25 June 2012

Enterprise: Where Wales’ Students Lead the World

College students in Wales are leading the UK and the rest of the world on enterprise.

A Wales win at the Global Enterprise Challenge 2012 final in Japan was last week’s precursor to the publication today of the Carnegie UK Trust’s Enterprising Minds survey of 16-21 year old students in the UK, which identifies Wales’ students as the most enterprise-minded in the UK.

Four of Wales’ further education are working with the Carnegie UK Trust: Bridgend College, Deeside College, Pembrokeshire College and Cardiff and Vale College. The Enterprising Minds survey included 17 colleges and 1,602 students from the UK nations. 
 
Chief Executive of ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, John Graystone, said: “FE colleges in Wales work very closely with businesses to prepare students for the competitive global marketplace, where skills and attitude to enterprise are key to getting ahead.  I am delighted that Wales’ FE students are rated highest in the UK on the ‘Carnegie Measure of Student Attributes to Enterprise’, and that they have impressed the Carnegie Trust with their enthusiasm about their college experiences, recognising the high quality of their education. 
 
“Many colleges in Wales have their own practice companies and they engage fully in the Global Enterprise Challenge. 

“It’s fantastic news that Coleg Menai has just won third for Wales in this year’s Global Enterprise Challenge (GEC) which took place in Japan last week. This is an outstanding achievement.  Even better news is that this was not a one-off.  Coleg Menai was following in the footsteps of Coleg Morgannwg, which won first for Wales in the GEC in 2010.” 

In addition, Cardiff and Vale College has newly announced that it is joining the Gazelle Group, which is focused on growing a cluster of Entrepreneurial Colleges committed to transforming curricula to encourage an entrepreneurial mindset in their students.
 
Dr Graystone concluded: “Wales’ FE colleges and their students are working flexibly, entrepreneurially, and are always learning and looking for the next challenge. These are all vital attributes to succeed in an uncertain global economy.”
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Contact: Sylvia Davies on 029 2052 8384 or 07968 771913.
Notes to editors:

1. ColegauCymru / CollegesWales is a national educational charity that represents all 19 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 or www.collegeswales.ac.uk

2. Information on the Global Enterprise Challenge Team from Coleg Menai: http://t.co/HVm8FgcJ

3. The Carnegie UK Trust’s Enterprising Minds study included 17 colleges and 1602 students from the UK nations.  The report was launched on Monday 25 June in the House of Commons. The report is available from http://www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/changing-minds/enterprise-and-society/enterprising-minds