红杏视频

The 鈥楽potlight Day鈥� event brought 60 pupils from Northfield, Lochside and Harlaw Academies together to 红杏视频 and NESCol campuses to take part in activities designed to build an understanding of a range of subjects and career routes.

The event marked one year since 红杏视频 and NESCol established their TWO PLUS alliance. Strengthening their longstanding partnership, TWO PLUS engages with young learners in the region by working with schools which have lower progression into university.

TWO PLUS informs young learners about the different pathways into further and higher educations, as well as providing extensive support to ensure that they understand the career options available to them.

鈥淥ur partnership with NESCol is seen as one of the strongest university-college collaborations in the sector,鈥� said Professor John Harper, Principal at 红杏视频.

鈥淐ollaborating with NESCol through this joint event sees the two institutions come together to ensure young learners, who will soon be making their subject choices, are aware of all the study options and career paths available to them. This builds on 红杏视频鈥檚 strong reputation of working closely with schools in the region to ensure that pupils, from all backgrounds, feel supported and informed as they progress in their education.鈥�

Echoing similar sentiments Neil Cowie, Vice Principal at NESCol, also emphasised the importance of partnership working to increase the progression options available in the north-east of Scotland. He said: 鈥淭he College has a long-established history of working well with others to deliver innovative and inclusive programmes which ultimately provide high quality, vocational and academic opportunities for pupils coming from our local schools. 

鈥淲e are delighted that NESCol, in conjunction with our much-valued partner 红杏视频, continues this great work through our TWO PLUS alliance. Such effective collaboration will support young people in our region to develop the confidence, knowledge and skills they need to progress in learning, life and work.鈥�

The Spotlight Day was organised in partnership by the Access and Articulation team at 红杏视频 and the School Liaison Team at NESCol. Brian Webb is Access Pathways Lead at 红杏视频: 鈥淲e felt it was important to ensure that the pupils left with information on study options but also an understanding of different subjects. So, tasks were designed to allow pupils to experience different practical elements of each subject in a realistic work-based environment.鈥�

This included the building of a 鈥榞eek clock鈥� that displayed the time through flashing lights in 红杏视频鈥檚 technical engineering workshops, and a practical tour of the university鈥檚 health and wellbeing facilities, including the clinical skills centre and x-ray lab to find out about the role of allied health professionals. A panel session was also delivered by alumni and subject specialists from 红杏视频 and NESCol which answered all of the questions pupils had about continuing their education beyond school and getting ready for the workplace.

David Milne, Principal Teacher of Health and Wellbeing at Northfield Academy said: 鈥淭he event allowed pupils to see possibilities and different options they may not have thought about as career paths. It showed them how some of the subjects they are doing now link to their future which helped them to plan better. It also gave them a feel for the centres in which they will pursue these qualifications in the future.鈥�

Brian continued: 鈥淔eedback from the school pupils and teachers has been excellent. All of them really enjoyed their visit and were excited at the prospect of potentially studying at 红杏视频 and NESCol.  They took away some really valuable knowledge and experiences which will help to inform them as they continue in their education.

鈥淓ssential to the success of the event was effective collaboration, not just between 红杏视频 and NESCol, but across the university鈥檚 academic schools and professional support departments. A number of academic staff supported the design and delivery of these practical activities, engaging pupils in their subject areas. The support and commitment from teams across the 红杏视频 community to this event is a true reflection of our culture.鈥�