Carnegie College - Dunfermline

Latest News - October 28th : Click image below to access new e-brochure

Carnegie College’s First Honorary Fellowship Awarded to Andrew Carnegie’s Great Grandson, William Thomson CBE. ( Images below editorial ).

Andrew Carnegie’s great-grandson William Thomson CBE has received the very first Carnegie College Fellowship. The honorary fellowship was presented at the college’s Graduation Ceremony held in Dunfermline Abbey on 17 September and was an acknowledgement of William’s proactive support for the College, particularly throughout the past year during the college name change.  

Janet McCauslin MBE, Assistant Principal with Carnegie College, gave the oration prior to the Principal presenting the honorary fellowship to William Thomson,

‘William is an extraordinary man, His career has included periods of time as a stockbroker, shipping manager, entrepreneur, publisher, shop owner, school director, venture capitalist and many other things besides – a career which epitomises change and flexibility, over a 40 year period, in response and in anticipation of changes in technology, society and the economy.  However there is very much more to William than his career in business. He is someone who is motivated simply by seeing what needs to be done and doing it. For example he set up Finton House School in Wandsworth, London. He had been impressed by the care and approach taken by the head teacher, especially in integrating a child who had spina bifida with the rest of the pupils. When the owners of the school building decided to take it back William and his co-founders established a new school for the teachers and the pupils. A feature of this school is how it assimilates the pupils with physical disabilities in a ‘matter of fact’ way that also helps able bodied youngsters accept and appreciate their physically less able peers. The school has grown from a roll of 15 to 350 youngsters in a short period of time’.

Carnegie Principal Professor Bill McIntosh added ‘We feel certain that William’s great grandfather, Andrew Carnegie, would be particularly proud of the achievements of his great grandson. He has tried many things, succeeded and then tried some more. He is entrepreneurial, innovative, caring and generous. The college is delighted to have the support of William Thomson, himself a successful entrepreneur and businessman with managerial experience. The name change has been received positively and the fresh image has undoubtedly helped raise awareness of the college and what it provides locally and internationally.’

Professor McIntosh continued ‘In a year that has seen the very first Carnegie Festival and the first graduates to receive Carnegie College certificates, it seems appropriate that the first fellowship be awarded to a member of the family who have been so instrumental in the history of the college’.

William Thomson is the Honorary President of the Carnegie UK Trust and last year he kindly presented the college with a portrait of his great ancestor and the college’s main benefactor, Andrew Carnegie.

All About Carnegie College :

At  Dunfermline's Carnegie College we offer more than qualifications - we help people to take the first step towards a different lifestyle and a new future.

Carnegie College stands at the forefront of Further Education in Scotland and is highly regarded as a major educational player. Each year over 15,000 students choose to study with us and over our 100 years existence we’ve helped thousands of people make positive changes to their lives, gaining the skills and knowledge to achieve their personal and career goals.

We are always at the forefront with new courses and services for our customers, but always with an eye to our heritage and the quality this brings. Together with our other business units we consistently demonstrate lead-edge practice in social inclusion, workforce development, e-learning, services to businesses and the local community.

Carnegie College supports lifelong learning for all, promoting social inclusion and a highly skilled workforce for a competitive Scotland from our main campus in Halbeath , our Construction Centre in Cowdenbeath and our community learning centres in the West Fife towns and villages. We also offer educational services to prisoners whilst they serve their sentences in five of Her Majesty’s Prisons.

A New Journey :

                                     

We would like to help you design your future by offering an extremely wide range of courses and related services, offered in a variety of attendance patterns.

Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds and no matter what that might be we are here to support you and help you make the right choices through your education. As a new student you may be just out of school and needing some guidance on career paths and relevant courses or you may be returning to study after some years away and require some assistance with your study skills

We are delighted that you are considering studying with Carnegie College and we are excited at the prospect of playing our part in leading you to success.

For course information call Customer Services on 0844 248 0115

Community Learning :

Why not learn something on your doorstep. You will be delighted to know that you can access learning in your local community rather than coming to the main campuses. Carnegie College works in partnership with Fife Council to deliver courses via a network of 7 learning centres throughout West and Central Fife, providing you with the opportunity to take those first steps back into learning in small, friendly classes, in your own local community. The experience will be really informal, sociable and great fun. And because the learning environments are much smaller than in the college, it’s easy to make friends andstudents walking to learn new things.

Our community learning centres have been hugely successful in attracting learners back into learning; opening up new opportunities for many people and giving them a better future. You too could use them to learn new skills and gain qualifications to get back into employment, or improve your job and career prospects.

Our Community Learning Centres are funded by Carnegie College, Fife Council, Scottish Executive and European Union projects. The Centres are small but modern, equipped with the latest technology. Not only do we offer vocational programmes, that is programmes which you would study to gain qualifications; we also offer a whole range of leisure classes to give you the opportunity to learn something new, have a bit of fun and the chance to meet up with friends.

Courses may be free to individuals, including benefit claimants and job seekers and help with costs, such as travel expenses, is also available. Many centres also have free crèche facilities for pre-school age children and can offer help with childcare. Locally based college lecturers and Fife Council staff will be able to advise you as to what it will cost and what finance support you can expect. If you need study support, one-to-one guidance is available from locally based tutors, who can help you before you start on a course and during your studies. Our services range from guidance on what to study and how to advise on personal matters, financial support, to communication and confidence building skills.

Afasic works for children and young people with speech and language impairments, aiming for their inclusion in society and supporting their parents and carers.

.

International Student :

Thank you for considering Carnegie College as a possible place to experience learning in Scotland. It is a pleasure to welcome you to our web site. We are proud of our reputation for quality, the excellence of our teaching and support services - and last but not least our students.

Carnegie College is a modern, innovative learning environment with lots going on. We care about all our students and we will work together to help you make the most of your learning experience. Many learners attend Carnegie College year after year; pursuing ever more challenging career goals and working to achieve the best qualifications for each stage of their career. From your first introduction to the College – whether it be an information event, school visit or an enquiry with our Customer Services team, right through to the end of your studies and your graduation, we’ll guide and support you as best we can.

We understand that reaching the decision to study in a foreign country can be challenging but together we can ensure you have every opportunity to reach your goals.


At Carnegie all of our learners are very important to us. We offer support so that you can concentrate upon what’s important and enjoy a rich and rewarding learning experience with us. Please read the Guidance Available section for further information on the support available.

Read our Finance Options section of the website for information on possible ways to help fund your studies.

We hope you will consider us a place of learning. Thank you.

Study Options :

                          
Whatever your ambitions, we have the courses to suit your needs. We offer a wide range of qualifications that are nationally recognised by employers and educational institutes alike.

Combining coming to college, studying and living your life is a challenge all our students face but we can help you succeed in finding a way to work around your many commitments.

We offer programmes in a number of ways, and try to suit our learning programmes to meet the needs of our customers and learners.

Our courses can be studied full-time, part-time, via distance, online learning or via our flexible learning model. We are confident that studying at Carnegie College will give you just the right balance.

By talking through your ambitions we can work out a clear, achievable study programme that fits in with your lifestyle.

Studying in Dunfermline :

Dunfermline is a growing and vibrant community with a rich heritage, the historic capital city of Scotland. The name comes fromdunfermline abbey image the Gaelic "Dùn Fearam Linn" which translates as "the fort in the bend of the stream". You can see and experience much of the history of Dunfermline whilst still enjoying a modern and contemporary atmosphere. Recently the town has seen substantial growth; a large expansion is taking place towards the East including new housing, employment, a new library, a community hall, parks and schools.

As this expansion continues there is also now a real shift towards reclaiming the ownership of the town’s links with Andrew Carnegie. As a city Dunfermline now has tangible opportunities to play a major role in growing further it’s cultural and economic profile, a role Andrew Carnegie would have seen as vital and central to its continued success and development.