SYHA Hostelling Scotland (SYHA) has recently, in association with the education team at The Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE), collaborated with 4th year Digital Design students from Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) on a live project to design a promotional campaign to attract more young people (18 – 25) to become SYHA members.

The brief for the project included researching the target market on their current perceptions and knowledge of SYHA; as well as reviewing the SYHA website before proposing design improvements to both enhance the user experience and appeal to young people.

A group of four students took on the role of a working design consultancy with SYHA and following a Q&A session and a visit to Glasgow Youth Hostel, the design team then had just two weeks to come up with some workable design solutions and put together a persuasive presentation.

SYHA Chief Executive Keith Legge said:

‘It has been great to work with young people on a live project that will benefit their professional development and influence their own age group. We are delighted that the students have come up with some strong design concepts that we will look into taking forward. This project has been a valuable experience for all involved and forms an integral part of SYHA’s ongoing commitment to youth development initiatives and our support for the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.’

The Scottish Institute for Enterprise’s education team work in partnership with GCU on their annual ’Kick Off Project’ to deliver modules on business modelling and business consultancy to 4th year Digital Design students and then partner them with local enterprises and charities in the local community to solve specific business challenges.

Other organisations involved in the 2016 ‘Kick Off Project’ included Icecream Architecture, Open Gates, Theatre Nemo and Refuweegee.

“We were delighted to work with SYHA in GCU’s Kick Off Project this year”, said Ann Davidson, Enterprise Programme Director at the Scottish Institute for Enterprise. “Key 21st century graduate skills include problem solving and an appreciation of civic and social responsibilities. One recognised way students can develop these skills is through them engaging in real and meaningful projects. This is experience that will help them should they pursue their own business idea with us or stand out to new employers after graduation”

Dr. Mary Maclachlan, Lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University said:

“These projects provide a real opportunity for our students’ to understand how their skills can have a positive impact on society. It is very impressive how they rise to the challenge and create very thoughtful design solutions in such a short period of time.”

SYHA has been involved in other student engagement initiatives as part of their own projects including the creation of mixed media public artwork for Crianlarich Youth Hostel, proposals for eco-accommodation pods at Lochranza Youth Hostel and customer care reports created by HND Admin and IT students and HND Business students.

SYHA’s youth projects undertaken throughout 2016 highlight the charity’s strong commitment to both youth development and youth tourism, pro-actively aligning its activities and business operation with VisitScotland’s themed year of Innovation, Architecture and Design; as well as looking forward to the Year of Young People in 2018.

Notes to Editors:

 SYHA Hostelling Scotland

SYHA Hostelling Scotland is a self-funding charity operating a network of over 60 exceptional youth and affiliate hostels for the benefit of all those wishing to learn and experience what Scotland has to offer. Our unique sites provide affordable, comfortable, safe and quality-assured accommodation with a warm friendly welcome, local knowledge, activities and services for guests on their journeys of self-discovery, adventure and learning around Scotland. For more information go to: https://www.syha.org.uk/

Scottish Institute for Enterprise

The Scottish Institute for Enterprise is the national organisation for the promotion and support of enterprise and entrepreneurship in Scotland’s students. SIE works with Universities and Colleges to champion enterprise education and help their students start new innovative businesses. SIE provides free one-to-to advice, enterprise workshops and business competitions supported by a national team of student interns and business advisors. SIE is supported by the Scottish Founding Council and Scottish Enterprise and is part of the Scotland CAN DO framework. For more information go to: www.sie.ac.uk

Glasgow Caledonian University

Glasgow Caledonian University delivers academic excellence to 20,000 students with a defining mission as the University for the Common Good. We have campuses in Glasgow, London and New York and deliver programmes in Oman, Bangladesh, Mauritius and South Africa. We are proud to be the top performing modern university in Scotland for UK full-time students completing their first degree, with employment/further study levels of 96% six months after graduation. For more information go to: www.gcu.ac.uk