The Langside Blog

ISSUE 44 - 03 MARCH 2008

2008-03-03T13:08:00.002Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Have Quality – Will Travel
The Faculty of Education Care and Sport has, once again, been invited to deliver classes for South Lanarkshire Council. The menu of subjects includes First Aid, Child Protection, Prevention of Infection and HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Infection, and follows the successful completion of our delivery of previous classes in Hamilton. This time we are off to a play centre in East Kilbride to deliver CPD to the Child Care Workforce of South Lanarkshire Council. Many thanks to the staff who have made this partnership so successful. Jan Watson

Construction News
A New Build Notice Board has been sited next to the ‘pigeon hole’ room at the top of the stairs leading to the Refectory. The board, which is for students and staff, will be updated regularly with site developments, essential information and photographs showing the progress of the new estate. Other forms of communication e.g. plasma screen at reception, flyers and posters and direct mail/email will be used as required. [ please see the personal letter sent to students last week overleaf ] By keeping everyone informed about the progress of the new estate and responding quickly to questions/issues I hope the project will move forward smoothly with everyone on board and continuing to feel positive about the development.
(Robert Paterson )

BLOG demise!
Regrettably this will be the last edition of the weekly Blog. When the BLOG was first published, 44 editions ago, in December 2006 the stated intention was to provide a weekly information sheet to ALL staff which would enable much of the unsung/unknown work in the college to be recognised. It was also thought that the diversity of staff geographically could be addressed by ensuring that information/stories from all areas of college work were included. Along the way it was also an opportunity for staff individual stories to be disseminated – raising money for charity etc. It was also a genuine attempt to create a newsletter that was owned by ALL STAFF and not seen as a tool for the spread of management information. It is for others to judge how successful (or otherwise!) that has been. Goodbye.

Printed below is the personal letter delivered to all students last week

Date: As Postmark

Dear Student,

You will be aware that the College has commenced construction work on the site adjacent to Battlefield Road. This is the first phase of a three year new build project which will replace all the present buildings with the exception of the Business School and the Litehouse building.

A carefully devised action plan has been put in place to ensure the college continues to deliver the curriculum in a positive manner during the construction programme. It is not anticipated that there will be any significant disruption to the operation of the existing campus.

Within the next week a special display will be placed in the main concourse which will show the architectural visualisations of the new buildings along with progress reports of the project. This display will also give updated information in terms of any developments, of which you need to be aware, during the construction programme.

To ensure that you have a voice in this process, a New Estate Information Forum has been set up on the College website to allow you to seek information or to ask a question directly of the college. A response is guaranteed within 24 hours and I will take direct responsibility for this. I do hope you will use the Forum for any enquiries you may have, in terms of the new build. This Forum can be accessed through the Home Page of the College website – www.langside.ac.uk

During the construction programme the building site will be well signposted and entry prohibited, except for construction staff. There will also be some changes to car parking and the pedestrian routes throughout the college. I would ask you all to keep abreast of these changes, as they occur, to ensure your safety.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me at any time, if you have a relevant concern during the process of the new build.

Robert W. Paterson
Depute Principal/Project Sponsor
____________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 43 - 25 FEBRUARY 2008

2008-02-25T16:14:00.002Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Estates Update
Work, as you can see, is progressing well with both the site set up and ground clearance work progressing over the past two weeks resulting in the trees and existing fencing within the site being removed.
The next phase of the work, started ten days ago, is the formation of the Piling Platform including the excavation of the low level area adjacent to Battlefield Road. This allowed the Pile foundations to commence w/c 11 February 2008.
So far no adverse ground conditions have held up the drilling and the weather has been reasonably kind! The piling work will continue for the next six weeks before we see the start of the steel work. That should be an exciting time as we begin to see the footprint of the building and the general shape emerging. In terms of the overall build programme we are one week behind schedule but hope to pick this up fairly quickly.
In the next two weeks a new estate information stand will be sited in the College – next to the ‘pigeon hole’ room. This stand will contain updated photographs from the construction site along with a general work in progress update and a week by week detail of what is happening. This is aimed at students and staff and will hopefully allow everyone to monitor progress and be kept fully informed of the ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ of the programme.
Reminder – you can still raise an issue, ask a question, make a suggestion on the New Estates Information Forum on the College website.

THE BLOG
Call for a volunteer! Would you be willing to take over as editor of (contributor to) the BLOG? If interested please speak to Robert Paterson, asap.

WIN A BOTTLE OF LANGSIDE COLLEGE CHAMPAGNE!!!
Do you have an idea for a new Lifestyle Learning Class? If so, John Forbes would like to hear from you. If your idea becomes a reality, and the new class is viable in terms of enrolment numbers and profitability, then you may win a bottle of vintage Langside College Champagne!!! Currently, we are planning and organising the new edition of the Evening and Lifestyle Guide which is due to be published around mid to late May 2008, and will include classes for the period August 2008 until July 2009 inclusive. Contact John direct by telephone @ Extn 3640, send him an E-Mail jforbes@langside.ac.uk or just pop in to discuss your idea. All reasonable suggestions are welcomed. John Forbes, Lifestyle Learning Coordinator

Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off!
As you may have noticed from posters around the place, our Acting/Performance students in association with our post grad company (XLC) have been invited to perform again at the Citizens Theatre from Tues 26th February until 1st March. This is the fourth year we have been asked back – receiving great reviews from the national press and selling out! Next week’s shows are at 7.30 pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2.30 pm. Tickets are available directly from the Citizen’s box office – but you will need to be quick because Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings are already sold out.
Mary Queen of Scots – Liz Lochead’s best known and critically acclaimed dramatic work explores not only the history of Scotland but, by comparison, the sexual, political and religious preoccupations which will prevail in the nation today. A mix of myth, music, mime and malevolent humour which will provide great entertainment.

Congratulations
Evelyn Gallagher has announced her engagement to James Sweeney after 32 years of courtship. Will it be a long engagement Evelyn!

Celebration for International Womens Week
Wednesday the 5th March - Fabulous Females: A Celebration for International Womens Week!
Various stalls will be set up on the concourse to mark this important event. Vistors will include, Fitness First for Women, Wise Women who provide Personal Saftey advice, Dance with Attitude and many more. (Lucy McLachlan )
____________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 42 - 4 FEBRUARY 2008

2008-02-06T11:22:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY - 1st FEBRUARY 2008.

The Groundbreaking Ceremony, to signify the start of the new build by Balfour Beatty, took place on Friday 1st February. The programme for the event is published overleaf and hopefully that gives you a ‘flavour’ of the event.
65 external partners attended and along with Langside staff and students over 100 people participated at the event. The crowning moment of the day came when the Principal (operating a JCB) lifted the first bucket of soil from the site of Phase 1 of the new build. Following this Brian Keegan planted the first of six anniversary trees (one for each decade) which will eventually be prominent in the grounds of the new college.
This event was filmed and relayed as a live feed into the Emanuel Studio so that all those at the ceremony could witness the event without having to brave the weather! The on site Langside team consisted of Graeme, Brian, Robert Paterson, Kim Turkington and Jim Carrick. A video of the moment the ground was broken can be seen by accessing the College web site and going into the New Estate Information Forum and following the link.

The ceremony signifies the start of the three year build programme and in the coming weeks a significant change will be discernible as, on site, the steelwork for the new main teaching block is put in position. Exciting times!

The ceremony was appreciated by both partners and staff and already some very positive feedback has been received. Thanks are due to David Cooper and the IT technicians for their help and expertise in organising the event (particularly the on site ceremony) Thanks also to Kim Turkington of BDU for her support and input and last, but certainly not least, the facilities team for their help in preparing the studio and assisting Brian with the tree planting.

1st February 2008

Welcome and Introduction
B Keegan, Chair of the Board of Management of Langside College

The importance of building a College to meet
the learning demands of the 21st Century
A G Hyslop, Principal

Musical item
‘My love is like a red, red rose’ (Robert Burns)
performed by National Qualification in Acting & Performance students

‘Mo Mhathair’
performed by Somerled Smith, Student
National Qualification in Acting & Performance
(Silver Pendant for Gaelic learners at the 2007 National Mod )

Groundbreaking Ceremony

Langside College - B Keegan, A G Hyslop, R W Paterson,
K Turkington, J Carrick and A Crosbie

Currie and Brown - S Harris

Balfour Beatty - T Clarke, D McKay, S MacPhail and K Walker

SMC Jenkins Marr - M Slade

Buro Happold - J Gamwell and A Follett

Arup - G Stephen

Musical item
‘Tam O’Shanter’ (Robert Burns)
Adapted and performed by National Qualification Acting & Performance students.

Design, Construction and Facilities of the new College

SMC Jenkins Marr - D Nichol

Balfour Beatty - T Clarke

Langside College - R Paterson – Depute Principal/Project Sponsor

Closing
B Keegan, Chair of the Board of Management of Langside College

ISSUE 41 - 28 JANUARY 2008

2008-01-28T16:15:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

The Great day has arrived!
As part of the College commitment to engaging with ALL interested parties in the construction of the new build the New Estate Information Forum is now up and running. I do hope staff will use this forum or contact me direct by telephone, email or ‘pop in’ to speak to me to raise any issues or come forward with ideas for the use of the new building. It is to that area we must now turn our attention and to support this a New Estate User Group will be set up in the College to help progress the many decisions which have to be taken re furniture, catering, social space for staff and students etc etc – the list is endless!
As part of this open flow of information on the new build I thought you might like to read the letter I sent to all Valeview Terrace residents last Thursday to notify them of the site start and to give them the ongoing opportunity to engage with the College during the construction phase of the new build to ameliorate any potential problems.

“Dear Resident
The College contractors for the new build (Balfour Beatty) will move on to the site on Monday 28th January to begin preparatory work. The first few weeks will be essentially site start up operations, secure fencing, signage etc.
As part of the ongoing communication we wish to engage in to notify staff, students and Valeview Terrace residents of proposed work and to allow people to ask questions, seek clarification or raise issues regarding the new College building I have set up, on the College website www.langside.ac.uk , a New Estate Information Forum which will allow staff, students, Valeview residents and others to seek information or ask a question directly to the College. A response is guaranteed within 24 hours and I will take direct responsibility for this. If you do not have access to the Internet then you can contact me at the College to raise any issue or questions direct. My direct dial number is 0141 272 3621.
My hope is that the build can progress smoothly with minimum disruption to the surrounding areas and I wish to do everything, with the help of the
contractor, to achieve that.

Yours sincerely

Robert W. Paterson
Depute Principal/Project Sponsor”

Well done Fiona !
Fiona Weir – Senior Lecturer (Food Studies) was the lucky winner of a bottle of 60th anniversary champagne in the name the lecturer competition. The winner was ‘picked out of the hat’ by the Principal. The lecturer interviewed on Polish television during his Christmas break was David MacAllan ! David as well as Fiona will now be able to enjoy a bottle of bubbly!

SVQ HOSPITALITY - STOP PRESS!!
On Wednesday 30th January the SVQ Hospitality students will be selling Soup/Sandwiches in the Concourse at lunchtime 12 noon. Come early to avoid disappointment!!

Report on Langside College Project from Stewart MacPhail, Project Manager of Balfour Beatty
Commencement of Project – w/c 18 January 2008
Balfour Beatty will take possession of Phase 1 of the Project on 28 January 2008, initially securing the site with the erection of temporary fencing. From this the site clearance will commence with the removal of the remaining foundations etc, playing field fencing/walls and the removal of the tress adjacent to Battlefield Road. The other main activities that will be carried out over the first week are the set up of the initial site accommodation and trial digs prior to the groundworks commencing. We note, for information that the existing fence on Valeview terrace will not be removed until the permanent hoarding is in place.

____________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 40 - 21 JANUARY 2008

2008-01-21T14:10:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Polish puzzle??
Challenge – can you name the college member of staff who, on a Christmas visit to Krakow in Poland with his wife, had Christmas dinner interrupted by Polish national television who interviewed the staff member about why they had chosen Poland for their Christmas break? Rumour has it that even without makeup the member of staff was an instant television hit and has now employed an agent for similar UK TV appearances. Email or voicemail Heather Biddlecombe (hbiddlecombe@langside.ac.uk) at ext. 3618 and reveal the identity of the mystery staff member. Remember to leave your name and faculty. The winning entry will be drawn from those who leave the correct answer on Wednesday 23 January 2008. The winner will receive a bottle of 60th Anniversary champagne! Be quick!

College Guide
The 2008/09 College guide has just been published and it is even bigger and better than before! When you consider that last year’s guide has been short listed for a Scottish Further Education Unit Marketing Award for a main college prospectus, then to top that takes a lot of skill and effort, but for all who read and use the guide I am sure you will find this year’s Guide to be the best we have produced so far. The 2008/09 guide contains, amongst other items, a revamped ‘How to apply - 1:2:3’ step guidance for prospective students, a double page photographic spread encompassing the life of the College, a feature article on the College new build and this year staff profiles have been added to complement the student profiles introduced in last years Guide.
Thanks are due to the Guide steering group – Declan Fallon, Marianne Harper, Kath Mulvenny, Robert Paterson, Elaine Proudfoot, Catherine Taylor and Kim Turkington. The group set the ball rolling in design terms but Catherine Taylor and Kim Turkington are to be specially commended for seeing the Guide through to the finished article. Special thanks also to Declan Fallon for his diligent proof reading in the final stages.

Lifestyle Learning goes from strength to strength!
The Lifestyle learning programme for January 2008 consists of 66 classes engaging nearly 800 people in learning. Of the lifestyle menu on offer the language classes are always popular and the range of courses from Beginners to Next Step to Improvers are always in demand, particularly the Italian and Spanish classes. The Lifestyle programme meets Learning for Life in a really positive way with some of the healthy lifestyle classes. Isobel Ellis (78 years young) and Jean Balfour, also 78 years of age have signed up to Bryan Riddell’s Legs, Bums and Tums class!!
Never prepared to rest on their laurels the lifestyle team introduced, for the first time in 2007, College gift vouchers for redemption within the Lifestyle programme and those have been a real success.
Successful new classes introduced, include Cake Decorating, Healthy Eating Cookery Class, Starting Your Own Business and Mediterranean Cooking - indeed this class is fully booked for April as well!!
Full marks to all at Student Services for the terrific customer service given to our Lifestyle Learning students – with particular thanks to John Forbes and Liz Clark for the excellent work they do in this area

Congratulations!
Margaret Cunningham has returned home! (to Maths that is!). Margaret has returned to her first love, Mathematics, and has been appointed Senior Lecturer of Mathematics and Numeracy.
We wish Margaret well in her new post.

Simon Stewart- Payroll Administrator
If you have not already heard Simon is leaving on Friday 25th January 2008 for pastures new. The College wish him well in his new post.

Burns Bash: Friday 25th January – Emanuel Studio
To celebrate the life and works of Robert Burns, the Faculty of Arts, Languages and Social Sciences has joined with the International Office to present a Burns lunch followed by some “cracking” entertainment. A selection of Burns’ poems and songs will be performed by staff and students from the Music and Drama sections, and the food will be provided by the Hospitality students. If free, all staff are welcome to attend from 1 pm onwards to enjoy the celebrations.

____________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 38 - 14 JANUARY 2008

2008-01-14T13:34:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Welcome back
2008 will be a significant year for the college. We have an exciting start to the year with the commencement of the first phase of the construction programme. Balfour Beatty will be on site from the 28th January (although you may see some site set up activity before then) There will be a short ‘groundbreaking’ ceremony on Friday 1st February to recognise the site start and from that point we should see steady progress.
As I announced at the 60th Anniversary Farewell Reception there will be a new estate information forum set up on the college web site so that staff, students, neighbours and construction staff can receive up to the minute information and/or raise any issues or seek clarification on any of the build programme and associated activity during the construction phase. The new estate information forum will be up and running from Monday 21st January. Please make use of this facility to maximise the effectiveness of the new estate and to minimise the possible disruption to all staff and students.
(R Paterson)

Inter College 7-a-side Tournament 2007
Langside. represented by Graeme Hyslop, Davie Weir, Scott Archer, Steve McDevitt, John Pugh, Donald Morrison, Graham Fraser, Gary Culvarwood and captain Ged Cushley won the Inter College 7-a-side tournament held in December. Langside’s record was played 5, won 3, lost 1 with 1 match drawn. Other Colleges taking part included James Watt, Reid Kerr, Anniesland, Cardonald and North Glasgow. Well done the Langsiders!

BUSY BEES CHILDCARE VOUCHERS

Working Parents Benefit with Childcare Vouchers

If you are paying for childcare for children up to the age of 16, you could be saving money by requesting Busy Bees Childcare Vouchers.
Langside College will be launching the Busy Bees Childcare Voucher scheme in February to help its staff with children save up to £1,196* a year on the cost of their childcare. The scheme is open to all employees who are paying for childcare.

What are Childcare Vouchers?
• They are exempt from tax and National Insurance Contributions, offering up to £1,196* a year for each parent – doubling the potential saving if both parents join the scheme
• Each parent can request up to £243 worth of Vouchers a month
• They can be used to pay for all forms of registered and approved childcare, including nurseries, nannies, childminders, au pairs, out of school clubs and holiday schemes
• Vouchers can be used at any registered nursery, not just Busy Bees branded outlets
• Childcare Voucher schemes are supported by the HMRC

How does it work?
Parents simply exchange part of their salary for Childcare Vouchers and use them to pay for childcare.

To join the scheme, parents need to call Busy Bees on freephone 08000 430 860 and help the Customer Services advisor to fill in a short form. This will then be sent to the parent to check, sign and return. Once registered, the parent’s employer will be notified how much to deduct from that individual’s salary.

Who are Busy Bees?
Busy Bees is the market leading Childcare Voucher provider and helps working parents in all types of organisations to save hundreds of pounds on their childcare costs. Busy Bees is the largest provider of childcare in the UK and is celebrating its 25th birthday in 2008.

For further information on the Childcare Voucher scheme, call freephone 08000 430 860 or log on to www.busybeesvouchers.com

*Subject to individual circumstances

____________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 38 - 17 DECEMBER 2007

2007-12-21T14:29:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
The Blog is one year old this month and has, so far, not missed a deadline. At the start of the year the idea of the Blog was to provide contemporary information to staff which was both specific and general but informal at the same time. It was intended to create a greater understanding and awareness of the huge amount of work that goes on in the College, much of it unsung. It is for others to judge the success or otherwise of the Blog but it is an honest attempt to communicate with staff and provide a vehicle for all staff to share information and experiences with all personnel in the College. The hope is that the majority of staff appreciate and welcome the weekly Blog.
To all who have contributed to the Blog – many thanks, with a special mention to Heather Biddlecombe, in the Secretariat, for her help in producing the Blog. (Robert Paterson)

NEW YEAR: NEW ESTATE
The College plan to have a ground breaking ceremony later in January to mark the start of the three year build programme which will see the majority of the College progressively demolished and rebuilt. Full details will be available in the first Blog of 2008. As part of the ongoing communication element associated with the new build, an Estates Information Forum will be set up on the Langside College web site to coincide with the site start. This Forum will allow staff, students, local residents and the construction team to ask questions/ raise issues about the project. A guarantee will be given that all notes posted on the site will receive a response within 24 hrs OR SOONER.

60th ANNIVERSARY QUIZ
A reminder that all entries must be handed into the reception desk by 5 pm at the College by TODAY MONDAY 17th DECEMBER. Do not hesitate to hand your form in if it is not complete. The word on the street is that the quiz is tough and an all correct entry might be difficult. Therefore hand your entry in as there are a number of runner up prizes to be won. Please remember to indicate the charity of your choice who will receive the entry money if you or your team win the competition.

CHRISTMAS FUN (Answers below)
a) Why was Santa's little helper feeling depressed?
b) How do you know Santa has to be a man?
c) Good King Wenceslas phoned for a pizza and ?
d) What did the reindeer say before launching into his comedy routine?

Q. What is the purpose of reindeer?
A, It makes the grass grow, sweetie.
Christmas: The time everyone gets Santamental.

CALENDARS for Childline
I have some young students from Castlemilk High School in my ESOL Upper-Intermediate class. Two of them belong to a dance, drama and music group called Punjabi No 1 and it has created a calendar for 2008 in order to raise money for the charity ChildLine. The calendars are now available from Room 105 at £3 each. Please find the time and money to buy one - it is for a good cause and young people such as these are to be commended for their hard work and willingness to help others.
There was a photo and an article about this group and calendar in the Glaswegian of December 6th. Marilena Ireland, ESOL

HEAD OF CORPORATE STUDENT SERVICES
Warmest congratulations to Margaret Thomson in her recent appointment as Head of Corporate Student Services. Margaret’s previous position was Assistant Finance Manager but she is now looking forward to the challenges of her new post.

Christmas Fun Answers
a) He had low elf-esteem
b) No woman is going to wear the same outfit year after year.
c) The salesgirl asked him, ‘Do you want your usual? Deep pan, crisp and even?’
d) This will sleigh you.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY PEACEFUL NEW YEAR

ISSUE 37 - 10 DECEMBER 2007

2007-12-11T13:03:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

MORE ROUTES TO SUCCESS
David MacAllan, Robert Paterson, Jan Watson and Malcolm Wilson attended an exploratory meeting at the University Strathclyde on Thursday 7th December to discuss the possibility of further extending the College/University joint working on course delivery/articulation links. This meeting came after joint discussions between Brian Green, the Vice Dean (Academic) at the University and our Depute Principal, Robert Paterson. The main thrust of the meeting was the possible involvement by the College in offering, in 2008/9 academic year, the Diploma in Higher Education from the University to enable students to access directly the BA Education and Social Services Degree, with advanced standing. This would allow students from the College with an HNC in Child Care Studies or Social Care to move directly to the Diploma in Higher Education at Langside before moving to University. A working group will now be set up to take this matter forward. This is an exciting development for Langside students as it opens up, not only a dedicated pathway to the BAESS programme, but ultimately to other degree course and career opportunities.
Also discussed at the meeting was the brand new BA Degree for Lead Practitioners and Managers in Childhood Practice in Scotland (I hope that is a working title!) This degree is targeted at all professionals with supervisory responsibilities within the early years workforce and will ensure that, ultimately, all such professionals will be qualified to graduate level (Level 9). It is also intended to be targeted at those aspiring to be lead practitioners/managers and would, therefore, be seen as a preparatory qualification for those staff. The new qualification will be matched to the Standard for Childhood Practice programme in Scotland ( announced recently by the Scottish Government). As such this qualification is at the forefront of development in the vitally important early years sector and Langside College are delighted to have been asked to participate. This is another well deserved accolade for our Child Care lecturing staff. Well done to everyone involved in this new initiative.

FAREWELL RECEPTION TO THE LANGSIDE COLLEGE 60th ANNIVERSARY YEAR

As previously intimated in the Blog, the College will hold a farewell reception in recognition that the 60th Anniversary year is drawing to a close. All returns to intimate if staff are coming to the event are DUE THIS MONDAY 10th DECEMBER. Please return your reply slip on time so that proper catering arrangements can be made.

*** At the reception the animated architectural visualisation of the Langside College estates project will be premiered!
This film will show the external design and spatial relationship the new buildings will have to each other and the surrounding community. Also included in the film are internal views of ?????? all will be revealed on the day! ***

Finance Officer
The College would like to congratulate Leah McGrath in her new role as Finance Office Supervisor starting January 2008.
Leah's previous position was that of Finance Officer in charge of sales but she is now looking forward to the new and existing challenges which this role will bring.

____________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 36 - 3 DECEMBER 2007

2007-12-03T13:40:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

SIGNING ON !
On Friday 30th November the final legal contract for the Langside College new build project was signed by the Principal Graeme Hyslop and the Depute Principal/Project sponsor Robert Paterson. Also in attendance at the short signing event were Brian Keegan, Chair of the Board of Management, Steve Harris, Project Manager (Currie and Brown), Paul McAloon, Legal Manager (Balfour Beatty Construction Limited), Stephanie Wright, Legal Assistant (MacRoberts – the College legal advisors) and Fraser Dunlop, Quantity Surveyor (Doig and Smith). The proceedings were the completion of months of hard work and negotiation between the College and its professional advisors and Balfour Beatty personnel. The chosen procurement route by the College meant that Balfour Beatty have now agreed with the College a fixed price for the new build and only changes requested by the College should alter the final cost. (There will be no changes!!). This type of contract should remove the uncertainty of the final financial commitment for the College and let the College plan for the future safe in the knowledge that its future financial commitment in terms of capital and revenue funding is manageable.

The signing of the contract now means that the site start date of 28th January 2008 is now confirmed. Meetings are due to take place with the College and Balfour Beatty next week to review the programme, to oversee the site start up arrangements and to hear Balfour Beatty’s plans for communication with staff/students and the local community during the construction phase of the programme.

Many congratulations to all who were involved in steering the College to this present new estates position.

LANGSIDE COLLEGE 60th ANNIVERSARY QUIZ

*** NAME THAT TOWN ***

Come on accept the challenge and have some fun!

Have you got your entry form yet?
Forms are now available at the Reception Desk
*** Forms to be returned by Monday 16th DECEMBER ***

You can enter as an individual or as a Team

Prizes include bottles of Champagne, Langside College exclusive whisky and vodka plus other awards.

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO A CHARITY OF CHOICE OF THE WINNER(S)

Another Fine Success
On Monday 26th November Catherine Taylor, Head of BDU attended the College Marketing Network FE First Awards in the Hilton Hotel, Coventry where Langside College was awarded Runner Up in the category ‘Part Time Prospectus’ for the Evening and Lifestyle Guide 2007 / 08. There were over 70 entries in this category from across the UK and competition was very fierce. This will add to the growing collection of Marketing Awards the College has received recently and recognises the hard work and creative input of all involved.

SVQ Hospitality Students
A big thank you to all staff and students who helped raise £60 on our inaugural soup/sandwiches day. It was a huge success and we were sold out in half an hour. The SVQ students and our new chef lecturer Morag Wilson enjoyed the day and we hope to make this a regular monthly event. Look out for the next day – Wednesday 30 January 2008.
All monies raised will go to the students’ choice of charity Yorkhill Hospital (Baby unit). Fiona Weir.

____________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 35 - 26 NOVEMBER 2007

2007-11-26T15:41:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Knowledge Transfer
Willie Paterson and Elaine Proudfoot attended a recent Scottish Funding Council conference on Knowledge Transfer. This was the second KT Conference and was aimed at exploring further with College managers how the KT dimension could be developed in Scotland’s Colleges.
The term Knowledge Transfer has caused confusion since its initial introduction to College activity. There now appears to be a widespread acceptance that the term refers to the transformational impact that a College has on businesses following its input. In simpler terms this could be illustrated by the change a College could make to a business by providing a staff training course: increase business productivity, increase its product range, enhance staff effectiveness, efficiency and job security and also allow College staff to interact directly with the business community. There are many instances in Langside where we can clearly make a difference to business and ultimately to Scotland’s economy by the provision of staff training. Not only does this KT activity enhance the economy, it also makes an essential contribution to College revenue generation, without which the College would be unable to sustain current levels of activity including its investment in its communities. (Elaine Proudfoot)

Christmas Show
HND Acting and Performance students will be performing Dorothy’s Wonderful Visit to Oz in the Conference Theatre . NQ Acting and Performance students will be both the chorus and the stage crew of the show directed by David Lee Michael with Alan Craig as Musical Director and David Winter the Technical Director. Performances are on Fri 7 Dec 7.30pm; Sat 8 Dec 2.00 pm and 7.30pm;
Thurs 13 Dec 7.30pm & Fri 14 Dec 7.30pm.
Tickets can be booked through Linda Law Room 105 Extension 3771 or llaw@langside.ac.uk at Adult £8; Conc £5; Family £24; Family (Matinee) £22 . Every year the Christmas Show is a magical extravaganza where you can see the stars of tomorrow today!

ESOL Recipe Book
ESOL Students would like to thank staff and students who bought their ‘ESOL Recipe Book’ raising over £170 for Children in Need. The booklet resulted from project work in ESOL Pre-Intermediate Reading and Writing workshops. It contained 21 international recipes and to encourage buyers, students brought in samples of food to try. For those who tried these and were wondering about the strange combination of flavours, the plates contained both main courses and puddings. Robin Ashton

60th Anniversary Quiz
The 60th Anniversary Quiz entry forms will be available at Reception from Wednesday 28th November. The final date for return of completed entry forms to Reception is Monday 14th December. LATE ENTRIES CANNOT BE ACCEPTED. The quiz is open to all staff who may wish to participate as a single entry or enter as a team of three (maximum). The single entry fee is £2.00 with a fee of £5.00 for team efforts. ALL the money raised will go to the ‘charity of choice’ of the winning entry. The quiz is a series of cryptic clues. The answers will be the names of Scottish towns. It should be fun but testing! Prizes of champagne, exclusive Langside College whisky and vodka and a specially designed Christmas flower decoration have also been provided. The winners will be announced and prizes will be presented at the ‘Farewell to the 60thAnniversay Year’ Reception on 20th December. Please enter and enjoy while knowing that you are supporting a worthwhile charity.

College AIDS Awareness Event:
As you may be aware the 1st of December is World AIDS Day which falls on a Saturday this year. In the past the College has held similar events to raise awareness of AIDS to staff and students here at Langside College. The event will this year be held in the concourse on Thursday the 29th of November with a variety of Information Stands and Health Professionals on hand to discuss matters surrounding AIDS as well as other related areas.
The Health Promotion Working Group have been working together on a variety of Health-Related Issues as well as AIDS and the group hope you can get down to the event at some point throughout the day. This event also ties in with work the College undertakes towards our Gold Award from SHAW and the newer Health Working Lives initiative. The Health professionals will be in attendance from approx. 12-2.30pm although information and staff from the Health Promotion Group will be available throughout the day. Please feel free to wear the Red Ribbon on the day. Thanks for your support! (Health Promotion Group)
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Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 34 - 19 NOVEMBER 2007

2007-11-19T14:24:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Doctorate Success
Mr Abed Salem is now Dr Abed Salem, having been awarded the degree of Doctor of Education from the University of Strathclyde. His thesis on "Computer Mediated Communication and Learner Support" boldly argued for a better approach to e-learning and received much praise from the Director of the Department of Educational Studies.
Many years of hard work, often in difficult circumstances, have gone into securing this award and I am sure that everyone at Langside would like to wish him the warmest congratulations.

Langside ‘Up for the Challenge’
As part of the opening day celebrations for their new Waterfront Campus, Clydebank College held their College Challenge for F.E. colleges across Scotland, Langside College entered a combined staff/student team for this outdoor pursuits team format. The events consisted of a 500m open water swim on Loch Lomond, a Canadian canoe race over 2km, a 10km cycle race along the Forth & Clyde canal path, a 5km run and a seriously competitive last event – the pit stop challenge – the fastest team to change the tyres on a formula 1 car.
Langside fared well with Fiona Androns, Scottish International swimmer from the Advanced NQ Sports Studies Course, comfortably winning the open water swim. Well done Fiona!! The College also featured in the Canadian canoe event where Colin ‘Hiawatha’ MacGregor and Andy ‘Mohican’ Wilson from the HNC Sports Coaching course took a creditable 2nd place. The College came 2nd overall behind the eventual winners …… Clydebank College. Well done to all students who took part. (C MacGregor)

SVQ Hospitality Students
The SVQ Hospitality students would like to thank all staff and students that participated in their ‘Children in Need’ coffee morning. A magnificent £240 was raised. All the 3’s – 33 was the lucky number for John Forbes (Student Services). He won the Pudsey Gift Pack – I hope you will put that wooden spoon to good use John!! They hope their soup/sandwiches event on the concourse on Wednesday 28th November at lunchtime will be just as successful. (Fiona Weir).

Car Washing
Bill Brown and his New Opportunities Year 2 class and Auto Valeting students would like to thank staff for their generous donations in raising the sum of £40 for ‘Children in Need’.

RADIO CLYDE’S CASH FOR KIDS – ‘STRIP FOR SCOTLAND APPEAL’
Lynne Robertson would like to thank all staff and students for their fantastic support for Radio Clyde’s Cash for Kids – Strip for Scotland Appeal. The sum of £213.70 was raised. Big thank you to Margaret McKenzie, Reception and Carol Small for helping out on the day with donation buckets.

Stork Arrives for ICT Technician
Mandy Henderson had a baby girl weighing in at 6½lbs on Sunday 11th November. Mother and daughter doing well. Many congratulations.

Santa Dash - 5k fun run - Breast cancer
I and my partner are taking part in a Santa Dash 5k fun run on Sunday 16th December for Breast Cancer. The run starts in George Square at
9am, and all participants will be dressed in Santa Suits.

I am AGAIN looking for sponsors from staff and students, but understand there are so many fundraising events taking place at the moment and it is so near Christmas; however, would appreciate if staff could consider making a small donation. This is a very good cause and any monies at all is greatly appreciated. (Michelle Thain).

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Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 32 - 12 NOVEMBER 2007

2007-11-12T15:30:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Commonwealth Games 2014
Langside College is delighted to congratulate Glasgow City Council and all those whose hard work paid off when Glasgow was announced as the host city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

SVQ Hospitality Course
The SVQ Hospitality students are holding a Coffee/Cake stall on the Concourse on Thursday 15 November at 10.00-11.00 am. All proceeds are in aid of Children in Need. We will also be selling (by public demand) our world famous tablet. Warning to Depute Principal you are limited to two bars only!
As part of the SVQ Hospitality course we are running a soup/sandwiches stall on Wednesday 28 November in the Concourse between 12 noon and 12.45 pm. If successful we hope to make this a monthly event. All proceeds will go towards the SVQ students’ chosen charity. Please come and support our students.
Fiona Weir

60th Anniversary celebrations
A further two events are planned to conclude the College 60th anniversary year. On 30th November the 60th anniversary quiz will be launched. The paper quiz is open to all staff and students and will be a testing but interesting challenge. Quiz papers will be available from reception. A charge of two pounds will be made for every quiz sheet issued. ALL monies raised will go to a charity chosen by the winner. Prizes on offer include exclusive Langside College whisky and vodka, Langside College diary/filofax and a specially designed Christmas flower display.

Farewell reception to the Langside College 60th Anniversary Year
On Thursday 20th December there will be a farewell reception held in the College to mark the end of the 60th Anniversary celebrations. The reception will be held at 3.30 pm and will allow staff to view the 60th Anniversary photographic exhibition. Light refreshments will be served. There will also be a long service presentation to two members of staff who were unable to attend the 60th Anniversary lunch held in June. There may also be one or two surprise items! Full details will be sent with the invitation notice in the next ten days.

‘Strip for Scotland’
On Friday 16 November the college is supporting the Radio Clyde’s Cash for Kids Appeal – ‘STRIP FOR SCOTLAND DAY’. All you have to do is wear your Scotland Team top/Scotland T-shirt/polo shirt/tartan/kilts and show your national pride in your team. Not only will you be supporting your team for Saturday’s crucial match against Italy but you will be supporting a local charity.
Thank you for your support. Lynne Robertson

Graduation Ceremony Feedback
The Graduation Committee this year requested feedback from those 286 students who graduated at the Graduation Ceremony at the Barony Hall in September of this year. A prize of an I Pod Nano was offered as an incentive to return the Evaluation Form and 34% did. Some of their comments are included below:
“ My mum was so proud of me; she had waited 46 years to see me graduate and she came early to get a front row seat.”

“The Barony Hall is a marvellous venue and made the day even more special.”

“This was one of the most special days of my life. I will remember it forever.”

“It made all the hard work worth it”

“ I was one of only 2 people to get a hug from the Principal.”

“I was happy to see my classmates and all those lecturers who helped us to achieve our aim”

The winner of the I Pod is Kerstin Baillie who graduated from the HND Supporting and Managing Learning Needs. Many thanks to all the graduates who took part in the evaluation.

Langside Fashion Showcase – success!
The Conference Theatre was the venue for the first ever Langside College Fashion Showcase at lunchtime on Friday 9 November. 8 brave students graced the catwalk wearing a selection of clothes from fashion leaders USC and All Saints. Students and staff alike filled the Conference Theatre and raised over £200.00 for Children In Need. Thanks to the Student Association and Lucy McLachlan for all their hard work in staging this event – surely the first of many to come.

______________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert
Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 32 - 5 NOVEMBER 2007

2007-11-05T15:45:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

New estates update
Further to last week’s email to all staff I can confirm that we are now moving to completion of the legal contract with the main contractor – Balfour Beatty, for the construction of the new estate. Now that confirmation of funding up to £35 million pounds has been received from the Scottish Funding Council and planning permission has been granted from Glasgow City Council the College are in a position to complete the legal contract with Balfour Beatty. The official signing is scheduled to take place week commencing 12th November. This is a significant and historic moment for Langside College and I believe there is an added poignancy due to the redevelopment being agreed in our 60th anniversary year. I am sure all staff will appreciate this and continue, as they have done in the past, to support the College new estate plans for redevelopment in the area where we have served the South Side community for 60 years. As promised I will be holding a series of meetings to further update all staff, including showing the first visuals of the new estate, in the next few weeks.
Staff may be aware of an article that appeared in the Evening Times on Thursday 1st November headlined ‘ Anger at £35m plan to rebuild city college’ This article was not shown to the College before publication therefore the factual inaccuracies and the disingenuous language could not be challenged. I would not, at this point, feel there was anything to be gained by disputing the points in the article line by line but I will, with the main contractor, address all staff prior the January site start date to lay out the well thought out plans we have to minimise disruption and allow the College to continue to produce high quality education in a positive environment. In previous meeting with staff I have emphasised the awareness of all who will manage the redevelopment of allowing the College to operate, day to day, in a calm and well organised atmosphere; indeed the Scottish Funding Council asked us, as part of the addendum to the Full Business Case, to design a business continuity strategy. We will now add to that strategy and implement it in January 2008.
(Robert Paterson)

Evening and Lifestyle Learning
We are currently highlighting the popular Evening and Lifestyle Programme to all past and present participants. John Forbes and Student Services have worked extremely hard getting out a mailshot of the Evening and Lifestyle Guide to everyone on our database. A new block of classes is starting in January 2007 which will include all the usual favourites and some exciting new classes so make sure you help spread the word! Remember, Gift Vouchers for Lifestyle Learning classes are available from Student Services, so give someone you love the gift of knowledge this Christmas!

New Start
We have a new member of staff in finance - Nadia Ishtiaq who started
29 October 2007. Nadia replaced Lindsay Kirkwood who now works within Student Services. Nadia is a former student of Langside College who completed the Intermediate II - Communications & Modern Studies,
HNC/D - Business Administration at Langside College graduating in September 2004. Welcome back!

A Big Thank You from ASDAN Group
The GAP PLUS Group (ASDAN/Hospitality classes) would like to thank staff and students for the support given to their coffee morning in the Langside College Concourse on 31st October. The group worked very hard to organise the event and it was a great success, your support was very much appreciated and you helped to raise £179.00. Congratulations to all those who won a prize at the raffle! The group would also like to thank the following local businesses for their support: Dominos, Joosta, Subway, Coffee Merchant, Drakemire Productions, Beanscene, Subway, Coffee Merchant, Bus Stop Shop, Body Shop, Beauty and Hair Salons at Langside College and Christine Davidson for her beautiful floral display.

Kath Macfarlane becomes Kath Mulvenny
Kath Macfarlane, Funding Manager in the Business Development Unit is tying the knot this weekend at the Ferry in Glasgow . We wish Kath all the best for her big day!

A Great Aunty- again!
Evelyn Gallagher, the College Examinations Officer has written to the Blog to share her pleasure that she is a ‘great’ Aunty again after her nephew and his wife celebrated the birth of their son (Liam James) a welcome brother for Niamh and Seamus. Just remember Evelyn that is another birthday and Christmas present to be added to the list!
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Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert
Paterson or the Secretariat

issue 31 - 29 OCTOBER 2007

2007-10-29T10:58:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Paper Free Assessment
On Thursday 4 October 20 SVQ assessors from the Faculty of ECS undertook training to facilitate their use of the PaperFree assessment system which has been updated to web basis. Health and Social Care, SIRCC and Playwork assessors have been using the original PC based PaperFree system for the past 3 years.
The system has been extremely motivational for candidates as they are not required to produce written evidence of their competence; they record their evidence with assessor support onto a digital Dictaphone and it is uploaded as a ‘wav file’. The assessors all strongly believe that this is the way to deliver SVQs in the 21st century.

The PaperFree assessment system has the facility to be used for any qualification that is performance criteria based – so the potential for use in the College is huge. If any member of staff would like to view the system in operation please speak to Fiona M Fraser (3753) – if enough people are interested Fiona is prepared to deliver a practical demonstration of the system. The duration of the demonstration would be approximately 1 hour.
Please visit http://www.langside.ac.uk/Press&Marketing/NewsPages/Paperfree.asp
for images from the day.

Visit to China
Elaine Proudfoot has recently returned from China. The purpose of her visit was to participate in our partner institution Dalian Medical University’s 60th anniversary celebration. Also to participate with colleagues from Stevenson, Edinburgh’s Telford and Glasgow Metropolitan Colleges, under the aegis of Scotland’s Colleges International and supported by the British Council, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese Association of Vocational Education (CAVE).
The trip included visits to 4 CAVE Colleges in Shanghai where areas of mutual curriculum interest were explored. The facilities and resources in all
4 colleges were highly impressive and indicative of the enhanced status of vocational education in China. Each Scottish college will act as the main point of contact for ongoing dialogue with one Shanghai college. It seems likely that there is huge opportunity not just for student recruitment to the Scottish colleges but also for staff exchange and mutual curriculum development. The 5 yearly meeting of the Communist Party Congress in Beijing coincided with our trip to China. In his opening address to the 2000 delegates that attend the CPC, China’s president, Hu Juntao, spoke of the importance of vocational education to China’s burgeoning economy and of the importance of harmonised partnered approaches in the achievement of key strategic priorities. Elaine is hopeful that a harmonious vocational partnership will emerge between Langside and one of the CAVE colleges.

ASDAN Coffee Morning
The ASDAN class from the GAP Plus course are having a coffee morning/raffle on Wednesday 31st October 2007 @ 10.30am on the concourse of the Langside Campus. The support of College staff and students would be appreciated as the group, have worked extremely hard both in and out of class to collect donations for the raffle.
The group have organised the coffee morning to raise funds for an ASDAN challenge where they have to visit an event or show as a group, the money raised at this event will be equally divided between Cash for Kids and the Groups Challenge fund.

______________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert
Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 30 - 8 OCTOBER 2007

2007-10-08T12:07:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

They train…… we gain!
All our Faculties have been working closely with the Business Development Unit to successfully provide training to a wide range of organisations. Catherine Taylor and Fiona Weir, Senior Lecturer Food Studies, have been travelling far and wide to deliver the REHIS Food Hygiene Programme to various groups including Childcare and After School Care providers in the South Lanarkshire Council area.
Teamwork between the BDU and Faculties/Development Units is evident throughout the College and without it we would not have been able to deliver the following successful programmes:

• British Sign Language course to Strathclyde Police and South Lanarkshire Council
• First Aid Courses in response to demand from clients
• SAGE Accounts for CEDA (Castlemilk Economic Development Agency)
• Assertiveness Training for Gartnavel Hospital and the Passport Office
• Diploma in Training and Development for the Department for International Development
• SVQs in Horticulture for North Lanarkshire Council

These programmes provide vital income for the college. Well done to all involved!

High flying!
In edition 26 of the Blog we highlighted the advent of wireless technology in the College and the difference this had made to the service we can supply to students and staff. Langside staff are to be commended for the way in which they have embraced the use of the new technology after its introduction led by Fraser Organ and Phil McGurk. We have come a long way from the time the technology was introduced including the many hair raising installations which found Phil, ably assisted by Tom Hosie, the College electrician, harnessing themselves to safety wires at the top of the residences and local high flats to relay the signal to all College areas!
The foresight shown by Phil, in not only recommending the technology to the College, but in then playing a significant leading role in its implementation is one for which we should be grateful. Well done Phil.

Estates Update
In last week’s edition of The Blog it was indicated that a number of pictorial views of the new College buildings had been commissioned. Robert Paterson will be holding a series of events to showcase the graphics and answer questions on the new estate week commencing 5th November. Full details will be announced in the Blog – edition 31 published on Monday 29th October.

World’s Biggest Coffee Morning
SVQ Hospitality students would like to thank everyone who joined in the fun by taking part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on Friday 28th September raising a fantastic £160 for Macmillan Cancer Support. The money raised will go towards providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support to people living with cancer. The College would like to acknowledge the superb work and tremendous effort put in by Fiona Weir and her team consisting of Katie Brown, Margaret Coom and Donna McLintock.

Welcome Aboard!
The Langside led Pollokshaws Adult Literacies Team is back up to its full strength of two members of staff, with the appointment of Seema Sood as Project assistant. Seema's position is a mixture of administration responsibilities for the project and assisting Clare Malloy, project leader, in supporting learners' literacies needs. Seema has generously given of her time as a volunteer with the project for quite a while, as well as working as a literacies tutor in a similar project the college leads on in Castlemilk. This, along with her previous experience in community education, will be a great asset to the project.

There will be no issues of The Blog on 15th & 22nd October but we will be back on Monday 29th.

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Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 29 - 01 OCTOBER 2007

2007-10-01T08:25:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

BLOG ESTATES SPECIAL - WHERE ARE WE?
On 12th July two tenders were submitted for the redevelopment of the College estate. The original short list of four had reduced due to contractors being awarded other work and so unable to tender for our estate. At this stage both tenders were deemed to be non compliant as they had not followed the specification/conditions in the tender documents issued by the College. This meant that the tender evaluation committee chaired by Jim Scott (Board member) were not in a position to complete the tender evaluation process to properly compare both tenders against a number of set criteria. At this point (during July and early August) tender interviews, as well as technical review meetings, were held with both tenderers with comprehensive lists of non-compliances issued to both companies for comment and clarification. After these meetings and final meetings with both contractors on 20th August, chaired by the Depute Principal and attended by both contractors and the professional team of consultants, it was concluded that both tenders were now compliant. At this stage both tenders were in excess of the funding package identified and agreed with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). Immediately following the 20th August meetings, a strategy was agreed that involved discussions with the preferred contractor (lowest tender) that was specifically orientated around looking at instigating a realistic acceptable value engineering exercise whilst ensuring retention of the functionality and aesthetic outlook of the building. In other words we looked at where we might save money WITHOUT altering the space, specification or amenity of the building. This is not uncommon in the construction industry today and considerable savings were agreed. While this exercise was completed the full tender evaluation committee met and completed the scoring matrix. The recommendation of the appointment of the successful contractor was subsequently approved by the Board Property and Estates Committee.
At the SFC Capital Investment Committee (CIC) meeting on 13th September the Full Business Case was APPROVED by the Committee for full funding with the addition of added funding on the previously agreed figure. It should be noted that the original project start date was June 2007, this is now a January 2008 project. A considerable sum of money was therefore added to the project due to construction inflation. The exact final cost plan actually reflects a REDUCTION from the original cost analysis. The CIC decision was confirmed at a Scottish Funding Council meeting on 21st September. Formal notification of this decision is expected by Monday 1st October 2007. The Depute Principal/ Assistant Principal (Finance and HR) attended an implementation meeting in Edinburgh to discuss financial matters with the Director of Capital Projects

IMMEDIATE ISSUES
The main areas of work, at this point in time, to ensure a January site start are final planning approval, the final confirmation of the detailed specification for the new build and the completion of the legal contract with the successful contractor. We are confident that these issues can be resolved to allow us on site in January.

WHAT CAN I DO ?
In the early stages of design the College consulted widely on the exact new estate requirement and all Heads, in partnership with SLs/Lecturers, gave considerable and appreciated input to the design of the new build. This resulted in the production of individual room specifications which were agreed and signed off by Heads/Managers within the College. This level of exactitude is time consuming but it has allowed the College to be confident that it is about to embark on a project that delineates what staff want, not a space/specification factor that is/will be imposed on them. Although space and specification have been agreed there are still areas where staff can contribute. Do you have particular thoughts about the usage of the building which might mean some resource issues being faced at this time? Have you visited other Colleges or buildings where you saw something that you felt would be ideal for our new college? Do you have thoughts in terms of the interior design? Would you like to influence the hard/soft landscaping design? All thoughts, no matter how general or specific, would be welcome. Please contact Robert Paterson in person, by email or telephone/voicemail.

WHAT WILL THE NEW LANGSIDE COLLEGE LOOK LIKE?
I have commissioned a number of pictorial views of the new build so that all staff can gain a clear insight to the position, style and amenity of the new build. I plan to arrange a number of viewings week commencing 8th October. Watch the next Blog for details.

Robert W Paterson
Depute Principal/Project Sponsor

ISSUE 28 - 17TH SEPTEMBER 2007

2007-09-14T14:18:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Graduation 2007
Last Saturday over 280 graduands gathered with family and friends in the Barony Hall, University of Strathclyde to celebrate their success in completing their academic courses. The number of graduands was the highest in the history of College ceremonies and reflects the large numbers of SVQ graduands who were taking part in the ceremony for the first time. Students from SVQ Health and Social Care, Children’s Care Learning and Development, Early Years Care and Education, Playwork and Promoting Independence were all delighted to be included in the ceremony and they turned out in large numbers to enjoy their achievement.
The response to the Principal’s charge to the graduands was delivered by Willie Haughey,OBE DTech, who was both humorous, sensitive and brief!
Langside College staff also turned out in large numbers to support the graduands, over 60 academic staff and 14 support staff were in attendance. The support staff should also be commended for the efficient and professional manner in which all students were dealt with including the graduand who turned up at 10.55am for the 11.00am ceremony!
The feedback from the graduates suggested that they experienced a
wonderful morning, enjoying the spotlight and celebrating their awards.
Graduates and staff photographs are available to view on the College web site

Wedding Bliss
Graeme Fraser, Administrator in Arts, Languages and Social Sciences was presented with a cash gift at a gathering of staff on Wednesday 12 September. Graeme (his mother Hannah Fraser was Student Services Manager at Langside College for many years) marries ex-Langsider Alison Fowler on the 15th September.

‘Jobs Fair’
The main concourse of the College was the venue for our annual ‘Jobs Fair’ on Wednesday 12th September. Among the exhibitors were the Hilton Hotel, Territorial Army, Staffinders Job Agency, Business Gateway and the Police. Myra Robertson from the College Guidance section was also available to answer questions and give advice. Many students have commented on the value of this day as it allows them the opportunity to consider part time work as a means of helping them fund their College course as well as considering the possibility of how they might use their qualification at a later date.

60th Anniversary Trivia
Wimbledon Winners in 1947: Women: Margaret Osborne d. D. Hart (6-2 6-4)
Men: Jack Kramer d. T. Brown (6-1 6-3 6-2)

Tennessee Williams’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” opened at Broadway’s Ethel Barrymore Theatre with Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski and Jessica Tandy as Blanche DuBois. The play won the 1948 Pulitzer Prize.

Movies premiered in 1947: Gentleman’s Agreement, Miracle on 34th Street, Great Expections, The Bishop’s Wife.

Books Published: Saul Bellow, The Victim
Gerald Warner Brace, The Garreston Chronicle
Martin Flavin, The Enchanted
Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl
Malcolm Lowry, Under the Volcano
Thomas Mann, Dr. Faustus
Jean-Paul Srtre, Existentialism

Science: The carbon-14 method of radiocarbon dating was developed by Willard F. Libby (US);
The microwave oven was invented by Percy Spencer (US); and
John Bardeen, Walter H Brattain and William B. Shockley (US) developed the transistor.

Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
_____________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 27 - 10 SEPTEMBER 2007

2007-09-10T09:43:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Subject Networks
Janet Cole from Arts, Languages and Social Science, has recently taken up a secondment post with the SFEU as subject mentor for social sciences. This post will involve developing the social sciences subject network in Scotland. Other subject networks that are being developed and may be of interest to staff are business, care, computing and IT, construction, core skills: numeracy (plus employability, citizenship), creative arts and performing arts, engineering, English and communication, hairdressing, beauty and complementary therapies, modern languages and ESOL, travel and tourism and sports and recreation. Some of the networks are just at the start of their development. They can be accessed through the SFEU website at http://www/sfeu.ac.uk. If you want any more information please contact Janet, ext 3875.

Langside Leavers
We say farewell and good luck to two members of staff. Melanie Fariss, International Recruitment Co-ordinator leaves to take up her new appointment as International Adviser for the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and Thomas Lorimer, Facilities Assistant leaves to join Glasgow City Council as a carer/driver. Good Luck to Alison and Thomas in their new appointments.

Wedding Congratulations
Our congratulations and best wishes to Graeme Fraser, Administrator for Arts, Languages and Social Science on his forthcoming wedding to an
ex-Langsider Alison Fowler (International Office). Although the romance began about five years ago it wasn’t love at first sight! However this soon changed when Alison bought Graeme a crème egg as an apology and romance blossomed into a proposal. The wedding takes place on Saturday 15 September at Tigh Mor, Trossachs (rumour has it that the wedding favours may be crème eggs). Wishing every future happiness to Graeme and Alison.

Ruby Wedding Congratulations
Warmest congratulations also to Jean Duffy from the Secretariat and her husband Pat, as they enjoy a break in Dublin to celebrate their
40th wedding anniversary on 16 September. (Jean most definitely must have been a child bride!)

Community Learning and Development Unit - International Literacies Day
The Graduation ceremony at Barony Hall wasn’t the only learner celebration going on at Langside College this week.
Due to it being International Literacies Day on 6 September, a number of celebrations were on the go across the city. On a much smaller scale than the Barony do, but just as enjoyable, was the Celebration event at Glenwood Campus Flexible Learning Unit, affectionately called the FLU.
Langside is a key partner in the Castlemilk Learning Together Partnership which seeks to maximise learning opportunities in the area, especially in literacies and basic computing skills. With funding from Learning Connections, Scotland, the event celebrated the achievement of local learners, including both literacies learners and local people, Glenwood staff and volunteers who had completed the PDA ITALL, a qualification.in teaching and supporting literacies. Certificates were awarded by Elaine Proudfoot and, despite a hiccup when lunch failed to arrive at its allotted time, a great time was had by all.

On a larger scale, East Renfrewshire had its learner event on Thursday evening and Langside was represented by Frances Thom, Christine Davidson and Linda Chambers who are all involved in the East Renfrewshire Adult Literacies Partnership. Over 130 learners attended, along with friends and family. The guest speaker, Ted Millburn, formerly in charge of Adult Learning and Youth work at Jordanhill College, gave an inspirational speech.
Frances presented certificates to ESOL learners and those who had completed certificated core skills.
Many thanks to Christine Davidson and her team for their input.

Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
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ISSUE 26 - 3 SEPTEMBER 2007

2007-08-31T14:55:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Farewell to Fraser
Fraser Organ, Assistant Principal, Information Systems and Services retires on Tuesday the 4th September after 32 years of distinguished service to Langside College. Fraser started his teaching career at Langside on the 1st Febuary 1975 in the old Prospect Building and with the exception of a short time at Woodburn House made the Langside campus his professional ‘home’. Fraser, with or without a pint in his hand, can relate many tales of the teaching regime within the Prospect Building that are both funny and hark back to an era distinctly different to today. Fraser has ‘come through the ranks’ and his experience of College life is extensive and wide ranging.
In his present role Fraser was instrumental in the introduction of wireless technology to the College, in doing so he was, in many ways ahead of his time. This has allowed the College to benefit from the flexibility of wireless technology and the important future proofing benefits it brings to the College. Fraser met with friends and colleagues on Friday the 31st August in the Qua Italian restaurant in Glasgow to receive a number of gifts from Langside staff. Fraser will now have more time to spend on his beloved allotment, on the golf course and with his wife Fiona who retired last year. Fiona received a bouquet of flowers on Friday with a card which said ‘ we have had him for 32 years – over to you!’ All staff wish Fraser a long and happy retirement and Happy 60th Birthday for Tuesday.

GHA
Langside College was recently awarded the contract to deliver SVQ Health and Social Care courses to 95 members of Glasgow Housing Association’s (GHA) housing support teams. These teams are responsible for GHA’s older and vulnerable tenants living in sheltered housing across the city.
Legislation within the care industry has recently changed. This has lead GHA to make a commitment to register all staff with the Scottish Social Services Council by autumn 2009. The Scottish Social Services Council registers and regulates the delivery of sheltered housing, publishes codes of practice and provides education and training.
As part of this commitment GHA has joined forces with Langside College and we will be responsible for the training over the next three years.
Currently, we are delivering SVQ Level 2 training throughout Glasgow to 30 members of staff, who were inducted in June 2007. The next cohort is commencing in February 2008 and the final group in July 2008. Additionally, we are delivering SVQ Level 4 Health and Social Care to 5 managers within the housing support team.

Grad’ 2007
The College Graduation Ceremony takes place on Saturday the 8th September at the usual venue, the Barony Hall, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. This year 281 graduates will attend the ceremony – this is a record number since the College graduation event was first held in 1992. In addition, the highest number of staff will attend and the College are very grateful that so many staff will attend to share with graduates and colleagues the success of our students.

Let Them Eat Cake?
On Thursday 30th August the College arranged for the distribution of a 60th anniversary cake to all students in the main concourse. Elaine Proudfoot, well supported by Caroline Matheson and Craig McCormack from Student Services, handed out the cut cake as a means of highlighting the 60th Anniversary year for our new students and welcoming them to the College as part of Freshers week. The SMT had originally been scheduled to hand out the cake but unfortunately a Property and Estates Committee prevented the attendance of other members of the SMT but Elaine stepped up to the mark and, with Caroline and Craig, did a splendid job.

60th Anniversary Trivia
February 1947 – In New York City, Edwin Land demonstrates the first
‘instant camera’ the Polaroid Land camera to a meeting of the Optical Society of America.
August 1947 – Following decades of non-violent resistance the periodic civil unrest from 1919, India gains independence from the British Empire.
Following this Pakistan splits from India.
Also in 1947 David Letterman, American entertainer and Salman Rushdie, Indian born author were born.

Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
__________________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 25 - 27 AUGUST 2007

2007-08-27T08:35:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Langside College Aims Higher
2007 has seen many Langside College students produce excellent results with a high percentage of students accredited with ‘A’ and ‘B’ grade passes. Most notably, all fourteen students studying Intermediate 2 Spanish gained an ‘A’ grade pass and 90% of students studying Italian at the various levels (Int2, Higher and Advanced Higher) offered by the college achieved an ‘A’ grade pass. Each year the results highlight an outstanding student and this year, a ‘Highers’ student who had additional support needs, gained 5 ‘A’ grade passes in Chemistry, Human Biology, French, Mathematics and Physics. This was another successful year for asylum seeker Andrei Rubashkin. In 2006, Andrei achieved 3 ‘A’ Band 1 passes in Human Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics. This was an outstanding result for any student but especially for Andrei as English is not his first language. Andrei was entitled to additional time in the exam and use of a dictionary but he refused this offer. This year Andrei gained an ‘A’ grade pass in A Level Chemistry and successfully completed the ‘Access to Nursing’ course here at Langside College. He hopes to continue his studies by undertaking a B.A. in Nursing at Glasgow University once he has received indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

College Enrolments
We are well underway with the new Enrolment procedures for this year and are happy to report that they are proving to be a success!. To date, we have fully enrolled in excess of 1,900 students and have taken payment from those who are due to pay course tuition fees. Please note that no student can attend their class until they have been through enrolment and have received their student ID card. Student ID cards should be checked by the class lecturer in order to ensure that all students have completed the enrolment process. If students are not in possession of a student ID card, they are not enrolled students. Your Faculty Administrator or Student Database will be able to provide you with up-to-date class lists if required. These class lists (from Unit-e) show all the currently enrolled students, thus enabling you to use these lists as a double check for enrolled students. The Enrolment Team will be present in the Conference Theatre from 8.45am on Monday 27 August 2007 and again from 8.45am on Tuesday 28 August 2007. We do envisage that it will be extremely busy and we will deal with non-enrolled students on a first-come-first-served basis. From Wednesday 29 August onwards, the enrolment process will take place in Student Services in the Main Campus. On these additional enrolment days, we hope to continue to provide an excellent student experience. To do this, the non-enrolled students (in the absence of a staff member) must be fully equipped with the details of their course (Course Code and Class Code). We would ask you to ensure that this is clearly indicated to the non-enrolled students when they are sent to the Conference Theatre. We will not be able to carry out enrolment unless the team are furnished with the correct Course Code and Class code for each student. Thanks for your co-operation!

Freshers Fair
This year, the annual Freshers Fair is planned for Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 August. There will be loads of fun, freebies and discounts available to students as well as careers and welfare information. Please encourage all your students to attend these events as it a great introduction to student life.

60th Birthday celebrations – ‘Let them eat cake!’
After the success of the staff event at Hampden Park, we are extending our celebrations to include our students. On Thursday 30 August, free cake will be available on the Main Concourse at morning break time. Please inform all your students to ensure no-one misses out!

Changes at CLDU
Evie Whiting , admin assistant and tutor for the Pollokshaws ALN project since it started in 2005, has left to travel in India with her partner. We look forward to hearing about her travels. Another event within the project was the wedding of project coordinator Clare Whiteford. Clare's new name is Malloy. Congratulations to Clare and also to Pauline Moore on her secondment as Govanhill Support worker. Hazel Ruth will replace Pauline at Glenwood for the duration of the secondment.

Langside College at the Fringe
Soon to be a graduate of Langside College HND Acting and Performance student Lee Johnston is appearing in ‘Waiting for Groucho’ at the Zoo Venue in Edinburgh as part of this year’s Fringe Festival. This new play is produced by ‘Rhymes with Purple’ Productions and covers an imagined conversation in which the Marx Brothers reminisce about their journey from two-bit vaudeville performers to Hollywood legends. It is great to see Langside College represented at the Fringe and we wish Lee every success in the future!
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Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 24 - 20 August 2007

2007-08-20T12:46:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Welcome back
Summer is over. What summer you may ask? Whatever the weather, the hope is staff had a restful break and return to the rigours of delivering our curriculum refreshed and ready for what will be a very important academic year for the College. In 2007/08 the new build should commence and that will present a challenge to all staff and students as we progressively demolish and rebuild the new Langside College (see update below) This is also the year that we have a HMIe Review in February 2008. The College have always taken the view that the review process is to be welcomed and we look forward to the element of ‘free consultancy’ that comes from a close scrutiny of our work and processes.
As ever annual events such as our Awards Evening and Graduation Ceremony are headline events and we look forward to both as an opportunity to celebrate the success of our students.
This is also the year in which the radical changes to the College Strategic Plan will be enacted in terms of protocol and process. It is intended that, as promised, regular updates will be given (including attendance by SMT members at Faculty/Unit/Section meetings) so that all staff may monitor the process and influence the operational delivery of the strategy.
During August to December the 60th Anniversary Committee will again organise events to mark the Diamond Anniversary. The 60th Anniversary Celebration Lunch held at Hampden Park in June was very well attended by staff and Board members. This event was intended as a headline event for the anniversary year and was the culmination of a great deal of work by the 60th Anniversary Birthday Bash Committee. The comments received from all areas of staff would suggest their efforts were appreciated and the time, place and general organisation of the event was enjoyed by all who attended. A special word of thanks to the Committee.

New Estate
The summer has been extremely busy as both tenders for the new build were received and they had to be checked and validated by the project sponsor and the College professional team. Part of this scrutiny involved interviews and meetings with both contractors to ensure they were compliant with the specification issued within the College tender documents. This process (still ongoing) has been intricate and exhausting! Our target is to have the final cost plan ready for the Funding Council to present to the September meeting of the Capital Investment Committee of the Council (CIC). It is still ‘in the balance’ if we can meet this deadline but we are giving it our best shot. If we can make the September meeting and get final approval we should be able to appoint the contractor and start on site in January 2008, with completion of the first phase of the new build in March/April 2009. If we have to delay until the December CIC meeting the schedule would have a site start in March 2008 with completion June 2009.

It’s All change in MST
August sees a number of staffing changes in Maths, Science and Technology. In the Beauty Therapy section Dawn Paterson has moved north to take up a full-time teaching position at Moray College, and Julie Wales returns to her Senior Lecturer post after the birth of her daughter Xanthe. Jane Buet also moves north from Wigan and Leigh College to join the floristry section at the Rutherglen Campus.

Congratulations to….
Paul Ferguson and his wife Jackie on the birth of their daughter Rebecca, a welcome little sister for Alastair and Jennifer.

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This is edition 24 of the Blog which was first published in December 2006. Comments from staff have suggested that the Blog has been a welcome addition to the communication process within the College. I know you appreciate the lifeblood of the Blog is the information, ideas etc that staff contribute therefore if you have any ideas, thoughts, scribbles for the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
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ISSUE 23 - 25 JUNE 2007

2007-06-25T12:56:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

(or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Six months and going strong!
The Blog is six months old in June, having published 23 issues. The original purpose behind the Blog was to disseminate to all staff items of information and general College interest. I hope that staff feels it has been worthwhile. Each edition requires input and support from staff and I would wish to record my appreciation to all staff who have contributed. I hope that the Blog can go from strength to strength and even more staff will make use of this important communication channel in session 2007/2008. (R Paterson)

Access to Success
As the year draws to a close it is clear that this year has been another incredibly successful year for the Access to Humanities Course. This year a remarkable 22 students have won university places: some of them in the most competitive degrees in Scotland. 10 Access students will be taking up places on the B.Ed. Primary Teaching Degree (a Langside record); 5 will be doing Social Work and 2 Social Science degrees. These are the 3 conventional routes of the Access course. However, this has also been an astonishing year of firsts for the Access programme with one student securing a place in the Journalism and Creative Writing degree at Strathclyde; 3 progressing to Theology at Glasgow University( ! ); 3 taking on Maths degrees (!!); and 1 more, Pamela Beshaj, landing a place on Strathclyde University’s Law degree (!!!). Given that all Access students must have few or no qualifications and many are returning from a 20 year gap in formal education, this is really all the more commendable. Well done to all students and the course team. (J Rafferty)

College Estate
An updated position on the College estate will be sent to all staff next week highlighting the crucial aspects of the new build which will need to be addressed in the next few months.

New Roadway
The new roadway into the College is almost complete. This week will see the road lined, traffic signs erected and the street lighting connected and tested. All staff and students are to be congratulated on their patience and understanding during the construction of the road. Some staff have been asking about the two roads leading towards the present Valeview buildings. The first road on the right (as you enter the College) is the road into the new car park which will sit it front of the new 3/4 storey main teaching building. The second road on the right is the road into the new service courtyard for deliveries to the stores/refectory etc. It is not, as some wag suggested, the road to nowhere.

Bon Voyage!
Clare Grant, who currently works in Student Services as a Student Advisor, leaves for pastures new on 10 August. Clare has successfully gained a place on the Post Graduate Diploma Secondary Teacher (PgDip Ed) course at the University of Glasgow. Clare was a Learning Information Specialist at Scottish University for Industry (SUfI) before joining the team in Student Services as an Advisor in January 2005. Clare also previously worked for the Marketing Department and the Schools & College Liaison Service at the University of Strathclyde prior to this.
Declan and Allison have tried, on numerous occasions, to talk her out of leaving but Clare is not having any of it!
I am sure you will join Declan, Allison and team in wishing Clare all the very best in her new undertaking and we are sure she will excel in her new career! Who knows, perhaps one day she will rejoin Langside College in a different capacity. (D Fallon)

Have a Great Summer!
This will be the last edition of the Blog prior to the summer holidays and it is an ideal opportunity to express the wish that all staff have a restful and peaceful break before returning the educational maelstrom in August. The Blog will be back with edition number 24 on Monday 20th August 2007.

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Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

ISSUE 22 - 18 JUNE 2007

2007-06-18T09:39:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

National Success!
Over the last 14 years students from the HNC Occupational Therapy Support course have successfully gained both 1st and 2nd year places at the three Scottish universities offering OT, Glasgow Caledonian University, Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh and Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. This year 5 students have been offered places for 1st year and 4 for 2nd year. Also, this month will see the first cohort of Distance Learning students completing the HNC. They come from as far afield as Lincoln to Dunfermline. Well done the HNC Occupational Therapy Support distance learning team.

10,000th Enrolment for Evening and Lifestyle Programme
August 2005 marked the introduction of a database system for the enrolment of participants onto the Evening and Lifestyle Programme. 13 June 2007 marked the 10,000th enrolment onto the Programme since the introduction of the database system. This would not have been possible without the assistance of the IT Support Section in general and David Cooper, IT Support Manager, in particular. The system has proved to be a resounding success and its smooth running is a reflection of the hard work and dedication provided by John Forbes and the entire team in Student Services. Congratulations and well done to all involved!

Web Developer Appointment
IT Support Section is pleased to announce the appointment of Alexandra Crosbie to the post of Web Developer (full-time). Alex will take up her post with immediate effect. Many of you will already know Alex in her capacity as IT Technician and more recently in her seconded role of Web Developer (part-time). Alex will work very closely with the BDU which still retains editorial control of the website and welcomes this appointment wholeheartedly. We wish Alex every success in her new post and are confident she will bring the same commitment and enthusiasm which she has demonstrated in her previous posts.

Alex will be in contact with all Faculties and Units in the near future to discuss website content. Please think about your present Faculty/Unit website pages and discuss fully with Alex a way forward to utilise the full potential of the website as a marketing tool. Remember, Alex is there to assist you and to develop your pages; she will even input and format the content but she cannot devise the content that still remains the responsibility of the Faculties and Units. The website requires to be constantly updated to maintain a fresh and vibrant image, please assist Alex with this very important facet of the College’s marketing strategy.

J.K. Rowling Look Out!
Budding philosophers might be interested to know that staff member John Rafferty’s book “Critical Thinking for SQA Higher” goes to the publishers next week and will be available from all good bookshops and Amazon.co.uk over the summer. It is published by Kynoch and Blaney/Unity Publications. This has been a busy 18 months in the Social Science section in publishing terms with many members of the section hitting the presses. Last year Jon McDermott published his Higher Psychology textbook and both Craig Ross and John Rafferty published articles in the international journals Philosophy Now and Dialogue Magazine respectively. On top of this the department will also be publishing no less than 5 Coleg packs this week covering Economics, Psychology and Philosophy courses for the new HNC framework (earning up to 50 packs back for the college.) Many congratulations to all staff involved.

5k Race for Life
Well, they did it! The Ladies from Langside College successfully completed the 5k run in aid of cancer research on Sunday 10th June. It was a beautiful day and the atmosphere was terrific. Some of them walked, some ran, mostly it was a mixture of the two. It was a very uplifting experience and also very emotional for all staff involved. All staff involved want to thank everyone for their generous sponsorship and encouragement. If anyone still has money to give please see staff who ran as soon as possible. Here's to next year's race!

George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” – HNC Acting & Performance Students
Performances on Wed 20,Thurs 21, & Fri 22 June in the Emanuel Studio. Tickets costing £7 or £5 (concessions) available from Linda Law extn 3771.

60th BIRTHDAY BASH - ATTENTION! ATTENTION!
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO INDICATE TO THE SECRETARIAT IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND THE ABOVE EVENT TO BE HELD AT HAMPDEN ON THURSDAY 28 JUNE 2007.

ISSUE21 - 11 JUNE 2007

2007-06-11T14:58:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Building on success
A few weeks ago the Blog reported the success of the Faculty of Education, Care and Sport in securing an articulation agreement with Strathclyde University for students successful in achieving their HND Supporting and Managing Learning Needs. The value and credibility of the HND SMLN was further demonstrated when, after interviews by Abertay University staff here at Langside, 14 students were offered places in the final year of the BA in Learning Difficulties/Disabilities degree course. A number of students from this course usually go on to complete a post graduate teaching qualification. This is an excellent example of Further and Higher Education working together to provide alternative routes to certification for students.
Well done to George Ennis and David Steadman who have pioneered this excellent articulation route.

New Appointment
The Business Development and New Funding Initiatives Unit is pleased to announce the appointment of Kath MacFarlane as Funding Manager with effect from 5 July 2007. This is a challenging post and one which is pivotal to the financial viability of the college. We wish Kath every success in her new post and are confident she will meet the challenges with the skills and enthusiasm she has demonstrated in her previous posts within the college.

Partnership Event and Open Day 30 May 2007
As part of the 60th Anniversary celebrations, the College held a Partnership Event on Wednesday 30 May at the Main Campus. This event reinforced the many successful relationships the College has with various outside governing bodies, agencies, local authorities and suppliers. The format of the morning was as follows:
• Welcome by the Principal, Graeme Hyslop
• Looking Forward to a Bright Future, Depute Principal, Robert Paterson
• Quizdom, Business Development Manager, Paul Lafferty
• Excerpts from the Three-penny Opera, HND Acting and Performance Students
• Guided tour of Art Exhibition, Student Showcase and Flexible Learning Unit
• Lunch
The event received a very positive response from all who attended and acted as the perfect precursor to the Open Day. Approximately 400 people attended the Open Day: this generated 75 applications and 12 enrolments for the Evening and Lifestyle Programme commencing September 2007.
Many thanks to all staff who helped to make the Partnership Event and the Open Day a huge success.

New Evening and Lifestyle Guide Sept 2007 – Aug 08
The new Evening and Lifestyle Guide is now available and can be obtained from Student Services. There are a number of new classes as well as the usual favourites in the Guide for the forthcoming session. Additionally, 2007 sees the introduction of a Gift Voucher scheme for Evening and Lifestyle classes. So the present for someone who has everything need be a problem no longer!
Please take every opportunity to advertise these classes as word of mouth reinforced by the Guide is a powerful marketing tool.

Ski Holiday
Last Easter, Roger McKillop, Sports Studies, took a group of mostly Langside students and staff to Valmorel in France for a week long trip of skiing and partying! To keep the costs low, the group travelled from
Glasgow by bus and stayed in self-catering chalets keeping the cost of the trip to £415 which also included ski hire and lift pass.
Says Roger, who was acting as party leader along with former student Nicola Craig, “All the students had a great time and I am glad to say that I was proud of their conduct. Whether they can say the same about me after I snowboarded in my kilt, is a question you must put to them! We did receive one complaint though, from a German family, about the noise. Was this due to excessive rowdy behaviour? No! Was it due to a booze up? No! It was due to the girls playing SNAP!”

If you would like to join the skiing party next year then Roger is organising another trip for the first week of the Easter 2008 break. The trip is being organised by Ski Supreme, travel will be by plane, and the cost is £435 including the flight. If enough people are interested Roger will try to arrange a family week as well as a ‘student holiday’ week. So if you feel like sliding down hills then let Roger know.

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Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
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<

ISSUE 20 - 4 JUNE 2007

2007-06-04T12:49:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

(or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Contractors Weekly Blog
This week we shall continue working on the footpath and grading the road. Our surfacing contractor should be on site from Wednesday until the end of the week and shall be surfacing the road, main car park and footpaths. Unfortunately this will probably be the most disruptive part of the contract as the surfacing squad shall require a bit of room for their plant will require some of the parking spaces. The lorries with the tar shall be in and about the area. For this week we would once again request that if possible you leave your vehicles at home.
On the positive side once this work is done, at the end of the week, parking shall be available at the whole of the main car park and the staff car park shall also be open. The pedestrian access via ValeviewTerrace shall also be re-opened. We would also once again appeal to staff and students not to walk along the road and to please walk within the pedestrian barriers to help avoid any accidents, either with our plant or with cars. The path for pedestrians is via the stairs to and from the student car park.
Please note that either at the end of this week or the beginning of next week the traffic route will be changing again.
Mackenzie Construction would again apologise for any inconvenience and we will try to keep disruptions to a minimum. Thank you in advance for your patience.

New Applications/Enrolment process
Work has been progressing steadily on the new process since late last year with the aim of centralising data and systems, providing a better service for students and minimising delays in data entry to support the production of earlier & more accurate class lists and other student related information.
Faculty administrators with support from Student Services & Student Database have done a grand job inputting all new applications related data into Unite. Senior lecturers have played their part by submitting revised, more uniform course details.
Enrolment & the production of Student Cards will primarily take place in the fortnight beginning 13th August under the aegis of the Enrolment Team comprising Student Services. Database, Funding, Finance and IT. The aim is to ensure that all students in a class have a Student Card on their first day in class and the card signifies that they have completed all aspects of the enrolment process. Lecturers will be asked to check that all students have their card as verification that enrolment has been completed.
It is an ambitious project with benefits for all. We hope that everyone will play their part in making it a success.

Success with South Lanarkshire Council Contract
The College has been awarded a major contract with South Lanarkshire Council to deliver training for their Child Care workforce.
As of September 2007 we have been asked to deliver First Aid, Child Care units, Sign Language and Sport over the period of a year and possibly on a rolling programme. Our reputation goes before us and it is thanks to all Child Care lecturers including the SVQ Early Years team that we have been awarded this contract.

Stars in Your Eyes
The College was approached by BBC 3 in Manchester to allow filming of a child care class for the programme ' Honey We're Killing the Kids '
On 31st May the film crew joined a Classroom Assistants course where the lecturer Julie Caldwell delivered the subject 'Child Protection ' and the Star of the show was sitting in the class as a student. The crew then filmed Jan Watson acting as an advisor on Child Care courses. Jan commented “I have not got time to get a face lift and my roots done !!”
(no comment – Ed)

Staff Photograph
Many thanks to all staff who ‘starred’ in the 60th anniversary staff photograph taken on Thursday 31st May. A giant round of applause for Alison (last to be picked for a team). Thank you to all staff for your patience and good humour during the set up and photographic session.

5K Race for Life
A gentle reminder that staff Rita Donnelly, Michelle Thain, Linda Faulkner, Denise McGranaghan, Clare Martin, Margaret Wright and Margaret Kelly (the College counsellor) are taking part in the 5K Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research on 10th June. If possible please sponsor staff to help this excellent charity.
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Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat

ISSUE19 - 21 MAY 2007

2007-05-22T07:49:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

(or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Student News
Two students from the NQ Medical Administration course have had their efforts recognised by the Scottish Adult Leaning Partnership as part of Adult Learning Week. Sandra Milligan and Helen Kirkbride were nominated for the Adult Learning Awards by their lecturer, Mary Valerio, for their tremendous progress and achievement since they joined this course. Both students were given an impressive certificate and a Book Token. Well done ladies!!

The Laidlaw Scott charity football tourney
Last Friday Langside entered a team consisting of Graeme Hyslop, Donald Morrison, Willie Paterson, David Weir, Phil McGuirk, Bernie McGowan, Gary Culverhouse and Ged Cushley.
We went there with the ambition of doing better than the semi finals the year before. In the league set up, the first game went to plan with a 10-1 victory, but were brought back to earth with a 5-4 defeat by last years winners G.H.A, (tight game). The next game we had to win, for any chance to progress to the quarter final stage and a 7-3 win ensured they got there. There were some spirited performances from Langside especially Graeme and David, their defensive work saw us progress easily. With some great goals from Gary and Donald and ‘ankle biter’ Phil doing enough disruption to put any team off their stride.
The quarter finals didn’t exactly go to plan, they suffered a casualty, we lost our Hong Kong ninja – Bernie, who gracefully tumbled over the ball and ripped his tights. No more football for him only a trip to Monklands Hospital that night. Also the Crabb twins (David and Donald) had their usual verbal spat at each other, this time I think it was about what shape the ball was. We strolled through to the semi’s with a 5-3 victory, then a very tense and hard fought semi final which we scraped a 4-3 win. Some excellent goalkeeping from the flying pig, Willie Paterson.
The Final was against last years finialists Laidlaw Scott. We drew 2-2 in a very equally fought game, So it went to penalties, Langside won the toss and we decided to go first, Ged took the first penalty and was thwarted by keeper guessing the correct way to parry the ball over the bar, needless to say the rest of the penalties were converted and Langside had to accept the runners up position.
One step closer to the cup, maybe next year we might get our hands on it!
(Coach-Ged Cushely)

Thanks to all those who bought raffle tickets for the event and the Celtic top donated by D.Weir which was signed by J Kennedy with the help of J.McDermott. Laidlaw Scott raised £1600 for The Lintel Trust and the Yorkhill Childrens Trust.

60th Anniversary Birthday Bash
By the time you read this you should have received your invitation to the 60th Anniversary Birthday Bash which will take place on 28th June 2007 in the Lomond Suite, Hampden Park Stadium at 12.00 for 12.30. The Bash, as you know, will take the form of a champagne drinks reception followed by a celebratory lunch and entertainment. The Birthday Bash Group has put a considerable amount of time and effort into organising this event, which promises to be one of the highlights of our 60th year. Everything is in place to ensure not only an appropriate celebration but also a great ‘end of term’ lunch. The invitation includes the short paragraph;
‘You will appreciate that it is imperative that we make proper provision for all staff attending therefore we would ask that, as a matter importance, you return the reply slip below to the secretariat. I regret that staff who do not return the slip will be unable to be accommodated at the Birthday Bash.’

I hope staff will appreciate that the previous request to staff concerning the Bash was to ascertain numbers so that we could arrange an appropriate venue and programme. We now need staff to confirm their attendance or otherwise. Even although you had previously responded to the initial invitation indicating that you would attend, it is imperative that you respond to this formal invitation. No cognisance can be taken of the previous return. I do hope you will understand and respond accordingly. Bring on the champagne!

There will be no Blog next Monday due to the May weekend holiday but will return on Monday 4th June.
______________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
________________________________________________________________________

ISSUE18 - 14 May 2007

2007-05-15T17:19:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Contractors Weekly Blog – w/c 14/5/07
As everyone can now see work is really progressing. We have finished the sewer diversion with the exception of the surfacing.
We will be continuing on with the excavation for the new carriageway and footpath this week and have now reached the point where we can no longer keep access to and from Valeview Terrace open as we will be carrying out excavation works there as well as diverting an electric cable.
The diversion route for pedestrians will be via the main entrance on Prospecthill Road and through the car park where the contractor’s compound is located. Please do not walk along the main road in the College and please allow an extra 5 minutes to get to classes on time.
We have noticed a drop in the number of vehicles using the car park and would like to thank all who have found alternative methods in getting to and from college and would ask that you keep this up for another couple of weeks when we should have most of the parking spaces in use again.
Once again we would thank you in advance for your co-operation and patience.

Updated Student//Zone
The Student//Zone section of the website has just been re-launched and is now an exciting and interactive way of communicating with all Langside students. With sections on the Student Association, Clubs, Events, Student Newsletter and Course Reps the website is a great way of keeping up to date with student affairs. Please encourage your students to visit the Student//Zone on a regular basis.
The Out & About section is a useful source of information for anyone new to Glasgow or visiting students/colleagues, with information about local accommodation, eating out etc.

We are always looking for feedback on the Student//Zone and welcome suggestions for inclusions or amendments. These should be sent to Kath Macfarlane, Student Development Coordinator, kmacfarlane@langside.ac.uk, extn. 3639.

Student Newsletter in Student Press Awards
Langside College’s Student Newsletter, ‘The Voice’ is currently in the running for ‘Best College Publication’ at The Herald Scottish Student Press Awards ’07. The Editor’s: Ryan Boyle and Laura Low, along with three other Student Association members have been invited to attend the awards ceremony and reception at the Mitchell Library on the 24th May when the winner will be announced.
Copies of ‘The Voice’ can be ordered by lecturers on behalf of their classes. These will be delivered to your mail tray on a monthly basis. If you would like to receive copies of ‘The Voice’ please contact Kath Macfarlane, Student Development Coordinator, kmacfarlane@langside.ac.uk, extn. 3639.

The Threepenny Opera
HND Acting and Performance students will be presenting “The Threepenny Opera” by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill in the Emanuel Studio on Tuesday 15th to Friday 18th May each evening at 7.30 pm. This will be the students’ swansong before they move on into the world of professional theatre. So come along and see the stars of the future! Tickets are available from Linda Law in the Faculty Office in Room 105 (telephone 272 3771) and cost £7/£5 concession.

- - - - STOP PRESS- - - - - The venue and arrangements for the 60th
Anniversary Birthday Bash will be revealed this week ! Look out for your invitation which should be delivered to you by Friday 18th May. - - - - STOP PRESS- - - - - -

______________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
___________________________________________________________________

Issue 17 - 7 May 2007

2007-05-04T13:25:00.000Z

Contractors Weekly Blog
This week work shall remain with 2 squads on site. The first squad will continue laying the pipeline at the canteen delivery point. This means that access down the main road will remain closed to vehicles but will also require to be closed to pedestrians. Pedestrians shall require to take a short detour through the main carpark.
The second squad will continue working on the road widening and cable diversion works. As you will probably have noticed we have managed to keep the access to Valeview Terrace open to help minimise disruption and we shall be keeping this open for this week but next week we shall have to close access to and from here.
We would again ask that rather than walking along the road which has 2 way traffic on it, if you could please walk through the carpark where the contractor’s compound is located.
We will be re-opening part of the main carpark which we closed but the staff carpark shall remain closed for approximately the next fortnight. As per previous blogs we would again ask for your assistance in finding alternative methods of transport to and from the college until the work has been completed.
Mackenzie Construction would again apologise for any inconvenience and we will try to keep disruptions to a minimum and will try to get access back open again as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your patience.

Articulation with Strathclyde University
Following our very successful articulation agreement with Glasgow University the same course - HND Supporting and Managing Learning Needs has been recognised as a potential direct entry into year 2 of the Bachelor of Education in Primary Education Degree.
A letter to the Principal from the Dean of the University expressed his thanks and gratitude to Langside staff for the effort, commitment and enthusiasm with which they have engaged in this process and he also points out how the process has helped strengthen links between the two institutions.
Special thanks go to the Langside team of Robert Paterson, Jan Watson, George Ennis, David Steadman and Malcolm Wilson for their work in making this possible - take a bow everybody!

Sponsorship for 5k Race for Life
Rita Donnelly & Michelle Thain are looking for sponsorship from staff and students. They are taking part in the 5k Race for Life on 10 June in support of Cancer Research. Please dig deep and help us to raise as much money as possible. Sponsor forms can be found in Room 121 or by logging onto a direct web link www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/chelley4katie.
Linda Faulkner, Denise McGranaghan and Clare Martin – Receptionists, Margaret Wright, Principal’s Secretary and Margaret Kelly the College Counsellor are also taking part in the Cancer Research 5k Race for Life and would welcome sponsorship support. Sponsor sheet is located at Reception in the Langside Building.
We all know someone whose life has been touched by cancer. Please support this worthwhile cause.

60th Anniversary Celebrations
As part of the College Open Day on 30th May the College will be holding a ‘Partners Event.’ Invitations have gone out this week to the many partners that the College work with, including supply partners. This will be an opportunity for partner organisations to visit the College, view the student showcase event and network with staff and students. If you have any ideas or thoughts for the event please contact Elaine Proudfoot or Catherine Taylor.
The 60th Anniversary Birthday Bash enquiry to staff, to ascertain staff numbers, has been hugely successful and the 60th Anniversary Committee is delighted that so many staff will participate in this highlight event. Full details of the venue and programme will be available in the next ten days.

The Principal, as part of the 60th celebration, would like to organise a commemorative staff photograph. This is being organised and is likely to take place at the end of May, beginning of June. Watch out for details.
______________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
________________________________________________________________________

ISSUE16 - 30 APRIL 2007

2007-04-30T14:33:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

SHAW Gold Award
On Friday 23rd March 2007, Jan Watson and Ian Peden attended the 'Scotland's Health at Work' Awards Ceremony in the Destiny Centre Shawlands. 25 Bronze,22 Silver and 13 Gold Awards were presented including the Gold awarded to Langside College. It has been three years since the Silver Award, and the working group of Ian Peden, Jan Watson, Bryan Riddell, John Pugh and Isobel Campbell have prepared 2 volumes of evidence under the guidance of our SHAW co-ordinator.
Well done to all concerned for their support and especially to Ian who worked so hard to make this award achievable.

New Recruits!
In response to a request from officials at the most recent meeting
of EIS-FELA branch members, Colin McGregor and Alan Lee have agreed to share the staff representation duties (along with Declan Fallon) on the new college estate Project Steering Group. They will attend the monthly meetings of the group which includes the Project Sponsor, Project Manager, Architect (representing the Design Team), Estates Manager, Health and Safety Coordinator and representatives from the Strategic Management Team. It has been agreed that the Project Steering Group minutes will, with immediate effect, be posted on the Intranet after each meeting. It is hoped that all staff will wish to follow not only the progress of the build but will be interested in the what, why, how of the whole process and this increased representation and communication pathway will enable staff to input and/ or question the new estate build as appropriate.

Dragon Boat Race
To raise the wider profile of Langside College in this, our 60th year, a Langside College team will be participating in the annual Bobath Scotland Dragon Boat race to be held in Balloch Country Park on 9th June 2007.
We are looking for members of staff to volunteer as members of the rowing team (no experience or training necessary - it's a fun event!). If you've always fancied being in charge of a Dragon Boat or just want to get your hands on a Langside College t-shirt please sign up by emailing lcsa@langside.ac.uk or by contacting Erin Cameron, Events Officer LCSA on extn 3639. Team members will be asked to assist with fundraising through sponsorship and other activities.

Budding Writers/Poets
A small group consisting of John Mumford, Kim Turkington and Robert Paterson has been set up under the umbrella of the 60th Anniversary Committee to organise the Langside College 60th Anniversary Literary Award. ( the Committee are very grateful to Lecturer Richard McIntyre for the idea) Full details will be available before the end of term but it is envisaged that the competition will be open to all staff and students (past and present) and will invite entries under the following categories; short story (fiction and non fiction) poem and short drama script. At this time the rules are being drawn up and a judging panel sought. It is hoped that we can attract a well known figure in the literary world to chair our panel of judges.
Watch the Blog for further details.

Historical Anecdotes!
The 60th Anniversary Committee would like to appeal to all staff for humorous stories, anecdotes etc from staff about staff and students past and present (anonymous – if necessary) to use in events planned for this year. Please take the time to pass on your stories to Robert Paterson.

It Is A Small World!
Further to the article 'Student Escapes the Winter Blues' 19th Feb 2007, I was sitting on a plane that had come from New Zealand, on my way back from visiting my family in Melbourne at Easter when the Captain announced that we were honoured to have on board the Elite Scottish Women's Bowling Team and that the Captain wished to congratulate them on their recent win in New Zealand. I just thought to myself; you cannot get away from Langside College!
Congratulations to Joyce Miller, a student on the HNC Sports Coaching with Development of Sport course for her team's success.
(Jan Watson)

______________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
________________________________________________________________________

Issue 15 - 23 April 2007

2007-04-20T12:34:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

(or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Contractors Weekly Blog
Due to the delays that we have encountered a second squad will be brought to site to try to catch up on lost time. Unfortunately this will cause a bit more disruption than usual. The first squad will be working on the drainage through the car park area and the second squad will be back working on the road diversion. Pedestrians will have to walk through the car park where the contractor’s compound is located as all other footpaths shall be closed. NO access will be available to or from Valeview Terrace. Access to Battlefield Road shall have to be gained from Prospecthill Road so please allow an extra 5 mins to get to and from the college. We would ask staff and students NOT to walk along the road as the lane width will be minimal and it will be used by single file traffic travelling in both directions. We would also reiterate that due to the fact that there will be 2 squads on site there will be more plant moving about the site and whilst there will be banksmen we would ask that students/staff be on alert. Cars will have to travel through the car park rather than up the road where the gas pipe was laid and traffic lights will be in operation. The Valeview staff car park will also require to be closed. We would therefore request that staff and students find alternative methods of transport to the college.

Mackenzie Construction would again apologise for any inconvenience and we will try to keep disruptions to a minimum and will try to get access back open again as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your patience.

Estates Update
In issue eleven of the Blog I outlined the progress that had been made in terms of the process of appointing a Main Contractor for the new build. I am delighted to inform you that Balfour Beatty, Skanska and HBG have been chosen to submit tenders for the development. All three are large nationally recognised contractors with an excellent reputation in the construction industry. Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd employ 205 staff and 80 operatives and had a turnover of £112 million in 2006, They are at present building the ACAD Unit opposite the College and you cannot fail to be impressed by the speed of the build and their general site arrangements. Recent work includes the prestigious Saltire Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University.
Skanska, originally based in Sweden, now operate throughout Europe and are considered to be a top international company with an excellent reputation for quality. They have a number of other support construction companies from steel decking to cementation operating under the Skanska banner. Recently they built the Medical Schools at Edinburgh and Dundee Universities.
HBG are a major construction organisation in the UK with a turnover of £120 million in 2006. They are active in a number of sectors from retail to industrial. They have been particularly active in the FE Sector, winning the contracts to build West Lothian College, Clydebank College and the recently completed John Wheatley College in the East End of Glasgow. On Monday 23 April the three companies will be given the tender documentation which lists the complete design/construction requirement for the College. Tenders should be returned in early June and after due consideration/checking we should be able to make an announcement in July.
Thereafter the College will submit a detailed report to the Scottish Funding Council in September and (all going well) we should be able to sign the contract with the contractor and be on site next January/February.
(R Paterson)

Watch this space!

The Stork has landed!
Congratulations to Simon Stewart and his wife Claire on the birth of their baby daughter Lilias Elizabeth born on Easter Sunday weighing a healthy 6lbs 11oz.

Yorkhill Children's Foundation
Langside College students have raised £129 for Yorkhill Children's Foundation by selling the student discount SNAPfax at various locations across the campuses. Many thanks to all the reception and canteen staff who assisted them with this project.
______________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
____________________________

Issue 14 - 26/03/07

2007-03-26T14:19:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )
Contractors Weekly Blog
Works are currently going well and we are on programme. Phase 1 of the works is almost complete and next week we shall be moving on to phase 2. Unfortunately this is the phase of works which will cause most disruption.
The footpath at the entrance to the college was due to be reopened on Monday but will now be reopened on Tuesday (pm) due to a delay by the surfacing contractor.
We will be switching over to work on the right hand side (other side) of the road. There will be a new traffic management layout for both vehicles and pedestrians. Traffic lights will be erected at either side of the bend in the road and the main road where the gas pipe was laid will be closed again. Traffic shall have to travel through the main car park area. Unfortunately the staff car park will have to be closed during this phase of the works and we would ask that staff/students try to find alternative methods of transport to get to the college as this will greatly reduce the amount of parking spaces available. Pedestrians will have to walk through the car park where the contractor’s compound is located as all other footpaths shall be closed. NO access will be available to or from Valeview Terrace. Access to Battlefield Road shall have to be gained from Prospecthill Road.
We would ask staff and students NOT to walk along the road as the lane width will be minimal and it will be used by single file traffic travelling in both directions.
Mackenzie Construction again apologise for any inconvenience and we will try to keep disruptions to a minimum and will try to get access back open again as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your patience.

Comic Relief 2007
Langside College celebrated Comic Relief 2007 with variety of fundraising events. Staff and students alike were proudly wearing their red noses and participating in the fun.
The total amount raised was £578.79 through various events such as the very enjoyable Bhangra Night, with DJ RF, and the ‘staff dress down day’ where staff and HNC Beauty students paid a pound each to look downright silly and wear the red noses which were on sale in the college and raised £240! Each of the Langside Campuses joined in the fun, however, the popular Campus walk from Rutherglen to Langside had to be cancelled due to bad weather but some very keen students collected £14.09 on Battlefield Road in the rain! The SVQ Hospitality students were also industrious; donating their time and skills to raise £108 in a yummy bake sale. The main Concourse was very busy as next to the Bake Sale were stalls selling jewellery and beautiful floral arrangements. The stall holders added to the funds by donating a small fee. A further £48 was donated from a staff wedding picture quiz organised by Tracy Johnston of Student Services. The wining entrant Margaret Thomson of the Finance Department successfully identified each of the 18 happy couples.
The fundraising culminated with the extremely popular ‘Talent Show’ hosted by our own comedy compere ‘Brain the Bunny’ from Student Services and with a karaoke organised and run by Brian Goldie of Facilities. This fun event raised a total of £76.04 from entry fees. Funds were given an additional boost when the winning act, Richard McIntyre, Lecturer of Health Studies, donated his prize money of £40 which he won for his moving rendition of Neil Diamond’s ‘Love on the Rocks’.
Even the youngest students in the ‘Little Scholars’ nursery got in on the act by each donating £1 to wear red and painting their noses!

Welcome
Rosemary McCrae joined the SIRCC Langside team on Monday 19th March. A former HNC distance learning student with SIRCC, Rosemary comes to the team with recent hands-on experience of working within a residential children’s unit. Based in L11, Rosemary will undertake a number of duties, including delivery of the HNC and SVQ level 4 assessing. Rosemary is in the final stages of completing her TQFE. Welcome to the team.

Fabulous Females: A Celebration for International Women's Week
The recent information day designed as part of International Women's Week was a great success with many students and staff members gaining access to vital information as well as signing up for dance classes and placing orders for mother's day gifts! If you would like Amanda Vine, Langside College Students Association's Women's officer to come and speak to your students about campus safety etc. or would be interested in signing up for a Personal Safety Course please email lcsawomens@gmail.com or kmacfarlane@langside.ac.uk.

This will be the last edition of the Blog before the Easter break. Have a peaceful and relaxing Easter holiday. The Blog will return on Monday 23rd April 2007.

Issue 13 - 19 March 2007

2007-03-19T15:29:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG
( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Road Contractor’s Weekly Update
“W/C 19/3/07 - Works shall continue along the left hand side of the carriageway as you enter the college. The entrance to the first car park shall be getting narrowed which may restrict some additional car parking spaces although we will try to keep this to a minimum. A temporary footpath shall be used for pedestrians and once again we would ask that staff and students use this and are vigilant when crossing the road. Again this week we hope any disruptions are minimal.“ (Greg Deehan - Site Agent).

Fantastic effort – thank you
In issue eleven of the Blog we sent a get well soon message to Katy Crumlish who had just undergone major surgery and was about to undertake a course of chemotherapy. Katy visited Langside last Friday and her many friends were delighted to hear and see how upbeat and positive she was. Margaret McClintock, our Cleaning Supervisor, has reported that the offer to staff who wished to contribute to a get well gift for Katy was met with a really positive response and £500 pounds has been collected and will be passed to Katy. Many thanks to all staff for your very generous contributions that will certainly help Katy overcome her present difficulties.

Diploma Show success
The HND Acting and Performance students presented their Diploma Show in the Emanuel Studio on Wednesday 14 March and once again the skill and commitment of the students was a highlight of the two performances. In the afternoon a number of theatrical agents were in the audience and must have been impressed by the students. The show takes the form of students presenting individual performances as well as working in pairs. The students choose the extracts they wish to perform and this leads to a diversity (from Edwin Morgan to Alan Ayckbourne) which is stimulating and thought provoking for the audience. A terrific show, delivered with a high level of enthusiasm and energy, which showcased beautifully their individual talents and illustrated the masterful work by the college tutors to develop, in three years, this high level of performance.

Extract from Barrhead News (Gazette Group)

Discovering the joy of text – “Barrhead OAPs are learning about the joy of test – in later life! The plucky pensioners have signed up for Saturday morning sessions in Carlibar Learning Centre to learn everything from switching a mobile on to sending and receiving texts. And the senior students – the eldest being 91 year old local man Eddie Russell – are already enjoying being able to send a wee electronic message to their loved ones. Eddie, who signed up for the course after being given a mobile phone for Christmas, said: “I wanted to be able to keep in touch with my family. This was especially with my son in mind because he lives in Inverness, which is quite far away – but I did not know where to start. The course has been fantastic and I can even send text messages. It was a bit tricky at first but I think I have got the hang of it now”.
The course for pensioners on how to use the modern communication gadgets was dreamt up with help from the Workers Education Associated and Langside College. Course organiser Liz Rodger, of the WEA, says that the keypad lessons are breaking down barriers to allow the students to keep in touch with the mobile world. And tutor, Drew Brown of East Renfrewshire Council said: “This is all about removing barriers to living fully in today’s world and making sure that older people are not isolated. They can’t work what they often see as new technology. I am glad to announce that our students have taken it to like ducks to water and out 92 year old has asked if he can bring along his 70 year old daughter.” The phones used are reworked old council mobiles donated by the council’s procurement staff.
Langside College tutor Chris Rafferty says that the course is a good example of adult learning meeting the real communication needs of older people in a novel way. “ G8 wrk Chris.

Welcome!
Ian Dunnachie joins Maths & Science staff on Monday 19 March as a Mechanical Engineering Lecturer. Ian previously worked with BAE Systems for 12 years. His main teaching remit will be NC Mechanical Engineering and HNC Mechanical Engineering. Welcome aboard.

________________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
_________________________________________________________________________

ISSUE12 - 12 March 2007

2007-03-12T09:50:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG
( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Goodbye and Hello!
Two long serving members of the Community Learning and Development Unit staff have recently left the team.
After more than 12 years working at Glenwood Campus, Margaret Rose Black and Roslyn Friel said their farewells to current and many past CLDU staff at a recent night out at Canasta, where we were regaled with many tales of their time working within an area of the College which has had so many names over this time! (Glenwood, then the Faculty of Social Inclusion and Community Campuses, then the Faculty of Community Learning and finally the Community Learning and Development Unit!)
For those of you in the know, you will not be surprised that “Nethy Bridge” was referred to many times.
Margaret Rose isn’t going far, as she takes up the option of job share, and now restricts her working week to her SL position in ITBM .
Roslyn has gone to work at the Mearns Centre in Greenock, which has alternative provision for young school pupils in the area.
Both have contributed hugely to life at Glenwood and the other community campuses, as well as cross college, and leave a big gap within the Unit both professionally and personally.
We wish them well in their new directions.

College Sector ‘CHASTE-ned’
The Scottish Funding Council recently received a report from the Director of Co-ordinating Health & Safety in Tertiary Education initiative (CHASTE). The report gives Scotland’s Colleges a pat on the back in general for the way in which it is managing health and safety. However, Langside College is deeply concerned that there are still 10 colleges in Scotland who have chosen not to engage with CHASTE. You will be pleased to hear that the College received a very positive report in 2006 from CHASTE officers (both the sector report and the College report are available on the College intranet).

Langside Sports Students – “Lift the Trophy”The current Higher National Diploma Sports Students were very successful in their recent performances at Reid Kerr College. The Langside team were one of eight colleges invited to compete in an inter college Basketball and Football event. The team were unbeaten in the basketball competition with Euan Fraser also being awarded the “fair play” award.
Congratulations to all involved in an enjoyable day.

Open Day Success
On Tuesday 6 March the College ran a very successful Open Day. Over 440 prospective students attended resulting in 50 applications for full time course and 15 enrolments for evening and Lifestyle Learning course. In a parallel event Allison Anderson, Schools Liaison and WESTWHAN ( Working in Health, Access Network) Coordinator organised a carousel event for 81 S3 pupils from local schools who are considering a career in the Health Sector. The group were given an opportunity to practice CPR, gain an understanding of Occupational Therapy and understand the principles behind an ECG examination (including a demonstration)
This was another very good open day, giving the College the opportunity to showcase its courses and secure applications for session 2007/08. Well done to all the staff involved.

Road Contractor’s Weekly Update
As part of our new estate communication strategy the College have asked the contractor to indicate what specific work will be undertaken on a week to week basis. This will appear in the BLOG every Monday for the duration of the contract. We hope this will allow staff the opportunity to plan for any possible disruption and/or to appreciate the nature/time of the work being undertaken.
“W/C 12/3/07 - Works shall be continuing along the left hand side of the carriageway coming into the college. The footpath will be getting excavated and the new kerb line and heel kerb placed for the construction of the new footpath. Traffic management shall remain the same with the use of the priority arrows for vehicles. There will be a couple of material deliveries early on in the week but it will be outwith early morning so traffic disruption should be kept to a minimum. Carparks will all be open. We would ask that students/staff keep to the footpaths to help prevent any accidents and would apologise for any disruptions”.
(Greg Deehan – Site Agent)

_________________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
__________________________________________________________________________

ISSUE11 - 05 March 2007

2007-03-05T15:08:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG
(or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Estates Update
Several important meetings took place last week regarding the development of the new estate. On Monday Robert Paterson attended a meeting with the Project Manager and Architect to consider options for the new main teaching block cladding material. Following this the options have been reduced to two and Robert has called for samples and artwork illustrations for both options for further consideration.
On Wednesday 28 February the very important process of appointing a Main Contractor got underway with each of nine contractors who had submitted a Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) being interviewed by Robert Paterson, John Pugh, Fraser Organ, Fiona McDade (Project Manager) and David Ross (Architect). The PQQ document allowed the contractors to demonstrate their ability to deliver the Langside College Project in terms of experience, organisational ability, financial capability and sound working practices. Following submission of that document the nine contractors attended for interview which consisted of a 15 minute presentation in which they were asked to specifically address issues such as: a summary of their company capabilities; examples of recent and relevant contracts; their approach to planning and environmental management; and the specific skills set they would bring to the Langside project. Following the presentation the interview panel asked a number of questions covering areas such as: time and cost controls; communication strategies; sustainability issues; their approach to the particular challenges within the Langside project; and the health and safety issues associated with building on a live site with difficult access/egress issues. At the end of a very long day the interview panel allocated a score for each of the contractors interviewed.
On Thursday 1 March the PQQ document contents and the interview results were considered by a panel consisting of C Scott (Chair BOM), Graeme Hyslop, Robert Paterson, John Pugh, Ian Peden and a representative of each member of the estates design team. Following a prescribed marking schedule and within The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006, the submissions received in response to the PQQ and follow up interviews were assessed on the basis of each applicants economic and financial standing and their technical capacity.
At the end of that process a short list of contractors was drawn up who will now be invited to submit pre tender documentation to the College for consideration and submission to the Scottish Funding Council as part of the next College submission for final approval.

International Women’s Day
Fabulous Females: A Celebration for International Women’s Week
Wednesday 7th March, Main Concourse (10am – 1.30pm)
International Women’s Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialised world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

To celebrate Women’s Day at Langside there will be a variety of stalls on the concourse on the day including:
Strathclyde Community Police, Rape Crisis Centre, Fitness First For Women,
Scottish Slimmers, and a Virgin Vie stall offering cosmetics and jewellery for order.

“Opera in the Nude” involving Langside staff - shock!
Actually it’s Alison Barton our singing teacher and voice coach performing “Naked Opera” at Glasgow University’s Gilmorehill on Saturday 10 March at
8 pm. We are pretty sure that the only thing that she might take off is the roof – in the best possible way of course.
For tickets please contact the box office or Alison in the Music Dept. for what is bound to be an enthralling night out.

News from International Office
Anastasia delivered a baby boy called Gabriel McAvennie on Saturday 17th February at 10.14am. He weighed a healthy 8lbs 6oz and looks a lot like his mum. Both are home and doing well.

Get Well Soon
Katy Crumlish who has worked in the Refectory for a number of years has just undergone major surgery and is now at home prior to receiving chemotherapy treatment. We extend our best wishes to Katy at this challenging time. Margaret McClintock (Cleaning Supervisor) has kindly agreed to coordinate a get well contribution for all staff who wish to help. Please contact Margaret direct or on ext 3804.

________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact
Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
____________________________________________________

ISSUE10 - 26th February 2007

2007-02-23T16:35:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Feature Article - Free and easy learning ..... online (D Morrison)
There have been a number of significant developments in the range of online resources available to support your teaching:
ICT LITE
ICT LITE is an online course, produced by The LITEhouse, which aims to give staff and students at Langside College a friendly introduction to a range of basic ICT skills to help you with your work at College. The course consists of 6 modules: PC Basics; Word Processing; Spreadsheets & Presentations; Email; Online Resources and Blackboard (the College’s virtual learning environment). ICT LITE is available on Blackboard, so if you or your students don’t already have a Blackboard log in then contact Debby McConville at the Flexible Learning Centre to arrange for an account or accounts to be set up.
BlendEd project
The BlendEd project is now coming to an end. This SFC Transformational Project was funded to create resources for use within college VLEs. Although the resources were specifically for HND Business and HNC Social Care, the topic based approach means that these resources could be used in other areas. For example, a topic on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs has been developed for the Managing People and Organisations business unit but could be equally well suited for many different units taught throughout the College. A full list of all the units/topics will be added to the College Intranet. For further information about these resources contact Willie Paterson ( 3751; wpaterson@langside.ac.uk).
JORUM
JORUM is an online repository of learning and teaching materials which are broken down into individual learning objects, such as text documents, graphics, video clips and so on. Once registered as a Jorum User you can search the repository and download individual learning objects to be reused in your own teaching. You can also register as a Jorum Contributor to upload your own teaching material to the repository to make it available to colleagues in the UK Further & Higher Education community.

Skillnet
As a LearnDirect Scotland learning centre, the LITEhouse has free access to a wide range of online courses known as Learning Bytes through LearnDirect Scotland’s online learning environment, Skillnet. The courses available include ones on the following subjects: care, child care, catering, communication skills, business management, information technology, Microsoft Office programs and many more. Once again to access any of these courses contact the staff at the Flexible Learning Centre to have a Skillnet account set up.
Further details on the above online learning resources are given in an “Online Learning Update” leaflet which will pop into your pigeonhole today.

XLC Theatre Company Review “Antigone” – Independent Newspaper 20.02.07 (Extract)

Jean Anouilh’s version of Sophocles’s play is structurally simpler, but thematically and emotionally more complex than the original.
Jennifer Bates, as Antigone, is bitter, sarcastic and just the right side of insane for the part. Particularly impressive are her scenes with her sister, Ismene (Louise Stewart), and her suitor, Haemon (Matt McClure), in which she manages to draw them both to her but also isolate herself from them. Her moments of fear and isolation, juxtaposed with her indignant, bravado, are striking yet intelligently controlled. Neil Anderson, as Creon, shows avuncular understanding as he tries to avoid executing Antigone; a certain distant calculation as he describes the political necessity of his actions; and the humility of a reluctant ruler not consumed by the trappings of office. It was interesting to see Creon as anything but a broken man at the play’s conclusion, and Anderson’s performance is masterful. The guards, particularly James Kirk as the first guard, play their parts well and with just the right amount of humour. Mark Prendergas, the narrator, delivers the meta-theatrical commentary with just the right degree of intrusion, so as to put a little more distance between audience and performance. In all, the XLC Theatre Company, comprised of recent graduates from Langside College, have given an excellent rendering of probably the most enduring of Greek tragedies, in an adaptation that should be produced as often as the original.

Well done to David, David and Alan for another very successful show.

_______________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact
Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

Issue 9 - 19 February 2007

2007-02-19T11:18:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Estates Update
Terrific news for the College – the College Campus Masterplan was APPROVED by Glasgow City Council Development committee last week. The approval of the plan is a significant step towards the creation of our new estate. The Masterplan outlines the design development and how the new college will sit within its environment, dealing with important issues such as traffic plans and recycling etc. This step in the development process precedes the approval of full planning permission but is an important indicator that we are on the right lines in terms of design and our future presence within the community.
Roads update
The initial works to redirect the gas main should be complete by Friday 23 February (at the latest). A delay was encountered because of bad weather and the obstruction of a main sewer in the line of the new gas main.
Thank you to everybody for your patience and understanding during the work.
ADVANCE WARNING – On Monday 26 February work will begin on the formation of the new wider road into the Campus. This will happen in 2 phases. The first phase will involve the new road being formed from the main gate to level with the present gymnasiums. This work will take 11 weeks. Traffic Management procedures will, of necessity, be in place during construction work. Again, staff patience and understanding is asked for during this period.
The second phase – extending the new road up through the new campus will take place when Phase 1 of the new estate is completed and will form part of phase 2 (the formation of the new Sports and Drama teaching areas)

Student Escapes the Winter Blues
Joyce Miller, a student on the HNC Sports Coaching with Development of Sport is off to sunnier climates. In her role as coach to the Elite Scottish Women’s Bowling Team, Joyce will be travelling to Portugal in March before packing her bags for a competition in New Zealand. Joyce is able to balance her current studies at Langside College with her coaching. However, there was one question the Sport Section staff were asking – “Do you need anyone to carry your bags when you go abroad?”.

Scotland’s Colleges Marketing Awards 2007
The annual Scotland’s Colleges Marketing Awards were held on Thursday 8th February at Dunblane Hydro Hotel. This year Langside College was short listed in the prestigious category ‘Main Prospectus’. Our submission was The Guide 2006 and we won the bronze award behind Ayr and Jewel and Esk Valley Colleges. There were 30 colleges entered for this award so a bronze is a terrific effort by the Business Development Unit.
Last year Langside College was successful at these Marketing Awards, winning Gold in the category ‘Other Prospectus’ with our Evening and Lifestyle Guide September – August 2005. The Evening and Lifestyle Guide 06/07 was also a winner at the recent Marketing Network FE First Awards where it scooped the ‘Highly Commended’ prize in the ‘FE First Award for Part-time Prospectus’ category. This competition is open to colleges throughout the United Kingdom.

2006’s winning streak did not stop there! Langside College also won ‘Highly Commended’ in two categories – ‘Professional Development and Enhancement’ and ‘Student Learning’ – at the Scotland’s Colleges Annual Awards dinner organised by SFEU. Our submissions were the CPD Programme at Langside College and the Vocational Access Programme delivered through our Glenwood Campus. Langside College were ‘Runners-up Highly Commended’ by ESF Objective 3 in their ‘Best Practice’ Awards held in November at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow. Langside College’s submission to the category ‘Targeting a Thematic Group’ was the Hospitality Achievement Programme delivered by the Food Studies section of Education, Care and Sport.

So far 2006/7 has been a tremendous year for the College in terms of winning awards – congratulations to all staff involved in marketing, managing and delivering our portfolio.

UK Skills Challenge – Skills Challenge is a UK wide skills competition for young people and adults covering various areas of expertise and consists of regional heats with the winners going on to compete nationally. The contest covers various subject areas at different levels and entry requirements. Langside College is looking for students to participate in this exciting opportunity. For further details, please visit www.ukskills.org.uk or to nominate a student, please contact Kim Turkington on ext. 3737 or email turkington@langside.ac.uk.
All submissions to be made by 9th March.

_______________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact
Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________________________

Issue 8 - February 2007

2007-02-02T12:52:00.000Z

60th Anniversary
By the time you read this Blog you should have received the 60th Anniversary pin which has been distributed to all staff. We hope this is a suitable small commemoration of the actual birthday date – 3 February 2007.
The 60th Anniversary Committee met again this week to confirm and update the programme of events to mark the Anniversary year. Full details will be available shortly. As part of the planning for the various events two working groups have been set up – a birthday party group consisting of Billy Brown, Linda Faulkner, Declan Fallon, Debby McConville, Margaret MacKenzie, Margaret McClintock, Robert Paterson, Carol Ann Swindle, Fiona Weir and Margaret Wright. Probable date of the party is June 28 (to be confirmed). You will recall, from a previous Blog, that this is a party with a difference, instead of bringing a present we give you one at the party to commemorate being a staff member in the College Anniversary year! If you have any ideas for the party please contact one of the working group members with your thoughts.
The second working party will organise a week long series of events to showcase the College. This will take place 29 May to 1 June 2007. The working group consists of Elaine Proudfoot, Catherine Taylor, all Heads of Faculty/Development Units, David Cooper, John Forbes and John McAdams. This group will be responsible for the Open Day, Student Showcase event and a College Partner visit and lunch event. Again if you have other ideas please let us know.

Good Luck
Anastasia, from the International Office, begins her maternity leave on
7 February. Good luck and best wishes from all at Langside.

Child Protection Training
The CPD Conference has given us an opportunity to update our Child Protection knowledge across the College.
The SFEU have already delivered a session for the LDT in January and are providing Child Protection training during the conference. Training is being delivered on Wednesday 14th February for academic staff and on the morning of Thursday 15th February for support staff.

XLC at the Citizens Theatre
Langside students, past and present, will be performing Antigone from Tuesday 13th to Saturday 17th February 2007 at 7.30 pm in the Circle Studio with a matinee on Saturday 17th at 2.30 pm. Tickets cost £10 for adults, £6 concessions and are available from the Citizen’s Box Office, 0141 429 0022 or book online at http://www.citz.co.uk/.
Antigone, originally by Sophocoles, has been adapted by Brian Elsely to create a contemporary, yet timeless version of this classic. It examines the eternal questions of freewill versus fate and of idealism versus pragmatism but it is also a very human story of a young girl who is prepared to defy her king in order to honour burial rites for her brother.
XLC is Langside’s post graduate company created to give our newly qualified actors an early professional platform. Antigone involves XLC actors along with existing students from each of the 3 years of the national Dimploma course.
Please go and support them. It would be great to see you there.

Health Promotion Events
NC Social Care students (two different classes who are not in on the same day) are holding a small Health Promotion Event in the main concourse of the Langside Building on Monday 5th and Thursday 8th February over lunchtime. The topics covered will be Health Eating (samples of food given out), Sexual Health (goody bags for students), Drug and Alcohol awareness (quizzes for all), Dental Health (this is mainly for the nursery children and they will be given toothbrushes etc). On Thursday the students will focus on Breast Cancer Awareness (the pink ribbon campaign) and Testicular Cancer.
This is a practical assessment that lecturer Marion McCusker has organised which meets one of the Learning Outcomes for the unit Health Promotion. Marion is evaluating different ways of assessing the students and making it more interesting for them. The events are staged as a result of hard work by Marion and her students. Please support the event and encourage other staff/students as well.
______________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact
Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
______________________________________________________

ISSUE 7 - 29 JANUARY 2007

2007-01-26T15:25:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )
Issue 7
29 January 2007

A Personal Message From Evelyn
Evelyn Gallagher – Examinations Co-ordinator, her nephew, his wife and Niamh would like to express their thanks to everyone for contributions to the raffle which took place on Saturday 20 January 2007 to raise funds for the Seamus Owen McGarvey Memorial Fund. £5,200 was raised which will be going to the High Dependency Unit at Yorkhill Hospital for Sick Children.
Many thanks
Evelyn.

Jan Watson – Fitness Guru!
As a very unfit member of the Health Promotion Group I felt it was about time I moved my old bones and actually promoted better health rather than just talking about it. You are probably aware that there are sports activities available over the lunchtime and even if you just take 20 minutes you do feel very righteous afterwards. I joined Margo Turner's Body Pump class on a Tuesday and found that I was amongst like minded folk who wanted to get fit but wanted to also enjoy the process. I find it hard to go every week but definitely feel much better and less stressed after some exercise. Contact Bryan Riddell on extn 3918 if you would like to find out more. PS If you see me struggling up the stairs - you will know I've been at a class - in a month or two I should be running up the stairs.
Ed – Jan’s Workout DVD will be in the shops shortly!

Burns Lunch – International Students Services celebrated the birth of Robert Burns with a special lunch for all international students on 25th January. A ‘Burns Supper’ (or in this case lunch) of haggis, neeps and tatties was served whilst the poetry of Robert Burns was recited. For many of the students, it was their first taste of our national dish!

SFEU Marketing Awards – The Annual SFEU Marketing Awards are nearly upon us with the official ceremony being held on 8 February at Dunblane Hydro Hotel. This year, Langside College are short-listed for the ‘Main Prospectus’ category with the Guide 2006.

Jane MacAlister (Human Resources) – Jane is leaving the College to work with United Arab Emirates Airlines. Her new position will involve travel all over the world and we wish her all the best for the future.

Lifestyle Learning – The Success Story Continues:-
More Classes – More Clients – More Income – More Fun!

The current session of Lifestyle Learning classes have just started, and the growth continues – To date, compared with the same period last year - 10% increase in income, 4% increase in number of enrolments.

New Classes include:- Aromatherapy for Women – Improvers, Forensic Science – Crime Scene Investigation, Holistic Therapies for Women, Looking Good – Feeling Great,
Clarkston Hall:- Spanish Conversation - Level 4,
Mearns Castle Golf Academy :- Our partnership continues to grow at the Academy, who have taken out a one page advert in the Evening and Lifestyle Guide – Our first sponsors !!!

Some of the old favourites are still as popular as ever. Malcolm and Catrina Wong ’s Chinese Cookery Class at Langside College in April is full and the Belly Dancing for Beginners Class with Imman Mussa already has 20 clients enrolled for the same period. Clients are even asking about booking for the September 2007 classes ! Testimony of the success in progressing to one Evening and Lifestyle Learning Guide, covering the full year.

The success of the Lifestyle Programme is only possible because of the dedicated work of John Forbes, Liz Clark, Vicki Provan (at Williamwood) and the superb support of the Student Services staff who have processed over 800 enrolments since January 8th. Well done to everyone.

_________________________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat
__________________________________________________________________

Issue 6 - January 2007

2007-01-19T14:44:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )
Issue 6
January 2007

Estates Planning Information Week
The College submitted its full planning application to Glasgow City Council on Monday 8 January 2007. This is a vital step in the creation of the new estate. We have worked closely with the College professional team and the City planners to ensure that our application is complete and robust in terms of required detail. We will now continue to work with planning to answer any questions they have and to supply any further information and/or reports.
Local consultation with organisations and individuals form a significant part of the planning permission phase and we remain committed to working with all our near neighbours to ensure their thoughts are, wherever possible, reflected in our new build proposals eg. local residents in Valeview Terrace requested some aesthetic boundary changes and we have included them in the plans submitted.
The planning phase could take a minimum three months and hopefully not longer that six. It is a crucial milestone in the development of the new estate and we expect close scrutiny and interrogation of our plans. However, we remain confident that we can successfully negotiate our way forward to full approval of the new estate plans.
To allow all staff and students the opportunity to view the plans ‘in the round’ we have organised a ‘Planning Information Exhibition’ which will be situated in the Concourse from Monday 22 January until Friday 26 January 2007. I hope you will take the opportunity to visit the exhibition and review the proposals.

New Arrivals
A new member of staff has joined the Lifeskills ALN team. Her name is Annette Currie and she will join Linda Chambers in offering literacies support to both current mainstream students and individuals who would like some help with reading, writing or numbers. Annette has a lot of experience in literacies provision and we warmly welcome her to Langside.

Welcome back to a familiar face on the Langside Campus, namely Margaret Crabbe, formerly Senior Lecturer, Care based at Glenwood Campus. Margaret left Langside to return to the Health service some years ago but missed the camaraderie of Langside colleagues and is delighted to be back at Langside.

A Star in our Midst
Langside’s very own music supremo Alan Craig was a guest on Dave Marshall’s SAGA Radio morning show last week. Alan was invited to talk about his new one-act opera CD called “The Nicht’s the Nicht”. Alan recorded this in Prague last Easter with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra along with former Langside student Mark Prendergast as tenor. (Mark has just finished as the lead in the Tron theatre panto).
The opera was written for an adult storyteller and a band of wee folk (portrayed by children). Together, they tell the true story of the 17th century Perthshire feud between the clans MacNab and MacNeish. Set at Christmas, the opera embodies a plea for peace. CD’s are available from Alan who is now scheduled to feature also on Radio 2 and Classic FM talking about his music.
Alan also made sure, of course, that he took the opportunity to promote the College and its music and drama courses and shows. Another Langside star is born – well done Alan.

Bended knee disease – alert!
David Steadman has, this week, announced his engagement to partner Mattie Beal, former senior lecturer, Child Care and Education. This follows two recent staff engagements (announced in last week’s Blog). David chose to go down on bended knee in the jewellers shop – which brought a round of applause and a free bottle of bubbly! Do not say David does not know how to treat a lady. Warmest congratulations to David and Mattie.

60th Anniversary Football Trivia
- Season 1946/47 was the 50th season of Scottish League football and the first since 1938/39 due to the Second World War;
- Glasgow Rangers won the Scottish League Division A with Hibernian as runners up;
- Aberdeen were winners of the Scottish Cup after a 2-1 final win over Hibernian; and
- Division A champions Rangers were winners of the inaugural League Cup after a 4-0 win over Aberdeen.
______________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat.
_______________________________________________________

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )
Issue 6
January 2007

Estates Planning Information Week
The College submitted its full planning application to Glasgow City Council on Monday 8 January 2007. This is a vital step in the creation of the new estate. We have worked closely with the College professional team and the City planners to ensure that our application is complete and robust in terms of required detail. We will now continue to work with planning to answer any questions they have and to supply any further information and/or reports.
Local consultation with organisations and individuals form a significant part of the planning permission phase and we remain committed to working with all our near neighbours to ensure their thoughts are, wherever possible, reflected in our new build proposals eg. local residents in Valeview Terrace requested some aesthetic boundary changes and we have included them in the plans submitted.
The planning phase could take a minimum three months and hopefully not longer that six. It is a crucial milestone in the development of the new estate and we expect close scrutiny and interrogation of our plans. However, we remain confident that we can successfully negotiate our way forward to full approval of the new estate plans.
To allow all staff and students the opportunity to view the plans ‘in the round’ we have organised a ‘Planning Information Exhibition’ which will be situated in the Concourse from Monday 22 January until Friday 26 January 2007. I hope you will take the opportunity to visit the exhibition and review the proposals.

New Arrivals
A new member of staff has joined the Lifeskills ALN team. Her name is Annette Currie and she will join Linda Chambers in offering literacies support to both current mainstream students and individuals who would like some help with reading, writing or numbers. Annette has a lot of experience in literacies provision and we warmly welcome her to Langside.

Welcome back to a familiar face on the Langside Campus, namely Margaret Crabbe, formerly Senior Lecturer, Care based at Glenwood Campus. Margaret left Langside to return to the Health service some years ago but missed the camaraderie of Langside colleagues and is delighted to be back at Langside.

A Star in our Midst
Langside’s very own music supremo Alan Craig was a guest on Dave Marshall’s SAGA Radio morning show last week. Alan was invited to talk about his new one-act opera CD called “The Nicht’s the Nicht”. Alan recorded this in Prague last Easter with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra along with former Langside student Mark Prendergast as tenor. (Mark has just finished as the lead in the Tron theatre panto).
The opera was written for an adult storyteller and a band of wee folk (portrayed by children). Together, they tell the true story of the 17th century Perthshire feud between the clans MacNab and MacNeish. Set at Christmas, the opera embodies a plea for peace. CD’s are available from Alan who is now scheduled to feature also on Radio 2 and Classic FM talking about his music.
Alan also made sure, of course, that he took the opportunity to promote the College and its music and drama courses and shows. Another Langside star is born – well done Alan.

Bended knee disease – alert!
David Steadman has, this week, announced his engagement to partner Mattie Beal, former senior lecturer, Child Care and Education. This follows two recent staff engagements (announced in last week’s Blog). David chose to go down on bended knee in the jewellers shop – which brought a round of applause and a free bottle of bubbly! Do not say David does not know how to treat a lady. Warmest congratulations to David and Mattie.

60th Anniversary Football Trivia
§ Season 1946/47 was the 50th season of Scottish League football and the first since 1938/39 due to the Second World War;
§ Glasgow Rangers won the Scottish League Division A with Hibernian as runners up;
§ Aberdeen were winners of the Scottish Cup after a 2-1 final win over Hibernian; and
§ Division A champions Rangers were winners of the inaugural League Cup after a 4-0 win over Aberdeen.
______________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat.
_______________________________________________________

Issue 5 - January 2007

2007-01-12T14:46:00.000Z

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.
_______________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson
or the Secretariat.
_______________________________________________________

Issue 4 January 2007

2006-12-21T13:05:00.000Z

Welcome back! Best wishes to everyone for 2007, our 60th Anniversary year.

You will have noticed, as you arrived in college this morning, a number of areas branded with the College 60th Anniversary logo. This image will be used throughout 2007 on headed notepaper, adverts etc. A number of special anniversary events are planned for 2007 – some details below. There is still time to influence the programme, all ideas to any of the anniversary committee.

Draft Programme of events
February – Official birthday : commemorative pin distributed to all staff.
June – Official Birthday Party – all staff invited. Party has a ‘twist’ – everyone invited gets a gift, as opposed to bringing a present to the event!

Throughout the year (dates to be confirmed)
Competitions
Student showcase
External partner event
‘Piggy back’ events such as, Art Exhibition, Drama students graduate show, open days, Award Ceremony, Graduation etc.
On website – link to Friends Reunited to link former students.

Remember if you have any ideas, we want to hear them!

Memories
Do you have any memories, amusing or otherwise, of staff members and/or students past or present that we could publish in the Blog. Please let us have your stories.

Short history of Langside College
Please click here for a short history of the College. Chris Thomson believes this was prepared by a business studies Lecturer some time in the past, possibly even fifteen years ago! As this is the only known attempt at chronicling the College history we felt it appropriate to publish it. We do recognise we should update the work – any volunteers?

Disability Symbol 10th Anniversary Awards
At a ceremony in the Glasgow Marriott Hotel on 27th November 2006 Graeme accepted an award presented to employers who have demonstrated best employment policies and practices with regard to disability.

Careers Scotland
Careers Scotland provide a drop-in session for all students on a Thursday afternoon from 11.45 am to 1.30 pm weekly. The Careers Adviser is based in Student Services and the service is available to all Langside students and applicants. No appointment is necessary. Could all staff please encourage students to avail of the services.
Arrangements can also be made to invite Advisers from Careers Scotland to come and talk to class groups about such issues as Career Planning, Employability Services, CV Preparation and Interview Skills to name but a few. If interested in any of these additional services, please contact Declan Fallon in Student Services in the first instance.

60th Anniversary Trivia
In 1947 ………… In January one of the most severe winters was recorded in the UK
………………. British mines were nationalised AND
………………. A seaman named Harold Dahl claims to have seen six UFOs near Maury Island. The next morning Dahl reports the first modern Men in Black encounter.
Born in 1947 ……………

January 8 – David Bowie, musician

April 12 - David Letterman, American entertainer

September 21 – Stephen King, American author

_____________________________________________________________________
HAVE A GREAT YEAR
_______________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat

Issue 3

2006-12-15T12:33:00.000Z

NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG

( or it is at langsidecollege.blogspot.com )

Issue 3

December 2006

Engineering Corridor low cost refurbishment – Invitation
The refurbishment of the engineering corridor is now complete and we will begin, during week commencing 18 December, the movement of staff and students from the Valeview building. For any member of staff who would like to have a quick look at the refurbished accommodation all rooms will be open on Tuesday 19 December between 10.00 am and noon, and again between 1.00 pm and 3.00 pm. The new area will serve as a main teaching area for Arts, Languages and Social Sciences and will eventually house the Drama, Music and Nurseries areas when Phase 1 of the new building project is complete and A,L&SS move into the new premises.

Snow Far, Snow Good
Congratulations to Roger McKillop of the Sports Studies Section who recently passed his Snow Board Instructors Award. This qualification will allow flexibility and choice in delivery of the Outdoor Pursuits programme. Roger’s success was achieved after many hours of training, numerous bruises and a desire to look cool in the “half pipe”.

Congratulations to Emma Aeppli MSc
The SIRCC team at Langside is delighted that Emma completed her MSc in Adult and Continuing Education in November. Well done, Emma, we’re proud of you!

Christmas Cracker groans!!
a) Why did the man get the sack from the orange juice factory?
b)What’s ET short for?
c)What did the grape say when the elephant stepped on it?
(Answers on second page)

Christmas jokes for the kids (big and small)

What did the inflatable teacher at the inflatable school say to the inflatable child caught holding a pin?
(answer on second page)

Fairy Godmother
Why was that other member of the Food Studies Section, Anne Dobson (aka The Craft Wifie) not in evidence at the social event of the college calendar, the Christmas Fayre*, I hear you ask? The reason for her absence was a previous engagement in China, Nanjing, no less!

Anne was ably assisting her husband, Johnny, a captain in the Merchant Navy, to name a container vessel being launched from the Chinese port. The vessel belongs to the Bremen based Alpha Ship Company with whom her husband is employed in a key position. Anne was asked to be the ‘Godmother’ of the ship. This reflects the high esteem in which her husband is held.

The vessel to be named M.V. El Gordo, is the length of one and a half football pitches and will carry,
‘a cargo of Tyne coal
Road-rails, pig-lead,
Firewood, iron-ware and cheap tin trays.’ (apologies to John Masefield), in other words any Chinese goods being exported. Anne will return to her other more mundane life on Monday 18 December and no doubt will regale her peers with tales of her oriental travels ......
*The College raised £700 and still counting and proceeds will go to the coronary care unit at the Western Infirmary. Thanks to all who supported this.

Answers to Christmas Cracker groans:
a) Because he couldn’t concentrate
b) Because he’s only got little legs
c) Nothing. It just let out a little wine.
Answer to Christmas joke for the kids:
You let me down, you let the school down but most of all -------- you let yourself down.
__________________________________________________________
A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY PEACEFUL NEW YEAR
_______________________________________________________
SEE YOU IN 2007
LOOK OUT FOR THE SPECIAL 60TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF THE BLOG
_______________________________________________________
Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat

Issue 2 December

2006-12-08T11:43:00.000Z

College 60 Anniversary Celebrations
A series of events and promotional activities has been organised. Details coming soon. There is still time to come forward with ideas. Please contact any of the following, Declan Fallon, Roger McKillop, KimTurkington, Catherine Taylor, Elaine Proudfoot or Robert Paterson.

Langside College Students Association Christmas Party
The Langside College Christmas Party will be held in Goals, 941 Pollokshaws Road. It will start at 7.30pm and run until 11pm. Tickets are £1 and will be available from the 4th December on the main concourse.

Christmas Shopping Day
13th December – There will be a Christmas Shopping Day with market stalls located on the main concourse from 10am-3pm. A wonderful opportunity to purchase your Christmas gifts.

Christmas Carol Sing-along
20th December – There will be a Christmas Carol Sing-along in the Conference Theatre at 12.30pm until 1.15 pm. Come along and join in a Christmas sing-along and enjoy some free mince pies and tea/coffee!

Shine Awards
The British Council run the Shine awards every year, which is a national competition for international students to write about their experiences in the UK. The awards celebrate the international student experience and offer cash prizes and an awards ceremony to winners. Could all staff please encourage any international students in their classes to enter the competition. There are posters around campus and more information is available from the International Office.

University of Strathclyde/Langside College Articulation Route
Robert Paterson, Jan Watson, George Ennis and Malcolm Wilson recently met with the Vice-Dean (Academic) of Strathclyde University and some of his staff to discuss an articulation agreement from our HND Managing and Supporting Learning Needs into the 2nd year of THE BEd Primary Education degree. George and his supporting learning needs team have already secured this agreement with Glasgow University and 2 students are on track to join the course this year. The Dean, Brian Green and his team (Jennifer Moffat, Joyce Lindsay and Jacqui Fee) were very positive about the way forward for this initiative and the group will meet again this week to draw up an action plan for the next step.

Gas main diversion update
Apologies to all staff for the delay in reopening the road into the Valeview car park. Scottish Gas has informed the College that due to the very heavy rain and underground water conditions they are experiencing, a delay in the projected completion programme is inevitable. We have asked Scottish Gas to move to complete the job asap. Watch this space!

Governance
The College Board Audit Committee met on Wednesday of last week and the Property and Estates Committee on Thursday. The Property and Estates Committee met first of all with the design team for the new estate to discuss the submission of the Gateway 3 document to the Scottish Funding Council. This document encapsulates the design to date with very detailed costs. If the Gateway 3 document is accepted by the Council the College will be able to progress to the appointment of a contractor in the Spring of 2007.

The full Board of Management meet on Tuesday 12 December in the Boardroom. All staff should note that full minutes of all Board of Management and Board Committee meetings are available in the Litehouse. It is planned to have these documents available in the future on the College intranet.

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Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat.
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ISSUE 1 - DECEMBER 2006

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Awards Fever
Catherine Taylor and Robert Paterson along with representatives of Reflex Blue (Glasgow Design Company) attended the FE First Marketing awards at the Warwick Hilton on Monday 27 November. FE First is a national marketing network for Further Education. Langside were shortlisted for the part time prospectus award; our entry was the Evening and Lifestyle guide 2006/07. The College were delighted to receive a ‘ highly commended’ award in this very competitive category.

SFEU Annual Conference and Awards evening
This important Conference was attended by Chris Thomson and Brian Keegan (Chairman of the Board Development Committee). On Wednesday 29 November staff from the College attended the Award Dinner where the College were presented with Highly Commended Awards in two categories – Student Learning (Castlemilk Vocational Access Programme) and Professional Learning and Enhancement, for our College CPD programme.

Its ‘Show Time’
This years College pantomime is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Look out for the posters in College for details of performance dates and times. Bring your kids to enjoy one of the highlights of the College year.

What will Fiona be wearing this year!?
The annual Christmas Fayre (organised by Food Studies lecturers and the SVQ Level 1 Catering and Hospitality students ) will take place on Wednesday 13 December at 10.00am in Room L4. The usual wide range of Christmas ‘goodies’ will be available. Tickets priced £1 will be available from Food Studies Section from early December. A raffle will be held and Xmas goodies will be on sale. All proceeds from this event will go to the Coronary Care Unit at the Western Infirmary.

Bat Boy
David Cooke, lecturer in ECS, put in a tremendous performance as Ned in Bat Boy, the Musical staged at Gilmorehill G12 last week. The ending message from the musical is ‘not to keep cows on a mountain’, a message that should resonate with Langside staff.

Children in Need – what an effort!
Following a fun filled week of fundraising activities staff and students of Langside College raised an amazing £1714.00 for Children In Need.

Many thanks to all who walked, waxed, gunged, partied (in pyjamas!) and otherwise contributed to this fantastic total. A massive thank you also to all who donated/sponsored money and to finance for all their help.

Nicola Young from Fernhill, a student in the Section for Continuing and Inclusive Learning (formerly Special Programmes section) raised over £300 during a sponsored silence.

SVQ Catering and Hospitality students raised £160 at Cake and Coffee events in the concourse.

Childcare students raised £245 at a raffle for staff and students.

Many thanks to all staff who assisted with these events.

New Estate Update
Stage 1 of the enabling works for the new estate is now complete. This is a low cost refurbishment to enable the Valeview buildings to be cleared off site to allow Phase 1 of the major new build to take place. Well done to John Pugh and David Cooper for the completion of the College work included in the refurbishment. Thanks are also due to John McAdams and the Facilities Team for all their hard work over the past few weeks, with special thanks to Tom Hosie (electrician) and Steven McGuire (apprentice) for the electrical and data installation and Bernie McGowan (joiner). Did you know that Steven is serving a Modern Apprenticeship in Electrical Installation? He attends Cardonald College on a part time basis and was recently awarded the George Watson prize for being the outstanding apprentice of his year. A real bright spark!

Any ideas, thoughts, scribbles to the Blog – please contact Robert Paterson or the Secretariat

STAFF COMMUNICATION – ‘NOT THE LANGSIDE BLOG’

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As a means of providing contemporary information to staff I have, with the assistance of the Secretariat and other contributors, produced the ‘Not the Langside Blog’. In other words it is on paper (but also available online at langsidecollege.blogspot.com). The ‘NTLB’ will be produced EVERY WEEK and should be in staff pigeon holes/computers every Monday.

I hope you find the information, specific, general and informal, to be helpful in understanding the huge amount of work, much of it unsung, that goes on in the College.

The pressure to produce this every week will be considerable but with YOUR help it can be made easier. All you have to do is scribble a note or send and email to the Secretariat and we will ensure it goes in the ‘Blog’.