
West Lothian College has been shortlisted in the Widening Participation Award category of the national Herald Higher Education Awards recently.
The Herald Higher Education Awards, now in their fifth year, were launched to recognise the outstanding achievements of colleges and universities. There are 16 award categories covering areas such as partnerships, staff contribution, outstanding students and initiatives geared at improving the learning experience and employability of students.
The college has been shortlisted within the Widening Participation Award category for the international opportunities made available to students. The college has been recognised for offering students a chance to work abroad, enhancing the employability, life skills and qualifications of over 100 learners each academic year.
In 2017/18, students travelled to 6 overseas destinations for two weeks to carry out work placements and learn about work and life in another country. Students who had never been abroad before or lived within the most deprived areas in West Lothian were prioritised for travel. The college found that the students who were given these opportunities returned to college motivated, engaged in their studies and ultimately received better results.
The college are up against The Open University, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the University of Glasgow. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony on Wednesday 5 June at the Crowne Plaza, Glasgow.
Daniel Evans, Head of International Projects at the college said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted in the Herald Higher Education Awards in recognition of our international projects. We are very proud of the opportunities we offer our students and it is great to see them come back from their experiences more confident and more engaged with college."