An arts and design college aimed at students excluded by the traditional university system has opened in Borough.
Southwark Mayor Michael Situ cut the ribbon at the Victoria College of Art and Design (VCAD), on Tabard Street, on Monday, February 5.
Working in partnership with public universities, VCAD says low entry requirements and flexible timetables make its degree courses truly accessible.
Andrew Green, Business and Partnership Director at Planet Education Network, said: “There is a need for higher education in this country that aims at the majority, not the minority.”
He said students without strong English skills are welcome to apply as they’ll benefit from language courses.
Meanwhile, people juggling work and family responsibilities benefit from having just two to three days on campus.
“The majority of people in their area need to work. They can’t give up work,” Andrew said. “Most of our students have families so education is probably the third or fourth priority for them so we have to give them as much support [as possible]”.
VCAD is currently offering two four-year degree courses in BSc (Hons) Business Management and BSc (Hons) Digital Marketing with a foundation year.
Professor Cedric Bell, Director of Business Development, said: “A lot of young people have no formal qualifications or have been away from education for quite some time.
“The idea behind a foundation course is to give them the confidence to commit to a three-year-degree course once they have successfully completed the foundation course.”
While VCAD recruits the students, providing support and teaching from its Borough campus, they’ll get degrees from Ravensbourne University in North Greenwich.
Fees for the two courses currently on offer are £9,250 and, fully funded by Student Finance England, can be paid through maintenance and tuition fee loans.