During these uncertain times it has never been more important for us all to work together to overcome the major issues which will face our economy in the weeks and months ahead.

Meaningful partnership work, coupled with enterprising and creative thinking, really will be vital as we look to emerge stronger and wiser from the coronavirus crisis

To play our part the college is continuing do all we can to expose all our students to enterprise and creative thinking at every opportunity.  

Working in partnership with organisations such Fife Council, Bridge to Business, Social Enterprise Academy and the Adam Smith Global Foundation, our own academic faculty will continue drive our already well-established enterprise agenda throughout our portfolio as well as across the college and the region more widely.

To do this we have already been busy creating a suite of planned activities which will provide opportunities for students, at all levels, to develop their enterprise skills and to engage with a range of partners. 

This work has so far seen a number of programmes developed which provide accessible materials across Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) levels as well as joint offerings with various partner organisations.

Examples so far include:

  • A Social Enterprise Competition for nursery to S3 pupils throughout Fife in partnership with the Social Enterprise Academy and Fife Council Economic Development.
  • Social Enterprise Academy conducting Staff Development Opportunities to support Fife College staff to deliver the enterprise curriculum.
  • Bridge 2 Business supporting with a full-time Business Programme Executive who will support the Curriculum and partnership offering including the Bridge to Business Portfolio.
  • Fife Economic Development supporting students through master classes, mainstream education and one to one support.
  • Fife Economic Development and Fife Council offering a joint Enterprise scholarship through the college’s scholarship programme.

Another great example of how partnership working can make a real difference is our recent School College Partnership programme with Glenrothes High School.

In partnership with them we have been able to develop an alternative model for the delivery of their SCQF levels 5 and 6 in Business and Administration. Through innovative teaching and assessment, our School College Partnership team worked with the school to create opportunities for pupils to complete National Progression Awards (NPAs) at SCQF level 5 and 6, alongside the National 5 and Higher awards. This has offered a wider range of pathways and gave pupils the opportunity to gain additional SCQF credit rated SQA qualifications while still at school.

The NPA in Administrative Studies at SCQF Level 4 was delivered during the school exam study leave period. This offered pupils the opportunity to gain an internationally recognised qualification at SCQF level 4 during the break, consolidating and building upon the knowledge and understanding they already had.

The partnership agreement, and other pathways we have created with the school, have not just been great for pupils but also for the school and college. Benefits have included a greater knowledge of each other’s curriculum as well as providing an excellent staff development opportunity.

The programme has been such a success that plans are in place to roll a similar scheme out with another high school in the region.

Building on these mutually beneficial partnerships, at both school level and across the college, will be vital in our mission to give pupils and students in Fife as many opportunities as possible to think in an enterprising and creative way.

Our ambition is that these enterprising and creative pupils and students will be equipped with the tools, not only to play a part in tackling the long-lasting impacts of the current crisis, but also other global issues which are sure to affect our lives in the future.

To find out more about business and enterprise study options available at Fife College, visit our business and enterprise course pages. 

For more information about our School College Partnership visit our School College Partnership pages.