The document is a bulletin from the Association of Colleges (AoC) London Region providing updates on events and issues relevant to colleges in the region. It announces that over 200 colleges attended an informative seminar on 24+ advanced learning loans. It also advertises upcoming events including a governors' event, a UK-India business delegation, and employment law and skills conferences. Additionally, it provides updates on the Olympics and Paralympics, cloud computing projects, and a student from Barnet and Southgate College whose work was acquired by the Empress of Iran.

1. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin
13 July 2012 – Issue 118
Dear Colleagues,
24+ Advanced Learning Loans Seminar
A key event last week was the Skills Funding Agency/Student Loan Company seminar on
24+Advanced Learning Loans. Over 200 Colleges and providers from across London attended.
The slides and question and answer sessions were very informative and stimulated lively and
constructive discussion and feedback sessions chaired by AoC and AELP. The link to this
material will be available shortly and we will include in our next bulletin.
You will also be aware that Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong
Learning, John Hayes made a written ministerial statement around a series of support measures
for those taking out 24+ advanced learning loans. Please visit the website for the full statement.
Best wishes
Caroline Neville
Linking London 6th Annual Conference: 'Students should be at the heart of the system.
Reality or myth?' Monday 2 July
nd
The Sixth Annual Linking London conference took place this year on the 2 July in Birkbeck.
The conference entitled ‘Students should be at the heart of the system: reality or myth?’ was
attended by a wide selection of FE and HE ‘Linking London’ members. Key note speakers
included Caroline Neville (Regional Director, AoC London), Nick Davy (HE Policy Manager,
AoC) and Eddie Playfair (Principal, Newham Sixth Form College). To read a full report and
download the presentations from the day here please click here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
AoC/LSIS/Eversheds Governors' Event Thursday 19 July 2012
We would like to remind you that the AoC/LSIS/Eversheds Governors’ event is on Thursday
19 July, with arrival from 5pm with refreshments, officially starting business at 5.30pm.
Eversheds will be hosting from their offices at 1 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7VS. The finalised
agenda and map are attached.
This Regional Session is intended for Chairs, Governors, Principals (as Governors), and Clerks
to help them to engage with the opportunities and challenges arising from the new freedoms
and flexibilities available to Corporations. Please bring the topics or questions that are
emerging from your Governing Body in relation to New Challenges, New Chances.
Attendees may find it helpful to look at the background to the event in advance. Please find
below the links to the LSIS Governance Summit in March and also read the AoC National
Governors’ Briefing from 16 March, following the AoC Governance Summit on 29 February
2012:

2. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 13 July 2012
• LSIS Conference briefing and video footage
• With the post-conferences pages as follows:
Day 1 video footage and presentations
Day 2 video footage and presentations
• LSIS Emerging Models of Governance Case Studies.
There are still places available, so if you have not yet registered please respond to:
aoclondonregionevents@aoc.co.uk
UKIBC Skills Delegation, 2-7 September 2012
AoC and UK India Business Council (UKIBC) are organising this visit to India in September. It
should help provide a valuable opportunity for Colleges who are new to the Indian market and
want to make a first step into it and also for those who are looking to build on established links
and partnerships.
Colleges are welcome to join the delegation in September. If you are interested in joining please
contact Ayesha Williams, International Charter and Policy Officer, as well as contacting UKIBC
as instructed in the invitation which is enclosed in this bulletin. If you want to learn more
about AoC India partnership or background on the India market please contact John
Mountford, AoC International Director.
AoC Employment Law Conference 2012, 9 October 2012, Prospero House, London
The AoC Employment Law Conference is a key learning event for HR professionals and is the
only employment law conference designed specifically for the further education sector. The
event offers a unique opportunity for College HR professionals to gain the latest information,
advice and updates in employment law.
Delegates will have the chance to listen to expert speakers, attend interactive breakout sessions,
ask all those burning questions and to network with key professionals in the sector. Delegates
from across the College will gain useful information from the conference, including HR
directors, managers, advisors, officers, Principals and Vice Principals and all colleagues with
responsibility for HR policy, procedure and practice.
For more information please visit the Conference website.
Colleges Week 2012 – 11-18 November 2012
This year Colleges Week 2012 is on 11-18 November 2012. It exists to help raise awareness and
approval of the work of Colleges among unfamiliar audiences. Please make a note of these
dates in your diaries. Further information will be circulated via Ben Verinder, AoC
Communications Director and AoC National’s Media and PR briefings nearer the time. When
the themes are finalised we will also highlight them in this bulletin.
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3. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 13 July 2012
Market Maker Trade Fair Competition, 12 November 2012 at the Institute of Directors,
Central London Branch in Pall Mall
‘The MarketMaker Experience’ is a joint initiative the main aim of which is to inspire young
people to consider starting their own business and improve their employment prospects.
Market Maker Trade Fair Competition is a unique opportunity for your students to unlock
their entrepreneurial potential and engage in a life time virtual experience. They will be part of
a Network of Student-Entrepreneurs set by the Institute of Virtual Enterprise (A City University
of New York Initiative). Your Young Entrepreneurs will have the chance to pitch their ideas
and get expert opinions on likely success, the chance to win prizes and possibly get investment
for their business if they win first prize. Please find more information in the attached
brochures.
For further questions please contact Rifaat Foufa on 01462 424249.
The Skills Show, Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 November 2012, NEC Birmingham
AoC has agreed a partnership with the Skills Funding Agency, the National Apprenticeship
Service (NAS) and The Skills Show, to create a focal point for competitions together with a
'Have a Go' careers advice forum. This work is being chaired by Marion Plant, Principal of
North Warwickshire and Hinckley College, through the WorldSkills Portfolio Group, and
regional lead Principals are: South West: Rachel Davies (Somerset College), South East: Stella
Mbubaegbu (Highbury College), London: Sue Rimmer (South Thames College), East: Angela
Joyce (Peterborough College), East Midlands: Nigel Leigh (Stephenson College), Yorkshire and
the Humber: Ian Billyard (Leeds College of Building), North West: Pauline Waterhouse
(Blackpool and The Fylde College).
If you are interested in premier sponsorship, purchasing exhibition space or in acquiring
equipment, hosting "Have a Go" activities, please check the Skills Show website or contact
David Smith, AoC Director of Worldskills Engagement.
Olympic and Paralympic games update
Barking and Dagenham College Student, Adam Gemili goes for Olympic Gold
Barking and Dagenham College sports student, Adam Gemili, qualified for London 2012 at the
Olympic Trials in Birmingham on Sunday 24 June, and has now accepted his place in Team GB.
The 18-year-old sprinting sensation came second to Dwain
Chambers in the finals on Sunday, but leads British rankings
this year after surpassing the Olympic ‘A’ standard time of
10.18, by running an impressive 10.08 for 100m at a meet in
Germany a few weeks back. After shaving a massive 0.15
seconds off of his previous personal best at the Sparkassen
Gala in Regensburg in Germany, Adam also secured a place
at the World Junior Championship in Barcelona, which will
be held from Tuesday 10 to Sunday 15 July. Adam stated:
“Competing against sprinting legend Usain Bolt at the
Olympics would be a once in a life-time experience. I am
Barking & Dagenham College picture
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4. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 13 July 2012
nervous but mostly excited because I never expected to get this far this year. I think it would be
amazing to take part in the UK Olympics because cheering from home spectators will provide
an electric atmosphere. Usain Bolt has given me a few pearls of wisdom, he told me to prepare
mentally as well as physically.”
Adam continued: “At the minute I train 4 times a week for about 4 hours. I do a lot of sprinting,
circuit training and also go to the gym. Once I finish at College I am planning to increase my
training. Whilst at Barking and Dagenham College I have been studying an Extended Diploma
in Sport; the course has helped me to understand how the body function and this knowledge
has helped me to improve my speed. The athlete has turned down his football right-back
position at the Dagenham & Redbridge Academy, so that he can concentrate on his running
career for the time being. Adam’s tutor at Barking and Dagenham College, Senie Emmanuel
said: “Adam has got an amazing natural ability for running. I am not surprised at all that he has
grown to run as fast as his does, he has made a great career choice.”
Rachel Yates, Curriculum Manager for Sport, Leisure, Tourism & Public Services at Barking and
Dagenham College said: “Myself and the whole sports department is incredibly proud of what
Adam has achieved. He has always been a pleasure to teach and is a dedicated and
inspirational student. On behalf of everyone at the College, I want to wish Adam every success
with London 2012 and with his future career. I will look forward to cheering him on!”
OTHER NEWS AND UPDATES
AoC Annual Conference and Exhibition 2012: Breakout sessions launched
AoC Create launched this year’s breakout session submissions for this year’s AoC Annual
Conference and Exhibition 2012 and would like to invite all Colleges to submit a proposal for
this year’s Conference. For further information and hints and tips on holding a session please
visit the dedicated website.
The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 28 August at 5pm if you would like to submit a
proposal then these need to be submitted through the online proposal form here. The
submission form asks for all of the information required at this stage, including a key contact
for liaison, three outcomes/benefits for delegates and most importantly a synopsis of maximum
75 words. Submissions will be selected on Monday 3 September.
Opportunities for Colleges
Students are an integral part of our Conference. This is a fantastic opportunity for Colleges to
showcase their students to the sector and celebrate the great work that goes on in our Colleges.
We are open to all ideas, including skills showcases, performances and on-site assistance at the
conference itself. For more information or to submit a proposal please visit the website.
Closing date for student submissions is Friday 10 August 2012.
For more information please contact Cara Watson, Events Executive at AoC Create.
Cloud Computing Project
The Collaboration and Shared Services Board has allocated £1million for Cloud projects from
the Grant Fund. Managed by AoC nationally the aim is to progress Cloud Computing in
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5. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 13 July 2012
Further Education Colleges through a range of project activities. 36 individual projects were
selected by the committee.
The details of these projects can be viewed on the AoC website and are broken down into
region for your reference.
Great Sportsmanship Programme Update
‘Here Come The Olympics – Anyone For Olympism?’ Code Of
Conduct & Free Olympism Video
The Great Sportsmanship programme was introduced by the Founder Paul Smith at the
London Region AoC/BCS College Sports Conference in May. The flexible programme inspires
young people via sportsmanship stories integrated into different subjects. Harris Academy
(Purley) and Richmond College are the first to embrace the programme.
Free Code Of Conduct, Olympism Video (4 minutes), classroom exercises, tutor guides and
ambassadorial programme for both students (Junior Ambassadors) and
teachers/coaches/parents (Educational Ambassadors) available from both the web site &
facebook page. Current top sportsmanship stories (since the last newsletter) from the blog and
from facebook include:
• Wenger Stops TV Commentators so French Can hear Irish Sing with Spanish Clapping
• Distraught But Not Destroyed - Murray's Magnificent Speech
• Euro 2012: Incredible Video Casillas Asks Ref to End Game Early – respect for the
Italians
For more information about the programme please contact Paul Smith or visit the website.
College Student Paints for the Empress of Iran
Barnet and Southgate College Art student, Mehrak Davoudi’s
work has not only been included in the Palmers Green Art
Trail, but also in the private collection of the Empress of Iran.
Mehrak is a first year student at the College, studying for a
Foundation Degree in Creative Arts.
Before enrolling at College, Mehrak had had an unusual and
eventful life. Originally from Iran, she has also lived in
Holland and France. Iran has strongly influenced much of her
work, which ranges from sculpture to digital paintings.
Barnet and Southgate College picture
She was also inspired by an empowering speech from the Empress or Shahbanou, Farah
Pahlavi, wife of the former Shah of Iran, in the creation of one of her paintings. This unusual
piece, which incorporates symbolism from Persian culture, was received by the Empress and is
now due to be auctioned in support of her charity foundation, or it is to be placed in Harvard
University’s library. Mehrak has remained in contact with the Empress and seems destined for
a successful career as an international fine artist.
David Byrne, Principal of Barnet and Southgate College said: “It’s rare for one of our Creative
Industries students to receive such serious acclaim whilst still studying at College, but this has
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6. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 13 July 2012
been the case for Mehrak Davoudi, and we wish her well for the future. In fact, all of our Art
students have worked incredibly hard this year and the results are evident at their eclectic and
inspiring end of year exhibition.”
You can see more of Mehrak Davoudi’s unusual work at Barnet and Southgate College’s End of
Year Art Exhibition, in the Gladys Childs Theatre, at the Southgate Campus from now until
Sunday 8th July.
Recent meetings
Date Event/meeting Attendees Feedback
2 July Linking London 6th CN The Agenda included the following topics:
Annual Conference: • Better marketing equals better recruitment,
'Students should be Hannah Skeggs, David Lane
at the heart of the • Information, Advice and Guidance:
system. Reality or Understanding and advising on
myth?' progression, Kieron Broadhead
• Higher Education in Further Education,
Nick Davy, Ian Sterling
• Higher Vocational Education, Caroline
Neville
• Widening participation and fair access,
Victoria Waite, Tony Hudson
• A Sixth Form College Perspective, Eddie
Playfair
3 July London Strategic JS Discussions included updates on:
Migration • English language and routes to
Partnership employment analysis. Tim Riley, CESI and
James Lee, GLA
• Creating English language learning
opportunities – feasibility study. James Lee,
GLA
4 July Skills Funding CN Topics related to:
Agency/Student Loan • Policy Introduction and Overview
Company seminar: 24 • Learner Journey
+ Advanced Learning • Operating Model (Information, Advice and
Loans Guidance and Course Offer, Application
and Application Assessment, Learner Starts
and Confirmation of Learning, Payment,
Changes of Circumstance,
Repayment
• Allocation Methodology and Budget
Management
6 July GLA workshop on JS The Agenda included: Discussion groups –
Lifetime • Strong civic and social networks;
Neighborhoods • Well connected and walkable communities
• Thriving local economies.
9 July Meeting with CN College visit
Godfrey Allen, Chair
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7. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 13 July 2012
and Sue Rimmer,
Principal of South
Thames College
10 July Market Maker 2012 EB The Agenda included:
Launch: Lewisham • Key Note Speaker – Director of Enterprise
College event at BIS
• The 2012 Market Maker Competition
• Video presentation – Christopher
Winkler – Associate Director, CUNY
Institute for Virtual Enterprise
10 July AoC/Youth Justice JS The Agenda included the following:
Board Protocol • Update on progress of the 3 work streams
Working Group on Protocol, Risk and Communications
regarding developing a YOT/College
protocol.
11 July Marketing JS The Agenda included:
Committee Project To discuss ‘New models of Employer Engagement
meeting to Promote Apprenticeship Project’
11 July City and Islington JS, EB Launching event to celebrate the opening of the
College Alumni and College’s alumni service and former students’
Friends Event achievements.
Future meetings
Date Event/meeting Attendees Agenda
17 July Meeting with Dr CN Access to HE
Graeme Atherton
at LondonHigher
17 July Meeting with Jane CN Regular catch up meeting
Glanville, London
Higher
18 July Meeting with Paul CN College visit: Leyton College
Butler and Kevin
Watson, Principal
19 July AoC/LSIS/Eversheds AoCLR The Agenda includes:
Governors' Events • BIS – Policy Developments
• Eversheds LLP – The Legal Framework
• Emerging Governance Models – LSIS case
studies and discussion
23 July Pre-meeting CN Regular catch up meeting
discussions with
Alan Parnum, YPLA
and Jill Lowery, SFA
23 July Meeting with Mark CN General quarterly meeting
Hilton, London First
23 July Meeting with CN College visit: Hillcroft College
Michael Wheeler,
Principal
25 July Meeting with Tim CN College visit: John Ruskin College
Eyton-Jones,
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8. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 13 July 2012
Principal
26 July Meeting with CN College visit: Tower Hamlets College
Michael Farley,
Principal
26 July Meeting with James CN Discussions on the English for jobseekers report
Lee, GLA
Events and Dates for the Diary
• AoC/LSIS/Eversheds Governors' Event, Wednesday 19 July 2012, Eversheds, 1 Wood
Street City of London, London, EC2V 7WS. For more information please contact Judith
Smyth.
• AoC Employment Law Conference 2012, Tuesday 9 October 2012, Prospero House, 241
Borough High Street, London, SE1 1GA, London. For more information please visit the
AoC Create website.
• AoC Annual Conference and Exhibition 2012, Tuesday 20 – Thursday 22 November,
The ICC, Birmingham. For more information please visit the AoC Create website.
Policy and other documents
GLA news
Mayor welcomes world's media to London for a 'summer like no other'
Mayor praises Tottenham transformation as he visits community hub at heart of £41m
regeneration
Assembly to look at Olympic legacy plan and strategic planning issues for the capital
New app launched - expect the unexpected in a summer like no other
New figures reveal limits for harmful air pollution breached across the capital
If you wish to contact the AoC London office to give feedback on this Bulletin, to request
additional information where we have offered it, or to provide suggested content for future
issues, please email Evelina Bagusyte.
Caroline Neville Judith Smyth Evelina Bagusyte
Regional Director Deputy Director Regional Co-ordinator
caroline.neville@aoc.co.uk judith.smyth@aoc.co.uk evelina.bagusyte@aoc.co.uk
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