The IB Career-related Programme is unique to Lomond. We have a choice of three career-related studies; in Business, Engineering or Activity Tourism. The IBCP pathway offers vocational and contextualised learning for pupils who are planning on pursuing further/higher education or even immediate employment in these fields.
The programme comprises a mix of academic courses from the IB Diploma Programme alongside a career related study, (in our case either an HNC in Business, HNC in Engineering or NC in Activity Tourism) with real-world approaches to learning and work placements throughout. It provides a flexible pathway which both challenges the most able and supports those who may not be naturally aligned to a purely academic pathway.
Career-related Programme pupils undertake a minimum of two IB Diploma Programme (DP) courses, a core consisting of four components and a career-related study.
HNC Business
The HNC Business qualification offered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is designed to provide learners with a solid foundation in various aspects of business management. Throughout the course, students will explore key areas such as marketing, economics, accounting, human resource management, and business law. They’ll develop essential skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and decision-making. The HNC Business program aims to equip individuals with the knowledge and understanding needed to succeed in a wide range of business-related roles or progress onto further studies at an advanced level. It offers a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices that underpin successful businesses. By completing this qualification, students can enhance their employability prospects across different sectors and industries. Whether they aspire to work in finance, sales and marketing, operations management, or even start their own ventures someday – the HNC Business SQA provides them with valuable insights into how organisations function and thrive.
HNC Mechanical Engineering
The HNC in Mechanical Engineering is designed to provide learners with a strong foundation in various aspects of mechanical engineering principles and practices. It covers a wide range of topics, including engineering mathematics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, materials science, manufacturing processes, and more. Throughout the course, students will develop practical skills through hands-on projects and laboratory work. They’ll also gain theoretical knowledge that can be applied to real-world engineering challenges. The program aims to equip individuals with the necessary technical expertise and problem-solving abilities required for a successful career in mechanical engineering. By completing this qualification, students can pursue opportunities in diverse fields such as automotive engineering, aerospace industry, energy sector, manufacturing companies, research and development organizations, and consulting firms. They may find employment as design engineers, maintenance technicians, project managers, or even progress onto further studies at an advanced level. The HNC Mechanical Engineering SQA provides learners with a solid understanding of core engineering principles while nurturing their creativity and analytical thinking. It prepares them to contribute effectively to the ever-evolving field of mechanical engineering.
NC Activity Tourism
This course, accredited at SCQF Level 6, equips pupils with the essential knowledge and understanding of the growing activity tourism sector within the broader tourism industry. Designed to offer a comprehensive overview, the National Certificate provides a pathway for candidates to enter employment, advance to further studies, or progress from the National Progression Award (SCQF Level 4) in Activity Tourism.
Throughout the course, pupils engage in immersive activity tourism pursuits, connect with industry professionals, and conduct research on the requisite skills for operating activity tourism enterprises. The program introduces three key categories of activity tourism pursuits: Gentle, Moderate, and Adrenalin. From art and yoga to climbing, biking and sailing, candidates explore a diverse range of activities, gaining insights into categorisation and understanding how activities may vary based on factors like participant ability, weather, and terrain.
Recognising the sector’s significance to Scotland’s economy, the curriculum aligns with VisitScotland’s strategic focus on thematic niche products, including adventure sports, country sports, mountain biking, golf, walking, and sailing. In a rapidly evolving landscape with changing environmental attitudes, our National Certificate in Activity Tourism positions candidates to contribute to and thrive in this dynamic industry. Embark on a journey that combines education with the thrill of exploring Scotland’s activity tourism offerings.
The DP courses provide the theoretical underpinning and academic rigour of the programme; the career-related study further supports the programme’s academic strength and provides practical, real-world approaches to learning and the CP core helps them to develop skills and competencies required for lifelong learning.
The core components are:
Personal and professional skills
This course aims to develop responsibility, practical problem-solving, good intellectual habits, ethical understandings, perseverance, resilience, an appreciation of identity and perspective, and an understanding of the complexity of the modern world. Emphasis is on the development of skills needed to successfully navigate higher education, the workplace and society.
Service Learning
This is the practical application of knowledge and skills towards meeting an identified community need. Through service, pupils develop and apply personal and social skills in real-life situations involving decision-making, problem-solving, initiative, responsibility and accountability for their actions.
Language development
This ensures that all pupils have access to and are exposed to an additional language, which is a central tenet of an IB education and will increase their understanding of the wider world. Pupils are encouraged to begin or extend the study of a language other than their best language that suits their needs, background and context. It develops pupils in the areas of oral, visual and written linguistic communicative abilities.
Reflective project
This is an in-depth body of work produced over an extended period of time. Through the reflective project, pupils identify, analyse, discuss and evaluate an ethical dilemma associated with an issue from their career-related studies. This work encourages pupils to engage in personal enquiry, intellectual discovery, creativity, action and reflection and to develop strong thinking, research and communication skills.
You can find out more about the IB Career-related Programme here.
IB Diploma Programme
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