Borders College
Business and Employability Faculty
Student Council Meeting
Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 22 March in Room 0.041 at 11.00 am.
PRESENT:
Item
09-11
Pauline Laidlaw, Chair
Darren Oliver, Deputy Chair
Catherine Elliott, Head of Faculty
David Killean, Vice Principal
Lesley Johnson, HE Programme Leader
Helen Chisholm, Student Liaison Officer
Sarah McGill, NC Business & IT
Martyn Cooper, NC Digital Media
Farrah Aziz, Highers
Robyn Kerr, HNC AIT
Campbell Hutcheson, HNC Interactive Media
Jen MacKenzie, Clerk
Minute
APOLOGIES
Action
Cherene Murray, Intro to BAIT – No longer Student Rep
Mark Hall, Intro to BAIT – No longer Student rep
Jason Bowers, NC AIT
Clare Gullen, NC AIT
Andrew Paterson, NC Digital Media
Jamie Gentleman, Highers
Niall White, HNC Interactive Media
Jamie McIntyre, FE Liaison Librarian
Joanne Murray, NC Business & IT
Anne Mark, FE Programme Leader
Susan Jarosz, FE/HE Lecturer
Low attendance at the meeting was noted. Catherine asked Jen to
check the Student Representative names are correct for each
programme, with Course Tutors.
10-11
MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
03-11
Student Association Events
Students felt that all the programmes within the Faculty could hold a
fundraising event rather than individual programmes. The Student
Association could be involved with this event.
06-11
Jen
HoF/PL
HNC Interactive Media
Student Handbook to include Equality and Diversity – David
confirmed that Equality and Diversity will be included within the
Student Handbook for next session.
Software Licences – Catherine confirmed that there are six CS5
licences now available within the Library and the computers they
have be installed onto have been labelled.
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11-11
FACULTY STRENGTHS AND AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT
Catherine explained to the students that the Faculty had been
involved in an Internal Review which looked at the provision the
Faculty currently delivers. Due to the review the provision for next
academic year has been revised.
The students were asked to comment on the strengths and areas for
development of the new programme structures. (See Appendix 1)
Catherine asked the students to comment on the overall strengths
and areas for development for the relating to the Faculty.
STRENGTHS
AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT







Close community
Versatility of tuition
Textbooks – Coleg packs –
resources
Staff Knowledge
Exceptional relationship
between staff and students
Integrated assessments –
HNC AIT




12-11
13-11
Help with work experience
and finding placements – no
input from Joanne George
(Highers/HNC AIT)
Lack of feedback and help
(Highers)
Project work streamlined to
prevent duplication –
(Interactive Media – Planning
2 x requirement
specifications)
DSPE – This unit is changing
but for future it needs to be
clear what is required. DSPE
currently there is a lot of
duplication.
Assessment schedules –
received earlier – assessment
overload
STUDENT FEEDBACK ON WORK EXPERIENCE AND FACULTY
RESOURCES
HNC AIT –More help and support when finding placements and input
from Joanne George.
Lesley to discuss
this concern
further with CT and
students
HNC Interactive Media – Memory allocation is an issue particularly
on Moodle.
Catherine asked
Russell to look into
this issue
Highers – More help and support to find placements and better
feedback
Anne to discuss
with Joanne.
HEAD OF FACULTY FOCUS GROUPS
Catherine confirmed that the block 2 Head of Faculty focus group
meetings will be scheduled for week beginning 28 March. Catherine
would like to visit Intro to BAIT and HNC AIT. Feedback from the
Focus Groups will be given at the next meeting in May.
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14-11
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
Catherine provided feedback on actions from the Curriculum Design
questionnaire completed at the previous Faculty Council.
Overall the response was positive, the students on the HNC
Interactive Media programme would like the one female student to
be involved with the Programme Review and they felt it would be
beneficial for future students if more information on the complexity of
the programme was distributed at induction.
15-11
Catherine and
Lesley to ensure
that the
information leaflets
produced help to
explain the
complexity of the
Programme.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
HNC AIT
Students on the HNC AIT programme would like more time allocated
to teaching for Marketing and Economics. Catherine discussed the
reasoning behind the teaching allocation and that the one hour of
study is to promote independent learning.
Student Rep to
feedback to group
Feedback from ‘You Said, We Did’ – Hawick Campus
"Get healthier food in the vending machines such as
sandwiches and fruit tubs".
Originally the vending machines did have sandwiches etc in them
and students were not happy with this and therefore we brought in
Grab and Go. At the moment Grab and Go is not being very well
supported by students, we did ask for fruit tubs which they have
provided but they only person to purchase a tub of fruit was a
member of staff!
"Give us a Common Room with wifi cause the learning curve
isn't big enough for everyone"
Unfortunately there is no space for a Common Room. My
understanding is that when we eventually have our "band width"
(think that's the correct term) upgraded we will have wifi connection
in the learning curve. I also understand that some students had
asked Helen if it would be possible to open up one of the upstairs
classrooms at a lunch time. At the moment students are not allowed
access to classrooms unless there is a member of staff present.
Also these rooms are bookable at short notice so it is possible that
they could be booked over a lunchtime.
Kettle, Microwave
These suggestions have been ruled out on the grounds of health and
safety.
Feedback from Student Association
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Helen updated that elections for Office Bearers will be coming up
soon, applications will be available.
Helen issues certificates to the Student Representatives who had
attended the training.
16-11
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 25 May 2011 at
11.00 am in room 0.041.
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APPENDIX 1
INTRO TO BUSINESS, ADMIN AND IT
Unit Ref
Unit Title
DM3P 11
Admin Services
DM3R 10
IT for Administrators
DM3T 10
F1F9 10
Presenting and Communicating
Information
PCP Internet and Online Comms
DC9R 10
PCP Spreadsheets
F5A7 10
Word Processing Int 1
DB4H 10
Business Decision Areas
D36N 10
Enterprise Activity
D36J 10
Local Investigations
F786 10
F787 10
F788 10
F789 10
F3GB 10
F3GF 10
NA
NA
NA
STRENGTHS
AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT
Employability Award
Preparing for Employment First
Steps
Building Own Employability Skills
Responsibilities of Employment
Dealing with Work Situations
Communications
Numeracy
Course Tutor/PLP
Work Placement – 3 Hours
Study – 3 Hours
NC ADMINISTRATION AND TOURISM
Unit Ref
Course Title
STRENGTHS
DM3R 11
IT for Admin
F59L 11
Word Processing
Event Organisation
F59P 11
Front of Office
Wide variety of subjects
F59S 11
Central Services
F59T 11
Managing your Time and
Resources
Handling Business Documents
F59W 11
F5A0 11
F5A3 11
Researching and Preparing
Presentations
Event Organisation
F3GB 11
Communication
F3GF
Numeracy
F5A9 12
Word Processing
F393 11
Developing Skills for Employment
DM4M11 NA
Business Practices in Travel and
Tourism
Course Tutor/PLP
NA
Work Placement – 3 Hours
NA
Study – 3 Hours
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No pressure of exams
Shorter work placement
Happy course looks great
AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT
5
NC BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Unit Ref
Course Title
D0W0 11
Recording of Cash Data
F1FB 11
D01B 12
PCP – IT Software
SS and DB
PCP – IT Software
WP and Presenting
Information
Communications
D36N 11
Enterprise Activity
F390 11
Marketing – Basic Principles
F38X 11
Skills for Customer Care
F391 11
F3GF
Market Operations and the
Scottish Economy
Business Decision Areas –
Marketing and Operations
Business Decision
Areas – Finance and HR
Developing Skills for
Employment
Numeracy
NA
Course Tutor/PLP
NA
Work Placement – 3 Hours
NA
Study – 3 Hours
F1FC 11
DV4K 12
DV4L 12
F393 11
STRENGTHS
Looks great, happy with it.
PCP – course work was easy to follow and
tutor was supportive, all students
managed this at a fair level.
Business Decision Areas – the 2 units to
be included next year were covered well
and handouts were sufficient to study well
and follow to answer exam questions and
assessments.
AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT
Financial Accounting is not included so
this may hinder students as this is a
complex unit that may be not at a level for
all students.
Recording of Cash Data is included and
is a mandatory component of the new
NC Business Programme. This unit
covers the key principles of accounting
NC DIGITAL MEDIA
Unit Ref
F1FD 11
Mandatory
F1KR 11
Mandatory
F1K0 10
F1KS 11
Mandatory
F181 11
F1P3 11
F3GF 11
Mandatory
F3GB 11/12
Mandatory
NA
D36N 11
Course Title
PC Passport: Internet and Online
Comms
Computing Hardware and Systems
(cover Troubleshooting secure IT
Systems)
Computing: Programming in a High
Level Language Fundamentals
Digital Media Elements for
Applications
Computing Web Design and
Fundamentals
Information and Literacy Skills
STRENGTHS
Numeracy
AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT
Communications (level 12 for HNC
students)
Course Tutor/PLP
F182 11
Enterprise Activity
Computing Office and Personal
Productivity Apps
Web Design and Development
DF2Y 11
Software Development
NA
Employment Experience/Placement
– 3 hours
F1K8 11
Mandatory
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HNC INTERACTIVE MEDIA
Group Award – G8LT 15
Unit Ref
F1VS 34
Mandatory
Course Title
Interactive Media: Planning
Creative industries: an
introduction
Digital Imaging: Bitmap and
Vector
Writing for the Media
DM0V 34
F1YX 34
Mandatory
DH4F 34
F1VV 34
STRENGTHS
Linkage between units, particularly useful
for client based project. Skills and
experience of tutors in work place.
Course work available on Moodle, no
excuse for missing classes.
User Interface Design
Mandatory
Client side scripting for web
applications
(2 Credits)
F1VW 34
Mandatory
DH21 34
Mandatory
NA
F21G 34
Working within a Project Team
AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT
Course Tutor
Streamlining project work to avoid
duplication of effort ie two assessments
based on same work.
Interactive Media: Graded Unit 1
Mandatory
DV6H 34
F1VT 34
E-marketing
Interactive Media: Authoring
(2 Credits)
Mandatory
Better scheduling of assessments to avoid a
log-jam of revision and preparation.
Improve access to computer software,
particularly outwith classroom.
Can weekly class timetable be changed?
More input from design businesses.
HNC ADMINISTRATION & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Group Award – G9M7 15
Unit Ref
F84V 34
Mandatory
F847 33
Course Title
IT in Business: Spreadsheets
STRENGTHS
RFT delivery method – informative and
simplified complex work
Recording Financial Transactions
Mandatory
DE25 33
Admin Procedures
Communication: Analysing and
Presenting Complex
Communication
IT in Business: Word Processing
and Presenting Apps (2 Credits)
DE3N 34
Mandatory
F84C 34
Mandatory
F7JA 34
Office Administration
Mandatory
DE3R 34
IT in Business classes are enjoyable and
interesting
Most classes are excellent and well
delivered
Integrated assessments
Personal Development Planning
Mandatory
F7J9 34
Mandatory
D7HJ 34
NA
F8EX 34
Office Technologies
AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT
Employment Experience 1
Course Tutor
DSPE – time consuming and repetitive
IT in Business: Databases
Mandatory
Administration and Information
Technology Graded Unit
F8KW 34
Mandatory
F7BX 34
OPTIONAL
F7J8 34
OPTIONAL
Work experience lacks guidance
Economics COLEG packs are too
informative
Marketing: An Introduction (1hr)
Economic Issues: An Introduction
(1hr)
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