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You have probably heard by now that Aberdeen College and Banff & Buchan College have merged to form a new super-college, bringing more to the North East of Scotland and beyond! Our new name is North East Scotland College or, for short, NESCol. That means we now have the opportunity to combine expertise, facilities and resources in a way that best serves our students in the North East region.

OUR AIM IS TO:• Maximise opportunities for our

students, develop their skills and enable them to achieve their aspirations

• Create the best possible curriculum supported by high quality teaching and learning facilities

• Improve opportunities for seamless transition from school to college and subsequent progression to university or work

What does it mean for you?This year, because we have just got together, there are two full time guides for courses commencing this year (August 2014). The first covers courses offered in Fraserburgh, Macduff and Ellon, and the second in Aberdeen (including Altens and Craibstone).

The two guides are labeled North East Scotland College - ‘North’ and ‘Aberdeen City’, and are available now. Look out for them in school or you can download a copy on the website at

www.nescol.ac.uk!

Next year we will have one ‘super’ 2015/16 full time guide, which will cover all courses offered by the new College with better progression routes within our campuses and more degree links with universities.

So even though the name is different, North East Scotland College will still be your college, offering you even more courses, more choices and more opportunities than ever before.

Got any questions? Feel free to get in touch. Please contact:

0300 330 5550 or

enquiry@nescol.ac.uk

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Where are we?Our main campuses are the Aberdeen City Campus, situated on the Gallowgate, Aberdeen Altens Campus and the Fraserburgh Campus. We also have campuses at Craibstone and the Maritime Academy in Peterhead, as well learning centres in Macduff, Ellon and Inverurie.

ABERDEEN CITY CAMPUS

Gallowgate, Aberdeen

Aberdeen City Campus is the largest administration and teaching centre. It is situated in the heart of Aberdeen city centre, close to the main shopping areas.

The campus is currently undergoing a makeover - this image depicts what the finished building will look like by October 2014.

ABERDEEN ALTENS CAMPUS

Altens Industrial Estate, Hareness Rd, Aberdeen

Aberdeen Altens Campus is situated within Altens Industrial estate, just off Wellington Road.

FRASERBURGH CAMPUS

Henderson Road, Fraserburgh

The Fraserburgh Campus is our largest centre in Aberdeenshire and can be found just outside the Fraserburgh town centre, with its own dedicated parking.

ABERDEEN CRAIBSTONE CAMPUS

Craibstone Estate, Aberdeen

Our Craibstone campus is situated in the grounds of the Scottish Rural College on the Craibstone estate, on the northern outskirts of Aberdeen.

SCOTTISH MARITIME ACADEMY

South Road, Peterhead

The Scottish Maritime Academy is based in the heart of Peterhead and is a nautical centre of excellence.

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TUNE IN TO

ASHTON McCOUAIGAge: 20Studying: HND Photography

Why NESCol? I wanted to study here because it wasn’t too far from home and the facilities that it had to offer for the photography course were the best they could be!

What do you hope to do when you leave College? Once I graduate I would love to move and work in fashion photography, but if that wasn’t to happen I’d like to have my own studio and a successful business!

Tell us about your experience filming the advert: Filming for me was so scary - I hate being in front of a camera! But I enjoyed it a lot more than I originally thought I would. The best bit about filming and the photo shoot was definitely the people I met during it. Considering we didn’t know each other before, we all got on really well and it was a good laugh throughout!

I’m not a fan of walking around and seeing myself in every corner of the college! The first day I was at College after it changed I could feel people looking and thinking “is that her?” And a few people I know have taken pictures with the one at Union Square and tagged me in them, it’s pretty embarrassing, haha!

FABIO MIGUEL MATOLA VAZAge: 21Studying: English for Speakers of Other Languages

Why NESCol? My cousin was studying at the College and he recommended it to me.

What do you hope to do when you leave College? My current course finishes just before summer, but I’m hoping to come back to College next term. I’m still trying to decide what I want to study, but I know I definitely want to come back.

Tell us about your experience filming the advert: It was really good fun. We spent the whole of the two days laughing. I had done something similar in Portugal so it wasn’t really new to me, but I like seeing myself around the College, it’s good to get recognised. It’s fabiolous.

Loads of people have contacted me through social media and said they’ve seen the pictures and stuff. It’s really cool.

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You might have seen our advert on TV at the end of last year filmed across our campuses and starring our own NESCol students. It was filmed by AVC Media over two days in October 2013. You will see the students who starred in it all over the College Campuses in posters, banners and even in our prospectuses.

We thought it would be good for you to get to know them a bit better. If you haven’t seen the advert check it out on our website at www.nescol.ac.uk

IRFANUL BHUIYANAge: 19Studying: Shell engineering scheme

Why NESCol? The opportunities, flexibility and the feeling of being accepted by people in the college right away after moving to Scotland

What do you hope to do when you leave College? When I achieve my HND in Mechanical Engineering, which is by 2014, I hope to study a BEng Mechanical Engineering course in a university.

Tell us about your experience filming the advert: It was amazing. I met a lot of different kinds of people, and working with them was a pleasure. It helped me build up my confidence and made me feel better about myself.

My friends got quite excited about it, and when my photos started appearing everywhere in College and around the city, it was an overwhelming experience, in a good way. I am used to it now. Everyone in college recognised me because of the advert campaign and I’ll admit, it feels quite pleasant to be popular.

KARA VAN DER SCHYFFAge: 30Studying: NC Early Education and Childcare

Why NESCol? I have a few friends that have studied at NESCol and the college has a really good reputation, so it was definitely my first choice.

What do you want to go when you leave College? I haven’t made up my mind yet but I might study on to become a teacher. Luckily I still have lots of time to decide.

Tell us about your experience filming the advert: It was so much fun. I don’t think I ever realised how much filming goes into a 30 second advert!

It was a great experience. I enjoyed meeting all the people that were involved! Everyone was amazing and made the experience one to remember.

It’s not every day that you get to see your face that big around the city. It takes a little getting used to but it’s great. I have had a lot of messages and calls to confirm that it is me on TV. I have had a lot of my customers and work colleagues recognise me, which makes for great chat and laughs at work. It has been a brilliant experience and I feel really lucky to be involved.

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Cara Mitchell has had the experience of a lifetime during her first year at Aberdeen College, supporting a music superstar on stage in one of the city’s biggest performance venues.

Cara, 17, recently performed as the support act for none other than Brit and Ivor Novello award winner Emeli Sande, during her homecoming gigs in the Aberdeen Music Hall earlier this year.

“I was recommended to Emeli’s tour managers by a few local promoters and when I got the call asking me to support her I literally couldn’t believe it,” said Cara.

Supporting Sande, who had the UK’s biggest selling album of 2012, was a nerve wracking experience for Cara. But she loved every minute of her moment of fame.

She said: “Singing at the gig was amazing. I was nervous about it to begin with, but once I got on stage I just went for it. It was the biggest gig that I’ve ever played and it give me a taste for getting on stage again. I met Emeli after the gig and she was really nice to me, she’s so down to earth.”

next to me!

In addition to her big break supporting Emeli Sande, this year has been a big one for Cara. She released an EP called ‘Have You Ever Wondered?’, has performed at local venues such as The Tunnels and The Lemon Tree and recently appeared on the BBC Alba Introducing Show.

Cara describes her music as folky pop and has now released her first single, ‘Pick Up The Pace/Paint Them Red’ which she hopes will be the first of many. She has progressed to the HNC Music course at NESCol and is still loving her experience here.

“College has really helped me appreciate the business side behind the music. The course helps develop your entrepreneurial skills and gives you insight into the set-up and work that is required to promote yourself as a successful singer/songwriter in the music industry,”

Read all about it…A MUsic student’s experience of a lifetime

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Your guide to full-time courses and progression information

Aberdeen City Edition

Your guide to courses and progression information

North Edition

Our latest full-time guides are now available

and detail the extensive range of courses provided

by North East Scotland College.

One guide covers all the courses offered in our Aberdeen City campuses and the second guide all courses available at our Fraserburgh campus/Ellon & Macduff Learning Centre.

To request your copy, go online to www.nescol.ac.uk

or phone 0300 330 5550Choose from a course in one of the following curriculum areas - there is sure to be something for everyone!

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Every year Hair and Beauty students from North East Scotland College take part in the North East Scotland Hair and Beauty Festival-an intercollege competition and showcase of talent from across Scotland.

2013 saw the 10th annual Festival, which is organised by NESCol and held at the famous Aberdeen Beach Ballroom. And it was a year of real success for our students.

Among the many winners from NESCol were the North East Trainee Make-up Artist of the Year, the North East trainee Hairdresser of the Year and the Scotland Skills Trainee Beauty Therapist of the year - three of the most sought after awards at the Festival.

Hair&BEAUTYFESTIVAL

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Some school pupils are offered the opportunity to attend College one day a week through the School Links programme. Our Fraserburgh Campus runs City & Guilds units in Vehicle Systems Maintenance, which school pupils from across Aberdeenshire attend and thoroughly enjoy.

Not only does it give them new skills and teach them a subject that they can’t learn in school, but programmes like this allow pupils to get a taste for the college environment.

Connor Pilkington, 15, from Ellon Academy is part of the Vehicle Systems Maintenance course. He said: “I’m really enjoying everything about it. I think I will come here when I leave school to study full time.”

Pupils on the course get full use of the College’s motor vehicle facilities and learn in an extremely practical environment. Connor Gray, 15, from

Ellon Academy explained that the course was fun, but allowed him to learn something at the same time:

“It’s really good fun here. We have a bit of banter, but when it comes down to it we get our heads down and do the work,” he said. “It’s been a really good experience and I will definitely come here when I leave school.”

Jordan Scott, 15, from Turriff Academy agreed. “It’s really good fun,” he said. “We’ve been learning about how different parts of the car work and I’ve even managed to get a part time job at a garage in Turriff - they decided to give me the job after finding out that I came to College once a week.”

But practical work skills are not all that pupils have a chance to learn through coming to College once a week. In fact, for the pupils on the Vehicle Systems Maintenance course, learning to work as a team - sometimes with people from other schools and backgrounds - has been a very valuable lesson.

“It’s been really good to learn how to work as a team, we’ve learned that sometimes two minds are better than one,” said Connor Gray.

“It’s been really good to meet and work with new people,” Jordan added. “I’m friends with them all on Facebook.”

There are a range of other courses available through the School Links programme. Ask your guidance teacher for more information.

Automotive Courses are also available at our Aberdeen Altens Campus.

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One of the best things about studying at NESCol is the

practical facilities we offer our students. Learning

isn’t all about sitting in a classroom. We have fully

operating hair salons for our Hair and Beauty

students, recording studios for our Music and Sound

Production students, and a live broadcasting radio

station for Radio Production students, plus so much more.

Our Cookery and Hospitality students prepare and serve food in Gate 63 at the Aberdeen City Campus and the Wallace Restaurant in the Fraserburgh Campus.

Gate 63 is a recently refurbished, fully functioning fine dining restaurant that serves members of the public. The Wallace Restaurant operates in the same way and is due to be refurbished at the start of 2014.

Working in this environment as part of their course allows students to build front of house skills and gain experience of working in a fully functioning professional kitchen, building expertise that transfer directly into the workplace.

Advanced Professional Cookery student James Welsh, who is in his third year of study at Aberdeen City Campus, explained how beneficial this is.

“Working in Gate 63 gives you a great opportunity to practice what it is like to work in a professional kitchen. Most people in their third year of Professional Cookery actually have a job in a

professional kitchen, so having worked here previously gives them a really good understanding of how things operate and also is great to put on a CV to help you find a job.

“In first year your work front of house, which helps to show you how restaurants function. Then you move into the kitchen to prep and cook. It really is a great experience.”

To find out more about the practical facilities on offer at NESCol, speak to your guidance teacher about arranging a visit to one or more of our campuses, or come along to our open days.

Open days will take place at our Fraserburgh Campus on Thursday,

March 6, 2014 from 4.30pm until 7.30pm and at our Aberdeen

campuses (City, Altens and Craibstone) on Saturday, March 15 from 10am until 2pm.

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Studying at College can also open doors to degree level study. There

are several ‘2+2’ courses on offer at NESCol. These are where you attend College for two years or until you

have completed your HND and then for the following two years you progress

to university, where you can enter year three of an appropriate degree.

Many students who follow this route find that this allows College to act as a great stepping stone between school and university. For some, who never even considered university as an option, College can help to build up the necessary skills and confidence to tackle University and surpass their own expectations.

NESCol has excellent links with 11 Higher Education institutions in Scotland: Robert Gordon University, University of Aberdeen, Dundee University, University of Abertay, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland’s Rural College, University of the Highlands and Islands, University of the West of Scotland and Glasgow Caledonian. They also now offer degree opportunities with the Open University, which are delivered on a part time basis through the College.

thenextstep

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JAMIE ROBERTSONHND Communication with Media3rd year of BA (Honours) MediaRGU.

Jamie applied for HND Communication with Media, deciding to follow his ambitions of working in the media industry. He used the Degree Link with RGU to secure a place in third year of the BA (Hons) Media course at RGU.

“I had always been interested in media, marketing and journalism, and I knew there were courses available at university, but uni was always a massive deal to me,” he said. “I felt that it would be safer to go to College first and do my two plus two.

“College was an absolutely excellent experience. The opportunities it gave me were endless. The lecturers were fantastic and always helpful. The way the course was set out broke you in easily, it helped you to look at the future and how to apply what you were learning practically. It really helped me to prepare for university.”

MAIRI MURRAYHND Social Sciences3rd year of BA SociologyOpen University

Mairi had tried college a few times before she applied for the Introduction to Social Sciences course at North East Scotland College. She surprised herself and progressed all the way through to the HND. She has now taken full advantage of the College’s links with the Open University and is in third year studying BA Sociology. Because of the OU link with NESCol, students in the OU course receive tutorials from a College lecturer on a regular basis, assisting them with self study.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the support I got at College helped me to get to where I am. I never imagined when I started that I would actually stick it out and get my HND and I never would have done a university course if it wasn’t for the College.

“We really have the best of both worlds with this course. We have the experience of being in College so being disciplined about working isn’t hard and we learned so much through College that really helps. Normally we would have five tutorials in a whole year with the OU, but we get a lot more with Brian. It is so helpful to have someone you can speak to about your coursework.”

“You also have the benefit of already knowing the people in your class, because most of them went to College with you, so you can ask each other for help or advice, but you have the element of distance learning as well, so you can still have a job and look after your kids without worrying about a schedule.”

SEAN REILLYHND Computing:Software Development3rd year of Bachelor of ScienceUniversity of Aberdeen

Sean never dreamt when he left Oldmachar Academy after fourth year, that he would be attending the University of Aberdeen on a Bachelor of Science Degree just a few years later. But once he channelled his interest in computing, that’s exactly what has happened. He progressed from the Introduction to IT course at North East Scotland College right up to an HND in Software Development.

“I had great fun in college, the lecturers were fantastic and I made friend. Once I got into my third and fourth year, I really enjoyed the programming side of IT.

“I could have gone to a number of universities but Aberdeen is close to home and the course is well established there. Because of the links between the College and Aberdeen Uni I managed to get straight into third year. I am really enjoying it and have already made friends.”

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OLDMACHARGAMES This year will see one

of the world’s biggest sporting events come to Scotland and NESCol is doing its part to celebrate the Commonwealth Games locally.

A group of HND Sports Coaching students from our Aberdeen City campus have organised a Commonwealth Games event for schools in the city – the Oldmachar Commonwealth Games.

The event came about when the head teacher of Middleton Park Primary approached NESCol asking if students would like to be involved in planning an event for them. It is part of the Celebrate project, which provides grants to community projects across Scotland that are in place to celebrate the Commonwealth Games.

This project will engage 525 Primary 5-7 pupils from across the city in over 20 hours of quality sports coaching, helping them build skills, confidence and enthusiasm. The pupils from Danestone Primary, Middleton Park Primary, Farehill Primary, Glashieburn Primary and Greenbrae Primary will then compete in the Oldmachar Commonwealth Games.

HND Sports Coaching students Ryan Hood, Sonia Maitland, Paige Stalker, Shelley Morris, Leah Gordon and Calum Reddish are relishing the opportunity to plan the Games.

“We’ve been organising the event,” said Paige. “We chose the sports to include, which countries to represent, how we would split up the groups and all of the equipment we will need on the day.”

“We’ve really enjoyed the experience,” said Ryan. “We’ve never done something like this before.”Shelley added: “It’s given us first-hand experience of planning and marketing an event and it should be a really great experience for the school pupils.”

The Oldmachar Commonwealth Games will take place in June.

The Aberdeen Craibstone Campus is not just a great place to study, but a great place to live too - if you’re an animal, of course.

And North East Scotland College’s ‘animal family’ at Craibstone has grown recently with four new arrivals. A trio of ferrets and a Shetland pony have been given a new home at the site, having been abandoned by their owners before being rescued by the SSPCA.

Fergus, a Shetland pony, arrived in September and has settled in well with the other Shetland ponies already housed on the site. He is set to play a starring role in STV’s Animal 999 next year as the story of his rescue and rehoming has been filmed for the show. The laid-back pony has taken all of the attention in his stride, however, and enjoys daily walks with the rest of the ‘family’ around the Craibstone Estate.

The three new ferrets, Twist, Wriggle and Fidget, have joined resident ferret Dizzy in ‘Ferret World’. Lecturer Amy Duncan said, “The new ferrets are proving to be very playful so their new names are rather appropriate!”

Team Manager for Sport, Animal Care and Science at North East Scotland College Trish Swan said, “The SSPCA is very supportive of the work done by the College at the Craibstone Campus so we are delighted to be able to help them by offering a new home to these four abandoned animals.”

As well as the expansion to the animals at the Campus, there is also a planned expansion to the courses offered on site. Plans are under way to prepare for the start of the Level 3 City & Guilds Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, which will be offered from August 2014. This course is likely to attract a lot of interest and we are looking forward to working with veterinary practices in the area to support this highly specialised industry. Further details can be found on our website www.nescol.ac.uk

New additions to Craibstone Family create a stir

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“What do you want to do when you leave College?” It is a tricky question when you are still at school.

But 21-year-old Dylan Nelson from Aberdeen knew the answer before he came to College in 2011 to study his HND in Computing: get a good job.

He said: “I was raised in Aberdeen and attended Kincorth Academy until sixth year. I then came to College to study HND Computing: Technical Support because I wanted to study something that would lead me straight into a good career.

“I’ve always had in interest in computing and technology in general, so it just made sense to pursue a career in IT.”

And for Dylan, along with some of his classmates, coming to North East Scotland College has seen him take steps towards the successful career he dreamed of.

Several NESCol students are realising the benefits of a collaborative venture between the College, a local recruitment agency and major oil services company.Four computing students have secured positions with Wood Group, a large employer in the north-east oil and gas industry.

The venture that saw them secure employment began at the end of last year when the curriculum leader for Computing: Networking at the College met with recruitment specialists

The end of January saw our HND Acting and Performance year two students take to the stage of our Aberdeen Campus’ Basement Theatre to perform their version of Joshua Sobel’s Ghetto.

The musical production, which centres on the lives of Jews during World War II, went down a storm with audiences.The show is just one of several that our acting and performance students put on throughout the year and was a great opportunity for our talented students to showcase their skills.

TALENT SHINES bright IN THE

from Entrust People Ltd. The agency was keen to work with the College to identify students who wanted to go directly into employment upon completion of their Higher National Diploma (HND).

Dylan said: “Since leaving College I have secured a job as a Service Desk Analyst with Wood Group and it’s the best job I’ve ever had!”

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Open EveningThursday 6 march 2014

4.30pm - 7.30pmFraserburgh Campus

Information DaySaturday 15 March 2014

10.00am - 2.00pmAberdeen City Campus &Aberdeen Altens Campus

DON’T FORGET oUR

Come along to our Information Day or Open Evening where

our friendly and helpful staff will be

happy to answer any questions you have relating to courses

starting in 2014.