Student fashion show raises funds for charity

Edinburgh College students organise fundraising fashion show for people with dementia

Edinburgh College events management students have staged a fashion show featuring people with dementia as models to raise funds for Alzheimer Scotland.

Service users, carers, staff and volunteers at the charity’s Fife Dementia Resource Centre in Kirkcaldy strutted the catwalk as models at the event, which was organised by a team of four college students -Sara Penn, Laura Presly, Zoe Fraser and Megan Fairley.

The team raised more than £700 for Alzheimer Scotland with the fashion show, which formed part of their coursework for their BA (Hons) Event Management. The four students named their project team Icon Events and organised the show with the support of their lecturers.

BHS, Wallis, Dorothy Perkins and New Look provided clothes for the fashion show, while a local salon donated handbags and accessories.

Edinburgh College events students have organised 37 events this year, each raising vital funds for a variety of charities.

Team member Sara suggested Alzheimer Scotland as their charity as she regularly volunteers at the Resource Centre alongside her mother and grandmother. Both Sara and Laura’s family members have been affected by the disease, which affects more than 86,000 people in Scotland.

Alzheimer Scotland’s deputy regional manager for Fife and the Forth Valley Anne Buchanan said: “This is a great example of inter-generational working and will help to raise awareness of dementia, as well as raising funds for us so we can continue to provide the range of activities, advice and support for people living with dementia and their friends, families and carers.”

Alzheimer Scotland is the leading dementia organisation in Scotland. The charity campaigns for the rights of people with dementia and their families, and provides an extensive range of innovative and personalised support services. The Fife Dementia Resource Centre provides information and support to carers and service users including drop-in information cafes and day care.

Edinburgh College offers a range of events management courses from introductory level to the BA (Hons) course, the last year of which is delivered by Queen Margaret University. Applications are currently invited for these courses and more than 900 other courses across the curriculum offered by Edinburgh College and starting in August on its four campuses.

See www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk for more information on how to apply.

Creative Industries Open Days at Edinburgh College

Edinburgh College Open Days next week

Edinburgh College is throwing open its doors next week and inviting anyone interested in careers in the creative industries to find out how they can get on course to success.

The college’s Centre for Creative Industries is hosting three open days to introduce prospective students to its range of courses across three of its campuses, including art and design, computing, broadcast media, photography, music and sound production, and the performing arts.

There will be opportunities to speak to lecturers and students, experience the cutting-edge facilities at each campus, and get hands-on with interactive activities.

The Creative Industries Open Days will take place from 3-6pm at Sighthill Campus on Tuesday (3 March), Milton Road Campus on Wednesday and at Granton Campus on Thursday 5 March.

More than 100,000 people are employed in the creative industries sector in Scotland, with careers in film, radio, media, theatre, music, and digital media available.

Jon Buglass, head of the Centre for Creative Industries, said: “These open days provide the perfect opportunity for prospective students to get hands-on experience of what studying at Edinburgh College’s Centre for Creative Industries is really like. It is an exciting time for the creative industries in Scotland, and our courses provide the perfect framework to develop the skill, nurture the talent and develop the creativity of our students to prepare them for a creative career.”

Visitors to Granton Campus can see the top-of-the-range performing arts facilities at the Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS), which provides training in acting, dance, make-up artistry, technical theatre and theatre costume.

Budding musical theatre stars and musicians can visit Sighthill Campus, where the Music Box facilities include recording studios, practice rooms and an auditorium. The Music Box is the high-tech home to most of the college’s music performance students, both classical and pop.

Those who would prefer to study the technical side of music production can visit Milton Road Campus, where courses in sound production and the music business are offered in the CRE:8 creative centre alongside the HND Popular Music.

The campuses also have excellent facilities for those interested in courses in photography, audio visual technology and radio. The college’s computing courses provide essential skills in software development, games design, web development and building and testing computers and IT networks.

The college’s art and design students work to exciting briefs in their chosen field, whether fashion, textiles and costumes, jewellery, interior design, architecture, contemporary arts, interactive media, graphic design or illustration.

Not all courses are taught at all campuses, please check the Edinburgh College website to identify the appropriate open day for your subject area.

Applications for the all the college’s Creative Industries courses starting in August are open now – find out more about the courses available on www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk/august2015 or by calling the college course information line 0131 660 1010.

Applications for August courses will close on 15 May.

Edinburgh College in the running for marketing awards

Edinburgh College has been shortlisted for three prestigious marketing awards, recognising achievements in marketing courses, catering for students’ needs and communicating with staff.

The College Development Network (CDN) Marketing Awards 2015 – which take place next Wednesday (25 February) – are designed to recognise and celebrate the excellent marketing and communication practice taking place in colleges across Scotland.

The college is shortlisted for the following awards:

The Internal Communications Award, for communications around the college’s first staff conference in June 2014. The staff conference brought all the staff together to take part in workshops around the theme of innovation, covering technology, sustainability, teaching and learning, the workplace of the future and outward innovation.
The Customer Experience Award, for the college’s Centre for Creative Industries student Employability Day. The day was designed to develop students’ understanding of employers’ needs, give them insight into how they can make themselves as employable as possible, and promote positive destinations. Professionals from a wide range of creative industries ran workshops, talked to groups of students and shared their expertise.
The Integrated Marketing Campaign Award, in recognition of the success of marketing campaign held to promote, and increase, applications for college courses starting in January 2014. The campaign used the theme ‘Of course you can’ and achieved the highest attendance recorded for an open day at Edinburgh College or at any of its legacy colleges.

Edinburgh College interim principal Elaine McMahon said: “Being shortlisted for these awards is a great achievement and our staff deserve huge congratulations. It’s fantastic to see the creative work put into supporting, encouraging and communicating with students and staff being recognised in this way.

“The Creative Industries Employability Day was a fine example of the focus college staff put upon preparing students for working life in a competitive market and was so successful that the event will run again in February.

“The nomination for the staff conference is a welcome credit for the work done to build a sense of community in the still newly merged Edinburgh College.

“It is also satisfying to see that the work of our marketing and communications staff to promote the range of courses on offer at the college has been recognised. Their hard work led to a highly successful open day and the college meeting student recruitment targets for the year.”

Last year, Edinburgh College achieved a silver award in the Internal Communications category and bronze in the Event category in the CDN Marketing Awards 2014.

‘Outstanding’ new Principal for Edinburgh College

Former teacher Annette Bruton is unanimous choice

Edinburgh College is delighted to announce Annette Bruton as its new principal, to lead it into a thriving future and ensure more people can change their lives through education. She will lead the ambitious long-term growth of the college as it develops new opportunities for students, staff and businesses to excel, supporting a prosperous economy.

East Lothian-born Annette, currently chief executive of the Care Inspectorate, has extensive experience and expertise in education, originally training and working as a geography teacher, and later moving into learning support and special educational needs.

She joined HM Inspectorate of Education in 2001 and became its chief executive in 2005. In 2009, she took up the role of director of Education, Culture and Sport at Aberdeen City Council, where she worked until joining the Care Inspectorate in 2012. As chief executive of the Care Inspectorate, Annette oversaw the successful merger of three organisations into a single body.

The college Board appointed Annette as principal at its meeting yesterday (Tuesday 10 February), following a rigorous recruitment process. She will take over from interim principal Dr Elaine McMahon and will be in post before the start of the next academic year.

Ian McKay, chair of the Board of Edinburgh College, said: “Annette was the unanimous choice of the Board to become the new principal and we’re delighted she accepted the role.

“She has had a highly distinguished career in public service as well as extensive expertise and experience in education. Throughout the selection process she proved her strategic understanding, her sound judgement and her commitment to promoting lifelong learning.

“As a former teacher she has great empathy for the needs of students and staff, and the importance of ensuring they are all supported to succeed throughout their education and professional lives.

“I’m certain that she will provide excellent leadership to steer the college throughout the next crucial period of its development, and I’m very much looking forward to working with her.”

Annette said: “I am honoured to take up this post and look forward to meeting new colleagues, both staff and students.

“Edinburgh College plays a pivotal role in the life of the capital and well beyond. Its links with schools, universities and employers give real meaning to lifelong learning and empower thousands of students with new skills each year.

“Having dedicated most of my career to education at all levels, I look forward to making a further contribution to providing high-quality learning and the opportunities that gives to the whole community and the economy of our region.”

Edinburgh College interim principal Elaine McMahon added: “Since the merger, Edinburgh College has taken significant steps forward and I am delighted that Annette will take the college on this exciting new journey; she is an outstanding choice.

“In my time here it’s been an absolute privilege to fulfil the role of interim principal, and Annette will find that she’s working with extremely talented people who are committed to giving our students an amazing education.”

Edinburgh College formed in October 2012 following the merger of three Edinburgh further education colleges. It is now more than two years into a five-year change programme, with ambitious plans to grow by 20 per cent by 2017 and create more opportunities for people to engage in further and higher education. It aims for every student to achieve a positive destination, and to develop a college culture that creates educators for the future.

Higher and Higher: Ms Constance comes to Craigie!

Minister welcomes increase in provisional entries for Highers

Education Secretary Angela Constance called in at Craigroyston Community High School this morning and welcomed news that a record number of students will be sitting Highers this year.

Ms Constance was welcomed to Craigroyston by senior students Donna Cheyne, Joe Dudgeon, John Gallacher and Rebecca Morton before meeting staff and pupils to hear about the progress being made in introducing new qualifications as part of Curriculum for Excellence.

The introduction of new qualifications is progressing well, with provisional entries for Highers indicating a record high number will be sat this year.

The figure, which follows on from last year’s record number of passes at Higher, was welcomed by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning during her Craigroyston visit.

New Highers have been introduced this year, alongside the existing Higher qualifications for this year only. School departments are able to use this flexibility to phase in the new qualifications in the way that best serves the interests of the pupils. From the 2015/6 school year onwards, all pupils will be studying the new Highers.

The total figure of 217,976 provisional Higher entries this year (across S5 and S6, and including both new and existing Highers) is five per cent up on the corresponding figure from this time last year. This figure comprises 120,557 provisional entries for new Highers, and 97,419 provisional entries for existing Highers.

Ms Constance said: “The ongoing reform of our education system is preparing our young people for the world of work and further and higher education. Scottish education now offers more flexible learning opportunities for our young people and new National qualifications, which were introduced at the beginning of the 2013/14 school year, are now well established.

“In August last year we saw a substantial increase in the number of both Higher entries and Higher passes. I am very pleased that we are again seeing a substantial interest in provisional entries for Higher. It is very positive to see greater numbers of young people aspiring to higher levels of qualifications in our schools.

“This shows that ambition, more than ever, is alive and well in classrooms across Scotland, in no small part thanks to the work of teachers who continue to do an excellent job. This bodes well for Scotland’s economic future.

“We know from provisional entry data from the Scottish Qualifications Authority that significant numbers of those pupils taking Highers this year have been studying the new Highers. We listened to schools who requested flexibility, and we acted. I have seen today how schools are making good use of this flexibility, to phase in the new qualifications in a sensible way.”

Love learning: Edinburgh College Open Days this week

Edinburgh College is getting ready to open its doors for two course information days where potential students can find out more about courses starting in August.

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about studying at the college is welcome to attend the course information days, which will be held on Tuesday 27 January from 2-6.30pm at Sighthill Campus and on Thursday 29 January from 2-6.30pm at Milton Road Campus (above).

Resident subject specialists will be on hand with information about all curriculum areas, advice on studying at all four Edinburgh College campuses and guidance on funding options.

The college is offering over 900 courses 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 to get people back into education, community-based courses and industry-approved qualifications.

Edinburgh College offers a range of nationally and internationally recognised courses across a wide variety of subjects.

The college has courses in:

Business and management
Computing
Community and outreach
Construction and building crafts
Creative industries
Childhood practice, health and care
Engineering
English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)
Food, hospitality and tourism
Sport and fitness
Veterinary care

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

Edinburgh College interim principal Elaine McMahon said: “The course information days are great opportunities to find out how the college can help you find the right direction to achieve your goals. Whether you have a clear idea of what you want to do or if you’re looking for help in figuring it out, we’ll be able to support you to make the best decisions.

“Edinburgh College’s courses are designed to give you the skills and practical experience to be prepared for further studies or the workplace, and to succeed when you get there. Our programmes are hands-on and developed with the needs of industry in mind, so you’ll be equipped to hit the ground running.”

Representatives from Herriot Watt, Queen Margaret and Napier Universities will also be on hand to talk about associate student degree programmes. Associate student degrees allow students to study the first two years of their degree course at the college with a guaranteed place at a partner university to complete the final two years.

More information about college courses is available at www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk. For more information on a specific course, contact the college’s course information line on 0131 660 1010 or email courseinfo@edinburghcollege.ac.uk.

Edinburgh College is also currently recruiting for courses starting in January, with applications closing on 30 January. The full list of courses with places left can be found at www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk/january/

Course Information Days

Tuesday 27 January. 2-6.30pm. Edinburgh College Sighthill Campus, Bankhead Avenue, Edinburgh, EH11 4DE.

Thursday 29 January. 2-6:30pm. Edinburgh College Milton Road Campus, 24 Milton Road East, Edinburgh, EH15 2PP.

Lararowicz: 'arbitrary cap unworkable'

Mark Lazarowicz MP has challenged the Government to wake up to the damage being done to colleges and universities – and the UK’s global influence – by its ‘shortsighted’ immigration policy which includes overseas students in the Government net migration target.

Speaking yesterday, the North & Leith MP said: “Today I will be attending an event to celebrate Edinburgh University’s engagement with the wider world through its research, staff and students and I know that all our colleges and universities here in Edinburgh are rightly proud of their international students and contacts.

“But I know they are also deeply worried about the damage being done by the Government’s inclusion of those students in its arbitrary immigration target.

“The whole idea of an arbitrary cap on immigration has proved unworkable and misguided, and its negative impact on higher and further education is particularly severe.”

“The students this shortsighted policy deters will go to other countries that will benefit in our place – not only in financial terms but also from the goodwill that is fostered that can enhance diplomatic, trade and intellectual contacts in years to come.”

Labour has attacked the way that the net migration target takes no account of the reason that people seek to come to the UK, including students in the overall numbers.

Businesses, students, trade unions and the higher education sector have urged the Government to scrap the policy and Labour says it will do so if it forms the next Government.

'A commitment writ in stane'

Monument reaffirms commitment to no tuition fees in Scotland

A monument to the Scottish Government’s continued commitment to having no higher education tuition fees was unveiled by the First Minister Alex Salmond at Heriot Watt University yesterday.

After viewing the commemorative stone, which was carved and designed by second-year stonemasonry apprentices from Historic Scotland’s National Conservation Centre in Elgin, the First Minister said: “The single biggest achievement by this Government has been the abolition of tuition fees. This one action has restored Scotland’s long tradition of education being based on ability to learn – not the ability to pay.

“Scottish students can be assured this Government remains strongly committed to them and their futures – at a time when fees have soared to £9,000 a year in other parts of the UK, putting university out of reach for many without the means to pay.

“At the same time, we have boosted apprenticeship numbers to record levels, brought more women into the workforce and are outperforming the rest of the UK on job numbers as whole.

“It is both fitting and humbling to have this wonderful monument to that commitment created by young skilled apprentices – and to have the unveiling witnessed by students of today and children who will be the students of tomorrow. It is without doubt now a commitment writ in stane.”

The rock is inscribed with the words of the statement made by the First Minister made in March 2011 which reads:

“The rocks will melt with the sun before I allow tuition fees to be imposed on Scottish students.”

Weighing 0.97 tonnes, it was carved by apprentice stonemasons Gregor Alcorn, 26, and Ross Kennedy, 22, from Clashach Sandstone – the same stone used in the building of the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. It was handpicked from Tennants Quarries in Elgin by training manager Graham Campbell who, along with other members of the team, also created the design for the stone.

Professor Steve Chapman, Principal of Heriot-Watt University, said: “We are delighted to host this stone, a beautifully crafted piece and a monument to Alex Salmond’s tenure as First Minister and his strongly held commitment to access to education for Scottish students.”

First class!

The first students to complete a groundbreaking project to boost young people’s aspirations and job prospects have been honoured at Edinburgh College’s annual Graduation ceremony.

School students who took part in the East Lothian Hospitality and Tourism Academy programme joined the college’s graduates at the Usher Hall ceremony to pick up their scrolls and mark their success.

Twenty two school students completed the two-year academy programme, designed to give them education and industry experience while still at school, and six of them attended Edinburgh College’s Graduation on Friday 26 September.

These academy students are in a unique position, having now left sixth year of school while also achieving a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Hospitality. This secures them a place on specific courses at Edinburgh College or allows them to skip first year and move directly into the second year of the BA (Hons) in International Hospitality & Tourism Management at Queen Margaret University.

Fifteen of the students have now gone on to the QMU degree, two have gone to Edinburgh College to study Events and Tourism Management, respectively, three have gone to courses at other universities, and two have gone straight into the workplace.

The East Lothian Hospitality and Tourism Academy launched in 2012 as a partnership between Edinburgh College, Queen Margaret University and East Lothian Council. It was set up to give S5 and S6 pupils the chance to sample further and higher education and work experience while still at school, smoothing the transition into college, university and employment as well as raising aspirations and enhancing employability.

Following the Hospitality and Tourism Academy’s success, three other academies launched last year with a £4.6million award from the Scottish Funding Council, as part of the wider South East Scotland Academies Partnership (SESAP). These were geared towards other industries earmarked as growth areas by the Scottish Government: Health and Social Care; Creative Industries; and Food Science and Nutrition. This expansion brought new partners into the project including an additional 34 schools across south east Scotland and more employers and businesses. The original partners have now been joined by City of Edinburgh, Midlothian and Scottish Borders councils, and Borders College.

The academies work with key industry partners, including Skills Development Scotland and Creative and Cultural Scotland, to allow young people to develop an understanding of the full range of jobs available within these sectors. Working so closely with businesses ensures that the academies are designed to meet their needs and help develop the workforce these growth sectors need to thrive.

This year more than 400 pupils from more than 50 schools in Edinburgh, East and Midlothian, and the Borders have signed up to the academies.

Ray McCowan, vice principal at Edinburgh College, said: “We’re delighted to conclude the journey of the academies’ first students in such a fitting way, alongside our other students in the wonderful surroundings of the Usher Hall. The project would not have been such a success without their enthusiasm and dedication, and they’re a credit to themselves, their schools and the project partners.

“They’re all going on to positive destinations, either to further studies or straight into the workplace, and I know they’re doing so with real passion and determination to succeed. Some of these young people didn’t know what they wanted to do but the academy has opened their eyes to some amazing opportunities they didn’t even know existed before. The academies are successfully creating new opportunities for young people and meeting the needs of industry as well as the government’s priorities for growth. The model is working and it’s great to see them come out the other end with the skills, knowledge and confidence that will benefit them whatever they go on to do.”

Professor Alan Gilloran, Deputy Principal at Queen Margaret University, said: “The academies project is one which is delivering real results for Scotland’s young people and we are delighted to see our first graduating students progress onto the next stage of their educational and career journeys. Not only is the academy experience giving our students a competitive advantage over many of their peer group, it will help contribute positively to the Scottish economy by preparing a new and skilled young workforce to bolster key growth industries. This graduation ceremony is a milestone for the academies project. We are extremely proud of the academy students’ achievements and of the positive outcomes being delivered by this pioneering collaborative project.”

Pictured: Back row: Marisa Kerr, Alice McMillan, Jake Lavery, Holly Harrison, Rosie Allan. Front row: Rachel Scott and Shelby Dalgleish. Hospitality and Tourism Management Academy. HNC Hospitality Management.

Niko defies the odds to become Student of the Year

Niko pictured with his wife Eva (left) and cousin Joanna

An Edinburgh College student who came to Scotland for a fresh start and a chance to create a better life has fought against the odds to be named Student of the Year.

Niko Sadlowski – who studies NC Early Education and Childcare and is originally from Poland – received his award alongside 50 other prize winners at the Edinburgh College Further Education Awards ceremony at The Hub in the city centre. Niko was nominated by his lecturers because of his determination to succeed.

Niko, who also works part time at The Action Group charity for people with additional support needs and disabilities, said: “I was delighted and totally overwhelmed to find out I had won Student of the Year at the Further Education Awards.”

Niko added: “I left home as a teenager as I wanted to reduce the financial burden on my parents. I first came to this country at the age of 23 without knowing a word of English and I’ve worked really hard, in many low paying jobs, to create a life for myself and my family here.

“I grew up with deaf parents which meant I learned to communicate with them through sign language. I think this first triggered my interest in supporting people and their families with additional needs because I could understand the kinds of barriers they could face. My son was recently diagnosed with autism, so I also know what kind of support carers and their families require for a better quality of life.”

Edinburgh College childcare and social care lecturer Linda Paechter said: “Niko is an extraordinary student. His knowledge, skills and rich life experiences have been inspiring to his fellow students and I’m so pleased that he has been given the award of Student of the Year as part of the NC Early Education and Childcare course. His unwavering dedication to his studies has been incredible and he truly deserves the award.

“Professionals within childcare are predominantly female, yet the involvement of both male and female carers, educators and practitioners is incredibly important to allow for positive role-models for children. Niko is a wonderful ambassador for the benefits of more men in childcare and I know he has a very successful career ahead of him.”

Around 150 guests attended the Further Education Awards, which were hosted by Denise McAdam, celebrity hairdresser to the stars and presenter of the BBC programme Hair.

Denise, who studied hairdressing at Edinburgh College, has an impressive list of clients including Cindy Crawford, Grace Kelly, Princess Diana, Yasmin le Bon, and Naomi Campbell.