Welcome to the termly newsletter from the AoC London Region |
Issue 11 | Autumn 2005 |
AoC LR Regional Meeting
|
The new academic year term kicked off with an engaging 44th Regional Meeting on 21st September. The 2012 Olympics featured high on the agenda as momentum builds following London's successful bid in July. Members enjoyed presentations from keynote speakers: Richard Sumray, Chair of the 2012 London Forum; Tony Winterbottom, Executive Director of Regeneration and Development at the LDA; and outgoing Regional Director of London LSC Jacqui Henderson. Jacqui highlighted the opportunities that will be generated in London and how London colleges can capitalise by playing their part in providing the necessary vocational skills. Tony Winterbottom, the LDA's Olympic kingpin, explained the structures, current and future, through which the Olympic project will be delivered. Tony also provided a countdown of the tasks that lay ahead, emphasising the scale of the project in terms of project planning and putting infrastructure in place, as well as discussing the key issue of the regeneration legacy. Richard Sumray, part of the team responsible for London's successful bid, stressed the key role that colleges, especially those in the 5 boroughs, will play in contributing to the success of the Games and the projects building up to it and during the events. The meeting ended with the DVD presentations that secured London's bid when shown in Singapore. The reaction of members demonstrated that the presentations, including 'Inspiration', had lost none of their original emotional impact. |
|
|
|
Annual FE/HE Mayor's Conference
|
'Capital Partnerships - Putting Knowledge to Work' At the well-attended annual Mayor's Conference in London's Living Room at City Hall the theme was business and FEHE partnerships. Syvlia Perrins, Vice President of Business Development at Westminster Kingsway College, delivered a well-received presentation with Aileen Moodie, Human Resources Director at Carluccios. They documented their successful and enduring business and FE partnership as well as looked forward to building on its firm foundations. Professor Deian Hopkin, Vice Chair of FHEPG and Vice Chancellor of South Bank University was the Master of Ceremonies. The evening was enriched by a selection of jazz classics, performed by Morley College's jazz band and two vocalists. |
|
|
|
London Skills Commission meeting
|
Planning for the future AoC LR's representative Paul Head, Principal of CONEL, was present on 18th October when the Regional Skills Partnership was launched with two new publications: the 2005/2006 Regional Skills Action Plan and the London Skills Commission Regional Skills Prospectus for 2005/2006. Members of the Commission discussed: the forthcoming National Employer Training Programme, the 2012 Olympic Games and the future direction of the London Regional Skills Partnership. 2005/2006 Regional Action Plan
London Skills Commission Regional Skills Prospectus for 2005/2006
|
|
Police, Business Continuity and Security Event
|
Colleges receive advice from the Police about contingency planning and security. A large turnout from London's colleges gathered for a sombre breakfast meeting on 27th October, in the wake of the 7/7 and 21/7 terrorist attacks on London. Police officers provided anti and counter terrorism information as well as practical and strategic advice on business security and continuity proceedings. In addition members discussed the CampusWatch initiative as a means of enhancing security on campuses, and were also introduced to Project Griffin, an initiative to raise awareness of counter-terrorism issues. Keynote speakers included the Assistant Commissioner of the City of London Police and senior officers from the Metropolitan Police. A high level FEHE group will be set up to form joint working protocols with the police. |
|
|
|
London First education network
|
Skills for 2012 A successful London First FEHE Education Network event was hosted by DTZ on the evening of 9th November in their Mayfair offices. DTZ presented some of their interim research findings on the skills contribution required for the 2012 Olympics. Employers and FEHE delegates listened to Vicki Fagg, Principal of the College of North West London, as she outlined how her college is responding to the countdown to 2012. Robin Shreeve, Principal of Westminster College, drew on his first-hand experience of the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Games to provide his impressions on the potential of opportunities for London colleges and the role they will play in providing the requisite skills. |
|
Foster Review
|
Sir Andrew Foster launches his review into the future role of FE colleges. The Foster Review into Further Education, commissioned by the DfES and LSC, was launched at Westminster Kingsway College on 16th November. Sir Andrew also gave a presentation at the AoC Annual conference in Birmingham on 15th November. The AoC LR and London colleges will continue to feed back to the DfES on the next stage following the recommendations. |
|
|
|
ODPM
|
ODPM launches a review on the powers of the GLA. The ODPM consultation reviewing London governance was published on 30th November. The consultation covers Housing, Planning, Waste Management and Learning and Skills, as well as ESF funding and GLA governance issues. The closing date is 22nd of February. London colleges members are encouraged to provide their comments. AoC LR will be consulting with members and providing a formal response in 2006. |
|
London College Winners
|
Further good news for London colleges. Congratulations go to the recently-opened Ealing Institute of Media, part of Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, which has been awarded a CoVE in Broadcast Media and Animation. Well done also to South Thames College which has been awarded CoVEs in both Health Care and Music Technology And last but not least, Sir George Monoux College has been presented with a National Training Award. The panel of judges found its work with the Academy of Finance particularly impressive. Please keep us informed of any college awards and news of CoVEs; it would be very disappointing not to credit our success stories. |
|
|
|
Londoncolleges.com
|
Visitor numbers keep on growing. The number of visitors to the website has continued to grow, with an average of around 3,000 individual visitors each day. In the last two weeks of August and in early September the average number of individual visitors was nearing the 5,000 mark. Our record number of individual visitors stands at a staggering 4,962, reached on 19th August. There has been strong interest in the new Working With Employers section, and we hope to add more content when further funding becomes available. |
|
AoC LR Meetings
|
The FHEPG meeting of Vice Chancellors and Principals with the Mayor took place on 8th September. The London LSC EDs/AoC LR termly Regional Liaison Meeting was held on the 11th October. Topics discussed included projected budget and funding allocations, Agenda for Change and the 2012 Olympic joint skills activities. AoC London Region Finance Directors termly network meeting took place on 10th November at Westminster Kingsway College. On the agenda were the key issues of LSC funding for Agenda for Change and Priorities for Success in 2006-2007. London Colleges Marketing Managers attended a useful seminar which focused on news crisis management. |
|
Office News
|
We're on the move! The AoC LR offices are finally on the move from 5th to 7th December. Our new home will be Rooms 309 and 311 in the North Wing of Senate House, currently home to the School of Eastern European Salvonic Studies. We shall be returning to new open plan offices in the autumn 2006 after extensive refurbishment of the South Wing. There is no change to our telephone, fax or email contacts. Do come and visit us on the third floor in the New Year. |
|
|
|
Coming Up
|
Make a date in the diary for the 45th AoC LR Regional Meeting taking place in the late afternoon on 8th March 2006. The meeting will be held once again late afternoon at Brunei Gallery, SOAS, with the spotlight on Academies.
There will also be a conference in April 2006 with the active participation of members on how AoC LR and London colleges will be contributing to the curriculum leading up to 2012 and its legacy. The next termly newsletter will be appearing in April 2006. Please send news and/or feedback |
|
|
Association of Colleges |
Telephone: 020 7664 4846 |
