FE Colleges and Universities in Greater Manchester Develop Innovative Teaching Programme

Wigan & Leigh College and the University of Manchester, in collaboration with Greater Manchester Colleges and the Greater Civic University Agreement, have launched a pioneering programme that places PhD researchers in Further Education (FE) colleges.

The programme, launched at Wigan & Leigh College, with PhD researchers supported to teach up to 20 hours per week in FE settings, will help to address critical skills shortages in STEM and digital subjects while providing valuable teaching experience and sustainable income for postgraduate researchers.

Professor Callum Kidd, who has led the pilot phase, said: “This initiative strengthens the link between Higher Education and Further Education, creating pathways for learners and tackling regional skills gaps. It also offers PhD researchers real-world teaching experience that enhances their career prospects.”

Professor Duncan Ivison, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester, added: “We’re putting PhD researchers into Greater Manchester colleges to teach alongside experienced staff – starting with engineering, where skills shortages are most acute.

“This will help colleges with specialist expertise, give our researchers valuable paid teaching experience, and create clearer pathways between further and higher education. This is the kind of collaboration that will contribute to the region’s economic growth and is exactly what a civic university should be doing.”