A DEGREE partnership between Forth Valley College and the University of Stirling has proved to be so successful that the esteemed seats of learning have decided to launch two more programmes.
And now – with the new Alloa Campus welcoming degree level students for the first time to study BSc (Hons) Applied Computing – degree level qualifications are spread across all three of the College’s campuses giving the Forth Valley community access to the very best in higher education at a local level.
Coupled with the introduction of the BA (Hons) Digital Media degree – and the continuation of the BSc (Hons) Applied Biological Sciences and the BA (Hons) Heritage and Conservation – these integrated programmes have consolidated this exciting partnership, called ‘Twogether’, which aims to produce work ready graduates who can seamlessly enter the workplace on completion of their courses.
Students will spend the first two years of their courses honing their practical skills at Forth Valley College, before they head to the University of Stirling to complete the final two years of their studies. There is still time to apply for the August 2014 start and prospective students can apply via the College website www.forthvalley.ac.uk/twogether
The two new courses this year mirror a recent Scottish Government drive to develop new ICT skills and encourage more women into the sector.
First Minister Alex Salmond announced a £6.6 million funding boost for the sector during Make Young People Your Business Week in March and Forth Valley College and Stirling University have developed their programmes in collaboration with key industry partners to maximise employability opportunities.
The new BSc (Hons) Applied Computing and BA (Hons) Digital Media (based at FVC Stirling Campus) degree courses are ideal examples of the focus on promoting the digital technologies industry as a career path to younger people while recognising the successes in the sector in Scotland.
Scottish Government statistics have revealed that Scotland’s information and communications technology (ICT) and digital technology industry creates approximately £3 billion for the economy in Scotland and employs around 73,000 digital technology professionals.
The innovators at Forth Valley College and the University of Stirling have recognised this with the two new degree programmes to add to the existing degree courses which are being offered under the College and University partnership.
Forth Valley College Principal Dr Ken Thomson, said: “These two new degree courses are another great example of the excellent partnership we have with the University of Stirling.
“Our Science and Computing and Creative Industries Departments have once again shown their innovation in keeping ahead of the latest thinking and creating courses which reflect what industry and new students require.”
Professor Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling, said: “We are delighted to have developed these two innovative new courses in partnership with Forth Valley College. This further strengthens our partnership after the successful launch of the first two joint courses in Heritage and Conservation and Applied Biological Science last year.
“The new digital technology-based courses will help produce more high-quality, ‘work-ready’ graduates and will encourage more young people to pursue careers in the ICT sector, in line with Scottish Government objectives.”
The BSc (Hons) Applied Biological Sciences degree takes advantage of FVC’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) expertise and unique training facilities (including a recent £1.2 million refit of the College’s Engineering facilities) at the Falkirk Campus and aims to give students the best possible practical grounding before they complete their degree at the University of Stirling.
The BA (Hons) Heritage and Conservation degree course based at the stunning Stirling Campus integrates both practical work and project experience with skills development and business management awareness. It is supported by organisations such as Historic Scotland and Visit Scotland to produce highly skilled graduates for entry into the Scottish Tourism, Conservation and Heritage Industries.
Anyone wishing to find out more should visit the website www.forthvalley.ac.uk/twogether
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Contact: Laura Riley
Phone: +441324403125
Email: media@forthvalley.ac.uk
Website: http://www.forthvalley.ac.uk/twogether
