In ordinary times, a college campus is a hive of activity. Thousands of students fill workshops and music studios, kitchens, theatres, lecture theatres, classrooms and cafes. But over the past 12 months, things have been very different.
For now, college campuses sit mostly empty, open to only a few select groups of staff and students. For some students, this means they have never experienced the real-life atmosphere of FE, while for other students and for staff, the hustle and bustle of college life is a distant memory… until now.
Glasgow Clyde College has released an unusual playlist that recreates the sounds of the college’s 17,000 students, and transports listeners back to busy hallways, classrooms and studios.
The playlist begins with a sensory walk down a college corridor and includes soft tones of mechanised lifts, lockers opening and the occasional rattle of a vending machine. Listeners are then whisked off to the serene library where silence is only broken by the pitter-patter of keyboards, hushed conversations and the gentle rumblings of a printer. The aural tour continues into the engineering workshops, computing labs, dance rehearsals and busy textile studios before finally arriving at the campus gym.
Recreating the sounds of college life
Each four-minute soundscape has been specially designed to help staff and students relax while working remotely as part of the college community.
David Marshall, assistant principal for student experience at Glasgow Clyde College, said: “The vast majority of our students won’t have set foot on campus since March last year, so we wanted to remind them what college was like before we started working from home. It’s also a nice welcome gift for our newest students, starting their first classes in February and immediately fostering the sense of belonging we pride ourselves upon at Glasgow Clyde College.
“We designed soundscapes based on daily life across our three campuses - from a bustling engineering workshop, the joyful harmonies of our music studio to the calming environment of the library. They can be listened to as a collection or individually, helping staff and students to reminisce or relax while they go about their day.
“Glasgow Clyde College is a community and, despite students being unable to attend classes, we’re working hard to keep everyone connected as we carry on learning online.
“We can’t wait to be able to welcome everyone back when it’s safe to do so, but, in the meantime, these tracks let the college be enjoyed from anywhere.”
