Edinburgh College Magazine Summer 2019 History makers Find out more on page 3 Keeping you up to date with the latest news from across Scotland’s largest college. Contents A Look Across Our Principal’s Introduction 03 08 Curriculum 04 Prize Giving 12 EC Across the Globe 06 The City Region Deal – Our Role 14 EC Student Stories 07 New EC Skills Report 2019 16 Edinburgh College in Brief A spotlight on social Here’s a snapshot of some of our most popular recent social media posts... Principal’s Introduction 03 Welcome to the first edition of our Edinburgh College magazine. In this edition you’ll get a snapshot of just some of the creative and innovative work happening across Scotland’s largest college. You’ll hear from our inspiring students, dedicated staff members and industry partners about the work we’re doing in Edinburgh, wider-Scotland and across the world. I hope this magazine gives you a real insight into the scale and reach of our College and how we’re educating the capital (and beyond) as part of our mission to become Scotland’s pre-eminent college. From inspiring the next generation of care workers; to training the current engineering workforce; delivering foreign language provision across Scotland; through to encouraging school pupils to day dream – we’re a College that pushes boundaries and encourages our students to do the same. Through this magazine, we’re proud to share the experiences of our staff and students with you. Happy reading! Audrey Cumberford PRINCIPAL AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE Front cover History makers Men’s football team crowned Queen’s Park Shield champions Our men’s football team made history by becoming The prestigious shield, open to every university and college in the first ever college side to lift the Queen’s Park Scotland, was contested during a tense penalty shoot-out after Shield after winning a dramatic penalty shootout the teams couldn’t be separated after 90 minutes - a fitting in the final of the competition. way to settle the first ever college versus university final. The team faced a tough task against University of Edinburgh The College’s John Robertson was the hero as he slotted home in the 98th running of the final which was originally only ever the winning penalty which saw his team steal the shootout 5-4 contested by Scotland’s four ancient universities. and seal a historic triumph for the College. 04 Prize Giving Star students recognised at Prize Giving 2019 Prize Giving is the perfect opportunity to recognise the More than 100 students gathered with around 400 family, friends, exceptional talents of our students. staff and guests to celebrate their outstanding work over the 2018/19 Each of our winners was nominated academic year at the College’s annual Prize Giving ceremony. for their outstanding approach to The event honoured the achievements For the first time this year, School pupils learning and we were thrilled to be of further education students across from Ross High School were awarded able to celebrate their success with the whole curriculum. Students received the title of SCP Events and Hospitality their family and friends. awards from the College’s four faculties School of the Year, whilst Castlebrae – Creative Industries; Engineering and Community High School were presented Whatever the award winners Built Environment; Health, Wellbeing with the SCP Excellence Award in choose to do next, whether that be and Social Sciences; and Tourism, Hospitality. continuing their studies, or gaining Hospitality and Business. Prize Giving celebrates the academic employment, I’m confident they will This year’s ceremony, the College’s achievements and dedication of thrive and I wish them all biggest yet, saw prizes awarded to its students, as well as the commitment the best for the future. outstanding FE students as well as many have to juggling home life and Schools College Partnership students. work to succeed in their studies. Audrey Cumberford PRINCIPAL AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE Here’s just some of our wonderful winners Read more stories from our inspiring students at edinburghcollege.ac.uk/news 05 Read more stories from our inspiring students at edinburghcollege.ac.uk/news 06 The City Region Deal - Our Role Edinburgh Fife East Lothian The College’s focus is on the two targeted skills Midlothian Scottish West Borders gateway projects – Data Driven Innovation (DDI) and Lothian Housing, Construction and Infrastructure (HCI). Through the Edinburgh and South in employment within the Housing, industrial revolution it is essential now East City Region Deal, the College Construction and Innovation sectors more than ever that we are equipping is working together with the – a challenge that the College is well- people with the skills needed to equipped for and is ready to embrace. thrive in ever-developing industries. UK and Scottish Governments, Edinburgh City Council, East We’re set to play a key role in transforming “Edinburgh College is excited to be an Lothian Council, West Lothian Edinburgh and its surrounding area into integral part of these projects within Council, Midlothian Council, Fife the data capital of Europe through the the City Region Deal which will provide Data Driven Innovation project. Its aim our students and communities with Council, Scottish Borders Council is to train 100,000 people in data skills opportunities to gain knowledge, skills and other partners across the over the next decade, from data analyst and understanding that will enable private and public sector to make specialists to jobs that will evolve to them to contribute to the growth and Edinburgh an even better place to require data skills at their core. This aligns development of our region. live, study, work, visit and invest. with the College’s ambition to tackle the digital skills gap and will help to provide “As a provider of education and training The College’s focus is on the two opportunities in the emerging data to the people of Edinburgh, the College targeted skills gateway projects – Data economy for disadvantaged communities will ensure we align our future curriculum Driven Innovation (DDI) and Housing, across the City Region and will address development to the City Region Deal and Construction and Infrastructure (HCI). gender inequality in the tech sector. its projects to support the ambition of accelerating growth, tackling inequality The HCI project provides an opportunity The project will focus on making a and deprivation and building on the to capitalise on the current strength of the career in the digital and data world strengths of our region.” construction sector along with additional an accessible and realistic possibility proposals for increased housing building for everyone – addressing gender and retrofitting to create a skills pipeline. inequality in the sector and giving those Its aim is to train Through the project we’ll strengthen furthest from mainstream education an 100,000 people in our links with the construction sector opportunity to gain skills which area set to data skills over the to provide increased opportunities be at the core of many future jobs. next decade. for our students, help to reduce skills Data Driven shortages and ultimately create inclusive Vice Principal: Innovation, Planning Innovation project employment pathways for people within and Performance and City Region Deal the region. The project includes specific lead for the College Jon Buglass said: measures to challenge the gender gap “As we are moving into a fourth Keep up-to-date with more college news edinburghcollege.ac.uk/news New EC Skills Report 2019 07 Our business partners are increasingly tapping into our talent pool consisting of around 26,000 students and over 1,200 professional staff to help solve the challenges they face. Audrey Cumberford PRINCIPAL AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE College launches Skills Report 2019 As Scotland’s largest college and the only one serving the capital and wider region we have a We surveyed responsibility to deliver vocational, technical and organisations in Representing over professional education qualifications and skills Edinburgh and 10,000 training to a region that accounts for over 12% the Lothians employees of the population of Scotland. As part of our mission to work with employees, and to build a pipeline reskilling requirements of their current industry to grow and develop a modern of highly skilled and qualified staff. staff; prepare for the future when trying workforce which meets the future skills to cope with day-to-day pressures and needs of the region, we published our Principal and Chief Executive Audrey priorities; and know how to exploit new inaugural Skills Report earlier this year. Cumberford said: “Edinburgh College and emerging technologies to enhance has growth ambitions and a determination products, services or core business It is essential now more than ever that to be the ‘go to’ partner for businesses, operations.” colleges work closely with industry playing a central role in the economic partners to better understand the ecosystem in our capital city and skills and development needs of the wider region. The findings of the Skills Edinburgh College aims current workforce, and to help shape Report tell us that many of the businesses to continue to be part the workforce of the future. we support recognise and experience of the solution – the similar challenges. Our partners are finding Our Skills Report 2019 is part of our it harder to: recruit and attract talent; fill College of choice for continued commitment to work with vacancies; recruit people with skills training and developing industry partners to build effective not just for job roles of today but for the workforce. relationships, to reskill and upskill the future; keep up with the upskilling and Read more online or if you would like to be sent a report contact [email protected] edinburghcollege.ac.uk/skills-report 08 A Look Across Our Curriculum TOURISM, HOSPITALITY & BUSINESS Advanced Higher French Lansdowne Prize awarded to students by the Franco-Scottish Society Tres bien! Boosting modern language provision across Scotland We’re ensuring students French and Spanish are also taught along study unit must also be completed.