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2010

As Higher results revealed, Abertay graduates look to a greener future

Abertay graduate - large image

To find out about clearing options with Abertay, call 01382 30 80 80 now or view our courses with spaces available.

With school pupils across Scotland waiting nervously for their Higher results and planning their future, this year’s graduates from the University of Abertay Dundee are looking to create a greener, cleaner future.

These include Judith Clark, who leads a Dundee project to cut carbon emissions; Iain Mitchell, a Sports Coach with Dundee City Council who helps children become healthier and more active; and Jean Kabuage, who came to Abertay to learn business and scientific skills to take back to her home country, Kenya.

Graduates from Abertay are well placed to get jobs in a wide range of industries because the university works directly with employers to develop courses. Some places to start this September are still available on courses including business, health, nutrition and sport. Students should call 01382 30 80 80 to find out more.

Judith, who studied BSc Food Nutrition and Health, is now project coordinator of STRIDE (Sustainable Travel in Dundee East) which helps local people cut their carbon emissions by cycling and walking more.

She said: “My job is very challenging and very exciting. My degree at Abertay really opened my eyes and gave me a lot more confidence in what I could achieve. I had three firm job offers in very different areas before I graduated, all because I’d done a really practical course.

“The subjects at Abertay really prepare you for the job market because they give you such a wide range of skills.”

Iain, who studied BSc Sports Coaching, got the opportunity for work experience as part of his degree. This led to a permanent post as a Sports Coach with Dundee City Council, where he coaches primary school children and prepares them for their first competitions.

He said: “Getting work experience as part of my degree has been a huge help in getting a proper paid job before I’d even graduated. All the learning at Abertay was aimed at teaching us the skills needed for work, and in developing our abilities as professional coaches.

“But as well as this, what I enjoyed most about Abertay is the strong feeling of community. As it’s a smaller university everyone is very friendly and very personal. I have friends who’ve dropped out from other unis because of a lack of support – but Abertay felt like a home from home.”

Jean, who studied MSc Environment and Business, plans to return to Kenya to improve environmental awareness. This is a huge problem in the country, but by taking business and scientific skills back from Abertay she hopes to help control waste and tackle water pollution.

She said: “Studying at Abertay was first-class. The staff are excellent, the classes are fun and very interactive, and having access to a state-of-the-art library and field trips really helped me to learn.

“The next challenge is using the knowledge I gained to help tackle the widespread lack of environmental awareness in Kenya. The problem is teaching people how human activities impact on the environment and their lives, but I now feel really well placed to do this.”

Abertay’s mission is to offer a different approach to higher education, by developing the skills that employers need. This can be seen in the university’s world-leading position in the computer games industry, its physiology and sports science facilities, and forensic crime labs for students to practise collecting evidence.

Students wanting to discuss the options for their future should call 01382 30 80 80 today. Abertay’s expert advisers are waiting to help.

(Ends)

Print-ready images of all three graduates are available on request.

For media enquiries, please contact Chris Wilson (Communications Officer) – T: 01382 308935 M: 07837 250284 E: chris.wilson@abertay.ac.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

The full list of courses available to start this September is available at http://www.abertay.ac.uk/applying/clearing/

Judith Clark is from Dundee. Her previous jobs include being a family support worker for Barnados and a PE lecturer. She came to Abertay University after raising her family, with the ambition of developing new skills and reaching higher level jobs.

Iain Mitchell is from Bridge of Allan, near Stirling. He came to university from Dunblane High School and plans to continue his studies at Abertay in sports psychology, helping develop what he has already learned.

Jean Kabuage is from Nairobi in Kenya. She came from Kianda High School and is now working with a not-for-profit environmental organisation, gaining further skills and experience to take back home to Kenya.

 

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