Colleagues may be interested in the forthcoming staff development
workshop Skills, Retention and Employability to be held at London House,
Goodenough College in Central London on Tuesday 1 July 2003. The
workshop has been organised by the SEEC Key Skills and PDP Network. 

Details are  below  and a booking form can be obtained from the SEEC
Office: 
 <mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask] <<SEEC
conference.doc>> 
Apologies for cross-posting  

SEEC Southern England Consortium for Credit Accumulation and Transfer
Staff Development Workshop<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
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Skills, Retention and Employability
 
Tuesday 1 July
 
10.00 to 16.15
 
London House
Goodenough College
Mecklenburgh Square
London WC1N 2AB
 
Background
A number of HE institutions are debating how 'skills' can be provided to
develop students' employability and aid student retention and
progression.  This workshop will address this by giving examples of
initiatives that have taken place.  Delegates will also have the
opportunity to share their examples of good practice and express their
concerns.  The day will consist of a number of presentations with
opportunities for discussion and the exchange of information.
 
The Presenters
Lisa  Lewy, Learning Development Unit Co-ordinator, London Metropolitan
University.  Lisa is responsible for generic key skills delivery and
co-ordinating academic support for students with disabilities.  Lisa is
Co-Chair of the SEEC Key Skills and PDP network
Laura Boubert, Senior Lecturer , University of Westminster, Harrow
School of Computer Science.  Laura teaches a range of psychology and
multimedia based modules at undergraduate and postgraduate level.  Her
PhD in psychology lends itself well to providing key skills support to
the students across the school and to involvement in educational
research. 
Tim Taylor, University of Westminster, Educational Initiative Centre.
Tim is responsible for managing a wide range of projects in the EIC that
explore the links between higher education, employment and skills
development. Tim is also a visiting lecturer at the University and a
freelance management and development consultant.
 
The Presentations
The Enterprising Student, Tim Taylor, University of Westminster. 
Do you want to help your students to acquire work related skills,
increase their employability and enhance their reflective learning?
This presentation will explore the lessons and successes of the
Enterprising Student Programme.  This HEFCE funded programme has
supported a wide range of projects across the University of Westminster
over the last three and a half years.  All the projects have had in
common a determination to enhance the employability of students through
the creation of sustainable accredited work experience opportunities.
The University of Westminster's Enterprising Student Programme has
recently featured as one of HEFCE's national exemplars.
 
Retention: could key skills redress the balance? Laura Boubert,
University of Westminster.  As participation in higher education is
broadening to include students from a variety of backgrounds, we cannot
rely on them all having equivalent skills to cope with the workload or
the academic expectations of this level of study.  While in principle
all these skills should be covered in traditional academic modules, it
is not always possible to address the needs of all students in this way.
The presentation will examine the advantages and disadvantages of
introducing a module in the first year of a degree with the main goal of
assisting the students to develop such skills and it will discuss how
the implementation of such a module has benefited students in the
University of Westminster's Harrow School of Computing.
 
Inter-level Summer Programme, Lisa Lewy,  London Metropolitan University
(City Campus).
The HEFCE funded Inter-level Summer Programme was designed to support
those students who were finding academic study difficult and to aid the
retention and progression of students.  The programme consisted of
subject specific revision and generic skills courses.  The presentation
will outline the practical issues of providing summer courses and the
student and staff experience of taking part in the programme. 
 
Programme:
 
10.00            Registration and refreshments. 
10.30            Welcome & Overview of the Day.            Mike Downes,
SEEC Development Officer
10.35   The Enterprising Student.             Tim Taylor, University of
Westminster
11.20            Retention: could key skills redress the balance?
Laura Boubert, University of    Westminster
12.05      Coffee
12.20      Discussion Groups
13.00    Lunch
14.00   Inter-level Summer Programme.   Lisa  Lewy, London Metropolitan
University. 
14.45    Discussion Groups
15.30            Refreshments
15.45   An Overview of Skills.  Plenary discussion: Where should the
skills agenda be placed?
16.15    Close 
 
Workshop Fees
 
Workshop Fee:       SEEC Members:                £50.00
                               Non SEEC Members:       £150.00
 
For further information and a booking form contact:
 
Jervine Young, SEEC Administrator
The SEEC Office
c/o The University of East London
Romford Road
London E15  4LZ
 
Tel:   0208 223 4978             Fax:  0208 223 4952 
 
E-mail:    <mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]
 
Web page:  <http://www.seec-office.org.uk/> www.seec-office.org.uk