Dunstable College students visit Lloret de Mar in Spain

Travel and Tourism students from Dunstable College recently enjoyed a study break to Lloret de Mar in Spain. Departing from Luton airport on a cold Monday morning, the trip proved to be very educational for the 38 students who attended, enabling the students to gain further information on the hospitality industry.

The students experienced a mix of educational visits and free time during their trip. This included a behind the scenes tour of their hotel and a visit to a traditional flamenco show called ‘La Masia’ in Tordera, a province in Barcelona.

Second year student Aimee Aslam commented, “I thought that the study visit was extremely successful. Everyone had a great time and it was a brilliant opportunity”.

Travel and Tourism tutor, Maggie parsons added, “The study trips provide a good opportunity for students to transfer a lot of the information they have learnt in the classroom to a real life environment. Both staff and students enjoyed the experience, and we’re looking forward to next year’s trip”.

Ice Hockey Star Student Returns From Notre Dame

DUNSTABLE COLLEGE STUDENT PICKED FOR ICE HOCKEY TEAM AT NOTRE DAME, USA

Daniel Chaplen a student who studied on the National Diploma in Sports at Dunstable College in 2006 and left the programme part way through to follow his ambition of becoming a world class Ice Hockey player has since returned to continue his studies. Tutors at Dunstable College are confident that he will achieve the highest standard in his assessments in June and are excited about the great future that lies ahead for him.

Daniel writes: "At the end of my 1st year as an under 19 in 2006 I decided that if I wanted to further my opportunities in ice hockey that I needed to spend time in Canada playing and training. I looked into a few colleges across North America but the best one by far was Notre Dame. Notre Dame is a college devoted to ice hockey in the province of Saskatchewan.
Soon after I applied I received a letter saying that I had been accepted into the college, so after the summer, I would be leaving for 9 months. This was definitely one of the biggest opportunities I have had and everyone was very supportive and happy for me.

"When I arrived at the college in September I found that I was going to be spending the best part of a year in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere! It looked like something from the Wild West, with dirt roads and a population of about 400, most of which was the students. The land was so flat; you could look out the window and see for miles. During the year I was to experience different climates, with temperatures ranging from 30 degrees in the summer, down to -30 with -40 wind chill in the winter, which is very cold.

"At the beginning of the year I went through about 4 weeks of trials which decided which team I would be playing with for the season. The team I was put on was made up of players from all across the world: Canada, America, Belgium and even Japan. I was also very lucky and honoured to be given the role of assistant captain, which would usually go to a player who has been at the college for a few years.

"My team had a great season, we played the first 10 or so games unbeaten and we were not defeated at home all year. I got to travel to different places across Canada and America, playing teams from all over, this was a great experience as I was playing a completely different type of game than I was back in the UK.

"Overall our team had a great year, just missing out on the league title, we where knocked out of the play offs in the last round. I was very happy at the end of season awards to receive the MVP award and also to be top point scorer for my team.

"Although I went to Canada to play hockey I learnt so much more, gaining the experience of living away from home in a different country with people I had never met before. It was difficult at first, and didn’t seem like a place that I wanted to stay at, but by the time it came around to leaving in June 07, I had made so many new friends who I will have for the rest of my life, and it was very hard to leave."

The National Diploma in Sports is the equivalent to three A-Levels and will see that Daniel is on track to continuing his outstanding achievements in his sporting career. Colin Sharpe, tutor at the College commented: “We are always very proud of students who excel in their chosen sports and encourage them to aim for the top. The qualifications that they receive will give them a well-rounded knowledge of health, fitness and the sports industry and provide all the skills needed for them to go on to higher education or straight into their career”. Dunstable College is enrolling now for this year’s programme. Please visit: www.dunstable.ac.uk/football for more information.

Clothes Show

Students and staff from the Foundation Degree in Graphic Design and Advertising and the BA (Hons) in Graphic Design for Print and New Media courses had a great time at the Clothes Show held at the NEC in Birmingham. Celeste Henney, Course Team Leader from the BA (Hons) in Graphic Design for Print and New Media, comments, “We saw the University catwalk shows and the fantastic fashion show in the main arena and picked a few bargains on the way. We all enjoyed the fact that you could see things other than just main high street brands and were inspired by the graphics and displays as well as the use of materials. A big thing seemed to be environmental issues which meant the use of old clothes to make new and fabrics generated from organic cottons, bamboo and hemp being on visible display.”

One of the star purchases from the show, a pair of designer shoes!

Design for facelift scores big hit for Roger

Congratulations to IT student Roger Farrow on having his work chosen for the new website for the Houghton Regis town centre facelift. The site will act as an information portal, carrying news on the progress of the work in Bedford Square and Roger designed and produced the site himself.

The design project was set by South Beds District Council and Roger found himself up against two of his fellow students in the shortlist: Matthew Freeman and Liam Moseley. The final decision rested with the Head of ICT at South Beds District Council, Rob Wood, who found the selection process an extremely difficult one owing to the high calibre of entries. Roger’s work was chosen as it presented the best mix of information and design.

Roger is studying a Foundation Degree in Web Design and his tutors, Andrew Hill and Derek Condon, are delighted at the opportunity this gave Roger and his fellow students to gain practical experience of working on a live brief. All three students were rewarded with IT vouchers for their hard work.

New “Incubator” Unit is born

Dunstable College has entered into a new, exciting and unique post-graduate provision for creatives wishing to start their own business venture.

The programme called The Incubator endorsed and masterminded by Will Howard provides support and guidance to creative post-graduates through mentoring and business practice workshops. The Incubator is set to give the young creatives a footing in a competitive market and develop business sustainability. The experience of students being supported to set up their own small businesses with professional assistance and peer group working, will in turn improve their employment and career prospects.

Currently, the majority of our Art & Design graduates migrate to design studios located in the London area. The Incubator unit is designed to provide a business and training base for recent graduates, who for a variety of reasons cannot relocate in the eastern region, but who may subsequently provide the local businesses with high quality designers on their doorstep.

Four recent graduates make up the Incubator unit, Christine McKeown, Mark Eggleton, Natasha Allsop and Gemma Loosley, and they comment, “We are hoping to build a successful business with a strong client base, by providing our clients with all the design, photography and multi-media solutions to their needs. We work together as a design collective to provide all these services.”

Student wins design competition

Dunstable College student, Peter Reck aged 20 from Luton, has won the Learning Partnership – Bedfordshire and Luton Ltd Skills Institute Logo Competition. Peter wins a prize of £150 and will now work with the competition organisers to further develop the logo and see his concept through to publication. The competition was open to graphic design and art and design students from all colleges in Bedfordshire and Luton.

The competition requirements were to design a new logo and colourway for the Skills Institute.

Carole Pullinger, Business Services Manager for The Learning Partnership - Bedfordshire and Luton Ltd explains the background to the competition, “The Learning Partnership – Bedfordshire and Luton Ltd and the Investing in Communities fund of the East of England Development Agency have launched the first of a county- wide network of Skills Institute facilities in Houghton Regis (the Kingsland campus). Our mission is to deliver learning to adults in Bedfordshire and Luton. Other facilities are planned for Leighton Buzzard, Biggleswade, Bedford and Luton.

“It was felt that a unifying logo should be commissioned to contribute towards the development of a Skills Institute brand. Given the educational nature of the partners involved in this project, it was considered that an open competition for graphic design students in Bedfordshire and Luton would provide the optimum opportunity for students to contribute to the development of a logo for the Skills Institute.”

The competition judges were Dave Wyatt, Creative Director of Roundhouse Health and Martin Gimson, Logistics Technology & Engineering Manager of 3M. They commented, “The winning logo was well received. It feels very modern and immediately suggests success. All the entries for the Skills Institute were well thought out and of a high standard. The judges would like to say well done to all the entrants and special congratulations to the winning entry.”

Peter is in his second year of the Foundation Degree in Graphic Design and Advertising and plans to progress on to the final year of his degree at Dunstable with the BA (Hons) in Graphic Design for Print and New Media, starting next September. Peter comments, “I was surprised and delighted to hear that I had won. It has given me more confidence in my abilities. I hope this will give me a boost in my career, as it will get my work noticed. Once I have completed my degree at Dunstable College, I would like to work as a graphic designer in a company and develop as a freelancer as well.”

Peter receiving his winning cheque from Carole Pullinger

Public Service Skills Challenge

Public Service students eagerly contested their annual challenge; the culmination of six weeks’ concerted effort to enhance their teamwork and leadership skills.

Each of the four classes, National Diploma Years 1 and 2, and two First Diploma groups (the “Harriers” and the “Tornados”), chose their team captains and over the six weeks organised and practised their disciplines; thereby enhancing reliability, teamwork, leadership and communication skills, all of which are needed in a Public Service. Tutors were not involved in planning, organising or even assisting students but offered time within their programme and computer rooms if needed.

The teams competed against each other in disciplines that ensured that all members of the groups took part; each member participated in at least one discipline. The first activity was pool, followed by the mile and half run, cycling, swimming, bowling and basketball. The latter event showed how serious and committed each of the teams was and kept the referee very busy!

Finally the day moved to the Lecture Theatre for the last discipline: the Powerpoint presentation. Points were awarded for IT skills, presentation skills and educational content. Course Team Leader, Martin Rawles, comments, “First the Tornados introduced us to the world of pet rats, which for many may have been very educational but not very cute! Next the National Diploma Year 1s discussed the benefits to the community of joining one of the Cadet forces: Army, Air and Sea. The Harriers reminded us of their week at Bassingbourn with a good story line and excellent images, finally the National Diploma Year 2s educated us about the benefits of living in Kazakhstan! Overall this was an excellent day for the Public Service programme, enabling us to remain a good close team which will benefit all for next year. Thanks to Haydon Littlewood for organising and working hard to ensure all went well. Finally congratulations to the winners of this year Public Service skills Challenge …The Harriers!”

Face to face with a shrunken head!

BA (Hons) in Graphic Design for Print and New Media Students spent an inspirational day in Oxford where they went to the Pitt Rivers Museum and the Oxford Museum of Natural History.

Course Team Leader Celeste Henney comments, “The Pitt Rivers is full of curios which can be discovered by torch. It is free to get in and houses all manner of objects from instruments, shrunken heads and amulets to Egyptian Mummies, which can all be found in a small space and is well worth a visit. Fantastic Buildings and great book shops (such as the Alice Shop, based on Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland) ensured the trip was both educational and enjoyable.

I’d particularly like to thank to Malcolm Jobling who drove us there and back.”

University Information Day

Maureen Asher, Careers Co-ordinator reports

The College held its second annual 'University Information Day' on Thursday 22 November 2007. The day was a repeat of the successful event which was held at the College for the first time in 2006.

The event was planned with the AIMHIGHER priority areas in mind with a particular focus on raising aspirations, motivation and awareness of HE, providing impartial Information, advice and guidance, facilitating progression routes and developing partnerships.

Representatives from Universities across the eastern region attended as well as a range of Gap year and voluntary organisations.

A selection of talks on topics such as HE finance and University life, and subject specific talks were also on offer.

Colleagues from Bedfordshire University's teaching, nursing, social work and student recruitment departments supported the event by providing students with information and advice for those planning to enter specific vocations.

AIMHIGHER as well as Dunstable College's HE provision used current HE students to offer information and advice about all aspects of HE. The benefit of providing existing students to talk to prospective HE students makes the whole aspiration of attending HE more realistic and achievable for those considering it.

Increased Flexibility News

The 14-16 Beauty Consultancy group have recently been very busy:

They carried out a make-up demonstration to 4th Methodist Guide Troop. As part of their practical assessment for the Level 2 Beauty Consultancy Diploma the students are required to present a make-up demonstration to an audience of four or more people. Jessica Defoe, Emily Metcalfe, Lynette Peach, Micah Taffurelli, Liz Poole, Kim Eccersley, Amber White and Kim Ellis in pairs demonstrated the application of make-up to small groups and then proceeded to instruct the guides on how to apply to suit their individuality and age. The Guides thoroughly enjoyed their evening and have been successful in adapted their new look.

The evening with the guides was so successful the students were asked to repeat a similar session to the Brownies at the Salvation Army. This time Micah Taffurelli, Liz Poole, Kim Eccersley, and Megan O’Dywer demonstrated skin care and make-up with the emphasis on taking care of your skin. The students demonstrated cleanse and tone and minimal make-up application before the Brownies practiced cleansing, toner and moisturising their own skin. When leaving, the Brownies were overheard telling Mums what they needed to buy to look after their skin and stay looking younger.

Marc Wales on the 14 to 16 Increased Flexibility carpentry programme at Kingsland has designed a chopping board using all the waste off-cuts which would otherwise be discarded. He has matched up the end grains to form a pleasing circular chopping surface. He finished off the board with a non-toxic natural oil. Tutor Paul Bailey comments, “We are pleased to say his efforts will be incorporated into the skills development programme, for other students to follow.”

Designer Furniture Available To Order

Luke Burton, 17, based at Noah Enterprises, is following the City and Guilds Furniture Making programme. This talented student is currently wowing his tutors with the quality of his work. This table is just one of the stunning pieces he has completed. If you would like to know more about commissioning a bespoke piece or about the other items currently available for sale at Noah, please call Judy Eaton on 01582 736751.

Learning Warehouse Indulgence Day

The Learning Warehouse Leighton-Linslade held an Indulgence Day on 24 November. Hair and Beauty Treatments were on offer and a raffle, all of which made £94 for Keech Cottage Hospice.