| Perth College UHI | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1961 |
| Type | College |
| Principal | Dr Thomas Moore |
| Admin. staff | ~500 |
| Students | ~7000 |
| Location | Perth, Scotland |
| Affiliations | University of the Highlands and Islands, |
| Website | www.perth.uhi.ac.uk |
Perth College UHI provides further education and higher education in the city of Perth, Scotland, through a main campus, a network of learning centres and by distance learning.
It runs a wide range of courses, including degrees, through its membership of the University of the Highlands and Islands, as well as work-based learning and vocational training. Degrees available include aircraft engineering, music, social sciences, computing, child and youth studies.
Most of Perth College UHI’s students are on taught courses on the main campus in Perth, but learning centres across Perth & Kinross provide local people in Blairgowrie, Crieff, Kinross and in Perth city centre with access to training and education too.
AST (Air Service Training), which has been delivering aeronautical engineering courses since 1934, is owned by Perth College UHI. AST is UK CAA Approved and based at Perth Airport. British Airways, BMI, Malaysia Airlines, Aer Lingus, Kuwait Airways, Air Mauritius and Air Seychelles have all had staff trained there.
There is a growing community of international students at Perth College UHI. Its English language school courses are approved by the British Council and it is a member of English UK. International students can live and work in Scotland for up to two years after they graduate.
The College started in the old Academy building on Perth’s Rose Terrace in 1961 offering day-time further education (FE) courses in building trades, before expanding into a centre in Nelson Street (site of the Southern District School) soon afterwards.
Originally called Perth Technical College, the institution went on to be called Perth College of Further Education. After incorporation it was changed to Perth College. To mark its involvement in the University of the Highlands and Islands it is now Perth College UHI.
The first part of its Crieff Road campus — the Brahan Building — was officially opened on 16 October 1971 by the then Secretary of State for Scotland, Gordon Campbell.
Built on the site of the Pullars’ (of dry-cleaning fame) family home, the College cost £1.25 million and had 24 full-time lecturers teaching 700 students.
Today Perth College UHI employs around 500 full-time and part-time teaching and non-teaching staff and has around 7000 student enrolments.
Previously run by the local authority, it is now governed by a Board of Management made up of the Principal, staff representatives and volunteers from business, education and the wider community in and around Perth and Kinross.