Case studies and graduate successes

Andrew Cairns, a web design development student from Abertay, has developed a new web tool which will allow businesses to increase their profits by turning clients’ jobs around up to three times faster. The impact of the tool will mean that businesses are able to take on more work, grow their client base and increase turnover.

Lecturer of the Web Design and Development course Malcolm McTavish said: “Andrew is a first class student in every sense of the word. He is an innovator and has shown consistent determination and hard work throughout his time with us, even helping younger students with their studies. He’s got a great future ahead of him.”

Andrew, who switched to Abertay from Dundee University during first year, said he was attracted to Abertay because of its excellent reputation in the IT industry.

Andrew said: “I began to hear more and more about Abertay through trade press and online forums, and when I heard about the Web Design and Development course it seemed a perfect fit for me.

“I knew 100% I wanted to be a web developer and set goals for myself early in my career. No other course in Scotland could offer me the same opportunities as Abertay and the lectures and support staff have been fantastic in helping me achieve my potential.”

Andrew, from Methil in Fife, developed the tool as part of his honours year dissertation project. Though similar tools, or frameworks as they are known in the industry, have been developed before, they can be very problematic to use. Andrew's framework has been built with careful consideration for development times that allow rapid development of internet applications. Furthermore, integrating the structure of the framework allows developers to easily reuse the functionality on other projects.

Andrew said: “I’m really excited about the possibilities offered by my framework. It has already been incorporated into a series of live websites and has demonstrated drastically reduced development times which has caught the interest of local web development organisations Wangbar Ltd and MTC Media."

Wangbar's Euan Smith commented: "Integrating Andrew's framework has significantly decreased our development times and allows multiple developers to work on the same project simultaneously."

Andrew is already putting plans into place to manage the popularity of his design, he said: "With demand for the framework increasing, I’m looking into practical ways of sharing resources such as a community website whereby resources could be distributed between all developers using the system."

As to his own future, Andrew is looking forward to continuing his success and has been nominated for the Young Software Engineer of the Year Awards. Andrew said: “I want to be an innovator, whether that means being self-employed or working for a multi-national company who are focused on innovation and developing new products to improve the industry. There are a lot of opportunities out there.”

To contact Andrew go to: www.acairns.co.uk

Why did you come to Abertay?

I originally came to Abertay on an access course which was advertised in the local paper offering people who had been away from formal education a chance to gain study skills. This was something I was interested in as I had decided when my youngest daughter went to school I would do some kind of formal training to get a career and not just a 'job'. I really enjoyed the access course and decided to have a go at university, and so I chose Abertay because I liked everything about it: the course structure, the staff I had met, the support systems that are in place, the other students I had met, and the facilities such as the library.

What is good about psychology?

When I began on the access course, I was thinking about doing a course in another area but we did a psychology module for which we had to do a piece of coursework, and after the first psychology seminar I knew I wasn't going to spend four years studying my original course, I had to learn more about psychology. Psychology is a huge field with something for everyone. I had no idea what the subject area involved until I came to Abertay, I certainly didn't realise the science behind it and I really enjoyed learning about the research and experiments that have taken place and how complex we as humans are, how the brain works and how our behaviour is influenced by so many different factors, so one of the best things about psychology is the variety of topics within the subject area.

What is good about psychology staff?

I have found everyone at Abertay to be really approachable, but one of the best things about the staff is that they enjoy their subject areas and therefore their interest and enthusiasm for the subject is reflected in their teaching. Staff are very knowledgeable about their subject areas and always seem to be aware of all current ongoing research and developments as well, and this knowledge is passed on to students.

What would you tell to someone who might be thinking about coming to Abertay?

It's a great place to study, this is not a 'sink or swim' university, staff don't want or expect people to struggle on their own, if you have a problem with your coursework, staff will make appointments to talk to you and point you in the right direction. There are also student support systems to help out as well. There are also really good facilities which are all on campus such as the Students' Association, the library and a gym. It is also ideally situated in the city centre, so there is never an excuse for having nothing to do!

Anything else that you think people would like to know?

There are also great opportunities to get involved in the University from becoming a student ambassador to the various clubs and associations. As it is a relatively small university, you quickly become familiar with the place and the people which make it friendlier which is pretty important if you are not from Dundee as it is really easy to make new friends and make you feel a part of things.

Hi, I'm Anupama Handoo and I'm studying for a Masters of Science degree in Urban Water and Environmental Management. I am one of the many international students at the University of Abertay Dundee and chose to come here because of the excellence of the School of Contemporary Sciences.

I grew up in Jammu and Kashmir in India and graduated as top of my class with a Bachelor of Engineering degree. I have always wanted to go into civil engineering because I'm fascinated by the challenge of balancing vital development with respect for the environment. Engineering is also such a highly respected profession, and one where I can make my mark, helped by my qualification from Abertay.

When I graduated I spent some time working in the IT industry in India but I recognised that I want to build my career in environmental management and engineering. When I was considering where to study I was offered a place at four UK universities. I chose Abertay because it has an international reputation for the quality of its environmental science teaching.

As a small and modern university Abertay gives me great access to teaching and facilities. The classes are small - there are 27 Masters students on my course and 13 of them are international - and the University has such an excellent approach to studying. It's a collaboration between the academic staff and students, with real emphasis being placed on what you can learn and discover for yourself. There's great interdisciplinary work, with a chance to draw on all of the University's excellence, from computing to business.

Before I came here I didn't know a lot about Dundee. It's a beautiful city, full of life and light, and I'm enjoying living here in the University's accommodation. Perhaps because I come from Jammu and Kashmir I am used to the mountains and the occasional winter snow!

In the future I want to build my career internationally. Civil engineering and environmental challenges will be very important in the 21st century and I'm sure that the experience and qualification I have gained at Abertay will allow me to tackle these challenges and make a positive contribution to the world.

Hi, my name is Arek Szewczyk and I’m a first year student doing a BSc (Hons) in Sport Coaching & Development at the University of Abertay Dundee.

I was born and grew up in Elblag, Poland where I spent a great deal of time with my family and friends. In September 2006 I started my course and moved to Dundee - straight from finishing high school!

The time spent at lectures helps me to work independently in the library. I've met some really friendly people and my tutors have been very helpful with my studies. Also, as an EU citizen I am eligible for SAAS funding and do not pay tuition fees!

Dundee creates lots of opportunities for students such as jobs, nightlife, clubs or pubs or just normal shopping. It's also a good place to begin seeing the “real” Scotland. All the castles, cliffs and mountains leave unforgettable memories, especially when you are doing this with an international group of people.

If you have an opportunity to study here, try it, you won't regret it.

I studied BSc (Hons) Sport Health & Exercise between 2001 and 2005. I graduated on 8 July 2005 with a First Class degree. This course was quite broad and opened up many different job opportunities that could be applied for.

My last official day at University (20th May) was also my 40th birthday, two days later I ran the Race for Life for the first time, then five days after that I got married! Returning from honeymoon I was invited by Perth & Kinross Council to an interview for the post of Sports Development Officer for Disability Sport. I was offered this job and accepted. This short period of time was a bit of a roller coaster for me!

I am now almost 42 and have been in post for approximately 20 months. When I arrived, the post had not been filled for over a year - I had an empty filing cabinet and a blank canvas with which to start. This was quite difficult but over time I have made lots of contacts and established credibility that I am actually able to deliver and promote opportunities for children and adults with physical, learning and sensory disabilities. I am responsible for providing taster sessions, after-school clubs, one-off events and identifying athletes for regional and national events for the whole of the Perth & Kinross area.

As part of the Sports Development Team, I also organise school holiday programmes for all my priority sports. Disability sport is only 50% of my job – the other 50% of my remit is to develop hockey, tennis and gymnastics.

At University, we discussed organisations such as Sportscotland and National Governing Bodies and it does seem a bit surreal at times that I now actually deal with such bodies.

I also employ coaches on a casual contract basis and process documents such as application forms, references and disclosure applications. One of these is a second year student on the same course, so it is great to know that I am helping her map out a career for when she leaves University too!

I was invited to sit on the Sport and Active Recreation Steering Group which helps shape the strategic plan for sport and physical activity in Perth & Kinross. I attend with regards to disability sport to ensure that it is kept at the forefront of all partners’ minds. Lack of provision is generally down to a lack of confidence about dealing with people with disabilities, and hopefully I encourage people sufficiently that they are able to tackle the issue and thereafter provide appropriate opportunities.

Since working with Perth & Kinross Council, I have been able to apply for many CPD opportunities. Coaching qualifications gained since starting include Athletics, Shinty, Sportsability, Wheelchair Curling, Chair Based Exercise and Boccia. The latter is a Paralympic sport and as such there are excellent pathways in place for young people to progress. I have one young person in my Junior Boccia Club who was selected to play for the Scottish Squad. Also, two young people I identified were selected to be part of the Scottish Disability Sport National Athletics Development Squad. Other courses I have attended include Risk Assessment, Fair Selection and Child Protection (In Safe Hands).

In May 2007, I am undertaking postgraduate study ‘First Line Management Diploma in Local Government’ and will progress to a Masters next year if funding for my post is continued or I am redeployed within the Council. The course is run in-house and is endorsed/accredited by Strathclyde University and SLAMC. This is an excellent opportunity for me to enhance my knowledge in the area of management and its related competencies, thereby enabling me to perform more effectively and allowing me to progress my career into management. This course is obviously more generic than my degree, but I think this will open up many more career opportunities for me.

All in all, knowledge gained throughout my University course has helped me to achieve many things in my job. I now have a very busy and flexible work life; I get out and about to meet lots of lovely people and also deliver a small amount of coaching so as not to lose touch with what’s going on at ground level. I left University feeling very confident about my own abilities and I think that shone through at interviews. I definitely would not have been able to do this job without my degree at Abertay, and I am glad I took the view in 2001 when I applied to go on the Sport Health & Exercise course that it was never too late...

Hi my name is Charmain and I'm studying nursing at Abertay. I've stayed in Fife all my life but I was born in Dundee. I left school with only my standard grades and no desire to further my education. So at 16 I settled with my partner and we had three children together.

After my second son was born I realised that I would have to start some kind of education in order to provide for my expanding family. I knew that I didn’t want to end up in a dead-end job. I started studying biology and health from home while I cared for my children.

As the years went on it became apparent that my two oldest boys were not developing the same as others their age. Many professionals became involved with them and as time trundled along we were no further to finding out what was going on and still don’t to a degree. They struggled at home, school and socially and at times still don’t get the full support they need. This obviously has a massive impact on everyone’s life.

This, and my interest in biology and health, is what attracted me to nursing. I’m very glad I chose Abertay and I’m loving every second of it. The tutors are very approachable and understanding and classes are so interesting and informative. The course I feel gives you the right balance of theory and practice.

Hopefully I will go into the mental health branch in second year and learn to work with and help others who face the same difficulties as my boys. Abertay gave me a new lease of life, and one that will help me academically and personally.

I graduated from the Computer Art course in the summer of 2005 with First Class Honours. The course is diverse in the sense it covered many computer packages and applications which I now use on a daily basis in my current employment.

The biggest appeal, and the reason why I decided to enrol, was the prospect of working with 3D computer animation. It was within this medium I decided my future would lie and in my last year I dedicated my final project on a computer animation.

My project was a contemporary re-telling of Robert Burns’s classic tale Tam O’Shanter. It was originally written in 1790 and centres around a farmer from Alloway, who encounters the devil and witches on his way home from a wild night out. He narrowly escapes the clutches of the witches but his horse loses its tail.

Burns paints a vivid mental image that I felt compelled to re-tell in my own interpretation. Although there was a lot of hard work involved, the final animation gave me a massive platform to build upon. I had an animation which I was happy to showcase and was able to approach companies or prospective employers with confidence. It went on to win international recognition in several animation festivals.

After graduating I quickly found employment at an oil company in Aberdeen called Expro. Information about the post was kindly passed to me through the Computer Arts tutors. I worked for three months on a 3D demo-based movie of underwater apparatus. It was at this point a company called the Fifth Business approached me with an interest to join them. Fortunately one of the directors had viewed my website and was impressed with Tam O’Shanter and my other University work. The Fifth Business is a communications company with many clients including BP, Shell, GSK, Sainsbury’s and the BBC.

I was happy to join but the job came with one catch: after six months I would move and be part of the London design team! It didn’t take me long to decide. I have now been living in Fulham, London for a little over a year now. I have been enjoying the change of lifestyle and the way of the life. The office is situated beside Carnaby Street in Soho which is the creative centre within the UK, and perhaps Europe too.

I work within a small team in the London office but also rely on the other designers in the Aberdeen and Houston offices. It is essential to be able to multitask as I can be working on several projects at the one time. The company produces work within HTML, Flash, e-learning, print and 3D. It is therefore essential to be flexible, adaptable and a quick learner. However, I am also fortunate to be surrounded by a group of talented people who can help and advise me.

What I have learned and experienced at University has been the catalyst to what I have achieved in my carer so far. Abertay allowed me to become comfortable working with computer applications and developed a whole range of skills which I utilise within my working environment.

To watch the film or contact Chris go to: www.cellingford.co.uk

I graduated from Abertay in July 2008 with an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Computer Arts. I’ve always had a problem with decision making. I believe this is less because I don’t know what I want to do, and more because I want to try a bit of everything. This was initially what attracted me to the Computer Arts course, as you get to learn a broad range of skills through a variety of modules. This was great for me as it allowed me the freedom to see what I did and didn’t like and realise my strengths and weaknesses. As I approached third year I began to specialise more in 3D animation and soon realised this was the path I wanted to take.

I first came up with the idea for my honours project while watching Ricky Gervais' Animals. There is a section where he lists and parodies his favourite animal facts. This inspired me to find my own facts and the concept for my animation was born. I originally envisaged Ipso Facto as a series of short sketches. I began a little over-ambitiously with ten facts, then as I realised the amount of work and the timescale this was whittled down to five, then eventually three. I don’t believe you should ever set your sights too short so I’m glad I started out as I did. The whole process was a steep learning curve and a little stressful at times, taking on all aspects myself, but if the final animation can make someone laugh then that’s what makes it worthwhile. I’d still quite like to develop the idea further so we’ll see what happens.

I’m now looking to pursue a career in animation and currently seeking my first industry job. I think long term I’d eventually love to be working on films. I’d love to be able to sit in the cinema and shout “I did that!”; I mean, not literally… people might get annoyed with the constant heckling but you get the point. For now, though, my main aim is in gaining animation experience whether it be in film, television or games. I’ve got a long way to go before I get to feature film standards but I’m sure I’ll have some fun along the way.

To view Gary's portfolio or to contact him go to: www.garywhitton.co.uk

The sociology bug

Ironically, I think it was because sociology made me angry – the more I learned, the more I realised that the things I was studying were really important, and that people in general don’t take enough notice of what goes on in the world… I think that studying sociology affects you deeply; if you really engage with the things you’re learning about I don’t think you can ever see the world in the same way again. I have learned to question my own and others’ assumptions about life, about society, and I now look much more critically at the things people want me to believe.

During the last year I've completed my honours dissertation research on Dundee Women’s Aid, and scored first class marks for the Political Sociology module that is my absolute favourite class.

We did a lot of stuff on utopian/dystopian literature which meant that I got to justify reading a lot of great novels as research. I’ve been into those types of books since I was a kid and it was really good to be able to write about them for credit. The class was also great in and of itself, and the tutorial group we had was fantastic – it was small and we were all pretty good friends, which meant that we got some good discussions going and nobody was too uncomfortable to speak. Everyone in the group was a bit sad when the module finished because we knew we would all miss our Wednesday afternoon argument!

I suppose I’m kind of a non-traditional student in that I’m not that much different in age from those who came straight from school, but I have very different things going on at home from most of the younger students. I have always loved the fact that Abertay is small – it’s nice that your lecturers know your name and who you are, even the particular areas of sociology that you are interested in. The support staff that work in Student Services and Finance have been amazing too – there is actually a lot of provision for people in my situation and they have really helped me in that respect.

Plans for the future

Once my final exams are over I plan to catch up on all the novels, films and music that I've missed over the last few months because of my fourth year workload. I'll then go on to postgraduate study.

My name is Gregor McMaster and I'm in my fourth year of a BSc in Food and Consumer Sciences.

I'm originally from Dundee and went to school in Monifieth. There are two things I'm really passionate about - football and food - and I've been really lucky to be able to be involved with both at Abertay. I took a Higher in Health and Food Technology and worked as a part-time chef which really spurred my interest in food - Abertay was the only university I applied to because of its reputation and because there is such a wide scope of jobs open to you with this degree.

In my first three years here I played semi-professional football with a local club, which was great - I could easily balance the pressures of my academic work with sport. In my final year I've been focusing on my degree so I've been playing for the university team. I'm really proud to be representing the Uni. There's a great team spirit - it's really friendly and open, and of course there's a great social side too, with all the different sports teams at Abertay. I regret not getting involved earlier now!

The course has been excellent. The first two years gives you the basis to work on and draws on all of the excellence at Abertay, with teaching from all of the University's Schools in areas like IT and marketing. You then focus on your industry with really relevant and open teaching. The standard is high and support from the lecturers is always good, with a small number of students - around 30 - making the teaching really personal. The School organises fantastic vocational placements as well. I spent ten weeks with the Scottish chef Christopher Trotter, using wonderful fresh Scottish food. I learnt so much - I've also been really lucky and worked with him on a major new cookbook which is about to be published, researching and updating 300 year-old Scottish recipes.

Abertay is a fantastic place to study and I'd recommend getting involved in university activities and living in halls to really make the most of it. There's a great student atmosphere and a good international mix. I came here at 17 and have loved it ever since. I like the sense that it is always developing and improving - it's constantly getting better with upgrading of everything from IT equipment to student's rooms going on all the time. It's so encouraging to see it. The specialist focus of the courses available makes it excellent as well - I really can't fault the Uni.

I want to go on to work with food in my career, perhaps in magazines and commercials, and the qualifications and experience I've gained at Abertay could not give me a better start.

A student-centred and informal approach at Abertay

Hi, I’m Janice and came over to study at Abertay from Belfast, where I attended St Loise’s Comprehensive College. Initially I studied Psychology. Whilst I enjoyed this, I realised that my career aspirations and interests lay elsewhere.

Thanks to the student-centred and informal approach at Abertay, it was easy for me to change my course. I am now in my honours year studying Sport, Health and Exercise. I am hoping to go on and do a postgraduate qualification in Physiotherapy.

I have really enjoyed my time at Abertay and have found Dundee a great place to live. As well as lots of new people to meet, Dundee attracts lots of people from back home. I have especially enjoyed the social side of my time here, particularly with the new student union building here and also the many and varied sporting opportunities.

Dundee is a friendly, affordable city in which to live and best of all we have:

• competitive fees
• low cost of living
• good en-suite university accommodation
• easy public travel within and around Dundee
• economical meals in the Student Centre
• fantastic social opportunities with the Students' Association
• and if sport is your thing, then Abertay does not disappoint!

After Jason completed his HND in Advertising and PR at Perth College he decided to travel around the east coast of Spain during the summer of 2006. When he returned in August (after ten weeks in the sun) he felt excited about continuing his education.

”I decided I wanted to do a course at university that involved both marketing and business whilst living at home - so the honours course offered at Abertay was ideal, and I was able to gain my place on the course through Clearing and directly enter into the third year.”

Abertay was a particularly attractive choice for Jason. It offered a reasonable driving distance from his home in Blairgowrie, allowing him to drive in and out every day. The course has also lived up to his expectations, offering Jason all the help he's needed coming from college to university.

”There has been some really interesting modules and a great range of resources to help with my studies such as a large library, online learning facilities, interactive tutorials with the opportunity for debates, a massive online journal database and a variety of helpful lecturers.”

”Studying at Abertay has allowed me to make some great friends and this has made the whole experience so much easier. Most days you'll find me and my friends in the union as it's a good place to socialise and have a coffee, and sometimes you might even see us there at night too!”

Once Jason has completed his course in May he plans to use the marketing aspect of his degree to take a marketing position. However, he has his sights set on moving abroad, with Canada as his top destination.

Lorraine McSweeney recently graduated with a BSc (Hons) degree in Food, Nutrition & Health from the University of Abertay Dundee. Lorraine, who is from Dundee, has been partially deaf since birth has achieved her dream of going to University thanks to pioneering surgery.

The operation involved a permanent implant being surgically inserted into part of Lorraine’s skull bone. The titanium implant features an abutment to which a small detachable sound processor is attached.

Prior to her operation in 2004 she had worked as a nursery nurse in Dundee for 18 years. Lorraine said: “I always wanted to go to University but I just didn’t have the confidence. My surgery in 2004 dramatically improved my self-esteem and I was delighted to enrol at Abertay.

“There was a great mix of teaching methods and that really suited me, as I enjoy both the research and the practical side of learning. We were really encouraged to take initiative and I found that I thrived in this environment.”

Abertay has invested heavily in its state-of-the-art training facilities for its food and consumer sciences courses. Division Leader for Health and Food Sciences Anne Colquhoun said: “Food, nutrition and health are very high on the nation’s agenda at the moment. There are many rewarding employment opportunities within the multi-million pound food and drink industry and also within academic research.

“There is a definite need for highly qualified graduates with a clear understanding of food, nutrition, health, and their impact on the future of the industry. We were delighted with Lorraine’s success and look forward to following her career.”

After flourishing at Abertay Lorraine has exceeded her own dreams and has been offered both a PhD and an MSc position at a leading university.

Lorraine said: “I am really glad that I pushed myself and would urge others to do the same, it is a fantastic feeling to know that you have achieved your goals!”

I completed my undergraduate degree in Fine Art in the 1980s. I subsequently trained as a primary teacher and had a career in teaching until about four years ago. I gave up teaching when I was officially registered blind (even though I have a very small amount of sight left).

Last year, I completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Skills. I really enjoyed it, although it was a shock to the system to be writing essays again after 20 years! Doing the certificate course gave me the confidence to enrol in the diploma course. The diploma course can be done full-time over one year or part-time over two years. I decided to do the course full-time, which was not without its challenges, particularly with limited vision and three young children! I am, however, enjoying rising to this challenge and have decided to go on to complete an MSc next year.

I'm glad I chose to do the counselling course at Abertay. One of its best resources it is its lecturers, particularly John McLeod who has made significant contributions to the world of counselling literature. It has also been good to use the on-site Tayside Counselling Centre for practical work.

I have been supported with my disability throughout my time at Abertay and now have voice recognition software to help me complete my assignments.

I would say that Abertay is a great place to study counselling.

Hi! My name is Munira Mustaffa. I'm a student from Malaysia studying a degree in BSc (Hons) Forensics Sciences. I am also the class representative of my year.

I choose the University of Abertay Dundee because I heard that it's one of the best universities in the UK that offers biological science courses, especially in Forensic Sciences. I'd always wanted to do forensics ever since I was a kid, so I was really happy to discover that they offer this course here. I am really passionate about it. I'm hoping to get involved with the Post-Study Work Visa when I graduate and stay in Scotland for a further two years to work and travel a little.

My favourite subjects? Easy! Definitely Crime Scene Investigations and Human Physiology. I find that the lecturers at Abertay are very helpful and encouraging, so there's no need to be afraid to approach them.

The University is located in a historical Scottish city called Dundee, about one hour away from Edinburgh. It’s a cosy and affordable student town. I haven’t been here long, but I absolutely love it, especially spending time discovering the city with my new friends. The University library's facilities are very well equipped, and I visit as often as possible.

The University’s best attraction? Our Student Union, that's for sure! There's always something going on to look forward to. There are a lot of societies for students to join, and I am one of the PR’s for the Abertay University Dance Society. I'm also very active in the Piping and Traditional Music Society, the Photography Society and Jujitsu. I play the violin with the piping band.

Everyone’s really friendly here. They don’t call Dundee the City of Discovery for nothing – every day is an adventure!

Neil Berwick enrolled on the MSc Urban Water and Environmental Management course and graduated with a distinction in 2006. He was awarded the University’s Balmoral Environmental Education Award and the ConocoPhillips Environmental Award. Read what Neil did next...

"Having gained my undergraduate BSc (Hons) Science with Management Studies from Napier University I worked as a senior manager for one of the UK’s top food retailers for nearly ten years, before deciding that I was ready for a new challenge.

"I was interested in environmental management and wanted to build upon my first degree and existing managerial experience, so I investigated universities offering environmental Masters degrees.

"Abertay was reputed to be one of the best universities in the UK for environmental management and also had strong links with industry, a point that was extremely important to gain entry into a new job market.

"The University is home to The Urban Water Technology Centre (UWTC), a specialist environmental consultancy, with extensive knowledge and experience of sustainable drainage, a relatively new technique for managing surface water from urbanised areas, and an area of great interest to me.

"I cold-called the UWTC and spoke with one of the consultants and course tutors who was more than happy to take time to explain to me the scope of the environmental Masters degrees and the University’s links with industry.

"I enrolled on the MSc Urban Water and Environmental Management course in 2005 and studied a wide range of water and environmental subjects, choosing to focus on sustainable drainage for my Masters project.

"I really enjoyed the course at Abertay, the tutors were fantastic and there was a real focus on preparing students for working within industry. This included lectures reflecting experience gleaned from close links with industry, guest lecturers from external organisations such as SEPA and local authorities, and numerous field studies and visits to local industries.

"I gained my MSc with distinction in 2006 and was awarded the University’s Balmoral Environmental Education Award and the ConocoPhillips Environmental Award. I had already secured a job, prior to completion of the course, within a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between Abertay and the Greenbelt Group, a national land management company.

"The two-year project which ends in July 2008 is based upon managing risks associated with the long-term operation and maintenance of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS).

"The knowledge gained at Abertay has been paramount to my role as the company’s Sustainable Drainage Advisor, which involves transferring technical and operational expertise to the company and its approved contractors.

"I am now based in Glasgow although my role requires that I spend considerable time on-site throughout the UK, inspecting SUDS and training staff. I also have more formalised work objectives which include the revision of existing and development of new company procedures for effective SUDS management.

"The KTP role has been a fantastic opportunity to develop my existing managerial and technical skills, and the support from Professor Chris Jefferies and Alison Duffy at UWTC has been second to none, providing unrivalled industry expertise.

"I am currently a graduate member of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management and hope to qualify as a member by the end of this year. I have also had the opportunity to formalise my managerial skills as a student member of the Chartered Management Institute, and I am working towards completion of the level 4 management NVQ.

"Thanks to the excellent opportunity of studying at Abertay I have successfully changed careers and I am now enjoying working in a new role within a sector that is immensely challenging and of great personal interest."

Rodrigo originally studied Fitness Health and Exercise (HND) at Aberdeen College and then applied for degree courses at Aberdeen, RGU and Abertay Universities. Abertay was the only University that could offer Rodrigo direct entry into third year, taking into account his earlier experience.

During his first term of third year Rodrigo admits he felt it was tough going at times. He says:

”The difference between college and university is huge. The main difference is the level of work expected, and because of this I was directed to the Student Academic Support Team. They offer great services and will check your essays before you hand them in, to see if you have included the desired criteria for the assignment. The university lecturing staff and friends I made in class also helped me with anything I was unsure of, and by the second term I really felt like I had been studying there since first year.”

Rodrigo feels one of Abertay's strengths is the Sports Union, sports teams and social events involving the two. He played for the first football team and this helped him make friends, which was crucial as he'd moved to Dundee only knowing a few people. Rodrigo says: ”There are various sports events throughout the year, that really make your time at university some of the best years of your life.”

Rodrigo also says about Abertay:

"I would thoroughly recommend the Sport Health and Exercise degree to anyone interested. One major benefit from studying this degree is the massive amount of topics it covers and therefore the knowledge it gives you. It also opens your eyes to the important role that sport and physical activity can play on and individual and community perspective.”

Shortly after completing his course at Abertay University Rodrigo was employed as an Instructor of Sport at Aberdeen College. His role surrounds delivering practical and theory lessons to students studying in the department that he once did. He has no doubts that without progressing to Abertay University from College he would not have got his current position.

Ross left Scotland the day after his graduation ceremony for the United States, where he spent five months coaching youngsters in football.

His BSc in Sports Coaching and Development from Abertay will stand him in good stead, as will the growing popularity of the beautiful game in the land of baseball.

“Soccer, as they call it in America, is growing hugely in popularity, boosted by the national team’s success in the last World Cup,” he said just after the graduation ceremony. “I coached football in the States last year, and I’m really looking forward to doing so again this summer.”

Ross lists distance-running and tennis, as well as football, among his interests, and found the course at Abertay very much to his liking.

“It teaches a lot of practical coaching skills, and was excellent,” he said.

Ross found the route - studying for an HND at Telford College before going on to Abertay for the final two years of the degree course - an ideal way to achieve his ambition.

“The whole experience was very good, even moving away from home for the first time. Going to a local college and then on to Abertay for the full degree was fantastic,” he said.

After leaving school at the age of 15, Samantha enrolled at Dundee College to study an Introduction to NC in Sports Studies. From there she progressed through her NC, HNC and HND in Sports Coaching and Development.

Samantha said: "After achieving my HND at Dundee College I was keen to join Abertay and progress through to my BSc Honours. I'd heard about Abertay's good reputation for sport and sports research so it was a great choice for me. Abertay also allowed me to combine my studies with my main passion in life - football!

After leaving college Samantha felt insecure academically, and wondered if she would cope with the work at university compared to college. She also wondered if she would fulfil her goal of achieving her Honours degree. However with help, support and encouragement Samantha reached her goal with no problems at all.

Samantha is now working as an Events Co-Ordinator for the Scottish FA and says: "I am very grateful to Abertay for helping me reach my goal, working in football. My everyday duties allow me to use all my knowledge and skills I studied at Abertay. Many people doubted I would ever go to university after leaving school so young. However, Dundee College and Abertay University just allowed me to take a different route in order to achieve my goals.

Samantha has advice for anyone who wants to make that leap from college to university: "The prospect of studying a couple of extra years might feel daunting at first but stick with it - it will set you aside from all the others!"