Annual Report 2009 - St Mary's University College
Annual Report 2009 - St Mary's University College
Annual Report 2009 - St Mary's University College
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<strong>St</strong> Mary’s <strong>University</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
Twickenham London<br />
<strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2009</strong><br />
www.smuc.ac.uk<br />
<strong>St</strong> Mary’s <strong>University</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
Twickenham London<br />
<strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2009</strong><br />
www.smuc.ac.uk<br />
School of<br />
Management and<br />
Social Sciences<br />
It is the growth of the School<br />
over the past few years, which<br />
has been most significant.<br />
There has been an even greater<br />
move forward this year. We will<br />
be concentrating not only on<br />
the established programmes<br />
we have – we have recruited<br />
strongly to all of those this year,<br />
as has the <strong>University</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
generally – but particularly on<br />
the new areas we have brought<br />
on stream – so the Mountbatten<br />
Programme will be one of the<br />
main features for us. It has<br />
delivered about five hundred<br />
plus students for the School<br />
and is very significant for the<br />
institution, in terms of<br />
collaboration. Also, the Diploma<br />
in Clinical Hypnosis is a very<br />
specialist programme and the<br />
only one of its kind in the<br />
country. We are the validators<br />
and awarding body of the<br />
programme, which is delivered in<br />
conjunction with an organisation<br />
called the BST Foundation, who<br />
are involved with the external<br />
teaching and delivery.<br />
Focus on the Centre for<br />
Workplace Learning<br />
–<br />
The Centre for Workplace<br />
Learning has been very<br />
significant in the past year,<br />
where there has been growth<br />
in the number of students<br />
coming through. We run the<br />
modules not only for the internal<br />
Management Programme,<br />
but also for a range of other<br />
academic programmes in the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>College</strong>. One hundred<br />
and thirty students from sixteen<br />
different undergraduate<br />
programmes across <strong>St</strong> Mary’s<br />
opted to take accredited work<br />
placement modules as part of<br />
their degree studies in 2008/09.<br />
Getting involvement in<br />
workplace learning is a key<br />
feature now of undergraduate<br />
education and one that has<br />
continued to be fostered by the<br />
Centre. The uptake of places on<br />
these modules has increased<br />
each year, reflecting the<br />
students’ growing awareness<br />
of the need for the opportunity<br />
to put theory into practice,<br />
to gain experience, enhance<br />
their CVs, make contacts and<br />
build their confidence in the<br />
workplace. Employers also<br />
Awarded: The Malta<br />
Tourist Office<br />
welcomed the opportunity<br />
to take on enthusiastic and<br />
motivated volunteers.<br />
In June, awards were made<br />
to students who had shown<br />
exceptional commitment and<br />
dedication in their placements.<br />
Judolene Bergh spoke of her<br />
challenging work with the<br />
Richmond Young People’s Drug<br />
and Alcohol Support Service.<br />
Matthew Pittendreigh talked<br />
about his experience in a school<br />
PE department, and how he<br />
fitted his placement around his<br />
work as a special constable,<br />
his role as a senior resident at<br />
<strong>St</strong> Mary’s, and his studies.<br />
Perhaps the most unusual<br />
placement this year was<br />
secured by Sanaa Khan, who<br />
worked in the House of Lords,<br />
giving her the opportunity to<br />
gain invaluable experience in<br />
work, life and politics.<br />
Awards were also given to<br />
two employers, the Malta<br />
Tourist Office and Richmond<br />
Aid, who had offered excellent<br />
opportunities and support to<br />
<strong>St</strong> Mary’s students.<br />
“It is a fact that every<br />
student is worried about<br />
his or her future job. We all<br />
know that a good degree<br />
will not be enough and we<br />
need some real relevant<br />
experience. Understanding<br />
this led me to choose to<br />
take the second year work<br />
placement module.<br />
The staff in the Centre<br />
for Workplace Learning<br />
discussed my preferences<br />
with me and what I was<br />
expecting to do in the<br />
future. They also gave<br />
me tips on how and where<br />
to search for a placement.”<br />
School of Management<br />
and Social Sciences<br />
–<br />
Centre for Workplace<br />
Learning<br />
–<br />
Mountbatten Institute<br />
12<br />
13