Forth Valley College is the latest Scottish Further Education institution to offer The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to their students. In January, the College became a Licensed Organisation of the DofE and its students will now be able to take part in the world’s leading youth achievement award.
A DofE programme involves volunteering, learning a skill, getting fit, planning and undertaking an expedition out in the country. Work-ready skills are developed whilst doing the DofE such as confidence, commitment, resilience and team working.
Dr Ken Thomson, Principal of Forth Valley College, said, “We are thrilled to now be a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Licensed Organisation and to be able to work with the Charity to offer the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme to our students. They will be encouraged to push themselves outside of their comfort zones when doing their DofE and developing their skills. We’re very excited to see the impact it has on our students, our staff and the local community.
“Forth Valley College’s Access and Progression Department has a reputation for running innovative and sector leading initiatives and in becoming a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Licensed Organisation, we are enhancing this reputation even further.”
Barry Fisher, Director of DofE Scotland, said, “We are delighted that Forth Valley College has come on board as a Licensed Organisation for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. To ensure that all young people in Scotland have the opportunity to do their DofE, we have recently made a concerted effort to extend the DofE delivery in Higher and Further Education. As a Licensed Organisation, Forth Valley College will play a key role in this development.
“By doing their DofE, students at Forth Valley College will develop skills and attributes such as resilience, commitment, self-motivation and team working. We know that these skills are highly valued by many Scottish employers, and we are thrilled that the College’s students now have the opportunity to take part in this life-changing award.”
There are currently over 20,000 young people taking part in a DofE programme across Scotland through a variety of centres including both state and independent schools, special schools, businesses, prisons, young offender institutions and youth groups.
To find out more about the DofE and how it enables young people to succeed, please visit www.DofE.org