By Mark Jones MBE, Chief Executive Officer, Gower College Swansea
This week marks the end of a 20-year journey for me - two decades serving as Chief Executive / Principal of two very different but equally dynamic Further Education (FE) colleges in south Wales. As I step back, I do so with deep gratitude and an enduring belief in the power and potential of further education colleges.
What strikes me most is how far the College sector has come and the impact that it has every day.
FE today: the most diverse space in education
When we talk about further education colleges, we are talking about some of the most diverse and inclusive educational institutions in the country. At Gower College Swansea, our students include 16-18 year olds studying A Levels or vocational courses, school pupils supplementing their education, adults returning to learn new skills or upskill in their job, and higher education students progressing their qualifications locally. We also work closely with employers across a wide range of sectors to deliver high-quality apprenticeship programmes that support workforce development and address local and national skills needs.
Our work now extends internationally too, with A Level programmes soon to be delivered in Huamei International School in Guangzhou, China, and into the justice sector, with education provision at HMP Parc in Bridgend.
This breadth is a strength, but it can also be a challenge. The full range, scale, and societal value of FE is not always understood by those outside of the sector, although its impact is felt across many parts of our communities.
Navigating complexity with purpose
Colleges operate in complex environments, a mix of both the public and private sectors — while navigating funding models, meeting regulatory requirements, engaging a broad network of stakeholders, and competing to attract students, all with a central focus on putting learners at the heart of everything they do.
Despite this, or perhaps because of it, colleges are some of the most dynamic and innovative institutions in the education system. Our mindset is rooted in a commitment to helping students succeed. As a former ColegauCymru Chief Executive once put it, FE has a distinct can-do attitude.
A collective effort for collective impact
Within Wales, our sector benefits from a strong sense of solidarity and shared purpose, often working together to solve the big challenges we face.
I’m immensely grateful to colleagues across the FE sector in Wales, England and overseas, as well as to ColegauCymru, for their support in bringing us together to move forward as a sector.
Inspiring ambitious futures
FE colleges are the bright lights in the Welsh education system - we are the launchpad for students progressing to top universities. This year alone, Gower College Swansea saw 14 of our learners receive offers from Oxbridge. We are also a critical driver of skills development, workforce readiness and social mobility.
We play a key role in reducing the number of young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training), equipping them with the confidence, qualifications, and skills needed to succeed. Indeed, there is no doubt that, for Wales to be the economic powerhouse that we all want it to be, the FE sector is a central player in that journey.
This success is only possible thanks to the efforts of dedicated and committed teams — from our outstanding lecturers and support staff to our many partners and stakeholders. These include schools, universities, community organisations, local and national governments, Medr, and key support bodies such as Estyn, Qualifications Wales, and many others. My sincere thanks to each and every one of them for the vital roles they play in the success of our colleges.
My final message to students
To the tens of thousands of students I’ve had the privilege of supporting across two colleges, thank you. You are the reason we exist, and the motivation behind every decision we make.
Keep working hard. Keep aiming high. Your local college is here to help you achieve your ambitions and to show you that, with the right support, you can go further than you ever imagined.