New students begin studies at FVC

New students begin studies at FVC
Gilman Zafar

Eager new Forth Valley College students began their journey into further education recently, and familiarised themselves with continued cautious and responsible Covid-19 procedures at each campus.

Registration for the new academic term began in mid-August and FVC staff have been busy helping students to enrol onto their courses, in the new normal for further education.

Janey Cassidy (18) from Camelon, has just enrolled on a NC Working with Communities course at the Falkirk Campus, said: “The fact that we are in the college some of the time, rather than constantly at home is great. I am looking forward to it and hope to have a career working in the foster care sector. I feel safe in the college with the new procedures. I think they work well.”

Katelyn Ovens (21) from Slamannan, has also just started a NC Working with Communities course. She said: “I want to work with people who are just coming out of prison and help them find accommodation and help in their rehabilitation. I heard about the course through someone who works at the college and I think it has everything I need to progress in my career. I feel safe enough in the college and I feel supported and that is helping with any anxieties I have.”

Shavannah Johnstone (18) from Letham near Airth, who is on the same course, said: “I am already enjoying the course. I sing and play drums and hope to help people with disabilities to understand music and teach them how to play. I think the procedures are good and it seems safe as it can be.”

Gilman Zafar (17) from Falkirk has just started a HNC Applied Biological Sciences. He said: “I want to have a career in biomedical sciences and this course has good progression routes to university. I feel quite safe in the Falkirk Campus with the measures that have been put in place. I also feel that the lecturers have given us good advice and support about what to do.”

John Booth (17) also from Falkirk and also on the HNC Applied Biological Sciences, said: “This is a subject I am very interested in and I hope the course leads me towards a place at university. The Covid procedures in the campus are better than most places and every now and then you can go outside and take your mask off.”

At the Alloa Campus Rhys Muldoon (16) from Coalsnaughton has just started a Workstart course. He said: “The course is pretty good and I love the learning environment compared to what it was like at school. I feel we are treated like adults here. I hope the course will identify a subject for me to focus on. I feel safe in the Alloa Campus and the Covid procedures are good and I also feel that support is there if I need it too.”

Soleen Mohammed (17) from Alloa, who has enrolled on a School Link Course focussing on Art and Design, said: “I want to become an artist and I hope this course will help me progress. I am enjoying it so far. I do feel safe in the Alloa Campus and am happy with the support on offer.”

At the Stirling Campus Emily Hardie (20) from Camelon has just started her BA (Hons) in Digital Media – a partnership degree with the University of Stirling where students study at the FVC Stirling Campus for the first two years, before moving on to the University.

She said: “I had previously studied at Fife College focussing on radio when I lived there. I had heard about the courses on offer at Forth Valley College in partnership with the University of Stirling, but the travelling would have been too much. When I moved to Camelon recently, I was eager to apply as the idea of going straight to University is quite daunting, so this is a better route for me. Many of my new classmates have already been double vaccinated and I feel quite safe and supported on campus. The fact that we will be working online for much of the first four weeks or so, helps as well.”

Adam Hamill (17) from Airdrie has also enrolled on the BA (Hons) in Digital Media at the Stirling Campus. He said: “I am looking forward to the course as I completed a Foundation Apprenticeship in Media while at high school and want to get into film-making. I think the course has an equal balance of theory and practical aspects to it and I really like that. It has been immediately very obvious that the Stirling Campus is safe and that procedures are being enforced and I feel supported by lecturing staff.”

Katelyn Ovens
Shavannah Johnstone
John Booth
Rhys Muldoon
Soleen Mohammed
Emily Hardie
Adam Hamill