Edinburgh's Telford College
Encyclopedia
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder.-Early career:...
, the great Scottish civil engineer, was established in 1968. The College is a corporate institution governed by a Board of Management whose members are representative of key industrial and commercial sectors, professional organisations and local government. On 15 September 2006, Telford College's new purposely built main campus was opened and to celebrate the launch of the newly profound institution. The first Minister of Scotland, the Rt. Hon. Jack McConnell
Jack McConnell
Jack Wilson McConnell, Baron McConnell of Glenscorrodale is a British Labour life peer in the House of Lords. He was third First Minister of Scotland from 2001 to 2007, making him the longest serving First Minister in the history of the Scottish Parliament...
officially opened the doors to the students, the building is located in the Granton
Granton
-Places:Australia* Granton, TasmaniaCanada* Granton, Nova ScotiaScotland* Granton, EdinburghUnited States* Granton, Wisconsin...
area of North Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. The ‘Construction Centre of Excellence’ at the Forthside Building on West Shore Road opened on 29 October. The College also hosts the JISC Regional Support Centre Scotland North & East. Telford College is one of the most popular colleges in Scotland and is the largest college in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
The College Stats
- The College has a student population of over 15,883 accounting for 18,225 enrollments.
- Full-time study accounts for 19% of enrollments.
- Part-time study accounts for 58% of enrollments.
- Open learning accounts for 23% of enrollments.
- 18% of the College activity is higher educationHigher educationHigher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
- 26% of teaching is for students from Scotland's most deprived, 20% of postcode areas.
Principal and CEO
The current Principal and CEO of the College is Miles Dibsdall OBE.Past Principals of the college are:
- Greg Irving 2009-2010
- Ray Harris 2002 - 2009
- Fiona Baikie 1996–2002
- Michael Taylor 1985–1996
- Alexander Inglis OBE 1977 - 1985
- Robert McLeod OBE 1966–1977 (Appointed 1964)
Student's Representative and Union President
The current President is Mouris BashirPast Union Presidents and life members of the Union are:
- Surya Prakash Bhatta 2010-2011
- Georgie Badakhshan 2009-2010
- Martin Tait 2008 - 2009
- T. Fitchett 2007 - 2008
- Rizia Robertson 2006 - 2007
- William Forsyth 2005 - 2006
- David McDonald 2004 - 2005
- David Andrews 2003 - 2004
- Jenni Watson 2002 - 2003
- Jason Currie 2001 - 2002
- Norman Rees 2000 - 2001
- Linda Warwikandwa 1999
- Acting President - Eddie Mitchell 1999
- Fraser Stewart 1998
- Dave Richards 1996 - 1998
- Brendan Curran 1994 - 1996
Past Union Vice Presidents are:
- Amani Byrne 2006 - 2007
- Bill Myerscough 2005 - 2006
- Claire Lane 2004 - 2005
- Harry Dulger 2003 - 2004
- Andrew Wilson 2002 - 2003
- David Jobson 2001 - 2002
- Acting Vice President - Michael A. Norbury 1999
- Eddie Mitchell 1998 - 2000
- Fraser Stewart 1997 - 1998
Edinburgh's Telford College Student Union
The college union is a member of the National Union of Students and is therefore a separate independent organisation from the college and as a union it is loyal to and supports its members so that students can feel they have a voice. It defends student rights on all levels. It is administered by a small executive of 7 elected members, one full time and 6 part time, and one paid member of staff.Students
- Full-time enrolments total 3,648 with the remaining 16,407 choosing short full-time, block release, part-time, evening and weekend, work based, or open learning as a study option.
- 40% of students are in permanent or temporary employment.
- More than 50% of the student population is aged 25 years or older.
- The student body is 53% female and 47% male.
- 4,300 International students come from 116 countries with more than 2,100 of these coming from outside the EU.
- 1 in 10 of the working age population is enrolled in Scotland’s Colleges.
Courses
Edinburgh's Telford College offers 1,000 Courses including areas from Business and I.T to Sports and Fitness and Performing Arts. Please see external links for more information. Telford College provides learning through technology such as "Virtual learning" utilising the internet access for assignments.The courses are diverse in all kinds of fields with many routes of progression such as Introductory courses to HN courses offering students higher levels of understanding and practical work that will enable them to find employment after graduation or continue further by entering into degree courses at year 2 or 3 at partnered Universities. As of Spring 2009, Telford College was to be the only College in Scotland offering Dental Technology Training which seems to be an increasing industry within the Healthcare sector. TELFORD offers course flexibility in which students can learn at their own pace from Full-time, Part-time, Open Learning, Work Based, Block Release, Day Release, Evenings and Weekends and On-Line (Virtual Learning). Most courses offer variations between two or three study choice options.
Course Areas
- Business and IT
- Childcare and Social Care
- Communication and Social Science
- Design, Media and Computing
- Engineering and the Built Environment
- Fine Art
- Food and Hospitality
- Glazing, Plumbing and Finishing Trades
- Hair and Beauty
- Health Studies
- Highers
- Languages and ESOL
- Pathways
- Performing Arts
- Sport and Fitness
- Sports Studies
- Textiles, Theatre Skills and Music
- Trowel and Highway services
- Veterinary and the Sciences
- Wood and Masonry Trades
Engineering
Jamie Bell, SVQ Level 2 (Technical Pathways) Performing Engineering Operations at Telford College won the award of Best in Engineering and was congratulated with a glass trophy and a £250 cash prize.Food and Hospitality
A new partnership between Edinburgh’s Telford College and entrepreneur and celebrity chef Tommy MiahTommy Miah
Mohammad Ajman Miah , better known as Tommy Miah, is a British celebrity chef of Bangladeshi origin. He is an internationally renowned chef, being one of the leading Bangladeshi businessman in the United Kingdom. He owns an award-winning restaurant; his flagship restaurant is located in Edinburgh...
will offer International students a unique opportunity to learn the tricks of the hospitality trade in both Bangladesh and Edinburgh. Tommy Miah
Tommy Miah
Mohammad Ajman Miah , better known as Tommy Miah, is a British celebrity chef of Bangladeshi origin. He is an internationally renowned chef, being one of the leading Bangladeshi businessman in the United Kingdom. He owns an award-winning restaurant; his flagship restaurant is located in Edinburgh...
, owner of the award-winning Raj Restaurant and founder and promoter of the International Indian Chef of the Year competition which is held annually at Telford College, will promote the partnership in Bangladesh and help recruit applicants.
Performing arts
River CityRiver City
River City is a Scottish television soap opera, first broadcast in Scotland on BBC Scotland on 24 September 2002. River City storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional district of Shieldinch in Glasgow...
star Jenny Ryan
Jenny Ryan
Jenny Ryan is a Scottish actress.She is probably best known for playing Tina Hunter in the popular BBC Scotland soap opera River City.Jenny is now playing the character of Michelle in the new Scottish comedy programme, Dear Green Place....
(a former student of Telford College) conducted an acting workshop for the students in sharing their experiences of the acting industry with the students and gave them advice on acting for camera, auditioning and contacting casting directors. Karen Gillan
Karen Gillan
Karen Sheila Gillan is a Scottish actress and former model who is best known for her current portrayal of Amy Pond in the British science fiction series Doctor Who.-Early life:...
, a former acting student at the college, is best known for her current portrayal of Amy Pond
Amy Pond
Amelia Jessica 'Amy' Pond is a fictional character portrayed by Karen Gillan in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
in the BBC science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. Keith Jack, runner-up in BBC talent show Any Dream Will Do
Any Dream Will Do (TV series)
Any Dream Will Do, often known as 'Joseph', was a 2007 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom. It searched for a new, unknown lead to play Joseph in a West End revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.The show...
, was a student in the Performing Arts Department at Telford College.
WorldSkills Competition
Four students from Edinburgh’s Telford College are preparing to showcase their skills on the national stage after achieving success at the Scottish heats of the WorldSkills UK competitions.Facilities and Services
There are many facilities and services on offer to the students, staff and general community to take advantage of;Zero-One
A restaurant operated by Telford's students and staff. It provides a platform for them to showcase their professional skills. The restaurant is open to all students and staff as well as the public.STUDIO
A place where students are able to practice their skills in hairdressing. As part of promoting and encouraging the students at Telford College to be inventive, an event was made to show just how talented and creative the students can be. The event was a take on the X-Factor television series concept except that it was for Hair design and innovation. HAIR FACTOR VIDEO.In the Video, it documents the contestant's preparation and the winning result as well as some guest interviews.
SPA
Telford College also has its own SPA centre offering skilled practitioners in Beauty services for pedicures, facials, airbrush tanning, waxing to body massage, aromatherapy and leading on to more advanced treatments such as facial lifting, micro-dermabrasion and presso-therapy. Additional facilities include a jacuzzi and a sauna.Waterfront Nursery
Waterfront nursery offers childcare services for Telford's college students, staff and the public.JobZone Plus
It is an on-campus facility where students can gain free expert employment advice, access to job opportunities, confidential one-to-one support and help in finding jobs for people who want to work. Jobzone Plus also help with writing CV's, filling in application forms and prepares the candidate for interviews and talks to the employer on their behalf. They also provide Student Services in areas such as Finance, Counselling, Child care, Accommodation, Careers Guidance and Learning Support.Local economy
Construction of a £70 million project north of West GrantonGranton, Edinburgh
Granton is a district in the north of Edinburgh, Scotland. Granton forms part of Edinburgh's waterfront along the Firth of Forth and is, historically, an industrial area having a large harbour. Granton is part of Edinburgh's large scale waterfront regeneration programme.-Name:Granton first appears...
Road in the Edinburgh Waterfront development brought the existing four campuses on to a single site in North Edinburgh. The new development was designed by HOK Architects and Buro Happold
Buro Happold
Buro Happold is a professional services firm providing engineering consultancy, design, planning, project management and consulting services for all aspects of buildings, infrastructure and the environment, with its head office in Bath, Somerset...
.
Other information
The HUB
International Learning
Since 1990's (estimate) there has been International students commencing their enrolment at the college. Joint partnerships have been formed with International educational institutes in India and China to develop a learning bridge for students overseas to gain International credited and recognised qualifications. In addition, Telford has also won an award for ‘Outstanding International Achievement in Scotland’s Colleges’ from the Scottish Council for Development and Industry Award. In relation to the commandment from the Association of College’s Beacon Awards for ‘International Student Support’.