West
Midlands School of Languages – Business Languages
Sandwell College
Smethwick Campus
Crocketts Lane
Smethwick West Midlands B66 3BU
Person in charge of project: Ulla Stede, Lecturer in German with responsibility for Marketing, Sales and Curriculum Development
Sandwell College is a general FE college with approximately 20,000 students.
The project provides a comprehensive range of tailored language training and other language services (translation, liaison, interpreting) to industry and other organisations. All the major European languages are catered for, and other languages are accommodated on demand, subject to a tutor/interpreter being found.
The project promotes awareness of the benefits of international communication skills amongst the local business community, and their subsequent contribution to business success. It also promotes the lifelong learning of languages for personal development and employment/career enhancement.
The provision is extremely diversified in terms of the format in which it is delivered: small groups or one to one; one-year course, short courses, one- and half-day immersion or single sessions are all offered levels appropriate to the learner. There are also open learning, self-study, on-line training and telephone training options. There is a very good relationship with Business Link Sandwell/TEC who support the project by forwarding enquiries and providing grants for language training.
Judges' comments
This project reflects the essence of lifelong learning in helping a very
wide range of people from different backgrounds to gain satisfaction from
learning a language. Language training has enabled individuals to communicate,
gain confidence and language competence. As a direct result business relationships
with their foreign counterparts have improved, thus contributing to the
competitiveness of British firms trading abroad and the economic regeneration
of the West Midlands.
