An Airdrie student has been elected as president of the students’ association at New College Lanarkshire.
Former engineer Calum Smith returned to education last year as a mature student, and completed NQ barbering and male grooming at the Coatbridge campus.
He will now combine his new year-long post – representing 16,000 students at six campuses – with working two days per week at John Martins barbers on South Bridge Street in his home town.
Calum completed a mechanical engineering apprenticeship on leaving school, and last year made the decision to retrain.
He said: “It was a big decision for me to switch career – I’ve got a wee girl and a mortgage and bills to pay.
“I didn’t enjoy being an engineer and I wanted to do something that I had a passion for; and now I wish I’d done it years ago.
“The course was brilliant and the lecturers were great – and having studied at other colleges before, I think there are things that they are doing that we could bring here.”
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Calum’s main objectives for his 12 months as president include promoting healthy food options and increasing awareness of student support services.
He is also working with the six vice-presidents on the students’ association – one of whom has the role of representing the Coatbridge campus – to plan the year’s events, awareness and charity activities.
The new president is also planning ICT workshops for mature students and hopes to enlist more local businesses for freshers’ week; and has taken part in student-led pop-up barber shops at the college’s “market day” initiatives.
Calum added: “There is a community feeling at New College Lanarkshire as everyone is pushing for the same goals, and my door is open for any student to contact me when they need help.
“There’s a lot of support in the college, particularly in educational learning support. We want students to know help is there, regardless of what they’re going through.”
New College Lanarkshire’s student association acts as a bridge to senior management, and represents the college in meeting politicians and the National Union of Students.
