Former SCIoT student thrives in Milton Keynes business community 

Deborah Mungai, a former student of the South Central Institute of Technology (SCIoT) in Bletchley – part of the Milton Keynes College Group – has become a key member of the Milton Keynes business community in the two years after completing her course. 

The young entrepreneur completed her Higher National Diploma in Cyber and Computer Forensics in May of 2022 at the SCIoT and since then has started her own business in event photography, website services, branding and creative marketing. Deborah is also a podcast co-host and a regular public speaker in Milton Keynes and further afield, covering topics such as entrepreneurship, cyber awareness, education activism, and empowering more women and people of colour to get into the STEM industry. 

And recently, Deborah was chosen by Iain Stewart, MP for Milton Keynes South, as a Local Skills Champion. This involved Deborah and her mother visiting 10 Downing Street, where they had the opportunity to meet other champions from all parts of the country and to interact with other Members of Parliament and the Secretary of State for Education.  

On the experience of visiting Downing Street, Deborah said: “It was a wonderful experience, and I consider it a significant achievement that I proudly wear as a minority, empowering others. During the event, I networked with people from various business sectors and apprenticeships. Following the event, I’m planning to visit the House of Commons and explore the possibility of opening a club to support migrants arriving in the country to integrate in the UK school system and career through an initiative I am working on with my mother”. 

Deborah is also taking part in a podcast called ‘Inspirational MK’ with Women Leaders, which has been recorded at Milton Keynes College’s Chaffron Centre with the support of the College’s Media Studies students and will be launched on International Women’s Day on 8^th March. 

Speaking about her time at the SCIoT, Deborah said: “Studying at the SCIoT has been a transformative journey for me; it has played a pivotal role in shaping me into the driven and accomplished individual I am today. I vividly remember being an apprehensive yet talented 18-year-old, unsure of which career path to embark upon. However, the SCIoT provided me with the guidance and resources to not only excel in the technology realm but also explore my passion for marketing. Through its extensive network and opportunities, I’ve been able to flourish as an entrepreneur, leveraging connections forged during my time at the institute, both in business and the rapidly evolving technology sector. My advice to prospective students is simple: seize the opportunity that this institute presents. Its diverse offerings and comprehensive curriculum have equipped me with far more than just a cybersecurity degree; I’ve gained invaluable skills, including effective communication in professional settings.”    

James Nowell, Head of School at the SCIoT commented: “Everyone at the SCIoT in Bletchley is extremely proud of Deborah and everything she has achieved, both during her studies with us and since she completed her course. Deborah’s success is a fantastic example of why the SCIoT is so valuable in the Milton Keynes community. We provide our learners with the opportunities to study in state-of-the-art facilities with tutors who are industry experts and take part in real-world projects that give them the skills to excel in the digital and technology sectors. We’re excited to see what the future holds for Deborah and all of our learners who choose to take advantage of the fantastic opportunities available at the SCIoT.” 

For more information on the South Central Institute of Technology in Bletchley, visit southcentraliot.ac.uk 

SCIoT welcomes Secretary of State for Education 

On Friday 12 January, staff and students from the South Central Institute of Technology (SCIoT) welcomed the Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan MP, along with Iain Stewart, the Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes South, to the Bletchley campus. 

From digital skills and coding to game design and cyber-crime, the Secretary of State had the opportunity to meet with the students and the staff to learn more about their education, their experiences and their aspirations once completing their course. The Secretary of State also spent time with lecturers and the Senior team to understand the values and aims of the SCIoT, and the challenges faced by both colleagues and learners. 

Everyone at the SCIoT was excited to show the Secretary of State the benefits of partnering with a range of employers both local and national to offer a curriculum to students that brings education and business closer together, encourages collaboration between colleges and business, and delivers world class technical education. 

The Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan MP said: “The South Central Institute of Technology is making our next generation of code makers next door to the old site of the WW2 codebreakers. 

“It was excellent to meet the leadership team behind the SCIoT and see first-hand the range of courses being undertaken by students, not only from Milton Keynes but also from further afield. Iain has campaigned for more opportunities so the next generation in Milton Keynes have the skills they need to get ahead in their careers. As an MP he is a true champion for education, and I look forward to continuing to work with him as we continue to deliver on his local education priorities.” 

Iain Stewart MP added: “I am delighted I had the opportunity to showcase the South Central Institute of Technology to the Secretary of State for Education, it is a truly brilliant facility we have in Bletchley. 

“The SCIoT is providing students a hands-on approach to learning about technology, digital subjects and coding, and the Secretary of State really enjoyed meeting the staff, students and leadership team.” 

Sally Alexander, CEO and Group Principal for Milton Keynes College Group said: “It was a wonderful boost to receive a visit from the Secretary of State and to have the opportunity for her to see at first-hand what a fabulous facility the South Central Institute of Technology is. 

“It was great to be able to explain to her just how much the SCIoT is helping to create digital futures for so many people and to provide the much needed 21st century skills in such high demand in the Milton Keynes area.” 

To learn more about the South Central Institute of Technology and the courses on offer, you can visit https://southcentraliot.ac.uk/ 

SCIoT to host free conference to Demystify AI for Milton Keynes businesses

A free conference is being held to support business owners local to Milton Keynes with understanding AI and harnessing its potential for their business.  

The ‘Demystifying AI’ event is happening at the South Central Institute of Technology (SCIoT) in Bletchley on Thursday 7^th March between 1:30pm and 4:30pm. The conference will feature keynote speakers, panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities for attendees from various sectors and backgrounds.  

There will be sessions from speakers from Microsoft, KPMG and The Open University, which will explore the current state and future potential of AI, as well as the ethical and social implications of its development and use.  

Caroline Indge, Head of Partnerships and Innovation at Milton Keynes College Group, commented: “AI offers numerous opportunities for growth and efficiency and holds the potential to transform and streamline businesses in a positive direction, but we still see organisations facing issues embracing AI. Our ‘Demystifying AI’ event will help businesses to understand what AI tools are available to them and how they could use them to make their businesses more efficient, competitive and prepared for the technology of the future. 

“We’re delighted to have the support of MKAI for this event, as well as speakers from Microsoft, KPMG and The Open University. We’re excited to support local businesses with understanding and embracing the opportunities that AI can offer and think that the industry-leading facilities at the SCIoT will help to make this a useful event for our local business community.” 

Richard Foster-Fletcher from MKAI commented: “At MKAI, we are committed to cultivating authentic and forthright conversations about the ethical and safety implications of artificial intelligence. We believe that all voices and perspectives are essential in this collective effort to ensure that AI is developed and used ethically, safely, and beneficially for all. We’re proud to be partnering with the SCIoT on the ‘Demystifying AI’ event and are looking forward to supporting local businesses with understanding how they can harness the power of AI.” 

To book your place at this free event, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/demystifying-artificial-intelligence-conference-mk-tickets-759557365527  

Green Ideas a hit with judges at Hackathon hosted by SCIoT 

Teams of people aged 18 – 35 battled it out at the South Central Institute of Technology (SCIoT) in Bletchley to come up with the best business ideas, using AI to create practical, sustainable solutions to real world problems.  This AI Hackathon for the Common Good initiative was part of the British Council’s Stronger Together youth leadership programme. 

Participants were treated to an intense bootcamp looking at the fundamentals of AI and how it could help combat climate change and support sustainability across the world.  The teams then had to come up with their ideas and pitch them to an expert panel. 

The winners, which included SCIoT software development apprentice, Sam Bailey who works at Encore Environment, came up with an idea for how to use two different types of AI to read and digitise paper documents, and transfer the relevant information into the right places on his employer’s computer system. 

Sam said, “I very much enjoyed myself and everything went very smoothly.  It was an entertaining and interactive presentation which contained a lot of interesting information about both AI and sustainability.  All of the teams seemed to work together exceptionally well and I’m sure it was tough to judge.” 

Sam’s team’s prize is a study trip to Bristol where they’ll meet other winners from similar events from across Europe.  Head of School at the SCIoT, James Nowell, was also one of the judges and said, “The event provided an outstanding opportunity for our students to delve into the positive applications of AI and its pivotal role in advancing sustainability. The Hackathon united students from diverse educational paths — apprenticeships, higher education, and our Access to Higher Education courses — all to address real-world issues through AI solutions.” 

“Hosting this event in our newly constructed, sustainably designed building highlighted our dedication to digital learning. Observing our students present impactful solutions filled me with immense pride. It was an honour to contribute to the incredible work of the British Council.” 

Tim Moore, Cultural Engagement Business Director at the British Council said, “The Artificial Intelligence (AI) strand of our Stronger Together programme aims to develop specialised skills that will enable young leaders to design AI-based solutions to address social and climate challenges. We would like to thank the SCIoT for hosting the AI Hackathon for the Common Good.   The excellent facilities made the hackathon an enjoyable experience for participants.  Students were very committed to the tasks throughout the whole training and their responses were incredibly impressive. It is worth mentioning that during the pitch of ideas at the end of the hackathon, there was a high level of focus and great questions to the presenters were asked. A fantastic event for all involved.”   

An eventful first year as CEO – 2023 highlights

By Sally Alexander, CEO and Group Principal at Milton Keynes College Group

I can’t believe it’s gone so quickly, but I’ve just passed the first anniversary of my appointment as CEO and Group Principal of Milton Keynes College Group, and what a busy year it’s been. 

People always ask about your highlights, but it’s impossible to list them all properly.  Every time you think, “Oh, I mustn’t leave that out,” something else pops into your head vying for space.  So, while I’m going to include a select few things of which I’m most proud, it is by no means exhaustive. 

When I was interviewed by the Board for this job, I said that Growth would be a really important priority for my tenure.  And I’m really pleased to say that in this first year, student numbers are up 17%.  We’ve expanded our T Level provision and are preparing to launch A Levels in September 2024.  We’ve taken on more prison education, having been awarded the contract for ten more institutions in Kent, Surrey and Sussex and supported the opening of the brand new HMP Fosse Way.  This means we now provide education for thirty prisons across England, and have been pleased to welcome many new colleagues as a result. We’ve had the official opening of the South Central Institute of Technology, and what a fabulous event that was.   

Our College can’t possibly grow in isolation, and I’m really pleased to say that our connections to industry and business have expanded a great deal too.  Our relationships with some of the city’s biggest employers like Red Bull, Santander and Network Rail are central to that collaboration, as are myriad smaller, less well-known businesses that also enter wholeheartedly into partnership with us. 

I wanted to cement our position in the local community.  We’re here to serve our local population, so it’s absolutely crucial that we are fully embedded in what’s going on around us.  College in the Community Day, the Community Iftar, the CEO Sleepout (which we hosted, as we did the Teen Tech Festival) and the City of Codes & Light Festival, were all occasions when the Group felt able to support our communities. 

A good year for awards 

Every year you hope to win the odd award (and hand them out as we did to mark the performance of some wonderful and inspirational individuals at the Students of the Year Awards) and notable successes include Jack Maude’s Excellent Educator award at the Lions Barber Collective’s Collective Pride Awards, the Milton Keynes Inspiration Award that our Performing Arts staff and students won for their “Broken” play that students devised, wrote and performed as part of a project with Thames Valley Police on the subject of knife crime.  Then we were named College of the Year by awarding body VTCT for the Hair, Beauty and Hospitality departments.  Staff and students even helped land a Guiness World Record in support of the MK Can event for Milton Keynes Food Bank with ten kilometres of tin cans running through Campbell Park. Our Public Services students were even recognised with an award for their hard work at the event from the Food Bank at its recent annual conference. 

This first year in my role has also seen us continue our work to support our diverse communities across the College Group. From receiving the Silver Award for the Armed Forces Covenant in recognition of our commitment to supporting colleagues from the armed forces community and their families, to sponsoring and attending Milton Keynes Pride Festival, to retaining our Leaders in Diversity accreditation and taking part in the Student Ambassadors for Racial Justice initiative.  I’m proud that we’ve taken such significant steps, demonstrating our commitment to an inclusive educational environment and workplace for all colleagues and students. 

Our staff are our treasure 

A College is nothing without its staff, who deserve so much praise for the lifechanging support they give our students. 

I’m very proud, but also very humbled.  In this job I’m constantly aware of the impact I’m able to have on people’s lives here in Milton Keynes and in our wider prison communities.  It’s only once you become CEO that you understand how much of an impact your decisions can have.  The team will always look to you for direction and leadership, and the weight of responsibility is always there.  You don’t realise (or at least I didn’t) the extent to which the buck really will stop with you, and I’m really grateful to the Board for the support and advice they give. 

We’ve worked really hard at further developing our positive relationships with key stakeholders such as the council, local universities and schools, as well as employers.  Neither they nor we operate untouched by the world outside, and trying to do the right thing in the global and national context is like being a small boat on a stormy sea sometimes.  Nobody would deny these are challenging times, from the cost-of-living crisis to the wars in Ukraine and Israel/Palestine.  Feelings run high and we have to work very hard to support our students as they also navigate those choppy waters, passionate as they are about their world.  Apart from helping them try to make sense of that wider context, we also need to keep them safe within it.  Safeguarding comes in many forms, in the real and virtual worlds.  Online bullying and knife crime exist all around us, and we cannot escape their impact.  All we can hope to do is to protect and mitigate for our young people as far as is humanly possible.  The introduction of checks using safety arches to detect and deter knives has been widely welcomed by students and staff who say it makes them feel safer.  Again, sitting in this seat that wider context is thrown into even greater relief, because it’s down to you to ensure the organisation reacts to it appropriately and in good time.  It is also hugely rewarding on those occasions when you can use your position to make decisions that have a demonstrably positive impact. 

As I start my second year in the job, I promise you that I will build upon the policies I’ve described, serving the people who rely upon us for Fairer Futures for all. 

More than 60 students from Milton Keynes College and the South Central Institute of Technology have received certificates for their qualifications at MK College Group’s 2023 Graduation ceremony. 

The event was held on Wednesday 29^th November at the Stables Theatre in Milton Keynes. The graduates received their certificates for achieving their HNCs, HNDs and professional qualifications, which were presented to them by Milton Keynes College Group’s Chief Operating Officer, Jason Mansell and Principal of Curriculum Innovation and Pedagogy, Alex Warner. Joining in the celebrations were the graduates’ families and tutors, as well as the Milton Keynes Mayoress and the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire. The celebration included an afternoon tea prepared by the College’s Catering and Hospitality students, and musical performances from Performing Arts learners. 

During the ceremony, the College Group also appointed its newest Fellow, in recognition of his contribution to the local community. Jon Manning, Founder and CEO of Arthur Ellis: Mental Health Support, was recognised for his commitment to making a difference to the mental health of children and young people, including the College Group’s own learners. 

Sally Alexander, Group Principal and CEO of Milton Keynes College Group, said: “Our Graduation ceremonies are always special events, and this year was no exception. Our Graduates have shown that they can choose to do something they’ve committed to; they can overcome obstacles and they can succeed. They will carry this achievement with them into whatever they do next, and along with all of my colleagues at MK College Group, I wish them every success for the future.  

“We were also delighted to appoint our latest Fellow, Jon Manning from Arthur Ellis: Mental Health Support. Jon has been working closely with the College Group since 2020 and in collaboration with our colleagues, Arthur Ellis provides support to our most vulnerable students, enabling them to develop their resilience and to succeed within the College. Jon’s commitment and dedication to improving access to high quality mental health support is evident in everything he does, and the impact of his service is tangible. We are proud to be working with Arthur Ellis and to welcome Jon as a Fellow of Milton Keynes College Group.” 

For more information about the undergraduate courses we offer at MK College, visit https://mkcollege.ac.uk/undergraduate/. Or to find out more about courses available at the South Central Institute of Technology, visit https://southcentraliot.ac.uk/  

The South Central Institute of Technology (SCIoT) in Bletchley is hosting The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hackathon for the Common Good in collaboration with the British Council on 1st & 2nd December.  

The event is open to anyone aged 18-35 with a cracking idea for how to make our cities greener. The British Council is looking for people who are passionate about sustainability and interested in innovation and creative problem solving.  Participants will work together in interdisciplinary teams to design AI-based solutions to social and environmental challenges. 

Winning teams will win a Study Trip in Bristol where they’ll meet the other winners from across Europe.  Thirty-three people are already signed up, ready to be put into teams made up of local businesses, apprentices from MK College and tech students from the SCIoT. 

Applicants must have a background in one of the following fields: 

• Environmental or social sciences: People who support social justice and/or are advocates of environmental/human rights. 
• Design or business/entrepreneurship: People who design products and solutions that aim to improve the wellbeing of individuals and communities.  
• Computer science or STEM: People who have a background in sciences. This might be basic knowledge of what AI is and how machine learning works. 

People will be put into teams and receive expert training on how they can use AI to design solutions to problems of sustainability, so you don’t need to be an expert on AI or climate change/social justice join in.  The teams will then try to come up with creative ideas and design solutions.    

James Nowell, Head of School at the SCIoT said, “We’re here to bridge the digital skills gap, understand and respond to business needs, and create unrivalled talent in the digital space, so when the British Council asked us to host the Hackathon, we said yes immediately.  

“We’re incredibly excited to welcome the British Council and tech and digital enthusiasts to see and experience our cutting-edge and industry-leading facilities and meet our expert teaching staff, as well as honing their skills and working with others to come up with innovative solutions to the problems we face as a society.” 

Chrysa Vlachopoulou, Project Manager at Stronger Together (a programme from the British Council, the organisers of the Hackathon), commented: “The Artificial Intelligence (AI) hackathons for the Common Good is part of our Stronger Together programme and presents a fantastic opportunity for young people to learn how to design AI-based solutions to address social and climate challenges. 

“During the hackathon, young people will explore how AI can serve as a tool to mitigate climate change and generate creative ideas centred around the theme of Green Cities. Participants can pitch their idea and win a study visit to Bristol, leading sustainable city of the UK, meet with other teams from similar hackathons in Europe, exchange ideas and get inspired!” 

For more information or to apply to take part, please visit https://www.britishcouncil.be/artificial-intelligence-hackathon-milton-keynes-uk

SCIoT student shortlisted at National Cyber Awards

Milton Keynes College Group is proud to announce that Rich Lee, one of our students at the South Central Institute of Technology (SCIoT) was nominated at the National Cyber Awards as one of the finalists in the Cyber Student of the Year award.

Rich, who studies Cyber Security at the SCIoT, was nominated for his ability to extrapolate a concept and apply it in a creative way making these concepts accessible to a broader audience. Rich joined the South Central Institute of Technology later in life than most traditional students, having several careers behind him already not relating to Cyber security. 

He joined to study a Level 4 Higher National Diploma in Digital Technologies and has excelled this year with all his units, especially the one relating to Cyber Security. Under the supervision of lecturer Paul Gartside, former Head of UK Software Engineering & UK Technology Site Lead, Rich has continually impressed lecturers at the SCIoT and the employers for work with us, including CCL and Cranfield University. His creative approach to problem solving is uplifting and supportive to the other students around him which is why others seek his advice on cyber related threat problems set in the learning environment.

The prestigious awards, held on 25th September, focus on rewarding those who are committed to cyber innovation, cyber crime reduction and protecting citizens online.

Paul Gartside, Lecturer in Cyber Security and Data Analytics, and one of Rich’s tutors, said, “I’m so proud of Rich for getting shortlisted as one of the students of the year. His hard work and dedication are an inspiration to everyone around him and, even though he might not have won on the night, to me, he won simply by getting to the national finals. This is real achievement and something we should all celebrate.”