The troubled National College of High Speed Rail is officially closed, four years after it opened. The college has opened two sites, one in Doncaster and the other in Birmingham, each of which was supposed to accommodate 1,600 students. However, despite ambitions to train a new generation of engineers, the college had only 47 learners in its books across Doncaster and Birmingham locations by the start of the 2017/18 academic year. This number increased to 93 students in February 2018 but decreased to 89 students by July 2018. In March 2019, it changed its name to the National College of Advanced Transport and Infrastructure (NCATI). In February of last year, the Commissioner for Further Education (FEC) found the college “financially unfit”. An independent evaluation raised “serious concerns about the financial viability and long-term sustainability of the college”. A new on-site training facility will now be launched under the management of the University of Birmingham, but maintains the NCATI name. It will focus on the railroad sector and help address the sector’s skills shortage, particularly in the Midlands and the North, according to the university. Ian Fitzpatrick, Director of the New College, said: “I look forward to continuing to build the college’s reputation as the focal point for developing skills in this sector. In addition to creating and delivering innovative, high-quality, ambitious, and inclusive provision. Work and stakeholders. ” According to the University of Birmingham, the new NCATI will provide high-quality education and training with a distinctive local offering specializing in rail and transportation engineering. In addition, NCATI will collaborate with education partners across the UK, ensuring that it plays its full role as a national college. HS2 Minister Andrew Stevenson said: “The new National College of Transportation and Advanced Infrastructure will provide valuable training, new skills and real opportunities for people entering the sector for the first time, as well as those seeking retraining. We will continue to work closely with the college as it strives to attract a diverse group of Talent to the transport sector. ”
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