Blue Badge Guide Training Course 2008 - 2010

The Scottish Tourist Guides Association, the organisation for Blue Badge Guides in Scotland is inviting applications for the 2008 intake for guide training. Successful completion of this course will qualify participants to guide throughout the whole of Scotland. The 2-year course will involve face-to-face weekend classes at the University of Edinburgh and summer schools; support is also provided by web-based materials.

We are particularly keen to speak to candidates who are fluent in a foreign language and are willing to travel throughout Scotland.   There are particular opportunities for candidates who speak Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese, German and Central and Eastern European languages.

Interviews will take place in from 14 th - 18 th January 2008 to select candidates for the Introductory Course, which will be held 15 th and 16 th March 2008. The main training commences on 25 th April 2008.

For an application pack and further information please contact our Training Manager at STGA, "Norrie's House", 18b Broad Street, Stirling FK8 1EF; Tel: 0141 334 3170; email info@stga.co.uk

Applications must be received by STGA by 6 th January 2008.

The STGA is the accrediting body for tourist guides in Scotland.  The STGA does not train guides. We do however select the student guides, select and approve training providers and tutors and we set the criteria for approved courses and training programmes.

Accreditation of our guides is according to STGA Standards of Performance and the following nationally approved qualifications:

 

         Dr Con Gillen (Course Director) on Arthurs Seat with students.

 

• STGA Ordinary Membership (Blue Badge)                                                                                                     

• STGA Site Affiliation (Yellow Badge)                                                                                     
• SVQ level 2 or SCQF level 5, for fixed route tourist guiding

   

Ros Newlands (Course Director)

 

HOW TO BECOME A BLUE BADGE GUIDE

The two-year training course to become a Blue Badge guide is currently run on our behalf by the University of Edinburgh and the next intake will be February 2008.

This part-time study course includes web-supported learning and requires weekend and summer school attendance at the University of Edinburgh and in the field throughout Scotland. The total Minimum Learning Hours amount to 1300hrs.

Candidates must have at least 3 of the following recognised and verifiable qualifications or skills appropriate for tourist guiding: degree or diploma or STGA Level 6 qualification, IT skills and at least one of the following: foreign language fluency, relevant work experience, out-door activity qualification, have a depth of interest in Scotland. At interview, candidates offering a language other than their mother tongue will be screened for competency in that language. STGA uses the FEG Common Language Test for non-mother tongue languages.

Applicants will be invited to a Selection Interview in February 2008, followed by an Introductory Course in Edinburgh. On successful completion of the introductory course, the candidate qualifies for Student Membership of the STGA and may commence training.

Training towards the Final Membership Examinations is provided through our Training Provider, currently the University of Edinburgh, subject to approval of content and assessment by the STGA Board of Directors.

The course covers Core Knowledge, Professional Guiding Skills and Area Studies                                                  

                   

              

               Students on Training day.

Assessment for University Credits and eligibility for the STGA Membership Examination consists of 6 core knowledge/regional studies essays; written tour notes and plan; practical assessment to STGA standards on walks, site visits and coach tours for each of the two area study areas i.e. Highlands & Islands and Lowlands.

The Final Membership Examination, under the direct control of the STGA Board of Directors, takes 4 days and involves a combination of a written tour plan; practical assessment on walks, site visits and coach tours; written and oral questions on Professional Skills and Regional Studies.

        

Guides offering a language other than their mother tongue will be assessed in that language as well as in their mother tongue.

The Course Fees will be £225 for the Introductory Course and £5250 for the Main Two-Year Course. Fees are payable to the University of Edinburgh in instalments.   Career Development Loans may be available and STGA will assist students with applications for local funding, although this cannot be guaranteed

 

HOW TO BECOME AN STGA REGIONAL AFFILIATE

Courses are run on demand, usually initiated by local tourist boards or enterprise companies. 

Candidates must have at least one from each of the following recognised and verifiable qualifications or skills appropriate for guiding: Highers or equivalent school leaving qualification or STGA Level 5 Qualification; IT skills: at least one of the following: foreign language fluency, relevant work experience, outdoor activity qualification, a depth of interest in Scotland. Guiding Area: one of the following geographical regions:

The Scottish Borders

Edinburgh & the Lothians

Fife, Kinross and Angus

Glasgow

South-West Scotland

Stirlingshire & Argyll, incl. Arran & Bute

Aberdeen & Grampian

Central Highlands

Northern Highlands

Inner Hebrides

Outer Hebrides

Skye and Lochalsh & the Small Isles

Orkney

Shetland

The course covers Core Knowledge, Professional Guiding Skills and Area Studies. Total Minimum Learning Hours amount to 600 hrs.

The Final Affiliation Examination, under the direct control of the STGA Board of Directors, takes 1-2 days and involves submission of tour notes and a tour plan, oral questions on Regional Core Knowledge, interview on practical matters, language testing if appropriate, & practical coach tour, walking tour and site assessments.

 

HOW TO BECOME AN STGA SITE AFFILIATE

Site Affiliates specialise in specific fixed route tours of a site e.g. visitor attraction, nature reserve or fixed town walk or fixed route bus tour. Training is currently provided by approved companies who provide training for their own staff to agreed STGA standards.

Companies who are interested in having their guides assessed for site affiliation can apply to STGA to have their own training programmes approved or can obtain a list of approved trainers from STGA.

Companies currently providing this training for their own staff are:

• City Sightseeing Glasgow and Stirling
• Mercat Tours
• National Trust for Scotland

Candidates must have at least one from each of the three following recognised and verifiable qualifications or skills appropriate for guiding: Standard grade or equivalent school leaving certificate; IT skills and at least one of the following:  foreign language fluency, relevant work experience, out-door activity qualification, a depth of interest in local area of Scotland.

Training, through a designated Training Provider includes 200 learning hours

The Final Affiliation Examination, under the direct control of the STGA Board of Directors, takes 1 day and involves oral or written questions on site-specific core Knowledge, language assessment if appropriate and practical site assessment.

TRAINER TRAINING

We offer trainer training to qualified tourist guides and hold a list of approved tourist guide trainers.

TRAINING PROVIDERS & COURSES

For guide training, these must be approved by STGA. The criteria for the accreditation of Course Directors, Tutors and Courses can be obtained from the STGA Office.

STGA approved courses follow best practice in tourist guide training and are compatible with the Federation of European Guides and the World Federation of Tourist Guides Association’s guidelines for Tourist Guide Training and proposed European Standards for the Training and Qualification of Tourist Guides.

If you would like more detailed information on any of these training areas,

please write to the STGA Training Manager

The Scottish Tourist Guides Association

"Norrie's House", 18b Broad Street, Stirling, FK8 1EF, SCOTLAND