University News Last updated 21 February 2019
Birmingham City University has been handed a quarter of a million pounds to help create a new generation of computer programmers in the West Midlands as part of a new government-backed scheme.
The University has landed the £250,000 boost after being officially named as the region’s provider for the new National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE).
The NCCE has been created by the Department for Education and aims to improve computing education across primary and secondary schools by upskilling teachers in computer science.
The new body has named nine Regional Delivery Partners across the country, with Birmingham City University given the green light to become the West Midlands’ provider.
Experts at the University’s School of Computing will now be tasked with training teachers across the region in how to teach computer programming to young people, to help them develop the skills needed for future careers in the industry.
NCCE Regional Delivery Partner Co-ordinator Keith Buncle said: “With the increased significance of computers and technology in our society, it is crucial that our young people learn the skills needed to participate in these industries.
“The news will allow us to build on the work we’ve already undertaken in the region and to create important links with education providers across the West Midlands.”
We are members of an elite club of providers until October 2019. This partnership is extremely positive as it creates direct links with all schools in the region.”
The National Centre for Computing Education’s vision is for every child in every school in England to have a world-leading computing education.
The Department for Education has invested £84 million in the NCCE across the country to ensure children have adequate training in computing from an early age.
The new body has created a comprehensive package of support to ensure young people are taught the digital skills they need to thrive economically and socially, and maintain the country’s position as a leading global digital economy.
Birmingham City University’s academics have already support a number of schools in developing skills to teach computer science as part of the Computing at Schools scheme.
More information on the NCCE can be found at: https://teachcomputing.org/