Issue 28 | Spring 2009

to our national and international communities, by demonstrating a balanced understanding of their needs and expectations. For example, our recently developed Enterprise Centre allows our important commercial arm to offer courses to local businesses as well as public sector agencies – in areas such as risk management and health and safety – while allowing the college resources, such as our library, to be shared by the local community. Students who are often studying courses that have been created to meet the demand of the Edinburgh economy, benefit enormously from this interaction..

CR>How does this make Stevenson College Edinburgh different to other academic institutions?
BL>Partnership and collaboration are our key drivers. Stevenson College Edinburgh and our partner colleges Edinburgh Telford College and Jewel & Esk, have focussed curricula around employers requirements as well as excellence in learning and teaching. At Stevenson we work to ensure that we are offering courses that will lead to immediate job opportunities by understanding both current and future employment trends. The three colleges communicate well with each other to ensure that we do not duplicate provision while covering the full spectrum of educational opportunities for prospective students.

CR> What are Stevenson’s main strengths?
BL>Among many, I take great pride from our engagement with our biggest advocates, students. Our students, at a recent HMIE review, indicated that the college exceeded expectations and our approachable, high quality staff gave them the confidence and desire to be the best..

CR> How has the financial climate affected the college?
BL> The Scottish Government recognised the role of colleges in the economic downturn by charging us to provide re-employment opportunities for people made recently unemployed and by offering the right courses and support for the next generation of workers. With this support, we have created a portfolio of courses that has seen us attract twice as many applications as last year, which is complemented by student retention being at an all time high.

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