Member Form



Member Login Button
View Scotland's Colleges Services
Scotland's Colleges logo
Scotland's Colleges Annual Awards Scotland's Colleges Fellowship Award 2009
Scotland's Colleges Fellowship Award 2009

A Fellowship of Scotland’s Colleges is awarded to individuals who have made a distinguished contribution to the work of Scotland’s colleges and their learners.  It is awarded to those individuals whose working life lies substantially within the sector and who, in the view of Scotland’s colleges, has made an outstanding contribution which has made a difference to our learners.  The award is presented on behalf of learners in Scotland’s colleges in recognition of the recipient’s exceptional achievements.

Robert Beattie MBE has had a major influence in shaping the modern landscape of the college sector in Scotland.  He was appointed as the first chairman of the Scottish Funding Council for Further Education and his term in office was characterised by the encouragement given to colleges to be collaborative in addressing their challenging agendas and also his very active promotion of inclusive practices.

Robert chaired the hugely influential Government committee on Post-School Education and Training of Young People with Special Needs which recommended that the principle of inclusiveness should underpin all post-school guidance, education and training.  This particular work was instrumental in establishing a national infrastructure for learners with additional needs.  As part of this infrastructure the Beattie Resources for Inclusiveness in Technology and Education was created at Stevenson College Edinburgh.

His wisdom, experience and willingness to contribute good sense made him much in demand and his contribution to public life in Scotland has been extensive.  He has made significant contributions to the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health Services, Centre for Scottish Public Policy, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and Volunteer Development Scotland.  His job title at IBM – Community Investment Co-ordinator – revealed his core passion.

In a life of public service characterised by work to achieve greater social justice, Robert Beattie epitomises the core values of Scotland’s colleges and for that, we honour him.		 Fellowship Award 2009 photo

Brian Keegan, Chair of Scotland's Colleges Board of Directors presents the Fellowship Award to Alison Cox, Centre Director, BRITE Initiative who accepted the Award on behalf of Robert Beattie MBE