Edinburgh at the double at CDN Awards

Edinburgh College honoured at further education sector awards

Edinburgh College scooped two awards at the College Development Network (CDN) Annual Awards last week.

Former Edinburgh College Students’ Association vice president for women Zoe Croy won the Highly Commended award in the Student Contribution category. And the college’s Sustainability team was Commended in the Sustainability category.

Zoe was honoured for her achievements in her year and a half as VP for women, and her contributions addressed issues affecting many students. She fought for equality and empowerment in the further education system but also juggled responsibilities as a young carer with work and study.

Zoe (above) was the only full-time student women’s officer in Scotland, and the only full-time women’s officer from a college in the whole of the UK. She has been key to the college’s efforts to make science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses more attractive to female students. She also won the NUS Inspirational Woman of the Year Award earlier this year.

The college’s Sustainability team was recognised for its project to embed good sustainability practice through its Carbon Management Plan. The judges admired the consistency and student engagement in the project, which highlighted work across the college and the surrounding communities, while establishing a sustainable legacy. The team’s work includes supporting the college’s electric vehicle fleet, promoting cycling, developing a new waste and recycling strategy, and spearheading the college’s community garden project.

Martin Webb (above), the college sustainability officer, said: “We’ve been working hard to reduce our carbon emissions in our efforts to tackle climate change and help save the college money, so this recognition is fantastic. We are committed to embedding sustainable practice at the heart of Edinburgh College’s work.”

Each year the CDN Annual Awards celebrate the outstanding projects and initiatives taking place in colleges the length and breadth of Scotland. Around 200 guests from the college sector, industry and Scotland’s key educational agencies gathered at the awards last night to recognise the talent, skills and achievements of colleges, their staff and students.