Students from Robert Gordon University (RGU) got the chance to interview leading businessman Sir Ian Wood this semester as part of the Aberdeen Youth Games (AYG) project.
Third year Public Relations student Rebecca MacDonald and third year Media student Amy Wilson from Aberdeen Business School conducted a video interview with Sir Ian in April.
The Aberdeen Youth Games is a joint initiative between RGU, Sport Aberdeen and North East Scotland College which sees students trained in sports coaching to deliver training to primary school pupils across the city.
Each year culminates in a Festival of Sport each May which see hundreds of pupils converge on Aberdeen Sports Village to take part in a number of sporting activities connected to their sessions with the students.
In 2015 The Wood Foundation (TWF) committed a further £50,000 to the project over the next five years following an initial £10,000 award to support the scheme.
The interview with Sir Ian, who is an AYG Ambassador, formed part of the students work for their communications module in which they have to develop promotional videos for the programme.
Rebecca said: “Interviewing Sir Ian Wood was a great experience that really developed my interviewing skills and confidence.
“Initially I was a little bit nervous, but as the interview progressed, I felt more comfortable speaking with Sir Ian about the Aberdeen Youth Games and how it benefits children around the city.
“The interview went really well and we got some great responses from Sir Ian which will be very helpful when it comes to producing our videos. I am happy that I conducted the interview and it will be beneficial for my CV.
“The experience I gained also gave me the confidence to help organise another interview with Olympic Snowboarder and AYG ambassador Ben Kilner, which also went very well.”
Amy said: “Knowing that I was going to be interviewing Sir Ian Wood was both exciting and nerve wracking at the same time, but once I had the camera set up and he introduced himself the experience was great and Sir Ian was lovely.
“The interview itself went really well and Sir Ian provided great feedback and anecdotes that are relevant to our project with the Aberdeen Youth Games.
“I got a real sense of what it would be like in the media industry to set up an interview and it was such a great experience overall.”
Sir Ian Wood said: "I was happy to give the interview which offered the opportunity to both profile the important work of Aberdeen Youth Games while also supporting authentic work experience opportunities for students.
“The Wood Foundation is a strong supporter of taking learning outside the traditional classroom and giving our young people the opportunity to engage with the wider world and understand how they can be effective and meaningful contributors.
“The Aberdeen Youth Games facilitates this for both our school pupils in the outside world and university students in their work place, enriching their educations and better preparing them for life beyond education."
Bryan McCann, lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at RGU, leads the Aberdeen Youth Games project.
He said: “We’re very grateful to Sir Ian for his continued support of the Aberdeen Youth Games and giving his time so generously for our students.
“Rebecca and Amy did a great job with the interview and it was clear to see that Sir Ian enjoyed the experience as well.
“The interview footage Rebecca and Amy have produced will feature in future promotional activities for the Aberdeen Youth Games as we seek to increase its size and scope in the comings years.”
Izzy Crawford, senior lecturer at Aberdeen Business School, said: “Live client projects are a great way for students to learn and develop the vital knowledge and skills that employers look for in graduates.
“A good project will also be fun and rewarding, and having the chance to interview people like Sir Ian Wood and Olympic athletes is something they will never forget.”
For more information about the Aberdeen Youth Games, please visit www.rgu.ac.uk/aberdeen-youth-games.
More information about The Wood Foundation is also available at www.thewoodfoundation.org.uk