New College Lanarkshire is one of the largest colleges in Scotland. It operates across Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire with campuses in Cumbernauld, Motherwell, Coatbridge, Kirkintilloch, Hamilton and Broadwood.
With more than 10,000 students enrolled, the college is dedicated to continuous improvement, has invested in the latest technology and facilities across its campuses and is a leader in developing UK skills.
As part of its commitment to developing skills in a way that improves the employment prospects of its students, New College Lanarkshire has integrated Microsoft accreditations into the curriculums of its computer science courses.
Professor Christopher Moore, principal and chief executive at New College Lanarkshire, states: “Our collaboration with Microsoft will help us to provide opportunities for people to learn the very best technology and to be exposed to the most innovative ideas and the freshest of thinking.”
The opportunity to gain Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals accreditations are enthusiastically welcomed by students. Jamie Ashton, a student on the college’s HNC computing course, says, “To say I’ve got a Microsoft certification is something that will just put me above other people.”
Curriculum & quality leader Charlie Johnstone says the Microsoft courses’ mix of practical and theory works very well. Students are already benefitting from the new curriculum. For example, one student who recently graduated is now overseeing a migration from on-premises infrastructure to Microsoft Azure. Charlie Johnstone says, “It’s great that we’re getting students into these positions.”
The course has inspired students to think beyond their own employability. Steven Thompson, an HND computing technical support student, has big plans about how he wishes to use AI to make the world a better place.
“My grandmother can only see pinhole vision in front of her,” says Steven Thompson, “I’d love to develop something so that the AI was always there to help or, even, potentially save her from an accident.”
Charlie Johnstone is delighted by the empowerment and inspiration students have drawn from the learning. “What we’re doing will have a really big impact if we can be providing qualified students, they’ll start to take the leaps and it will be a much better world.”
“Our collaboration with Microsoft will help us to provide opportunities for people to learn the very best technology and to be exposed to the most innovative ideas and the freshest of thinking.”
Professor Christopher Moore, Principal and Chief Executive, New College Lanarkshire
Follow Microsoft