Alumni stories
David MacBeath
David MacBeath is the North Highland College UHI student of the year 2009 and a former builder whose life changed when he suffered a life-threatening brain haemorrhage in 2005.
He completed his two-year HNC hospitality course at the North Highland College UHI Dornoch campus and he now works as a receptionist at the nearby Dornoch Hotel.
David, 46, who lives with his family in Dornoch, said: “Life changed very suddenly for me when I was driving up the road one day and suffered a bleed on my brain. My chances of survival were said to be very slim, but somehow I managed to pull through....I had to give up my building company, Highland Stoneworks, and look for something new. I was given the opportunity to work in the Burghfield House Hotel and, when that closed, was fortunate enough to move to the Dornoch Hotel.
“I then decided to study for a professional qualification as I believed in myself and wanted to prove that I had something else to offer. I also wanted to give my family a better standard of living, although I know only too well that money is not everything....The HNC was a fair challenge but, despite having some side effects from my illness, I gave it 100 per cent"
His tutor, Vanessa Williamson, said: “David demonstrated a consistently high standard of work and true commitment. Throughout his course, his determination to succeed never faltered. He maintained a very cheerful disposition and eagerness to complete the course, even through the hard times, and was an inspiration to us all.”
Kerry McGeachy
Kerry McGeachy, a child care tutor at Argyll College UHI, is based at Campbeltown learning centre. She recently completed the BA child and youth studies course. Kerry won the UHI student of the year award at Argyll College UHI and also the learning centres’ student of the year award in 2009.
Margaret Boyd, UHI’s learning centre unit manager, said: “Kerry’s commitment and enthusiasm have been first-class and a real inspiration to other students. Her achievement is all the more special for someone who has been holding down a full-time job.
“She is a worthy winner of our award, helping to demonstrate the essential place for the 50-plus learning centres’ in the UHI network.”
Kerry said: “I have really enjoyed studying for my degree. As with any qualification, it has taken a lot of time and effort – and, at times, dogged determination – to achieve it.....Like many of the UHI learning centres, Campbeltown is small and remote but this did not hamper my studies....The staff helped me to get access to resources, and I received lots of encouragement and support. This made a big difference and, ultimately, helped me to complete my degree successfully.”
Kerry was the third student in a row from the Campbeltown learning centre to win the Argyll College UHI title.
Karen Tweed
Karen Tweed, from Huddersfield, completed the Master of Science (MSc) Medical Device Decontamination Programme and became the first student to graduate from the open learning course.
Karen said: “I have been working in the NHS since 1984, initially working in the pharmacy department at the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary specialising in pharmaceutical manufacturing, then moving to my current workplace at the Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust (LTHT) in 2004 to work in the sterile services department. While with the Huddersfield Trust I obtained an MSc with the Leeds University in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Quality Assurance. This gave me the necessary qualifications needed to study the MSc Medical Device Decontamination Programme.
“I began looking into universities and colleges to see which institutions offered the programme on an open learning basis and came across Inverness College UHI. I enrolled in September 2006 and attended an induction weekend in Inverness meeting fellow students and staff. This also gave me the opportunity to learn about the online delivery on WebCT and black board.
“I decided to complete the course in three years instead of five and although this was challenging, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and loved interacting with my fellow students via chat rooms. Now that I have completed my course, I have progressed from Quality Assurance Manager to Trust Decontamination Advisor. I am thrilled to be graduating and very proud of my efforts.”
Morag Still
Certificate in Personnel Practice (CIPD)
HNC in Business Administration
Morag chose to study at Perth College UHI not only because it offered the course she wanted to do to start her career but because the timing of the course meant it fitted in with the demands of her work and family life.
Morag had spent 11 years at home bringing up her children and it was important for her to find a career which would give her an interest once her children grew up.
Morag has been seconded into a specialist role in the Aviva Group HR Centre of Expertise and her aspiration to work in HR has also given her the opportunity to lecture in HR at Perth College UHI.
Diane Kelday
BA Business and Management
When Diane left school after 6th year she didn’t feel ready to leave Orkney so she decided to start a degree at Orkney College UHI. Since graduating she has been employed at a local construction company and hopes one day to have her own business. Diane feels that her degree will prove a useful tool in achieving this due to the entrepreneurship and management subjects that were involved in her degree course.
Gwen Cuthbertson
BA (Hons) Gaelic Language and Culture
Gwen was inspired to study at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI following a visit in her last year of secondary school. Her degree allowed Gwen to complete a PGCE at the university of Strathclyde in primary Gaelic education.
She then took up her probationary year in Central Primary, Inverness and followed that with a return to Sleat, on Skye, where she got a job teaching at Broadford primary. In January 2008 Gwen took up the postion of head teacher at Bunsgoil Shlèite.
