The University of Abertay Dundee and Adam Smith College will today (21 November 2008) announce a new strategic partnership.
The agreement, which will see the development of a significant university presence in Central Fife, has been warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is Chancellor of Adam Smith College.
The joint announcement will be made by College Principal, Dr Craig Thomson and University Principal, Professor Bernard King at the College graduation final ceremony on Friday 21st November.
Under the terms of the new partnership, students studying for Abertay degrees at Adam Smith College will become formally registered as Abertay University students. They will enjoy enhanced access to University-level resources and teaching, while still studying close to home in Fife.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown who is also Chancellor of Adam Smith College has said “I commend the partnership work between the College and the University of Abertay Dundee. I am aware that this has opened up new routes to higher education for the population of Central Fife which will greatly assist its future development. Each year at these graduation ceremonies the results of this partnership are evident as an increasing number of students graduate with their Bachelors degrees.”
He went on to say “I welcome the work that is now going on to extend these opportunities and to bring a university presence into Central Fife. The strategic partnership between the university and the college will open up opportunities for future students to study a wider range of degree level programmes and will create a research gateway – providing local companies with access to expertise and support in the development of their business. “
Adam Smith College and Abertay University have developed courses to suit the local economy and workforce in Fife and the new initiative builds on their partnership to date. Degrees available include: Engineering, Construction, Management, Computer Networking and Supporting Learning Difficulties.
Over the next few months a series of developments will take place including the launch of a research and knowledge transfer gateway and the establishment of enhanced study/research facilities on the Priory Campus.
Abertay plans to deliver exciting new degree courses for HND graduates in a range of technology and design subjects, and to extend current courses by offering flexible and online delivery.
In addition to offering opportunities for those attending the university programmes in Fife, there will be a strong focus on support for school pupils on advanced higher programmes and this will include the opportunity for them to sample university courses.
Abertay Principal, Professor Bernard King CBE emphasised the strong partnership between the university and the college : “This is a major step forward for the partnership that we have enjoyed with Adam Smith College and its predecessors going back over 10 years. Our new, closer relationship involving co-location promises great things for the community in Fife, and I am sure it could be a model for similar partnerships between higher and further education elsewhere in Scotland.”
Adam Smith Principal, Dr Craig Thomson, welcomed the development. “This is excellent news for Fife. Higher level skills and knowledge are essential for Fife’s future. The development of a new university presence will extend opportunity and help to drive the economy.”
Adam Smith’s Student President, John Scott, commented: “This announcement is great news for people in Fife. It can be difficult to pursue degrees in Fife at times, particularly for people from lower income backgrounds and those with family and other responsibilities. This new initiative will hopefully mean getting a degree is a real option for a greater number of people. It is also great news for current students, cementing Adam Smith’s position as one of the leading colleges in Scotland.
Notes to Editors
• Research commissioned by Adam Smith College, showed that while each of Fife’s constituencies rank above the Scottish average for percentage of the population with Higher National (HN) qualifications, Central Fife is over six percentage points behind the national average when compared with numbers of degree holding adults – this equates to 9,000 fewer people with degrees than the Scottish average.
• The bachelors courses to be initially offered by the Abertay University Centre at Adam Smith College will be:
• BA Administration Management
• BSc Applied Networking Technologies
• BSc Construction
• BSc Engineering
• BA Interactive Media: Television
• BA Learning Difficulties/Disabilities
• BA Management
• BSc Web Design and Development
• BA Visual Communication and Digital Publishing