People

KENNETH Alexander has been formally appointed as the University of the West of Scotland’s secretary. Alexander, who was secretary of Bell College, has been secretary designate since the college merged with Paisley University last August. He is responsible for catering, estates and buildings, human resources, printing, procurement and student administration.

News

ONE of the largest centres for the study of medieval studies in the world will open at St Andrews today. The Institute of Mediaeval Studies, which brings together more than 30 staff, is a multidisciplinary centre that combines a wide range of approaches to the study of the medieval period. Staff and students from the fields of English, history, history of art, modern languages, philosophy, divinity and classics will be involved in research and teaching spanning the mediaeval world, from late antiquity to the 15th century.

LOCHEND Community High School in Glasgow, has won the John Thaw Foundation prize, set up in memory of the Inspector Morse actor. Two teachers and 16 pupils from the school will spend 18-22 February at Lumb Bank, Ted Hughes’ old home in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. They will be taught by writers Celia Rees and Jonathan Falla, and Irish poet Leanne O’Sullivan.

THE Law Society of Scotland, the professional bodies for solicitors, is to sponsor a major chess championship for Scottish secondary schools. The Allegro Team Championship will take place at Perth Racecourse’s Nelson Stand on Sunday 17 February. Chess Scotland is organising the event for the society.

THE Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) has more than doubled the number of scholarships it offers to the tourism, hospitality and catering industry. At HIT’s emerging talent conference in Edinburgh, the names of the 191 recipients were announced. The scholarships are aimed at employees and final year students, and provide work placements.

THE “xlerate with xl” programme, run by the Prince’s Trust Scotland, has succeeded in helping all the young people taking part in the scheme, according to independent research by Careers Scotland. The study found 100 per cent of young people taking part in the programme – which is aimed at underachievers, poor attendees or those at risk of exclusion – have stayed on at school or gone to college or university, voluntary work, employment or training.

Awards

WEST Lothian College has won prizes at the Scottish Further Education Unit Marketing Awards. Gill Currie, college marketing manager, took silver in the education marketing newcomer category, and the marketing team picked up bronze awards for its website, prospectus and integrated marketing campaign.

Events

LUMEN, a light show to complement science lessons, will be shown to S2 and S3 pupils in North Ayrshire. Dr Hannah Foreman and Christine Flynn will perform their show at the Metro in Saltcoats for Ardrossan, Garnock, Kilwinning and St Matthew’s academies on 18 February, and Auchenharvie, Greenwood, Kilwinning and Largs academies on 25 February.