Staff Spotlight: Simon Fraser

For the last year, we’ve been getting to know staff from all areas of the college a bit better. This month’s spotlight falls on Lecturer, Simon Fraser. Hear about his love for snow, and learn more about the world of speedrunning!

Tell us about yourself?

I’m Simon Fraser and I have been a tutor at Perth College UHI for 14 years, having graduated here as a Computing degree student. I love supporting our students with their courses, and I am always happy to help! 

What is your role at Perth College UHI?

I have two main roles at the College:
I am an IT Support Tutor for our Distance Learning / IT Hub students. This involves supporting students with their courses, replying to emails, marking work and supervising assessments. We have a wide range of students, of all ages and ability levels, which I enjoy as it keeps the role interesting. 

My second role is as a Lecturer in Business and Accounting - specialising in IT subjects. I teach a wide range of students, including: NQ Admin, NQ Accounting, HNC Admin, HNC Accounting and HND Admin.

What might people be surprised to know about you?

I am an amateur (very amateur) speedrunner! Speedrunning is where you play computer/video games to completion as quickly as possible. Normally this is just done for fun, but it is also used to raise money for charity. Over the past year, I have attended over eight speedrunning events to raise funds for various charities including Young Minds, Save the Children and the Dutch Cancer Society.

Favourite type of Food?

I love myself a good burger! I’ve always liked McDonalds, and when I went to America, I had a couple of huge burgers there, I really enjoy them.

Favourite holiday destination?

Salt Lake City, USA. I went there last year for a speedrunning event and I had never left the country before as I didn’t even have a passport before I went! It was absolutely amazing, and I can’t wait to go back again.

Favourite book?

One of my first books as a child was The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien. So, my overall favourite book is probably ‘The Lord of the Rings’. I read it long before the movies came out.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I always wanted to work with computers. Either just using them, programming them or writing computer games. I’ve pretty much got my wish as I use computers every day, and get to help over people learn how to use them too!

If you were a super-hero, what type of powers would you have?

I’d love to be able to control the weather. I love the snow and it never snows enough for me, so that would be nice! I’d also be able to use those powers to help prevent some weather-related natural disasters.

First thing you would do if you won £1 million?

I would invest a very large chunk of it into the heritage railway – The Strathspey Railway. I have been a member and volunteer for eight years now and spend a day a week in the summer on the steam train collecting tickets. I love trains, and my aim would be to reopen as many closed railway lines as possible.

What’s the best part of your job?

Seeing students make progress on their courses and achieve things that they didn’t believe they could! Students who start at NQ level and go on to reach and achieve degree level courses are a fantastic example of what I enjoy about teaching.

Who or what inspires you?

I try very hard - sometimes too hard - to do the best I possibly can. Sometimes this is difficult, but I believe that having a positive attitude and working hard can benefit not just myself but everyone else around me.

What is the best advice you have ever received and who did it come from?

Probably from my parents in that you can’t always get everything perfect!  Learning to understand my own limitations, and realise that everyone makes mistakes, is an important lesson that it took me quite a while to learn. However, even if things do go wrong, being able to understand why - and adjust to them - is a skill that is always useful. We are always learning, every day.

Happiest memory?

Probably when I was giving a speech at the end of the charity event I attended in America. I felt that I can overcome my own limitations and was really making a difference by helping out for charity. Not only that, but it was amazing fun too - as well as the first time I’d been abroad!

And most embarrassing?

When I was very little - five or six, I think - I was at a party and was asked to come up on stage with the clown entertainer. I was standing there shaking a tambourine, but then needed to go to the bathroom – so I dropped the tambourine and ran off! I’ve never been that fond of clowns since!

We offer a wide range of subject areas from SCQF Levels 5 - 10 within Business, Administration and Accounting. Find out more about the courses here, or come along to our Open Day on Saturday 14 March from 10am-2pm to learn more.