Students rewarded at NAFC prize giving
A distinguished group of students stepped up to receive awards in the annual NAFC Marine Centre UHI prize giving today.
Excellence in engineering, navigation, deck cadetship and aquaculture were recognised at the ceremony at the centre in Scalloway.
Speaker at the awards Sandra Laurenson, former chief executive of NHS Shetland, told guests, including NAFC staff and trustees: “What you are teaching here is meaningful, exciting and career-enhancing.
“I want to congratulate you all today, all who take the courses and those who teach them. You are building the future. You have done yourselves and your families proud.”
She added: “I’m impressed by the positive, can-do approach of this organisation.”
NAFC Marine Centre principal Willie Shannon said it had been a “tough year in many ways” but successful with the centre now bursting at the seams with students.
“It is important for people to realise the value of what we do here for the wider community in Shetland.”
Andy Glen, head of training and skills, paid tribute to the lecturing staff and the support staff at NAFC for the high levels they have achieved.
“It is the quality of our staff here at NAFC Marine Centre that allows us to produce so many high-achieving students.”
• See next week’s Shetland Times for full details of all prize-winners.
Donald Sutherland
‘Bursting at the seams with students’ would suggest that the college finances are in the black because why would courses be run at a loss. If that’s indeed the case why is it so important for people to realise the value of what they do for the wider community. I imagine that the later point is because the college, in its current form, still needs millions of pounds of council funding each year to survive and they are desperate to justify the cost. For more than 15 years there has been talk of merging the two colleges to generate savings and to coordinate delivery of training and education. Fantastic for the students who deserve the reward for the effort they have put in but as for the rest of the bilge being spouted it’s just all too transparent.
Johan Adamson
Cant they share resources without full merger? Along the lines of the NHS working with the council jointly on care, which seems very sensible.