COLLEGE CONTINUES TO ACHIEVE THE MATRIX STANDARD

City and Islington College has an excellent information and careers guidance service. A recent external review has confirmed that it continues to meet the Matrix standard, demonstrating our continued dedication to delivering effective services for our existing and prospective students.

The Matrix Standard is the national quality standard for organisations that deliver information, advice or guidance on learning and work; such as a careers service, learning centre, recruitment agency or business training provider.

Last week, a Matrix Assessor put the College through its paces, spending several days at our Centres on Holloway Road and at Finsbury Park, interviewing staff, students and potential students. He commented that he was impressed by "the ease of access all staff have to the quality framework, policies and procedures covering the complete student journey.
The College has a strong and effective track record in gathering student feedback, having recently won the Learner Voice of the Year Award."

Not only has the College maintained successful service delivery, but the College has made many improvements as a result of feedback and self review; continually striving to improve. The College's Matrix Standard accreditation will continue for a further 3 years, and reviewed in 2011.

Two users of our service, interviewed during the review commented:

• "The staff here take time to find out what we want to achieve and then talk about how the College might help us"
• "They've not just helped me decide on the best course but have given me good advice about gaining work experience as well"

During the review, 9 strengths were identified:

1. The College continues to enable the full range of student support services to maintain a high profile.
2. Staff continue to show a strong knowledge of the diverse and extensive networks, partnerships and community served by the College. The College remains happy to share knowledge and experience internally and externally.
3. The Careers Service continues to ensure information, advice and guidance remains embedded into course structure.
4. Student induction is very strong; all students demonstrated a good awareness of the service and support available to them and how to access it.
5. Suggestions from students are displayed prominently in the Learning Centres, on boards, with responses from College management.
6. The College has developed a strong approach to networking and working with partners to market, deliver and develop services to students. The College is viewed by partners as pro-active and positive.
7. Good use is made of IT, to hold, manage and provide students with information relevant to their needs. The use of IT means that all staff confidently access the same information when addressing student and prospective student enquiries.
8. The range of methods used to gather feedback from students, including focus groups, forums, Student Union Reps, web based questionnaires and surveys, is very extensive and provides all students with frequent and regular opportunities to make their views known.
9. The College's virtual learning environment "Blackboard" was mentioned as providing a valuable resource to support student learning in an effective way.