MORE THAN 500 students were yesterday joined by their families and friends in Arbroath for Angus College’s 50th anniversary graduation ceremony at the Carnoustie Golf Hotel.

The occasion saw record numbers of students marking the end of their often lengthy learning journeys.

College principal John Burt, in his address, reflected firstly on the college’s 50 years of service to the Angus community.

“Angus College has grown from humble beginnings in 1956, in a small tenement flat in Arbroath with two lecturers and 50 students, to a college with significant local and national standing,” he declared.

“Our college has become an admired institution which during the 2005/06 term had 9700 students enrolled in classes, many of whom are here today.

“We have 350 members of staff, are currently located at seven sites throughout Angus, and are soon to have an eighth site with the opening of the extended Saltire Centre in Arbroath, which will provide accommodation for the college’s sports team, in a major partnership development with Angus Council.

“We are committed to our ongoing investment in facilities and will also soon see completion of new construction workshops in Arbroath.

“We will also continue to build upon our reputation for delivering high-quality education and training.”

Mr Burt continued, “Much of our success is due to the strong links we have within the community.

“With Angus Council we have forged significant school links, which are recognised as an example of best practice in Scotland.

“With Scottish Enterprise Tayside we have delivered Skillseekers and Modern Apprenticeship program- mes, primarily for young people, and received support in delivering language courses mainly for the many Eastern European workers coming to live and work in our community.

“We also work in partnership with other bodies ranging from local universities to Volunteer Centre Angus who we are working with to build citizenship skills with our students.”

Looking to the future, Mr Burt spoke of the recent publication of a Scottish Executive report entitled The Differences Colleges Make and his role in chairing the review of Scottish colleges.

“The report looks at the impact that Scottish colleges are making to individuals, their communities and to Scotland and for the first time places a monetary value on the contribution that they make to enhancing the skills of the country’s workforce.

“For every £1 invested in Scotland’s colleges, our economy benefits by at least £3.20. This represents an excellent return on investment.”

Mr Burt welcomed guest speaker Professor Jim McGoldrick, chairman of NHS Fife, who before presenting the awards said, “May I also offer my personal congratulations to all students graduating, and extend those congratulations to their families and supporters.

“At the same time, I would also wish to acknowledge the huge commitment and contribution by all staff in the college in the success that we are celebrating.”

Professor McGoldrick added, “I am particularly delighted to be a guest of a college where one of my keen areas of interest, that of widening access and participation in lifelong learning, is so much a part of the everyday life of the college, its staff and its students.

“This ceremony represents a major landmark in what I call your personal learning journey, what is often referred to as lifelong learning.

“It may be a truism, but it is valid nonetheless, that we learn something new every day of our life—whether formally in the classroom, or informally at work, or socialising.”