GLASGOW'S new £66million supercampus has been officially opened by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The Evening Times showed exclusive images inside City of Glasgow's new Riverside Campus and spoke to principal Paul Little.

But today we meet some of the students who show exactly why the college ranked third in the UK - and world-renowned.

CAERA Kimmit is only 21 but she is already making waves in her chosen career.

On Monday, at the official opening of the new City of Glasgow College Riverside Campus, Caera was presented with one of the maritime industry’s most prestigious awards by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Caera was chosen as the recipient of Nautilus International’s 2015 Bevis Minter Award. T

The renowned accolade, which is named in tribute to a former chairman of the union’s council, has been presented to the ‘most worthy’ cadet in the UK every year since it was established in 1996.

She said: “I was overwhelmed when I found out that I’d won the Bevis Minter Award as it’s a huge honour to be recognised by an organisation like Nautilus International.”

Caera was nominated by City of Glasgow College for showing dedication to her cadetship through volunteering at open days and offering inspiration to the next generation of maritime professionals at college events.

She is a newly-qualified Engineering Officer whose training at City of Glasgow College was sponsored by North Star Shipping. Caera has begun her career at sea since graduating in the summer but returned to the college to be officially named the UK’s best cadet at the unveiling of the new £66m campus.

She plans to keep coming back to the college to gain further qualifications that will help her rise up the ranks in her profession.

“Studying at Riverside was my golden ticket to the career I’ve always dreamed of having and I will always be grateful to the lecturers for their support throughout my training,” Caera, from Helensburgh, added.

“I’m currently working as a Third Engineer with North Star Shipping but I’d like to work my way up to being a Chief Engineer and plan on returning to City of Glasgow College to use the fantastic new facilities at Riverside Campus to gain the qualifications that will allow me to do that.”

Matthew Stewart, Curriculum Head for Maritime Engineering at City of Glasgow College, said: “Caera has been a fantastic student throughout her cadetship.

"She has always been a strong leader within the class and indeed her faculty and has represented the college on a number of occasions.

"Her determination to succeed is truly inspirational and I am excited to see how her career will progress.”

IAN Gilmour is President of City of Glasgow College’s Students’ Association and believes the new Riverside Campus stands to benefit students in and out of class.

The 20-year-old, who passed his HND Radio Broadcasting course in the summer and will graduate in November, was elected to head the Students’ Association (SA) in time for the opening of Riverside.

The SA’s new premises are based on the atrium level of the Gorbals building.

He said: “We have a really brilliant facility at the new campus, with games consoles and a nice, relaxed area where students can unwind.

"It’s an ideal place for students to finish off work and wait for their next class.

"The college’s international students use the new space often, and it’s a welcoming place for them to come and get to know people when they have just started studying here.”

With such a visible location in a public setting near the main entrance of the campus, the Students’ Association will, Ian believes, become a more recognisable hub for students.

“The SA is more visible and accessible for students to come in to chat, which is fantastic. We have international students looking for advice about living in Glasgow, others who need support in other aspects, and some who are interested in setting up new clubs for fellow students.

“Having the student accommodation directly opposite our base is brilliant. Because of the large number of students we have from abroad, it’s important that they have the option to stay on campus.

"We run many different societies and clubs in the evenings, and it’s far easier for those students to attend and become involved in student life.

"We’re hoping that can help boost the numbers for these clubs and give the students a more fulfilling overall college experience.”

WHEN 44-year-old Andrew McGarvey decided to re-enter education a little more than a year ago, he chose City of Glasgow’s Riverside Campus rather than a university.

He was enticed by what he describes as the “state-of-the-art” facilities available to him.

Andrew, formerly a self-employed motor mechanic, is now in his second year studying towards an HND qualification in Mechanical Engineering and has ambitions of entering the offshore or shipping industries.

“I wanted to get back into education and I was attracted to the great facilities at City of Glasgow College. The college has been great with me.

"Being an older student who is more experienced in my field, I feel my needs are met and the staff are very professional. It’s a very interesting course and it’s also very difficult.

“I was a self-employed motor mechanic and wanted to move on and hopefully this course will offer me a route to university or a job,” he said.

Pioneering technology at Riverside Campus will give students like Andrew the chance to experience what working on a ship is really like while still at college, giving them the skills needed to succeed in their chosen industry.

The new marine engineering workshop features Europe’s most technologically-advanced equipment. The campus also houses Scotland’s first 360-degree shipping simulation suite, enabling students to experience the bridge of a super tanker, nautical chart rooms and a ferry-size ship’s engine.

Adjacent to the new building, the Marine Skills Centre features its own jetty and free-fall lifeboats.

“The new facility is state-of-the-art,” says Andrew. “The IT and everything is second-to-none. The workshop is pretty impressive, with new machinery – drills, milling machine, and lathes. I must admit, the whole setup is first class.

“You are never too old – the only barrier is yourself. I would recommend studying at the college, as it opens up new horizons.”