UCEN Manchester
Tackling the Digital Divide in Greater Manchester and Beyond
UCEN Manchester
UCEN Manchester and The Manchester College is one of the largest educational providers in the UK with over 80,000 students and a 200-year history serving Greater Manchester and beyond. A Cisco Academy for over 25 years, UCEN Manchester was one of the first institutions in the UK to adopt this global initiative.
In addition to their Cisco Academy, UCEN Manchester also runs an ASC (Academy Support Centre) and ITC (Instructor Training Centre). In 2023 and 2024, they were recognised as a Premier NetAcad Partner, an accolade awarded to the top 15% of ASCs globally.
Summary
Challenges
Boosting students' employability
Navigating rapidly evolving industry needs
Continuing to provide a high-quality, relevant education for students
Solutions
CCNA
IT Essentials
CyberOps Associate
Python Essentials
Results
Students have access to industry technology, experiences & courses
Students have increased confidence and industry relevancy
Equipping Students with digital skills for the future
UCEN Manchester offers over 50 industry and certification aligned courses on the Cisco Networking Academy platform for learners to choose from, ranging from Cybersecurity, Networking, and Professional Skills, such as technical report writing and entrepreneurship. Taking either part of the courses or the whole course gives UCEN Manchester the flexibility to seamlessly integrate academic content into their Further Education and Higher Education provisions. As a bonus, students can obtain digital badges and industry certifications, enhancing their learning experience and helping them to stand out from the crowd with practical, job-aligned, hands-on skills.
Renea Mercedes Graham, who earned first-class honours in BSc (Hons) Computer Networking, Automation and Management, says:
“UCEN Manchester is a Cisco Academy, so you get qualifications not only with UCEN Manchester but also with Cisco.”
“When working with the equipment we didn't need to share devices between students because we had our own devices; that's what really stood out for me about UCEN Manchester.”
“Next, I'd like to secure a job as a junior or graduate Network Engineer. I really would love to work towards cyber security, so long term, I would like to be a Network Engineer or a Cybersecurity Engineer.”
Read more at:
https://www.ucenmanchester.ac.uk/news/renea-plugs-into-a-bright-future/
It's all about community
As an ASC (Academy Support Centre), UCEN Manchester support over 40 institutions across Greater Manchester and beyond, including schools, colleges, universities, libraries, startups, and community centres. The UCEN Manchester ASC facilitates a space for likeminded educators to come together and allows its members to share best practice and ideas, in turn offering enhanced experience to students.
The latest member of their ASC community is the Cyber Aware Group, who promote cybersecurity and fraud awareness, particularly among vulnerable groups, people of colour, and underrepresented communities in the UK. Through this partnership, UCEN Manchester strives to build a platform that fosters diversity, inclusivity, and relatable content in the realm of cybercrime awareness.
As an ITC (Instructor Training Centre), UCEN Manchester offers free instructor training and accreditation through innovative self-paced online classes. This allows instructors to manage their CPD time around their busy schedules rather than having to take time out. They also run a number of events designed to give students an insight into pursuing a career in tech, including the annual Girls in IT Day delivered in partnership with Cisco for local students aged 12-14.