The Barony Campus of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has been shortlisted for two prestigious national training awards.
SRUC has been named as a finalist in two categories – celebrating innovation and creativity – in the Scottish Training Federation (STF) Annual Awards 2016, recognised as the sector’s Oscars for Scotland.
In the Innovation in Training section SRUC will go head to head with Forth Valley College and Concrete Scotland for the award.
SRUC Barony Campus created an online learning platform to help equine students with their horse care studies at sister Oatridge Campus in West Lothian. This replaced a complex paper-based assessment and appeals to the students because it is interactive and provides peer review and support via text and downloads.
Introducing the project has resulted in a 27% rise in A-grades for the practical element of the HNC Equine Studies course.
Jackie Irving, Animal Care Programme Team Leader at Barony, said: “Although all this information was previously available as paper guidance – the fact it is now online has helped with successful student achievement.
“The new approach is a valuable experience for both groups of students and develops student confidence and self-reflection.”
SRUC is also a finalist in the Most Innovative and Creative Employability Provider of the Year category – shortlisted alongside just one other training provider Sibbald Training.
The Barony campus introduced an authentic learning programme – using the same on-line platform – providing Arboriculture students with real-life work experience in tree and woodland management.
The Practical Contract Management project allows students to record digital evidence – such as drone and GoPro video footage.
This initiative has attracted interest from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) with a view to it being rolled out across Scotland.
Andrew Treadaway, Forestry and Arboriculture Lecturer, said: “This project has really engaged our students – using innovative and creative digital ways to give them relevant skills which developed and built their professional skills suitable for running a commercial business.”
The STF awards celebrate the best in work based training. The organisation represents over 130 providers across Scotland – including many colleges – and is recognised as the “voice of training providers” in the country.
Ali Hastie, Barony Campus e-Learning Developer, said: “We are all delighted that these challenging and exciting projects have been shortlisted for these prestigious national awards.
“This is recognition of the projects teams’ hard work, dedication and passion to improve the teaching, and the learning experience for our students.”
The winners will be announced at the STF annual awards at Crieff Hydro on 27 September, 2016.
Photo : SRUC Barony’s Arboriculture students with Ali Hastie, e-Learning Developer (far left) and lecturer Andrew Treadaway (third left).
