Welcome to UHI LINC Project Co-ordinator Alison Dix, who took
up her post at Sabhal Mor Ostaig in July 2000.
The Project, funded through ADAPT, is primarily designed
to educate and train employees of small or medium-sized businesses
in new skills to enhance their flexibility in employment and adaptability
to change.
The courses offered under the LINC banner include: Business
Accounts, Marketing, Problem Solving, Introduction to Small Businesses,
Managing People, Information Technology, Introduction to Rural
Development and Child Development.
Sixteen people from Skye and Lochalsh have already begun
LINC courses, studying through local learning centres at Sabhal
Mor Ostaig, Lochalsh Learning Centre and Columba 1400, with the
most popular course being Application of Information Technology.
An innovative feature of the LINC Project is that these courses
are taught on-line by tutors in UHI Academic Partner Colleges,
with 'hands on' induction and support in using the learning materials
from trained and experienced staff in the learning centres, which
also include Portree High School and Auchtertyre Community Education
Centre.
Enrolment for the next Phase in February 2001 is already
under way, with information packs currently being distributed
to local employers.
Alison is enthusiastic about the opportunities which the
LINC Project offers :
'First and foremost, we are providing local employees,
or those who have been made redundant due to restructuring, with
a chance to acquire relevant skills and knowledge without leaving
Skye and Lochalsh. We are also using the experience gained through
LINC to enhance the facilities and support at the local learning
centres in order to ensure that we meet the standards required
of them by the Scottish University for Industry.'
Alison adds: 'Excellent support for the Project has been
provided in this area by the Local Learning Partnership, Skye
and Lochalsh Enterprise, Highland Council and, last but not least,
the learning centre staff, all of which has helped me greatly
in my new role.'
For further information on LINC, please phone Alison on
077 400 69271 or 01471 888447, write to her at the College, or
email her on sm00ad@groupwise.uhi.ac.uk.