The Infrastructure Pathway

Created by Education and Industry, for Education and Industry

The Infrastructure Pathway is a new curriculum connecting Primary, Secondary, and Higher Education with Employment — developed and trialled over three years by educators and industry leaders working side by side. It's a first for Scotland, and believed to be the first initiative of its kind anywhere in the world.

Why It Matters

Delivering a net zero economy, resilient communities, and world-leading digital systems will require thousands of skilled people in engineering, construction, digital technologies, AI, data, and environmental science. Many young people simply haven't discovered these career paths yet. The Infrastructure Pathway exists to change that: Education. Experience. Employment.

How It Was Built

The Pathway and its cornerstone qualification — SCQF Level 6: Global Infrastructure and the Built Environment — were developed through a unique collaboration between:

• Heriot-Watt University
• The University of Edinburgh
• Midlothian Council
• The University of Glasgow (in association)

Industry partners Mott MacDonald and Scottish and Southern Electricity (SSE) helped shape the programme, with additional support from Bentley Education.

This means students work directly with universities and industry on real projects, so the qualification combines academic rigour with genuine industry relevance — preparing learners with the knowledge, skills, and professional competencies to progress into higher education and careers across infrastructure and the built environment.

A Living Curriculum

This is a bold education, skills, and workforce vision — built to stay dynamic. Rather than staying fixed, the curriculum will keep evolving alongside industry needs, preparing young people for the world of work they'll face in the future, not just today.

The Pathway creates one continuous journey: primary school → secondary education → college → university → apprenticeships → employment — linking classroom learning to real infrastructure, local communities, and future careers. Every learner should be able to see, understand, and access the opportunities within Scotland's evolving infrastructure economy.

Looking Ahead: The Digital Twin of Scotland

At the heart of this vision is an ambitious long-term goal: building a National Dataset — the Digital Twin of Scotland — built by education, for education, and connected to industry.

Bentley Systems is supporting this by providing free access to its iTwin and Cesium development platforms, helping advance knowledge of Digital Twins so industry can design, build, and operate the world's infrastructure.

The Qualification at a Glance

SCQF Level 6 — Global Infrastructure and the Built Environment

• Widely accepted by Scotland's universities for admissions
• Delivered in partnership with industry
• Supported by universities
• Successfully delivered by Midlothian Schools for two years running

Together, education and industry can build the talent pipeline Scotland needs — and a stronger, more resilient Scotland, powered by its next generation of leaders, thinkers, and innovators.