Five Stars! College Staff and Students Recognised in Herald HE Awards Shortlist
Edinburgh College has bagged a quintet of nominations at the 2021 Herald Higher Education Awards in recognition of the outstanding work and efforts of its staff and students.
The awards recognise outstanding institutions which provide Higher Education in Scotland and celebrate key aspects of educational excellence across colleges and universities.
Outstanding Contribution from a Staff Member
The College’s Music and Sound Production Curriculum Leader Laurie Crump has been shortlisted in the Outstanding Contribution from a Staff Member category for his dedication to providing students with the best possible music education, giving them a platform to showcase their talents and inspiring them to follow their dreams. Laurie has also been recognised for the endless support he provides to his colleagues and for promoting a culture which encourages creativity and innovation across all levels of the College’s Music curriculum.
Outstanding Contribution from a College Student
Social Services student Roseanna Campbell has been named as a finalist in the Outstanding Contribution from a College Student for her achievements over the past two years. Roseanna was shortlisted for her incredible commitment and dedication to her volunteer work with local charity, 6VT Edinburgh Youth Café, a Scottish charity which provides support to Edinburgh’s young people including the highest risk and most marginalised individuals. Through her work with 6VT, Roseanna has made an enormous contribution to the College in terms of tackling the barriers that many young people face, particularly those who are care experienced.
Widening Access
The College has also been shortlisted in the Widening Access category as a result of its work in ensuring care experienced students are given the best possible opportunities to succeed in education. As a proud corporate parent, the College is dedicated to supporting all students and has introduced additional support for care experienced students at every stage of their college journey – from application to completion. Thanks to this work, the College has recently seen an increase in the number of care experienced students undertaking courses and a significant decrease in the percentage of those students withdrawing early.
Outstanding Business Engagement in Colleges and Partnership Award
In collaboration with City of Glasgow College, the College has also been named as a finalist in two categories – Outstanding Business Engagement in Colleges and Partnership Award – for the colleges’ collaborative work in delivering the Fast Track into Financial Services.
The course sees students complete a six-week work-readiness programme, developed in partnership with employers and Skills Development Scotland, and delivered by Enterprise and Commerce lecturers and financial services' industry experts. Between Edinburgh College and City of Glasgow College, 120 students across four cohorts have completed the course, with an increasing number of students progressing into employment within the sector as the course becomes more established.
Edinburgh College Principal Audrey Cumberford said: “I am extremely proud to see our staff and students being recognised by the Herald HE Awards alongside other colleges and universities across the country.
“To receive five nominations is a fantastic accolade and the achievements of our finalists are testament to the commitment and determination which has shone through our College during what have been truly challenging times. It is great to see colleges and universities being celebrated for the positive impact they’ve made during the COVID-19 pandemic, congratulations to all of the finalists.”
The winners of the sixth annual Herald HE Awards will be announced during a virtual ceremony on the evening of Thursday 17 June. See the full list of nominees on The Herald HE Awards website.
