2009 Award for
Student Learning

The idea of HEALTHFEST emerged from the desire to give students a stimulating and challenging task which would encourage the development of skills and qualities relevant to their future studies and career. The Centre for Education and Care Studies, Health and Social Care Department, of Adam Smith College devised a project for 3 student groups on Pre-Access to Nursing, Midwifery and Health Care courses (SCQF level 5).

Students (with staff support) organised, implemented and evaluated a day-long healthcare festival - HEALTHFEST.

HEALTHFEST sought to provide information on health related issues and cultural diversity to the local community in varied and entertaining ways. There were health displays, workshops, interactive exhibits, schools competitions and a healthy-eating street cafe.

The event was very well attended e.g. approx 450 school children, and judged a great success by attendees. Participating agencies and the organising students were very positive about the event.

2009 Award for
Professional Learning and Enhancement

Key outcomes include:

• Adding positively to student learning through additional volunteer staff resources and expertise.
• Enhanced staff recruitment in a challenging rural location (despite the recession the College has experienced a 20% drop in applicants since 2006 - with an average of only 10 applicants per post).
• Develops staff mentoring skills.
• Widens applicant's awareness and understanding of FE roles and skill requirements.
• 47% of all interns to date have secured employment with the College.
• Enhances College community focus and values.
• Provides additional 1:1 support for students with additional learning needs.
• Builds on partnership links with local volunteer agencies and supports national "Manifesto for Change" strategies.
• Provides volunteer award opportunities.
• Low cost to College and high value to Interns.

FE colleges are operating in an increasingly competitive marketplace and need to be commercially focused to maximise opportunities. Clydebank College embarked on this ambitious development programme for staff within the Centre for Business Growth to encourage staff to take on projects aimed at: generating additional funding, cutting costs, introducing new products or services, improving processes or systems, engaging new business clients or improving customer satisfaction.

The programme was two-fold; development of the individual and development of the business. Individual development began with the use of psychometrics, 360o feedback and mentoring sessions aimed at increasing self awareness and perception of others. Formal training sessions developed skills in marketing, project management, opportunity scanning and creating service excellence.

The results have been extremely positive with increased revenue of 14%, cost savings of 18% and further increases in revenue of 23% predicted for the current academic year; all achieved against a backdrop of economic downturn. We have also added to the range of services offered, engaged with a variety of new clients and significantly increased customer satisfaction levels (all evidenced through marketing research methods).

2009 Award for
Partnership Working

• Attract younger people, from our schools and colleges into the sector
• Benefit those already working in sector to acquire recognition, skills and qualifications
• Provide a route to technician level jobs through work based provision that has previously been non-existent
• Engage a higher number of small and medium sized employers with training

This project consisted of a partnership of 10 organisations that provided a strategic spread over the West and Northwest of Glasgow City Council's highly disadvantaged communities.

It was designed to reach ‘Hard-to-Reach' trainees in some of the most disadvantaged regions in Glasgow and targeted those high within Government policy in need of training and support to enter the labour market. The project worked with a variety of local partners with specific target groups and wider partnerships to deliver skill based training in the community.

The project was designed to provide support through early engagement, work preparation, life skills, motivational and vocational skill training to develop employment skills and work experience as recommended via Scottish Government strategic policies.

The main objective of the partnership was to complement Government and local strategic policies. Target groups consisted of economically inactive, including young people in need of more chances more choices, LTU, lone parents, those with no qualifications, lack of work experience, BMEs, and those with a history of substance/alcohol abuse.

2009 Award for
Customer Service

After engaging with students through focus groups, early experience survey's, suggestion boxes and "Big Brother" event it became apparent there were gaps in our provision from acceptance onto course, through to start date and beyond. Students who had been offered a place in March didn't have any meaningful engagement with us until August when induction dates were sent to them. Then on arrival it became apparent through "early experience" survey's that students found the induction process "boring".

We also realised induction wasn't only about the first few days attending college, induction started from acceptance onwards so we decided to put the fun factor into it from an early stage.

The Assistant Principal for Student Services, The Student Advice Manager and the Registry Officer made up the team who would take the new initiatives forward and bring it all together for the start of the 2009/2010 session.

2009 Award for
Promoting Equality and Diversity

• Adult women, ranging from 35-75 years, comprising current members of teaching and administrative staff, retired college lecturers and local OAP's.
• Students from Anniesland College's Special Programmes, ranging from 20 to 50 years who have mild to moderate learning difficulties and poor motor skills
• Dance students from NC Dance, who are in the very early stages of their training and have little understanding of what dance can achieve in a community setting.
• Children from Garscadden Primary School P.7
• Children from Bankhead Primary School P.3
• Children from Blairdardie Primary School P.1

2009 Award for
International Activity

GCNS is currently engaged in a major project to design, develop and support a brand new training centre in Angola. The "Centro De Formação Maritima De Angola" or Angolan Maritime Training Centre (AMTC) is a joint venture between Sonangol Shipping Angola Ltd and Stena Africa Ltd to construct a purpose built centre to deliver maritime education and training to Angolan seafarers. The CFMA will be located on a coastal site south of Luanda, near Sumbe and will cost $57million to build and outfit. GCNS staff has been in discussion with Sonagol, Stena and the project architects, EDI of Houston Texas for the past 26 months and have now finalised very detailed plans.

GCNS will provide the following services: