Issue 5 - January 2007

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )
Issue 5
January 2007



Chinese Visitors to Langside College
Three Chinese educationalists will be spending eight weeks at the college from the beginning of February up to the Easter holidays. We are one of five host colleges taking part in an exciting SQA pilot scheme to support delivery of the new PDA: Introduction to Bilingual Teaching (for lecturers).

Our guests are all from Chinese universities which have been approved to deliver this qualification to lecturers teaching HND students in China in English. The aim is to encourage change in teaching practices in China and to ensure all lecturers teaching HND have this qualification.

They will be observing how we deliver HNs and will also be studying for the PDA themselves, teaching observed lessons for formative assessment here and for summative assessment in China. SQA will also be organising training for the whole group of 16 Chinese staff who are coming to Scotland.

Jan Watson will act as mentor to the group and Evelyn Adams will act as assessor. The International Office will be involved in ensuring the visit is academically and culturally a success.

If the pilot is successful, we may look forward to developing partnerships with Chinese universities in initial teacher training.

Can You Help?
Evelyn Gallagher – Examinations Co-ordinator is involved with raising funds for the High Dependency Unit at Yorkhill Hospital for Sick Children. This is a result of the bereavement of her great nephew.
A fund raising event will take place on Saturday 20th January 2007 to raise funds to go to a memorial fund set up for Seamus Owen McGarvey with the proceeds going to the High Dependency Unit.

A raffle will be held during the event and Evelyn is appealing for donations. If you can support Evelyn and this really worthwhile initiative please contact Evelyn as soon as possible.

Graduates Now
We have just received word that former students Andrew Burnett, Donald Campbell, Catriona Regan and Xiao Yu Sun have all recently graduated from the University of Glasgow. Well done!

Environment Matters
You will be aware of the 60 anniversary branding in the Concourse and related areas. This has been accompanied by a clean up of the Main Entrance and surrounding areas. To try and maintain this environment John Pugh has circulated a memo to all staff, to be read to students, which appeals to everyone to use the bins provided for all rubbish especially cigarette ends and chewing gum. If everyone plays their part we can keep the grounds of the college litter free and not feel we have to apologise to all visitors for the condition of the environment. Your cooperation would be appreciated.

Congratulations !
Graeme Fraser, Faculty Administrator in Arts, Languages and Social Science announced his engagement to staff on his return to work on Monday. Graeme’s fiancée, Alison Fowler will be known to many Langside staff as she was formerly a Student Advisor in Student Services before transferring to International Student Services. Alison is now in a similar position at Glasgow Caledonian University. Graeme (a real romantic at heart) went down on bended knee on Christmas Eve and asked Alison to marry him. Many congratulations and best wishes to Graeme and Alison.
A belated well done to Chris Kennedy, Flexible Learning Centre Lecturer, who became engaged to Louise Fotheringham in Prague on the 9th December after a scare when he thought he had lost his suitcase with the ring in it! Many congratulations to Chris and Louise.

Welcome back!
Alison Anderson has just returned from a Christmas/New Year holiday to Australia to visit her daughter who is on a work secondment. Alison visited Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. While we shivered and were soaked by the wind and rain Alison enjoyed warm weather and the great outdoor life (ask Alison about the kangaroo steaks) Intrepid Alison also climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge and enjoyed fantastic views of the
City, harbour and, of course, the Sydney Opera House. Well done Alison.
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