Exeter College Announced as Devon’s First Microsoft Showcase College

Exeter College has been announced as one of only 12 colleges in the UK to be a Microsoft Showcase College, and the first in Devon.

Microsoft showcase colleges are a global network of colleges ‘engaged in innovative change to improve teaching and learning’.

With the support and guidance of Microsoft, showcase colleges create immersive and inclusive experiences that inspire lifelong learning, stimulating development of essential life skills so students are empowered to achieve more.

Anthony Martin, ICT Innovation Officer, Exeter College, said: "Becoming a Microsoft Showcase college will create a vision that the whole college can get behind. It will help align our teams with a unified approach for digital transformation, highlight our commitment to exceptional teaching and learning and ultimately give our students the best opportunity to develop skills that they can take with them as they progress their lives beyond Exeter College.”

Exeter College is taking a mobility-first approach by leveraging Intune and the Enterprise Mobility Suite to deliver a secure Windows 10 environment to Surface devices and laptops, promoting wireless projection (MiraCast), touch and inking technologies, utilising Office 365, including SharePoint, Teams, Sway and, soon, Yammer. Exeter also encourages an inclusive environment using Microsoft productivity tools such as Office Lens.

Working with a market leader allows the college to celebrate the skill of individual staff members by taking part in inspirational lectures and working within the education community to further develop its skills. Bringing Microsoft qualifications into college means our students get the best skills for their future, making them well equipped when they leave us.

This exciting partnership means the college is now recognised for its contributions to promoting technology and digital transformation in the education space. This opens a channel of feedback directly into Microsoft to help them develop their products which will one day be used in classrooms around the globe.

John Laramy, Principal and Chief Executive said: "As a college we need to proactively prepare for industry 4.0; digital transformation is therefore becoming essential, not optional. Working with sector leading partners such as Microsoft is essential in delivering the best outcomes for our learners.”

Anthony Salcito, Vice-President of Worldwide Education at Microsoft, said: "Microsoft Showcase schools and colleges are shining examples of those applying purpose-driven innovation in a variety of ways to build connection, motivate students and to create community in and out of school.

“These schools and colleges are truly transforming learning and providing more personalised education to students, empowering them to achieve more.”