Yes, it’s that time again – this happy bunch was collecting for Children in Need at Telford College Edinburgh College Granton Campus earlier today!
Tag: Edinburgh College
College Open Day next Thursday
Come along to our Open Day on Thursday 22 November
between 3pm and 7pm.
At Edinburgh College, we have a range of course starting in January 2013, which will help get you ready for employment or further study in August 2013.
From hospitality to healthcare and construction to creative industries, we’ve got a range of opportunities to help you move on to further study or get the job you want to do.
And if you’re 16 – 24 we’ve got a range of hands-on programmes just for you.
Our Open Day is taking place at our four campuses across Edinburgh and the Lothians. You can talk to staff about the different courses and get expert advice on funding and student support from our Student Support Services team.
Edinburgh College
Not sosobad – fans out in force for Fairtrade Football
Staff, students, friends and family came out in force to support a first of its kind Fairtrade Football tournament at the new EdinburghCollege on 11 October.
Twelve five-a-side teams made up of staff and students came together to raise awareness of the fair-trade movement – and raised over £300 which will go towards environmental projects happening both in and around the college.
The money raised at this tournment will contribute to prizes for the Green Dragons Den project, which will be held next year and will encourage students to come up with green innovations and then present them in front of real live ‘dragons’.
Sean McDonagh, Learner Development Tutor at Edinburgh College. organised the event. He said: “The support from the staff and students for this event was simply fantastic and it really helped create a real awareness of what the fair trade movement is all about – equality and working together.
“There was a real feeling of camaraderie, experienced by all teams throughout the duration of the day and I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part and donated.”
The Scottish Fairtrade Forum donated Fairtrade footballs to the college and Street Soccer also helped out by providing referees on the day. The event is part of Edinburgh Colleges’ overall aim to achieve Fairtrade status.
The winning team on the day was Real Sosobad, who scored 14 goals and took home the Edinburgh College Cup trophy.
Martin Rhodes, Director of the Scottish Fairtrade said: “A lot of the equipment that’s produced for sport is made in sweat shops, usually by children in very poor, in fact, brutal conditions. One of the things that we want to develop is more links between sporting events and the fairtrade movement.”
EdinburghCollege has a clear commitment to supporting and encouraging environmental and sustainable practices and offers and encourages the use of fair-trade products across all of its four campuses.
Wella, wella – Amy aims for the hairdressing heights!
An Edinburgh College student has shown her skills to be razor sharp after making it to the final of an industry recognised award run by the Hairdressing Council. Amy Armstrong, 27, has been shortlisted for the Student of the Year 2012 competition after wowing the judges with her peacock-inspired hairstyle for the competition.
Jackie Steele, Hairdressing Lecturer at Edinburgh College, said: “Amy has done an amazing job in making it this far in a competition which sees hundreds of students competing. She’s a fantastic student-completely dedicated to the course with a real talent and creative eye which she proved with her colourful and original styling for the competition.
“This is the second year running that one of our students has been in the finals which is a real merit to the college and shows the level of talent we have here. It’s so rewarding seeing our students standing out, impressing the judges and being recognised at such a high level. We’re really proud of Amy and wish her the best of luck in the finals.”
Amy will now go head-to-head against seven other students across the UK on October 14 at the Goldwell studios in London, where she will be judged by industry icons Lisa Shepherd, Patrick Cameron and Andrew Barton. The two overall winners will have the opportunity to work with ‘stylist to the stars’ Andrew Barton for a day, and will receive vouchers for a course with L’Oréal and Wella. They will also get an iPad2, as well as be invited for tea at the House of Commons!
Amy said: “When I first found out my lecturers had nominated me for the award I was delighted but when I found out I’d actually been shortlisted, I was completely shocked but over the moon. It’s such a massive opportunity to have my work judged by top industry professionals and I’m really excited about the finals next month. To be in with a chance of winning a day with Andrew Barton, who is a hugely respected name in the industry, is something I didn’t think I’d be saying this year but aside from winning, the whole experience has reinforced why I love the industry so much. I can’t thank my lecturers and the college enough for the support they’ve given me and the opportunity to be part of such a highly respected competition.”
Highly regarded throughout the industry, the Hairdressing Council Student of the Year Award 2012 is supported by colleges and training centres nationwide and sees hundreds of students competing for the title of Student of the Year.
Edinburgh College was formed as a result of merger between Edinburgh’s Telford College, Jewel & Esk College and Stevenson College Edinburgh. It’s the biggest FE college in Scotland and accommodates more than 35,000 students – the biggest student body in Edinburgh.
Goodbye, Telford – hello, Edinburgh!
Telford no more, but new College is a class apart!
The vision to create a bigger, better and stronger college that will serve Edinburgh and the Lothians long into the future became a reality today with the launch of Edinburgh College. The new College is set on a clear path to provide improved opportunities and outcomes to everyone who walks through its door – and in turn help to kick-start the regional and national economy by delivering skilled people to those industry sectors where Scotland enjoys a competitive advantage.
New Principal Mandy Exley said the potential of Edinburgh College, both for students and for Edinburgh and Lothians, is limitless. She said: “This is a significant landmark in the history of education provision in Edinburgh and the Lothians. By being bigger and better, we can combine strengths and resources to give our students high quality skills that will allow them seize life-changing opportunities. Equally we will work hand in hand with businesses to ensure we are not just providing a curriculum of varied courses – but are actually focused on training future staff to work in those key industry sectors where there is high demand or in those sectors which have been identified as growth areas for Scotland. We want to be an economic powerhouse for the Edinburgh and Lothian region – helping to drive growth and prosperity to benefit both the local and national economy.”
The creation of Edinburgh College also marks the end of an era for three of Edinburgh’s most recognisable educational institutions – the College being a product of the merger of Edinburgh’s Telford College, Jewel & Esk College and Stevenson College.
Edinburgh College, which as a £60m business makes it the biggest FE college in Scotland, will accommodate more than 35,000 students – the biggest student body in Edinburgh. The College will employ around 1300 staff operate from four main campuses; Granton, Sighthill, Milton Road and Midlothian.
Mandy added: “In many respects today’s launch is just a start of a journey. We know there is a lot of hard work ahead to deliver our vision for the college. However, the depth and breadth of our staff talent and resources is enormous. By working together and ensuring staff and students play a key role in the decision-making, we can make Edinburgh College a real success story; a college that is inclusive, innovative and excellent. We know that this is a sad day for some as three institutions from Edinburgh’s educational landscape disappear. However, as Edinburgh College starts to deliver on its aims, I am confident it will become a name that will have real resonance across Scotland, the UK and internationally.”
The college in particular will look to focus on developing and promoting ‘centres of excellence’ in key learning fields; including engineering and construction (particularly renewables), hospitality and tourism services, creative industries, service industries, care professions and performing arts.
Ian McKay, Chair (Elect) of Edinburgh College, said the new Board will be looking to set the management team some tough targets both in the first year, and more crucially, in 2013-14, which will see the new college’s first full curriculum being rolled out.
He said: “Edinburgh College will be challenged to support economic growth by delivering the right people for real jobs through a high quality and evolving curriculum. It has an enormous role to play in offering hope and opportunity to our young people and providing the skills needed to benefit the regional and national economy. To achieve that, we will be looking to agree a series of objectives matched against positive outcomes that the college team can be measured against to ultimately demonstrate that Edinburgh College can deliver on its promises.”
Education Secretary Michael Russell said: “As one of Scotland’s largest colleges, Edinburgh College will have a key role to play across the country and particularly in Edinburgh and the Lothians. I believe it will offer new and greater opportunities for students and help make sure they have the skills and knowledge they need for jobs in the area. I know a lot of work has been required to deliver the new college and I am confident the college, staff and students will reap the rewards of this.”
Named after one of Scotland’s finest civil engineers, Telford College opened on Crewe Road South in 1968. The former Ainslie Park Secondary School was added as an annexe as the College population grew and space became an issue, and the College moved to it’s present – and final – custom-built home on Granton’s waterfront in September 2006.
New Edinburgh College announces first Principal
The new Edinburgh College has announced the name of its first Principal. MANDY EXLEY, who is currently Principal and Chief Executive at Jewel & Esk College, will take over the position when Edinburgh College launches on October 1. Her appointment provides the final key link in the process that will see Edinburgh’s Telford, Stevenson and Jewel and Esk Collges combine to allow the creation of a bigger, stronger and better college serving Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Ian McKay, Chair (Elect) of Edinburgh College, said: “We are delighted to have someone of the calibre and pedigree of Mandy Exley lead Edinburgh College at the start of this exciting journey. We have given a commitment that Edinburgh College will change the face of further education in Edinburgh and Lothians and with Mandy’s previous experience at the helm of Jewel & Esk College, and the vision she has for the new College, we are ideally placed to fulfil our ambition.”
The rigorous selection process to find a Principal for what will be one of the biggest and most influential colleges in Scotland has been conducted over a number of months. In a new development, the process also included the involvement of the leadership of the student body in the college – the President and three vice Presidents of the Edinburgh College Students’ Association. This was seen as an important part of working with and for students in the new College.
John Martin, President of Edinburgh College Students’ Association, said: “The Students’ Association were pleased to be invited to be a part of the interview process, and particularly the value that has been placed on our opinion. Students should be at the centre of every decision making process as colleges across Scotland go through unprecedented changes and tribulations in the coming years and I hope that this sets a precedent for all future appointments of major office holders within Colleges, including membership of Boards of Governors. I congratulate Mandy on her success and look forward to working positively with her over the coming year to make sure our students get the best possible experience out of their life-changing time at Edinburgh College.”
Ian McKay added: “We believe it’s the first time that the student body have played a part in a Principal’s appointment. That illustrates the depth of the recognition of, and commitment to, the students, who we have always said are the most important people in the new College.”
Mandy has a long history of leadership in education in Scotland having served for the last two years as Principal at Jewel & Esk College and previously as Principal at the University of the Highlands & Islands Perth College. She said that she is looking forward to Edinburgh College playing its part in securing improved prosperity for everyone who lives and works in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
She said: “The creation of Edinburgh College is about a journey from good to great. The three existing colleges are really good in their own right but together, they can deliver great results. The College aims to deliver the very best education and training to students. By achieving that, we have an opportunity to build an economic powerhouse – to play a vital role in getting individuals back to work and to deliver skilled people needed in those economic sectors where Scotland can enjoy a genuine competitive advantage.”
Mandy added that with each college having an impressive reputation for forward thinking and innovation, it would allow ‘centres of excellence’ in key learning fields to be developed in the new College.
“The College itself will become a ‘centre of excellence’, building on the existing strengths of the three colleges to foster growth, opportunity and economic development. We are confident Edinburgh College will compete with the best in Britain and that it will be a College we can all be proud of,” she said.
Mandy has worked in education for more 20 years and her career has been both in England and Scotland, working in large inner city colleges in Birmingham, Manchester and Stoke and rural colleges in Gloucestershire, Perth and the Highlands and Islands. Her work has been recognised beyond the college and she has served on a number of Government and Scotland’s Colleges’ Task Groups including the current Government Change Team. She is a Board Director of the Scottish Institute for Enterprise and has a particular interest in Public Value and leads on promoting this work for Scotland’s Colleges.
The new Edinburgh College will operate from four main campuses employing more than 1,500 staff; Granton (formerly Edinburgh’s Telford College), Sighthill (formerly Stevenson College Edinburgh) and Milton Road and Midlothian (both formerly Jewel & Esk College).
The College, a £60m business and the biggest FE college in Scotland, will accommodate more than 35,000 students – the biggest student body in Edinburgh – when it opens next month.
New Edinburgh College seeks talent for Board
Influential and inspirational individuals are being invited to help the new Edinburgh College play a key role in defining the future of further education in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Edinburgh College, the product of a merger of Edinburgh’s Telford College, Jewel & Esk College and Stevenson College Edinburgh, is looking to attract the best talent possible to join its Board of Management.
The College,a £60m business and the biggest FE college in Scotland, will accommodate more than 35,000 students – the biggest student body in Edinburgh – when it opens on October 1.
Ian McKay, Chair (Elect) of Edinburgh College, said Board members will contribute to the leadership and control of the new College, driving forward improved learning opportunities that will benefit Edinburgh and Lothians specifically, and Scotland, in general.
He said: “The new Edinburgh College is set on a course to change the face of further education in Edinburgh and the Lothians. We want to deliver better opportunities and outcomes for learners, which will support economic growth both locally and nationally by providing industry with the right people for real jobs. We know Edinburgh and the Lothians boasts some of Scotland’s most skilled and talented people – captains of industry, innovators, community champions and such like. How great it would be, therefore, to have some of this incredible talent pool join us as we start this exciting journey with Edinburgh College.”
The new College welcomes applicants from all walks of life and is particularly keen to hear from candidates with skills and expertise in: community and educational leadership, industry and commerce, finance, marketing, international education and IT.
Edinburgh College will consist of four main campuses employing more than 1,500 staff; Granton (formerly Edinburgh’s Telford College), Sighthill (formerly Stevenson College Edinburgh) and Milton Road and Midlothian (both formerly Jewel & Esk College).
The selection process for Board members is being launched this week with a view to appointments being made within the next 6-8 weeks.
Requests for further information and applications should be made to amanda.hood@edinburghcollege.ac.uk.
