Pioneering academies project
goes from strength to strength
In two years the academy initiative has grown from 34 school pupils to 400
I
N 2014, OVER 400 school pupils from Edinburgh, Lothians
and the Borders secured their place on a pioneering
academy project which aims to boost educational and
career opportunities for 15 – 18 year olds.
In just two years, the acclaimed academies project, spearheaded
by QMU and Edinburgh College, grew from 34 young people from
three East Lothian schools, to 450 pupils from over 40 schools in
Edinburgh, East and Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.
At the start of the semester, all 400 new academy students were
brought together at QMU, to begin a programme of learning which
is helping prepare them for employment in some of Scotland’s most
important growth industries.
What started as a trial project with three East Lothian secondary
schools has now grown into a unique and highly successful
partnership involving the University, Edinburgh College, Borders
College, four local authorities and industry partners.
The Hospitality and Tourism Academy started in 2012 with the aim
of smoothing the transition between school, college, university and
work, as well as raising standards within the industry. The South
East Scotland Academies Partnership now offers four academies for
young people. The more recent additions are the Creative Industries
Academy, the Food Science and Nutrition Academy, and the Health
and Social Care Academy. The academies provide young people
with a real insight into key growth industries and improve their
employability by developing specialist skills and knowledge. ❒
First graduation marks milestone for
academies project
I
N SEPTEMBER, THE academies project marked one of
its most significant milestones when the first cohort of
students graduated from the project. Having successfully
20
QMYOU / The Academies
completed the full two year Hospitality and Tourism Academy,
the East Lothian pupils were the first to graduate with an
HNC in Hospitality. The event took place at the Usher Hall in
Edinburgh within a section of Edinburgh College’s graduation
ceremony. These academy students are in a unique
position having left 6th year of school whilst also having
achieved a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Hospitality.
This privileged position secured them a place in specific
courses at Edinburgh College or allowed them to skip first
year and move directly into the second year of BA (Hons) in
International Hospitality & Tourism Management at QMU.
Some students have also chosen to leave the academies
project and go directly into industry. Rachel Hook was one of
the first to secure a full time job and is now working for the
Scottish Government.
Learning for all four academies also involves the students taking
classes with academics and industry experts at the University, as
well as at Edinburgh College or Borders College and gaining work
experience in industry.
Professor Alan Gilloran, Deputy Principal at QMU, said: “The
academy model shows partnership working at its very best. By
bringing together experts in further and higher education and
working directly with schools, local authorities and industry, we can
offer young people an incredible start in life – one which can help
shape their future and bring about educational and career success.
“The graduation ceremony marked a real milestone for the
academies project and we were 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.” ❒