Leicester College is focused on delivering an engaging and innovative learning experience that supports all aspects of the curriculum, whilst equipping our learners with the skills and knowledge of industry standard technologies that will prepare them for success in the workplace.

The College also aims to provide teaching, administrative and managerial staff with reliable, secure and fit for purpose tools to facilitate their day-to-day activities by increasing efficiency, communication, creativity, and access to high quality data.

We caught up with Harshad Taylor, the newly-appointed IT Director, who outlined his commitment to ensuring that students gain an excellent learning experience, whilst also preparing Leicester College for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In his new role, Harshad is responsible for managing the College’s IT network which includes 4,000 devices (laptops, desktops and tablets) for 5,000 full-time staff and student users. Harshad will oversee a team of 20 staff made up of IT technicians, information systems specialists and security engineers who work across multiple campuses.

Leicester College is committed to:

• Having access to technology
• Providing teachers and learners with inspiring tools that will help achieve Outstanding Teaching, Learning and Assessment
• Embedding ICT in all parts of the infrastructure
• Designing a secure infrastructure which helps deliver an engaging and innovative learning experience
• Providing anytime anywhere learning which is device and platform independent
• Developing an engaging and skilled IT Team which is highly proactive in its day-to-day approach
• Supporting hybrid and flexible working, teaching and learning patterns

Harshad’s aim is to ensure that all students gain an excellent learning experience. He said: “Students hold high expectations and aspire to be successful. To fulfil their ambitions, digital inclusion and accessibility are key. These two factors underpin my work on digital excellence and I plan to involve and inspire staff and students at all levels of the organisation to shape our digital future. I am excited to play my part in achieving that.

“ICT should be an enabler; allowing staff and students to have a flexible working environment where information is securely accessible from any location at any time. Technology pervades all aspects of our lives, both in work and play. In the further education sector, we need to provide agile learning programmes that can take place anytime and anywhere and are device- and platform-independent. This will support hybrid and flexible working, teaching and learning patterns.

“The Fourth Industrial Revolution will disrupt further education and present profound questions about how vocational institutions should deliver their teaching.” Harshad explained, “We need to change our views on IT from a costly overhead to a revenue enhancing accelerator. In doing so, we can run more efficiently and mitigate the risks which can come with a greater investment in a digital future.

“Leicester College aims to deliver an engaging and innovative learning experience that supports all aspects of the curriculum, whilst equipping our learners with the skills and knowledge of industry standard technologies that will prepare them for success in the workplace.

“The College also aims to provide teaching, administrative and managerial staff with reliable, secure and fit for purpose tools to facilitate their day-to-day activities by increasing efficiency, communication and creativity. ICT should be an enabler; allowing staff to have a flexible working environment where information is securely accessible from any location at any time.

“For these reasons, I aim to develop an engaging and skilled IT team which will be highly proactive in its everyday approach and strives for excellence and innovation in all that we do. Together we will build on our continuous hard work and deliver an inspiring experience for students, staff, employers, and stakeholders.”