National recognition for Teesside learners

The Teesside Regional Open College Network (TROCN) has successfully achieved accredited awarding body status from the Quality Curriculum Authority for England.

For TROCN's 35,000 registered adult learners that's good news. The accreditation means that qualifications awarded on Teesside are recognised alongside the same national standards as other awarding bodies such as EDEXCEL and OCR.

TROCN was set up in 1994 and is the youngest licensed member of the National Open College Network, which has 29 regional bodies. TROCN is based in the University of Teesside and was established to encourage adults into further and higher education by awarding credits for academic and vocational programmes ranging from basic literacy and numeracy to computing and craft skills.

Karan Green, Director of TROCN, welcomes the national accreditation. She said: "This will allow TROCN to build on strategic partnerships with colleges, community groups, employers and higher education to help us implement the Government's widening participation agenda. It will also complement our future relationship with the Local Learning and Skills Councils."

Christa Griffiths is one of the first students to be awarded NOCN accredited qualifications by UNITE - a community mediation service which operates across the four local boroughs. Christa gained Level 3 awards and is pleased that her qualification is nationally recognised. Christa, a retired Project Counsellor for Drug Addictions & Alcohol, said: "The Level 3 Mediation award is now recognised as a national currency and means I can consider a mediation position anywhere in the UK."

UNITE's Trainer/Assessor Tricia Hayes welcomes the national accreditation. She said: "As an accrediting body TROCN are second to none in their local support and guidance for training and education programmes. It comes as no surprise that they have gained National Open College Network awarding body status. For UNITE's volunteer mediators this development puts their achievements on the national stage. Anyone interested in training to become a volunteer should contact UNITE on 311633."

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