Forth Valley College have been awarded the highest level - Platinum Status – by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD).
The College has offered CIPD qualifications since the year 2000 and now offers Foundation, Associate and Advanced level qualifications to help enhance the careers of professional Human Resources employees from a wide range of sectors and industries – including: NHS, Scottish Prison Service, the Construction industry, Care industry and the Railway sector.
CIPD describe the status as: “Platinum Study Centres are consistent in their delivery of excellent quality against CIPD's standards for membership, learning and assessment, have robust Centre administration and operations in place and adherence to CIPD policy, whilst demonstrating high levels of learner satisfaction.”
FVC has managed to achieve their high standards to receive the Platinum Status and anyone wishing more information on the CIPD courses offered at the College can find out more here: https://www.forthvalley.ac.uk/courses/business
FVC teaches CIPD students across all sectors and industries, from entry level HR roles to executive level. The popular flexible and blended courses allow the Foundation course to be run over an academic year at Level 6, the Associate course over 18 months with two workshops per unit and meeting monthly at Level 9, and the Advanced runs over two years gathering together every two months and working to a Level 11. The Advanced Level students also have the opportunity for direct entry into the MSc Top Up, as they complete their post graduate diploma at Napier University - which FVC is linked with – with three recent FVC students attaining this level.
The College is regularly moderated by CIPD to make sure standards are of the highest quality and this has led to the organisation awarding FVC Platinum Status – the highest available.
Leanne Wilson, Curriculum Manager in the Department of Care, Sport, Business and Communities, said: “I am delighted that we are amongst the first centres being granted Platinum status. The recognition of our excellent quality of teaching, learning, assessment and governance is highly rewarding, and will give confidence to any employer or candidate considering Forth Valley College for their CIPD accreditation."
Tricia Setchfield, Lecturer, said: “Our teaching team understands the difficulties of pursuing a career in HR. The CIPD qualification is essential for this whether it is at entry level, or to develop into a more strategic role. We use our own HR professional experience to enhance our teaching.
“We understand the pressure of working while studying which is why we introduced the mentoring role into the CIPD programme. This has enhanced our level of attainment, as we understand a supportive environment is the best environment. We are also committed to positive destinations for our learners, which is why we developed our relationship with Napier University where our learners can have direct entry into the MSc Top up, and this completes the learning cycle to become a successful HR professional.
“We also encourage our learners to develop networks with their peers, so they have lifelong support throughout their career. This commitment to our CIPD learners has allowed us to be recognised and awarded the Platinum Status, which we are committed to not only sustaining, but improving.”
Brenda Harrison, added: “I've been teaching on the CIPD programmes for years and it’s been great to work with our students and to see them progress in their careers as a direct result of their studies. It has also been rewarding to see how, over time, Forth Valley College and the CIPD Team have worked to provide a quality product in our CIPD programmes.
“Our CIPD Team work well together and the award of the Platinum Status, is a result of the great team and all their hard work. I'm proud to be part of this team. Our Platinum Status offers candidates, students and employers confidence in the excellent quality education they will receive here at Forth Valley College.”
