wanted a recognised university education without having to study on the mainland.

This year’s graduates will be the first at GTA to successfully complete a university-level qualification and the FdA is the equivalent of two year’s of an honours degree, allowing the students to top-up to a full honours degree at a later stage. The course is open to those who recently left full time education and also mature students who are already in the workplace, a second chance at university education.

Deputy Chief Executive of the GTA University Centre, Simon Le Tocq, commented on the students’ achievements,

“To have 10 students graduate from what has been a three year commitment is fantastic and demonstrates the enthusiasm that islanders have for continuing professional development. All of the graduates feel they have benefitted enormously from having this opportunity and I am confident that their commitment will be recognised by their employers and that they will progress in their careers based on what they have learnt.”

The foundation degree involves a mix of classroom teaching from BU lecturers, online support from BU’s Business School and work-based learning supported by GTA staff. Study includes units in marketing, finance, HR, law, economics and management. Students also undertake complete a work-based project on a subject of their choice in a real business environment.

The graduates were presented with their awards by Professor Richard Conder, elected member of Guernsey’s States Assembly and external board member at BU.