College Big Band to perform at Festival Theatre

Edinburgh College Big Band to showcase student talent

The Edinburgh College Big Band will demonstrate the talents of music performance students in a showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre next month.

The Edinburgh College Big Band showcases the next generation of musical talent at the college, and will present a new programme of big band favourites on 4 February, from Sammy Nestico to Bob Mintzer.

The Edinburgh College Big Band comprises some of the best music students currently studying at Edinburgh College. It is only open to students studying music performance as the level and demands on band members are exceptionally high. The band is led by two of the college’s music lecturers, saxophonist Allan Glen and guitarist Robin Robertson.

Allan Glen said: “It’s a real privilege to work with each and every one of the students in the big band. The music is difficult and the rehearsal schedule demanding but every member always rises to the challenge and, most importantly, they enjoy it.

“Performance is at the heart of a student’s musical education and having the opportunity to present a new programme of music at a venue such as The Studio is a great thrill not only for the members of the band but also for myself and Robin.”

The band has performed in numerous venues in Edinburgh and Glasgow, including the prestigious Queen’s Hall.

The showcase will take place on 4 February at 7.30pm in The Studio at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre. Tickets are £15 for adults, £12 for concessions.

Tickets are available from the theatre box office on 0131 529 6000 and at www.edtheatres.com/bigbandshowcase

Agreement to fast-track Holyrood votes for 16 & 17 year olds

Votes for 16 & 17 year olds: ‘I believe the case has become undeniable’ – Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael

The legislative power to allow 16 and 17 year olds to vote in future Scottish Parliament elections should be transferred from the UK Parliament to Holyrood in March, Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael announced yesterday.

Mr Carmichael made the announcement during a visit to Edinburgh College, where he met 16 and 17 year old students and discussed the importance of having the right to vote.

The timetable for the Section 30 Order – which will devolve the power from the UK Parliament to Holyrood in March – has been agreed by both the UK and Scottish Government. It will be brought before both Houses of the UK Parliament and the Scottish Parliament today and then put forward for Privy Council approval in March.

This is the first stage in implementing the Smith Commission’s cross party agreement on devolution which will bring more powers and more financial responsibility to the Scottish Parliament.

Delivery of the Section 30 Order was brought forward as an exception from the rest of the Smith package so the power could be devolved in time for 16 and 17 year olds to vote in the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections – although they will not have a vote in May’s general election.

The Scottish Secretary also confirmed that the UK Government would publish draft legislation on the Smith Agreement later this week – ahead of the Burns Day deadline announced prior to the independence referendum.

During his college visit Mr Carmichael met with a group of BTEC first-year Art & Design students, who had already been discussing the issue as part of their communications class, as well as other 16-17 year students, to learn their views about lowering the voting age. He also met with representatives from Edinburgh College Students’ Association, as well as college Board vice chair Ian Young and deputy principal Craig Wilson.

Mr Carmichael said: “I’m delighted to confirm a timetable has been agreed for 16 and 17 year olds to vote in future Scottish Parliament elections. I’ve always been a firm believer in votes at 16, with the sheer number of young people participating and voting in last year’s referendum I believe the case has become undeniable.

“Today marks the next phase in our commitment to people in Scotland and the start of an landmark week for the future of our country. Later this week we will publish draft legislation ahead of Burns Night meeting our promise to bring new powers built to last for the Scottish Parliament.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that agreement has been reached with the UK Government on the terms of the transfer of powers to allow the Scottish Parliament to give 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in Scottish Parliament elections.

Once the Order has been passed, the Scottish Government will bring forward legislation to the Scottish Parliament which, subject to parliamentary agreement, will allow registration officers to complete their work to ensure 16 and 17 year olds are able to vote in the May 2016 Scottish election.

The deal comes after the First Minister met with Prime Minister David Cameron in London last month, where she stressed the need for swift action to transfer the powers. The First Minister and Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael have now confirmed that the necessary powers will be transferred by March.

Welcoming the move, the First Minister said yesterday: “It has long been this Government’s policy to reduce the voting age to 16. The Scottish Government’s decision to extend the vote to 16 and 17 year olds in the referendum legislation is widely seen as an outstanding success and contributed to the unprecedented level of democratic engagement we witnessed.

“I am delighted that there is now cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament for extending the franchise to include 16 and 17 year olds for Scottish Parliament and local government elections. I stressed the need for rapid action on this front when I met David Cameron in London before Christmas – and I am delighted we now have a deal. We now intend to bring forward legislation to the Scottish Parliament as soon as possible after the Order is in force to lower the voting age to 16 for these elections. This will allow 16 and 17 year olds to vote in the 2016 elections to the Scottish Parliament.

“This deal, which is being delivered to a tight timetable, shows just what is possible when there is political will on both sides – and underlines the need for swift action on other elements of the Smith Commission proposals.”

Last week a Scottish Parliament committee survey reported that an overwhelming majority of 16 and 17-year-olds who were eligible to vote in last year’s historic referendum did so, with four out of five saying they want a vote in all future elections.

More than 1200 of the eligible first-time voters responded to the online survey run by the Devolution (Further Powers) Committee with more than one in three saying they had campaigned for either side and two in five saying they had attended a campaign event.

Welcoming the findings, Devolution (Further Powers) Committee Convener Bruce Crawford MSP said: “We saw an unprecedented level of interest and democratic engagement around the referendum and the results of this survey provide further evidence of the energy and enthusiasm generated.

“It is quite clear that 16 and 17 year olds welcomed the opportunity to have their say on their country’s constitutional future and now want a say in the elections that shape their lives and communities – it is now for politicians to respond positively to that democratic momentum.”

Survey findings include:

Over 84 per cent of respondees agreed with the decision to give 16 and 17 year olds the vote in the Referendum
Three-quarters of respondees felt “well informed” or “quite well informed” about the major issues;
Nearly 36 per cent of respondees campaigned for either side while one in four joined a political party;
Four-fifths believe they should be able to vote in other elections;
Nearly two-thirds accessed online or social media material from the official campaigns while broadcast media was the most popular source for information.

Mr Crawford said: “I am delighted that the UK Government has agreed to transfer responsibility for running elections in Scotland to the Scottish Parliament, paving the way for votes in future Scottish, UK and local elections.

“We will use the findings of this survey to ensure that future generations of voters are as well-equipped as possible to make decisions on the issues that affect them.”

College Information Days next week

Edinburgh College is holding course information days this month for potential students to find out more about courses starting in August and get on track for successful futures.

Anyone interested in finding out more about studying at the college to get on the career ladder, continue with studies or learn new skills is invited to come and talk to staff from across the curriculum.

The information days are on Tuesday 27 January from 2pm -6.30pm at Sighthill Campus and on Wednesday 29 January from 2 – 6.30pm at Milton Road Campus.

Each event will have information about all curriculum areas.

Ads the way to do it!

Radio students make real adverts for Edinburgh College

Edinburgh College students have made their debut on the airwaves and used skills learned in the classroom for a real-life radio campaign to promote the college’s courses.

First-year radio production students devised, wrote and produced radio adverts to advertise college courses starting this August and information days taking place this month. Working with acting students, they recorded them at the college’s recording studio and will now hear their voices transmitted on Edinburgh radio stations. The adverts are live now on Forth One and Capital FM.

The college’s Marketing team set the radio students a brief to develop adverts to promote August courses as part of the college’s wider advertising campaign, which is currently underway. Working with their lecturers, the group of HNC Creative Industries: Radio students took the brief and created two adverts to promote the courses and Course Information Days, based on the campaign theme ‘Make it happen with Edinburgh College’. The students pitched their ideas to the Marketing team, took feedback and developed them to meet the college’s needs.

The students work on similar projects as part of their course, but this is the first time their work is being used on air.

Radio lecturer Conor Wright said: “Giving students real practical experience like this is what further education is really good at. It’s not just about theory work but about giving them real-world skills and an understanding of what’s expected of them in a workplace.

“They had to work to a proper brief from a real client and deliver to a professional standard so there was pressure to make sure the work was good. They were getting real feedback and had to push themselves, but they did a great job and the end result is excellent. This has really benefited the acting students too, as well as the radio students.”

Radio Production student Iona Fotheringham, 17, from Dunfermline, who was one of the writers, producers and actors, said: “Doing the adverts was great experience and it was a good chance to turn what we’ve learned in college into practice for a real project. The thought of our work going out is kind of scary but I’m excited to hear it on the radio.”

Forth 1 DJ Mark Martin, who does the weekday Home Run slot from 3-7pm and studied radio at Edinburgh College, said: “We’re playing the students’ adverts now and they’re great. They’ve done a fantastic job. Getting this kind of experience while they’re studying is really important and means they’re better prepared for when they leave college and start work. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the college and everything I learned there, and I’m delighted to see the students continue to get such excellent training.”

Hear the adverts here:

Radio Advert 1

Radio Advert 2

And watch a video made by the college about the recording here: http://vimeo.com/114778791

The college is offering hundreds of courses beginning in August at levels to suit all needs – from HNC and HND level and associate degree programmes that lead on to university study, to Access courses and programmes designed to get people back into education, community-based courses and industry-approved qualifications.

Applications for courses starting in August will open on 2 February. The deadline is 15 May.

Anyone interested in a course is invited to Course Information Days on 27 January from 2-6.30pm at Sighthill Campus and on Wednesday 29 January from 2-6.30pm at Milton Road Campus. Each event will have information about all curriculum areas.

More information about the college curriculum and courses is available at www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk

Edinburgh College stages epic event!

Every Person Counts: learning lessons on inclusion from Cambodia

A fully inclusive dance company from Cambodia featuring performers with various disabilities visited Edinburgh College last month to deliver a workshop and perform to the college’s dance students.

Epic Encounters is a group of talented dance and theatre performers from Cambodia, consisting of hearing-impaired, disabled and non-disabled performers. It is first and only fully inclusive dance company in South East Asia.

The company came to the college’s Performing Arts Studio Scotland(PASS) to perform examples of its work that it uses to raise awareness of issues in Cambodia such as road safety, sexual health and child protection to PASS students and staff.

The performers also led an inclusive movement workshop based on their performances and the company motto of Epic Arts – Every Person Counts.

They performed a thought-provoking piece called Come Back Brighter, about the effect of the Khmer Rouge Regime on the artists of Cambodia and the current explosion of creativity sweeping the country. The performance also included a mini sign language lesson and life story from one of the performers.

The Epic Encounters team tours nationally and internationally, creating and performing educational theatre and dance performances. It mixes traditional Khmer dance and contemporary physical theatre techniques to inspire, raise awareness and educate.

Epic Encounters is a social enterprise from Epic Arts Kampot. Epic Arts is an international NGO that works to raise the aspirations of disabled and non-disabled Cambodians through arts-based education, community and social businesses such as the dance company, which is a valuable source of sustainable income for the charity Epic Encounters visited the college as the final stop on a UK tour of performances, workshops and talks.Ethelinda Lashley, a dance lecturer at PASS, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn from dancers from a very different background and to understand and appreciate the importance of diversity and inclusivity in dance. Our students are encouraged to appreciate dance within a social and cultural context and explore this through their work.”

Susan Inglis, equalities, policy and research manager for the college, said: “The performance by Epic Arts from Cambodia was most impressive and inspirational.

“The dance team should be congratulated for bringing this highly skilled and energetic inclusive dance group to the college. They demonstrated vividly their commitment to a world where every person counts, and where people with disabilities are valued, accepted and respected.”

Students’ photshoots help families smile

Two Edinburgh College photography students have teamed up with Leith-based charity CCLASP (Children with Cancer and Leukaemia, Advice and Support for Parents) to give children affected by cancer a reason to smile by offering free family photoshoots to provide lasting memories.

The chance to carry out the shoots started after student Derek got chatting to his neighbour and founder of CCLASP, Valerie Simpson. As a way of helping the charity as well as furthering his photography skills, Derek offered to take pictures for the families that the charity supported. He then started carrying out photo sessions with his friend and fellow photography student, David Anderson.

One woman who is forever grateful to Derek and David is Claire Tasker from Kirkcaldy in Fife. After her little girl Jessica was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), Claire says that CCLASP was a ‘godsend’.

While Jessica, now 6, has been in remission for the last two years Claire’s mum Kay was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer last February. With the family knowing that her mum didn’t have long after her diagnosis, Claire called on Derek and David to bring the family together for a shoot they would always remember.

Claire says that David and Derek were extremely good at making everyone feel relaxed and the pictures now decorate her house and have been given out as gifts to provide lasting memories of her mum, who sadly passed away in April at the age of 53.

Claire said: “It’s the last photos that we got of us all as a family. I was pregnant at the time so to be able to share that as a family just meant the world. It’s amazing to be able to look back and have those photos with my mum and with my daughter.”

While studies for their BA in Photography continue, David and Derek remain committed to working with CCLASP, photographing events and days out put on by the charity for children who are undergoing treatment or whose condition may be terminal. For the photographers, the family photo-shoots were a moving experience.

“It was a great opportunity to meet all the families, who are fantastically strong considering what they’re going through,” said David, 40, from East Lothian.
Derek, 35, from Leith, said: “We’ve met families from different areas, different walks of life. Their experience is very inspiring.”

CCLASP was set up by Valerie and Bill Simpson after their son Robert was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of six. They started up the Edinburgh based children’s charity in 1994 to help support children and groups of families, to express and share the feelings, anxieties and the horror of having a child with a life threatening illness.

Students design CD cover for local band

ICONIC: Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon — ICONIC: Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon

Talented Edinburgh College Art and Design students have teamed up with city band The Valkarys to design CD covers, with the winning entry to be announced tomorrow.

The students, who are currently studying for their National Diploma Art and Design, were given three weeks to design eye-catching CD cover designs to represent The Valkarys’ music. More than 60 students were involved, each working on an individual design.

The doors open at 7:30pm tomorrow night at La Belle Angèle, 11 Hastie’s Close, off Guthrie Street, Edinburgh. The Valkarys will be performing followed by the announcement of the winning design.

Order, order: Students serve up gourmet feast at Holyrood MSPs

School students at a pioneering academy project took over the running of the Scottish Parliament’s Members’ Restaurant for a night, giving MSPs the chance to feed the country’s top politicians. Thirteen students from the Hospitality and Tourism Academy ran the kitchen and front of house at the restaurant, offering a three-course meal to paying MSPs and their guests.

The academy students, who are all S5 and S6 pupils at schools in Edinburgh and Midlothian, ran the restaurant themselves as if it was a regular night of service, under the supervision of lecturers. MSPs booked in for dinner and paid as they would normally, expecting the same quality of food and service.

The MSPs dined on pan-fried pigeon breast with parsnip puree and nasturtium salad; pork fillet in pinwheel oat crust with champ mashed potatoes and haricot verts; and white chocolate cheesecake with passion fruit jelly and passion fruit curd.

The students were invited to cook at the Parliament as part of a project to give college hospitality students experience of working in such prestigious surroundings. These students, however, were not as old or as experienced as most college students.

The students are all studying at the Hospitality and Tourism Academy, a partnership between Edinburgh College, Queen Margaret University, local authorities and schools in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The academy is part of the South East Scotland Academies Partnership, which began with the Hospitality and Tourism Academy in 2012 and expanded last year to introduce three new academies, the Creative Industries Academy, the Health and Social Care Academy and the Food Science and Nutrition Academy.

The academies give students the chance to study in these key growth industries while still at school, giving them theory and practical experience so they can make informed choices about their future. Students get insight into these industries over the two-year academy programmes, and improve their employability by developing specialist skills and knowledge that closely match the needs of employers. The academies now have 400 students from Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders, and the project has won praise from politicians, businesses and Education Scotland.

Sixteen-year-old Dalkeith High School student Dawn McDermott (above), who was working in the front-of-house team, said: “It was a really good night. The front-of-house staff and the kitchen worked well together so it was a brilliant team effort and everyone enjoyed it. The MSPs were lovely and were chatting to us all about what we were doing and what we want to do after school.

“It was such a good opportunity to experience something totally different from what we’re used to and we learned a lot. I want to become an air hostess so getting more customer service experience is really important, and hopefully this will look good on my C.V.”

Margaret Mitchell MSP, who said her pigeon starter was ‘cooked to absolute perfection’ and that the presentation was the equal of a professional kitchen, said: “The whole scheme seems like a fantastic opportunity for young people to get experience in industry, serving in a restaurant and cooking food. The academy has done a fantastic job in providing that experience because it can lead these students in so many different ways.

“They’re learning practical skills and can go on into the hospitality industry, which is big business in Scotland. This is a first-class initiative and I hope that the students, who are already performing so well, find huge benefits and that it will help determine their future careers.”

Also dining was Linda Fabiani MSP, who said: “A project like this is really important and it’s great experience for the young people. What’s really good about it is that students at college learn their skills but it’s important they also have practice in a real environment, so coming somewhere like the parliament restaurant and taking over the entire operation is great for them. MSPs enjoy a good meal and service like any other restaurant customers, so this was a treat for us.”

Ray McCowan, vice principal education leadership at Edinburgh College, said: “This was a tremendous opportunity for the students and they did such a superb job I’m sure many of the MSPs didn’t notice a difference from a regular night. Most catering students don’t get the chance to cook for and serve such esteemed customers, so it was a real privilege for them to be able to show off what they’ve learned at the academy.

“The academies give students real-world skills and knowledge, and it’s important they get to experience as many workplace environments as possible to build up their understanding of professional expectations. Serving MSPs in Parliament put them under pressure but they coped admirably and did a great job, which gives them incredible experience for whatever they go onto, preparing them to be excellent students or employees. They should all be really proud of themselves.”

Professor Alan Gilloran, deputy principal at Queen Margaret University, added: “It’s been a fantastic year for our Hospitality and Tourism Academy students. Showcasing their talents to MSPs and their guests at the Scottish Parliament has been a great way for them to end 2014 on a high.

“The students really rose to the challenge on the night and thrived under pressure. Unique practical experiences like this are hugely valuable to the Academy students’ development. They can be confident that their experiences will help them stand out from the crowd in this key growth industry by having the specialist skills and knowledge employers are looking for.”

Edinburgh College student is apprentice of the year

Edinburgh College student named oil and gas apprentice of the year

An apprentice from Edinburgh College is celebrating after been named apprentice of the year by OPITO, the oil and gas industry’s skills organisation. Michael Williamson, 23, beat off competition from students at three other colleges to win the 2014 Apprentice of the Year Award, which honours the top apprentice on OPITO’s UK Upstream Oil & Gas Technician Training Scheme.

Michael is the sixth Edinburgh College student in a row to win the coveted annual award.

Originally from Whalsay on Shetland, Michael is currently an instrument technician apprentice at Edinburgh College. He was selected after demonstrating an outstanding ability and attitude during the four-year national apprenticeship scheme, which has so far seen more than 1,500 young people enter the industry, creating a sustainable pipeline of technicians coming in at a grassroots level.

Split into two phases, the apprenticeship sees students take part in a 21-month full-time course at college, before embarking on a two year worksite placement.

The former mussel farmer, who previously completed an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering with Shetland Island Council Ferries, received his award at a prestigious lunch in Aberdeen to mark the 15th anniversary of the Technician Training Scheme. The milestone event celebrated the roles of leaders and apprentices across the UK oil and gas industry in addressing skills issues.

Michael said “I was quite taken aback by winning the award. I didn’t even expect to be nominated, let alone win, so I was over the moon. I chose to retrain as an instruments technician mainly as a stepping stone into the oil and gas industry, and also because two apprenticeships are better than one!”

“My studies are progressing well, the theory side is a bit challenging but manageable as long as I keep my head down and get through it. I hope to continue to gain experience and knowledge of the industry and progress towards starting my own limited company and be self-employed further down the line.”

Mike Jeffrey, Head of Engineering at the college, said: “We are thrilled that Michael has been recognised with the OPITO Apprentice of the Year award. Edinburgh College is one of three training centres for OPITO in the UK and the consistent quality of our apprentices has now been recognised with this award six times. The college has successfully trained hundreds of apprentices for the oil and gas industry.”

Operators and major contractors have invested more than £120million in the Technician Training Scheme since it was established in 1999 with 13 trainees and four industry sponsors. Since then, the programme has grown to see around 130 new apprentices taken on every year across 15 sponsoring companies, making it one of the biggest industry-led MA programmes in the UK.

The Technician Training Scheme is managed by OPITO in partnership with the Engineering and Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB). The awards were held as part of National Oil & Gas Skills Week, a UK-wide initiative that saw more than 75 companies take part in around 50 events in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, North Shields, Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, London.

John McDonald, managing director of OPITO UK, said: “Skills Week has demonstrated that there are some outstanding companies and individuals working in our sector who are delivering tangible benefits around the skills agenda at both a company-wide, local and national level.

“The high standard of entry we received for the inaugural awards was matched only by the passion and enthusiasm shown by this year’s apprentices for the industry they have chosen as a career.”

Leith exhibition will be big draw

Exhibition celebrates Edinburgh College illustration graduates’ work

An exhibition celebrating the talented illustrators nurtured by Edinburgh College will go on display in Leith tomorrow. This is the first exhibition of the work of former illustration students who have graduated and are now working in the industry.

The exhibition, titled ‘Alumni’, will be on display at the Creative Exchange from 21 November to 4 December.

The exhibitors completed the college’s HND Visual Communication: Illustration course between 2009 and 2014, and the exhibition is intended as a celebration of their success in starting their careers as illustrators. The exhibition features a range of art using different mediums including pen and ink, digital art, spray-paint and lino-cut prints.