Edinburgh College students wow judges during design challenge

A group of Edinburgh College students recently wowed judges at the end of a week-long design challenge, tasking them to work alongside an Edinburgh-based design agency on a live brief for a real client.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) tasked students with creating a campaign to promote their new National Progression Award (NPA) in Creative Thinking to teachers and the parents and carers of pupils in Scottish secondary schools.

The students were split into seven different teams and paired with one of the design agencies involved in the project: Neish Design, Emperor, Amaze Realize, Whitespace, Union Direct, Campfire and Lewis. Each team spent a week coming up with a campaign that would best answer the project brief, before pitching their ideas to a panel of judges from the SQA.

Team Union Direct, made up of HND Graphic Design students Rachel Platts Smith, Gonzalo Cervilla, Balazs Hirth, Zoe Willis, Valentina Torella, and Ross McGrail were announced as the winners of this year’s competition for their ‘Creativity is possibility’ campaign that featured a number of promotional activities including a ‘box of possibilities’ that could be sent to secondary schools across the country.

The winning team has been invited to a meeting with representatives from the SQA, where they will discuss in more detail how their ideas will be used to take the promotional campaign forward.

Team Union Direct spokesperson and Edinburgh College student Rachel Platts Smith said: “We are very proud to be named the winners of this year’s competition.

“The key to our success was definitely teamwork – we all worked together right from the very start and knew how we wanted our concept to look and were all driven to make that idea work.

“We would like to thank our mentors at Union Direct who were there every step of the way and made this experience all the more enjoyable – we couldn’t have done it without them.”

Graphic Design lecturer Helena Good said: “The competition this year was outstanding, each and every one of our students should be very proud of their achievements. It’s so pleasing to see the excellent standard of work produced by our students – they are a credit to the College.

“The one-week design project gives students the opportunity to work on a live brief alongside an Edinburgh-based design agency, before presenting to a real client – providing them with an insight into what it’s like to work in this industry in the real world.”

Fiona Robertson, SQA Chief Executive said: “Creativity is a hugely important skill and that’s why the NPA in Creative Thinking is such an exciting development. I am thankful to all the students from Edinburgh College who provided an incredible range of ideas for promoting the qualification.”

Martin Boyle, Head of creative, Hospitality, and Sport at SQA, added: “It was a joy to ‘be the client’ for the HND Visual Communication students’ project. It was thrilling to see the students tackle the brief with such commitment, and creativity.

“The whole project has been a fantastic example of engaging creative education in practice, bringing together the college, students and industry to create something special.

“Of course, this isn’t just a theoretical exercise. We hope to be in a position to be able offer our NPA in Creative Thinking to schools and colleges across the country, and utilise the work of team Union Direct in our activities.

“The standard of work the students presented was genuinely exceptional. I look forward to hearing more about their progress, and I’m confident that there are some real stars in the making on the course.”

Programme rolls out health and wellbeing accessibility to Edinburgh College

Young students with additional support needs from Edinburgh College will be able to access specialist outdoor gym equipment to promote healthy living and stress relief thanks to Leonard Cheshire in Scotland’s Can Do Sport programme. Continue reading Programme rolls out health and wellbeing accessibility to Edinburgh College

Success for Edinburgh College at CDN College Awards

Two awards for Edinburgh College at CDN Awards 2019

Edinburgh College scooped two honours at the sectors major awards ceremony last night – celebrating the talent of both its students and staff.

Dean Clark, a 32-year-old HND Retail Management student (above), was named Student of the Year at the College Development Network (CDN) College Awards for the positive impact he had on others while establishing the College’s first ever student-led shop, Bizarre Bazaar.

Dean, who is from Wester Hailes, project-managed a team of his fellow retail students as well as working alongside students and staff from the College’s Built Environment and Creative Industries faculties to create the new shop in a bid to gain first-hand experience of setting up and running a new small business.

In addition, Dean recruited volunteers from a programme aimed at supporting people seeking employment, a programme Dean previously went through himself. References have since been provided for the volunteers to help them in looking for future work.

The College’s second prize of the night was awarded to the Marketing team. The collected the Marketing and Communications category for their ‘Your Future Starts Now’ exam results campaign.

The team developed an integrated campaign aimed at increasing applications, application conversion and to improve customer service following Exam Results Day. The team’s activity led to a 258% increase in applications compared to the same three-day period the previous year.

In addition, recent BMus graduate Jack McKenzie was commended in the Student of the Year category after he saved the College’s orchestra from disbanding and led it to play shows across Scotland. The team behind the creation of Engineering’s HNC Mechanical Engineering (Enhance Distance Learning) was also commended in the Digital Learning category.

Student of the Year Dean Clark said: “I’m thrilled to have won this award. When we set out to create Bizarre-Bazaar, we really just wanted to get some real-life experience of retail, however, it grew to be an amazing project which brought different areas of the College together.

“To receive this recognition for this is brilliant and makes me feel very proud.”

Principal Audrey Cumberford said: “What a great achievement for the staff and students at Edinburgh College.

“Congratulations to Dean, our retail superstar who achieved so much during his time with at the College. His legacy is more than the retail space he worked hard to create, but also the impact he had on classmates and lecturers. Well done, Dean.

“Our Marketing team are also thoroughly deserving of their award. The team worked tirelessly on a terrific campaign to ensure school leavers and others receiving exam results could make the best possible decisions to help them pursue their chosen careers.

“Well done also to Jack McKenzie and our Engineering curriculum team who received commendations on the night.

“Everyone at Edinburgh College is very proud of you all, congratulations.”

Edinburgh College students show ‘X’ marks the spot

Edinburgh College students have joined the city council to encourage those studying in colleges and universities to make sure they’re registered to vote in the forthcoming UK Parliamentary General Election.

Students discuss registering to vote

With just three weeks until the country goes to the polls, Edinburgh College students have shared why they think it’s important for people of all ages and backgrounds to have their say.

According to the Electoral Commission, one in three young people risk missing out on their opportunity to vote – national research shows that only 66% of 18 to 19-year olds are registered correctly compared to 94% of over-65s.

Anyone wanting to vote in the General Election on 12 December must make sure they’re registered to vote by Tuesday, 26 November and can do so online by visiting www.gov.uk/registertovote.

People who think they may be registered but want to check should contact the Electoral Registration Office on 0131 344 2500. Those who can’t get to their local polling place on the day can also register for a postal or proxy vote.

Andrew Kerr, Returning Officer for Edinburgh, said: “With less than a week until voter registration closes it’s essential that anyone wishing to vote makes sure they are registered at the correct address so they can take part.

“We want everyone, whatever their age or background, to be able to participate in the democratic process. It’s great to see young people studying here in Edinburgh championing voter registration and I hope they inspire others to visit www.gov.uk/registertovote or to check with the Electoral Registration Officer to make sure their details are up to date.”

Edinburgh College Students’ Association president Carla Ford said: “It’s very important that as students we all register to vote. It’s our opportunity to have our say and vote for who we would like to run the country in the future. I would urge all eligible students, not just those at Edinburgh College, to make sure they get registered and play their part in shaping our country.”

Edinburgh College Principal Audrey Cumberford said: “I would encourage all of our students who are eligible to vote to make sure they are registered by next week’s deadline. It is vital that as members of the public we all play our part in the democratic process.”

Students who study away from home can register at both their term time and home address so they can choose which constituency they want to vote in, as long as they only vote once.

To vote in the UK Parliamentary Elections on 12 December, voters must be aged 18 or over and either a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen.

Voter registration closes at midnight on Tuesday 26 November.

Anyone already registered for the European Election on 23 May does not need to re-register. However, anyone who has changed address since then needs to re-register to be able to vote in the UK Parliamentary Elections on 12 December. Poll Cards are due to be issued to all registered electors from 22 November.

Applications for postal votes must be submitted by 5pm on Tuesday, 26 November and applications to vote by proxy must be submitted by 5pm on Wednesday 4 December.

Find out more about where, when and how to vote.

Edinburgh College students

Kevin Jenkins, 20 years old: “I think it’s incredibly important to vote in all elections because if you don’t then your say’s not heard. I think it’s also important that we encourage all of our friends and family to realise that they have to vote.”

Lauren Scott, 19 years old: “There are so many posts online that are encouraging it [registering to vote], you just need to follow the links and the instructions. It’s all simple questions so it’s not difficult to do, it’s straightforward and there’s no reason not to. If you don’t vote then you can’t complain about what’s happening – it’s the number one way to get your voice heard.”

Rachel Nicholson, 20 years old: “I think it’s really important to vote because there are so many changes being made or changes that need to be made right now. If we start to vote and make our voice heard then the topics that we think are important will get discussed more.”

Edinburgh College supports development of English language teaching in Turkey

Last month Edinburgh College, working in partnership with the British Council in Turkey, hosted 22 English language teachers for a two-week mentor training course aimed at developing the teaching practice of participants and preparing them to take on leading roles in the development of English language teaching in Turkey upon their return to the country.  Continue reading Edinburgh College supports development of English language teaching in Turkey

Super Chefs! Shannon and Sophie do Scotland proud

Two Edinburgh College Professional Cookery and Hospitality students can now say they’re among the world’s best student chefs after an amazing performance at a global culinary competition. Continue reading Super Chefs! Shannon and Sophie do Scotland proud

College students to cook up a storm in global culinary challenge

Two Edinburgh College Professional Cookery and Hospitality students are set for a trip of a lifetime as they prepare to represent Europe at a global culinary competition. Continue reading College students to cook up a storm in global culinary challenge

Edinburgh College course clearing event on Thursday

Edinburgh College is hosting a Course Clearing Event this week to provide support and guidance to young people following SQA exam results day.

The event is aimed at helping anyone who has received their results to work out what they want to do next and discover the right college course for them. Continue reading Edinburgh College course clearing event on Thursday