Guernsey Institute comes "together as one"

Wednesday 09 September 2020

The Guernsey Institute - the island's new higher and further education organisation - has brought all of its staff together for the first time.

The Institute brings together three existing organisations; the GTA University Centre, the Institute of Health & Social Care Studies and the Guernsey College of Education.

The first 'Together as One' event gave members of staff from each organisation the chance to get to know one another, while learning more about the Guernsey Institute's new brand and mission statement.

Everyone took part in 'ice-breaker' activities before sitting down together to discuss what their dream workplace would look like and what strengths their current workplaces offer.

"This summer has been extremely busy for the Guernsey Institute," said Executive Principal, Jacki Hughes, who came to the island last year to lead the organisation. "We made good progress with starting to bring ourselves from concept to reality at the start of the year, but that was ground to a halt by covid."

Pictured: The Guernsey Institute will eventually be based at the College of FE's Les Ozouets campus.

"Since coming out of lockdown, we have put the pedal to the floor though; we have had a brand designed, signed off mission and vision statements and brought all of our staff together for a hugely successful event.

"This is only the beginning though. The Guernsey Institute has an essential part to play in 'Revive and Thrive' by providing skills to our community and the Bailiwick's industries.

"We are going to be more than the sum of our three parts and that is possible because of the vast array of skills we have across our workforce."

Education, Sport & Culture has written to the Policy & Resources Committee, asking that the Guernsey Institute be added to the list of local projects that need to be fast tracked throughout 'Revive and Thrive'.

"The committee and I have always been pleased by the support the Guernsey Institute has found in the States, from its staff and in the community," said President of ESC, Deputy Matt Fallaize.

"As we recently recognised, the Guernsey Institute could be part of the bedrock of 'Revive and Thrive' and it is extremely exciting to see the concept coming into reality, as the new brand is rolled out, and staff start to flesh out what the new organisation will become."

Pictured top: The Institute's executive leadership team: Simon Le Tocq, Tracey McClean, Jacki Hughes and Louise Misselke.