Vision 2021 Strategic Plan 2016-21 www.perth.uhi.ac.uk Perth College UHI is a successful, Perth College has its main campus in the high performing, and thriving city of Perth which is located within 50 tertiary institution providing a wide miles of 90% of Scotland’s population, in the fast growing local authority of Perth and range of learning opportunities Kinross. It is proud to serve the needs of its to local, regional, national and local area, as well as the wider Highlands international learners: from Access and Islands Region and beyond. Perth courses to opportunities for study College UHI is one of the largest partners in at postgraduate level, encompassing the University of the Highlands and Islands vocational and professional (UHI), a unique tertiary institution and training and skills development growing university. Our Strategic Aims drive opportunities. Perth College UHI forward the Highlands and Islands Regional Outcome Agreement as well as ensuring delivers courses at the main campus full participation in Perth and Kinross in Perth, at Learning Centres and in Single Outcome Agreement measures and secondary schools across Perth and Community Planning priorities. Kinross. We support work-based learning across a wide area, as well The student profile of Perth College UHI as contributing to the University’s has seen considerable growth over the past 4 years. Growth in higher education innovative and progressive use of and especially degree provision has seen technology, providing access to the balance of full-time students increase expertise and curriculum across the by 27.4%. In this same period, we have Highlands and Islands and beyond. maintained our further education provision with a continued focus on part-time opportunities. Our broad curriculum base and more specialist curriculum, is closely linked to the needs of our communities and businesses, and the wider economy. As well as being informed by Perth and Kinross and wider Tayside employment and skills needs, our curriculum also directly supports the needs of the Highlands and Islands region. Our students come from within the region, from across Scotland and the UK, and with diverse international representation. Our broad curriculum base and more specialist curriculum, is closely linked to the needs of our communities and businesses, and the wider economy. - 2 - Our Strategic Plan 2016-21 aligns to the UHI Strategic Vision and Plan 2015-20 and the Highlands and Islands Regional Outcome Agreement to ensure a strong and ambitious contribution to the success of Perth and Kinross, our wider region and University, and beyond. As the Chair of the Board of Management and the Principal and Chief Executive of Perth College UHI, we are pleased to present our Vision 2021: Strategic Plan 2016-21. Vision 2021 articulates our ambition for the next 5 years and beyond, building on and enhancing our strengths and adding to the successes we have already enjoyed. We are ambitious for the students, the businesses and the communities that we serve and measure our success by their achievements. Such success reflects the hard work, talent, Margaret Munckton skill and dedication of all our staff whose Principal and Chief Executive contributions make the vital difference in the support of our students in raising their Grant Myles aspirations and achieving their potential. We Chair of the Board of Management are also proud of the positive impact of our partnership working across all sectors and know that this will continue to flourish. Vision 2021 presents our Vision, Mission, Values and Strategic Aims which are the product of extensive consultation with students, staff, partners and community groups. We look forward to working with you to make our vision happen. - 3 - - 4 - Vision Strategic Aims To be an inspirational partner Inspire and empower our in economic and social 1 students, regardless of transformation. background, to recognise and achieve their potential. Mission Work in partnership to foster and 2 drive positive change and growth To change lives through in local, regional, national and excellence in education, research international economies. and innovation, developing knowledge and skills and the Provide dynamic learning experience to succeed. 3 and research experiences within a curriculum that meets economic and societal needs and aspirations. Values Optimise the sustainable use Ambition, Integrity and Respect. 4 of our systems, processes and resources to provide the best possible student experience and outcomes. Have talented, confident and 5 inspirational staff who contribute to and make a vital difference to the success of students, the life of the College, the University and our communities. - 5 - “I have always enjoyed working with children and worked for the hotel’s Kids Club. A ‘Men in Childcare’ course arranged by Perth & Kinross Council and Perth College UHI led me to enrolling onto this wonderful course. It has provided me with a great qualification that is recognised across the whole UK and allows me to work within nurseries and schools. My heart is set on continuing my studies to become a teacher in the future. Since October 2015 I have been working as Javier Eguren, a pupil support assistant for Perth & Kinross NC Childcare and Early Education Council’s Navigate that provides education to young people with social, emotional and Javier, from Tenerife, has made Perth his behavioural difficulties. The lecturers were home for the last two years. He originally so supportive throughout the year. It was came to work in Scotland in order to really easy to approach them with doubts, improve his level of English and he spent questions, or new ideas you wanted to bring the first year working at the Crieff Hydro to the table.” Hotel. A colleague recommended Perth College UHI. to train to become an accountant, Coleen realised that this was not the career that she wanted and joined BEng Hons Aircraft Engineering at Perth College UHI in Year 3. She graduated with a 1st Class BEng (Hons) in Aircraft Engineering. While she was a student Coleen was head hunted by Expro North Sea Ltd to join their Graduate Scheme, was employed as a subsea engineer, and has progressed with Coleen Greig, several promotions since joining. Coleen has BSc Hons Aircraft Engineering also completed an MSc in Computational Fluid Dynamics and is working towards Coleen Greig is a former winner of an her mathematics and engineering Arkwright Scholarship in Engineering Chartership (CEng). (sponsored by BP Ltd) and a Perth College UHI Alumnus of the Year. After Completing a BSc degree in mathematics and starting - 6 - Aim Inspire and empower our students, regardless of 1 background, to recognise and achieve their potential. At Perth College, we are working towards To achieve this we will: the achievement of our Vision and Mission by offering inclusive access to the means 1.1 Give each student the best possible to build knowledge, skills and resilience to learning experience. ensure our students make informed and 1.2 Maintain and where necessary improve positive choices to meet ever changing upon access to our courses and support employment opportunities. Inspiring individuals to make informed choices and empowering all our students to be which enhance transitions to positive successful is a major driver behind the destinations. ongoing enhancement of our services and processes. 1.3 Support and inspire our students to complete their chosen course and We are a high performing college, seeking attain their qualification. to ensure that we maximise our students attainment of their qualifications and 1.4 Increase opportunities for students to achieve positive destinations. Working in shape their own learning, the life and increasing partnership with the Students’ work of the University and College and Association is key to ensuring that the to share in a diverse range of cultural student voice is proactively engaged activities. with and acted on for more effective joint planning and shared understanding. 1.5 Empower and support students to develop personal resilience, career Enabling access to learning, qualifications management and entrepreneurial skills and skills, and raising aspirations to through building self-awareness. succeed and grow across all of our regions’ diverse geography and economies is 1.6 Continue to develop the appropriate driving our planning and partnerships to interventions needed to support tackle challenges and inspire the grasping those furthest from the employment of opportunities. market to access education and raise aspirations. 1.7 Enhance student engagement by strengthening the student voice and supporting the further development of a thriving, effective and sustainable Students’ Association. - 7 - organised the third international conference ‘Perth III: Mountains of our Future Earth’ in October 2015,. The conference attracted 400 participants from 51 countries and included plenary lectures delivered by globally recognised scientists. More than 50 parallel sessions covered a range of interdisciplinary, natural and social science topics grouped into 3 themes (Dynamic Planet; Global Sustainable Development; Transformations towards Sustainability). Centre for Mountain Studies international Crucially, the conference also contributed conference ‘Perth III: Mountains of our to the development of strategies for future Future Earth’ research in mountainous areas, in particular within the new ten-year global ‘Future The Centre for Mountain Studies, led by Earth’ research initiative