I am 17 years old, and this year, I had a unique opportunity of adding to  my Scottish Highers and immersing myself into the world of data science via one of our schools’ most innovative programs, the Schools College Partnership.

This year, I acquired the National Progression Award at the SCQF Level 6 and the Professional Development Award at SCQF Level 7 in Data Science.

It is a significant achievement as students at my level hardly have the chance to combine and complete such levels in one year instead of two. These levels’ structure was designed not only to provide knowledge but also to teach students how to apply their knowledge to the practice, which is critical due to the rapid transformation taking place in the field of data science. Staying fully committed, disciplined, and enthusiastic about what I learned helped me to pass the courses on time, alongside the support and advice of the college’s teachers.

My successful completion of these courses allowed and encouraged me to undertake a full-time course for the National Certificate in Computing. I believe it is a great strategy to enable higher levels of education while still attending college because it prepares students well for further educational and professional opportunities. This example proves that it is possible to pass two levels of college education within one academic year. Therefore, this type of learning course can be used as a model and copied for other enthusiastic and persevering students. The college should minimize the years required to educate and teach students in a particular subject and encourage more people to study quickly.

The structure of these courses is designed to provide a deep and practical understanding of data science, which has been crucial in equipping me with the skills necessary to advance in this rapidly evolving field. Completing both levels in one year required dedication, rigorous time management, and a passion for data science, which was fostered by the support and guidance from college instructors and the curriculum itself.

My successful completion of these awards under such demanding circumstances has led to my acceptance into the full-time National Certificate in Computing course. This progression is a testament to the effectiveness of integrating higher education standards into college-level teaching, preparing students for further academic and professional opportunities.

This educational model not only demonstrates the feasibility of completing successive qualifications in a shortened period but also emphasizes the potential for other motivated students to pursue similar accelerated learning paths.

The success of this program in supporting students like myself should encourage the college to promote and expand the availability of double level courses, enabling more young people to advance rapidly in their chosen fields.