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The first book I read in 2024 was BBC News presenter Clive Myrie’s Everything is Everything. The last one I read in December 2024 was A Woman Like Me by Diane Abbott MP. In some ways Clive Myrie and I are not so different. Reading his autobiography, despite our many differences, I discovered we have Read.
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For World Book Day (6 March 2025) I wanted to reflect on the books I’ve read so far this year. Books I read in January I try to read poetry throughout the year and I have been making my way through Pauline Mackay’s Burns for Every Day of the Year. As well as enjoying poems Read.
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Last year was another outstanding year for West Lothian College. More students than ever before achieved their qualifications, including just under 1,400 at higher education level. Most of our 2024 graduates are now working or continuing their education at university or at college. Today’s graduates have achieved qualifications that sit at the same level as Read.
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One of the most uplifting aspects of my job as principal of West Lothian College is the unsolicited feedback I receive directly from students about the difference that college has made to their lives. At graduation ceremonies it is a great privilege to be able to congratulate each graduate personally. As they move towards me Read.
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In October 2024 I had the great privilege of saying a few words to West Lothian College graduates at an uplifting ceremony. Here’s an excerpt about who inspired me. In past graduation speeches I’ve quoted famous inspirational people – Nelson Mandela, Albert Einstein, Maya Angelou. This year, I’ve reflected on who inspired me most in Read.
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This article was first published by Colleges Scotland on 7 October 2024. This is Challenge Poverty Week. From Monday 7 to Sunday 13 October, the campaign will highlight the injustice of poverty in Scotland and call for collective action to create solutions based on justice and compassion. According to the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government Read.
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Seeking, analysing and responding to student feedback is really important to West Lothian College. One of the ways we do this is through three student surveys at key points in the academic year: • In the first few weeks after students start new courses in the autumn • In winter at the end of the Read.
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A highly anticipated cyber initiative has been brought to life at West Lothian College. CyberDrive will transport pop-up cyber labs to secondary schools in West Lothian to accelerate the uptake of cyber skills and help address shortages in Scotland’s growing tech sector. West Lothian College cyber experts will use a highly visible cyber van to Read.
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Three years ago this week, West Lothian College closed its campus doors for five months as a result of the first lockdown caused by the coronavirus. All students and most staff had packed up the previous week, taking home equipment like laptops, whiteboards and office chairs to continue working and learning, albeit remotely. None of Read.
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Tackling child poverty is the top priority of the Scottish Government. Two hundred and forty thousand children and young people in Scotland are brought up in poverty and the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan calls on all parts of the system to work together for those who face the greatest disadvantage. People with experience of Read.
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Tens of thousands of Scotland’s college students are going hungry because they live in households that have run out of food. And thousands more have mental health challenges directly related to their fears over food insecurity. That is unacceptable in a nation where the government has made eradicating child poverty one of its key ambitions. Read.
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Our biggest ever graduation ceremony rounded off a very successful year for West Lothian College and nothing demonstrated that success better than the hundreds who graduated with the higher education skills that Scotland so badly needs. Congratulations on achieving your qualification! Many of you have moved on to the job you hoped for when you Read.
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“Against a backdrop of change, fatigue and upheaval, the aim for many organisations has been to hold steady at their prior accreditation award level. In May 2019, West Lothian College was accredited at the silver level. Not only have you been reaccredited, you’ve achieved the next higher level of award, the GOLD award. This is Read.
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It’s the second Tuesday in October which means it’s Ada Lovelace Day! Ada Lovelace, born over two centuries ago, wrote the first ever computer programme — 100 years before computers were even invented! I graduated with a computing degree thirty years ago. Three decades on — in a world exponentially more dependent on tech than when Read.
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Long before the pandemic, increasing numbers of college students were experiencing poor mental health. This increased due to the disruption to learning, forced social isolation, financial problems and uncertainty caused by Covid19. Additional funding from the Scottish Funding Council is welcome and has helped colleges support student wellbeing. With this, we’ve given greater financial support Read.
Jackie Galbraith
Reflecting on things that matter to me
Jackie Galbraith 