TWO, new digital technologies based degree courses – run jointly by Forth Valley College and the University of Stirling – mirror a recent Scottish Government drive to develop new ICT skills and encourage more women into the sector.
First Minister, Alex Salmond, announced a £6.6 million funding boost for the sector during Make Young People Your Business Week on Wednesday 12 March and Forth Valley College have already revamped the curriculums of all their computing courses in line with the new thinking.
The new BSc (Hons) Applied Computing and BA (Hons) Digital Media degree courses – where students study for two years at college before completing their courses at the University of Stirling – are ideal examples of the focus on promoting the digital technologies industry as a career path to younger people while recognising the successes in the sector in Scotland.
Scottish Government statistics have revealed that Scotland’s information and communications technology (ICT) and digital technology industry creates approximately £3 billion for the economy in Scotland and employs around 73,000 digital technology professionals.
The innovators at Forth Valley College and the University of Stirling have recognised this with the two new degree programmes to add to the BSc Applied Biological Science and BA Heritage and Conservation degree courses which are being offered under the college and university partnership.
Forth Valley College principal, Dr Ken Thomson, said: “These two new degree courses are another great example of the excellent partnership we have with the University of Stirling.
“Our Science and Computing and Creative Industries Departments have once again shown their innovation in keeping ahead of the latest thinking and creating courses which reflect what industry and new students require.”
Professor Gerry McCormac, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Stirling, said: “We are delighted to have developed these two innovative new courses in partnership with Forth Valley College.
“This further strengthens our partnership after the successful launch of the first two joint courses in Heritage and Conservation and Applied Biological Science last year.
“The new digital technology-based courses will help produce more high-quality, ‘work-ready’ graduates and will encourage more young people to pursue careers in the ICT sector, in line with Scottish Government objectives.”
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Contact: Stuart Hall
Phone: 01324403125
Email: stuart.hall@forthvalley.ac.uk
Website: http://www.forthvalley.ac.uk
