Founded: First established in 1929 as Kirkcaldy Technical School at its current main location in St Brycedale Avenue, Kirkcaldy. It became the principal centre for advanced further education courses in Fife as Fife College in 1974 and, after broadening its course base (including adding a number of degrees courses), took its present name in 1993.
HR-related and specific courses: CIPD Certificate in Training Practice, one-year, part-time, which leads to Associate membership of the CIPD; CIPD Professional Qualification Scheme, which leads to Licentiate Membership of the CIPD on completion of one of the modules and Graduate membership for those who complete the three-year programme; HND Human Resource Management, two years, full time; CIPD NVQ in Recruitment Consultancy (Level 3).
College CV: The college is based in two main campuses in Kirkcaldy and there are 12 community access points offering learning opportunities for students who cannot come in to college. Part of its mission is to work in partnership with business and wider communities and it has excellent links with local organisations and government and is regularly engaged by Fife Council to raise the awareness of HR issues and employment legislation. It has been a CIPD-approved centre for 20 years and runs a programme of education for the TUC. It is currently actively involved in the European human resource project, ADAPT, which assists organisations and individuals in the transition stages of industrial and technological change. The college is committed to lifelong learning and offers an online learning environment, called WebCT, so that students can learn solely online or complement classroom study with a Web-based element.
Star HR academics : Pamela Leitch, team leader of management and professional studies. William Breckenridge, who has just returned from a secondment to draft further education competency standards.
Entry: There are no formal entry requirements for the Certificate in Training Practice, although those who take the course must become Affiliate Members of the CIPD. For the Professional Qualification Scheme, any of the following: a degree in a related subject; three Higher grade passes; a Certificate in Training Practice; an equivalent or higher award acceptable to the institute; or by age and experience (direct entry to the second year of the three-year course is possible depending on experience and qualifications). For the HND course, a combination of Highers, Standard Grades or modules, equivalent to two Highers and two Standard Grades or an appropriate introductory course or GSVQ qualification. Those with suitable experience, maturity, or other qualifications will be considered.
Alumni: There is an active college association for all staff and students.
www.fife.ac.uk
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
