News from Member Colleges
Alternative Training
Filming Dinesh Chauhan from India
Alternative Training worked with Dinesh, filming his latest lecture at the School of Homeopathy with the plan to create an online movie presentation of the seminar.
Animal Care College
New course: Personal Development/Running your own Business
This Personal Development Programme is intended for those who wish to assert control over their lives, start their own business and plan for a productive and rewarding future. With the help of this programme you will be able to complete a 'Life Stock Take', reassess your current and future potential and equip yourself with the skills and personal knowledge necessary to move forward with increased self understanding and the ability to make informed choices and decisions.
BSY
New Course: Music for Therapy
This course will help you to increase your awareness of music and rhythm and learn how to use the power of music to enhance your life or the lives of others. The aim is to use music for therapy, not to become a practitioner in the field.
Students do not require prior instrumental or vocal aptitude, but should possess an interest in all forms of music, and above all, enjoy listening. An audio CD accompanies the course.
DLP
Website
We have added tutor blogs to the website and hope that tutors will start to make use of this in the near future.
Book-keeping - we will pay for your mocks
Following the introduction of its computer-based exams for Level II and Level III Manual Book-keeping last month, the Institute of Certified Book-keepers now offers candidates an online mock exam for Levels I & II with Level III to follow shortly. The mocks cost £10. If you are studying with DLP, we will pay this for you provided that you complete our own (manual) mock exam first. Just e-mail me or your Tutor when you are ready for your online mock exam. We will pay the ICB fee and the ICB will send you a link to the mock exam. Read Ray Taylor's blog on this website for his experience in testing the online exam for Level I.
Please note that from September 2011, those seeking ACIB must pass both Manual and Computerised Book-keeping at Level II and for the MCIB you must pass both Manual and Computerised Book-keeping at Level III.
Our course for Level III Computerised Book-keeping is now available - see the latest Course Information on our website.
Enrolments
We are now able to offer GCE AS Accounting with A2 to follow but we have with regret dropped Classical Civilisation.
Our course for the (re-named) Certificate and Diploma in Commercial Management for the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors has been re-accredited but, sadly, distance learning students are not counted as being on an accredited course for membership purposes. It’s something I’m working on.
Company Vehicle
DLP has purchased a company vehicle which will carry trade advertising. This is a Pashley Courier bicycle. It has a plate fixed to the frame for advertising and a substantial carrier at the front. Happily but coincidentally it comes in our corporate colour (Pantone 274). When the weather improves and the advertising copy is completed it will be used to carry parcels to the post and at other times will be parked strategically or even outside the pub.
Ian Campbell BA ACIS Dip Distance Ed
DIRECTOR OF STUDIES
CTJT
Latest news – STUDENT SUCCESSES
Timothy's education magazine success
CTJT Magazine journalism student Timothy Ijala is writing his own column in a leading education magazine in Uganda.
Timothy has contributed articles to the Education Times for the past two months.
He tells us: 'I am now listed in the magazine as one of the contributing writers and I now have my own column.'
CTJT students have produced record results in their National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). exams. They achieved a 100 per cent pass rate in 6 out of the 7 NCTJ exam subjects.
And one of them, Ian Shine, is in the running for a national award after achieving 96 per cent in his General Law paper. Two other CTJT students achieved A grades in law - considered to be one of the toughest NCTJ exams.
The 100 per cent pass rates came in PA 1, PA 2, Law 1, Law 2, Sport and Sub editing. The only subject with a lower pass rate was News writing, with 60 per cent. But CTJT's overall pass rate was 80 per cent in the April 2010 sitting.
Cleland Thom, CTJT director said: 'These results are simply incredible - the best we've ever had. Our students worked hard and should be proud of what they achieved.
'Our exam results are usually on a par with NCTJ training centres - but I'm not sure if anyone will be able to beat these.' Cleland added: 'The results reflect studies in America that show online learning is more effective than attending a college. 'It's exciting that as the NCTJ pioneers its new multi-media syllabus, we are able to pioneer new methods of learning that are producing unprecedented results.'
CTJT students on NCTJ exam courses are now able to chat, live to a tutor seven days a week - including evenings, when they are most likely to be studying. And they also benefit from a unique exam preparation course, prepared by industry life coach Phil Hilton. The courses offer more than any other exam training programme.
Editorial Training
Editorial Training has hired Tim Feest as Business Development Executive, with particular responsibility for meeting new and existing clients and ensuring that training courses meet both the present and future needs of the industry.
Tim enjoyed a long and distinguished career with Reed International (now Reed-Elsevier), progressing to the posts of Publishing Director and finally Production Director with Butterworth-Heinemann, with responsibility in that role for all aspects of design, editing and manufacture of the company's STM books and journals. After leaving Butterworth-Heinemann, Tim briefly managed his own business, a commercial recording studio, before returning to full-time employment in the field of education and training, with a particular interest in the development and use of occupational (competence) standards and vocational qualifications for science and engineering.
Recently, Tim has been employed part-time by COPE, the UK-based Committee On Publication Ethics, as the organisation's Operations Director; and he continues to work as a freelance trainer for Business Link in Hampshire and Surrey, delivering business start-up workshops; and as a consultant for the Institute of Asset Management, developing the Institute's programme of training, qualifications and professional development activities.
Ideal Schools
The night of Thursday 26th of November 2009 was a very special night indeed for all involved with Ideal Schools.
Part of the highly successful ICB International Conference involved an awards dinner where we received the ICB Tuition Provider of the Year award and one of our students, Shirley Atterbury, won the Student of the Year award.
Having been involved in distance learning for nearly 40 years, the last 27 as Director and Principal of Ideal Schools, I can state that this was one of my proudest moments. Every department in Ideal Schools works extremely hard to ensure that all courses and services run as smoothly as possible, and this award gives all those involved recognition of their hard work. A huge credit also goes to our students as they continually perform well above average in all examinations.
ICB Student of the Year
The story of Shirley Atterbury is one that should inspire us all. In spite of a serious illness, Shirley used her studies to help her through her treatment, and still managed distinction passes. It was a pleasure to meet her at the dinner, and I don’t think anyone could argue that her award was fully deserved.
I would also like to mention another of our students, Anna Reed, who was another Student of the Year nominee. To be one of the five finalists is something that she should be very proud of.
Special thanks have to go to the ICB who have provided the platform for our students to achieve their goals. The range of qualifications and accessibility of examinations help to make the overall learning experience a pleasant one for our students. The two-day conference has been hailed a great success and all our students who were in attendance found the seminars extremely helpful.
Finally, I would like to stress that although this award proves that our overall products and services are of the highest quality, we will not rest on our laurels. 2010 will see an introduction of new course modules, and we are currently exploring areas that will further improve our tuition provision.
We all look forward to the following year in the hope that we will guide many, many more students successfully through their examinations.
Al Vanden Akker
Principal
London Art College
The past twelve months has produced another satisfactory year for the college. Steady if unspectacular growth in a time of recession. The change in the way we find students over recent years from concentration upon advertising in traditional art magazines, to investment in our web site continues to broaden the market for the college.
In one four week period students living in Australia, Canada, China, Cyprus, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Spain, USA and Vietnam enrolled on various courses. While UK based students continue to make up the bulk of our new intake, our continued success is due, in no small part, to our overseas recruitment.
The art college is perhaps fortunate to be operating in an area where language skills are rather less important and certainly our web site has the huge advantage of being very colourful and having a steady source of new images flowing through our various student galleries. This seems to help with search engine activity and there is something of a virtuous circle in operation.
We continue to look forward to the rest of 2010 with a reasonable degree of optimism.
Peter Fisher, March 2010
NCT
CMI Diploma in Energy Management
NCT is pleased to announce at the start of 2010 a new and very topical management course.
This programme is designed for the hands-on manager who has authority and personal skills to direct operations and to contribute towards organisational strategy. It is equally valuable for the person aspiring to such a role. The aim is to enable the operational manager to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the management of energy resources by means of:
Developing a staff team as a mutually-supportive and motivated group of people who, with the manager, share a common vision and purpose
Effective communications
Optimum tactical utilisation of resources
Oxford Open Learning
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF DISTANCE LEARNING
Our Principal claims that he was given the following Ten Commandments of Distance Learning “by an angel - in a dream” following a night of extended revelry down the Plasterers Arms.
Nevertheless, one or two points might be worth bearing in mind when you talk to a potential distance learning provider
1. THOU SHALT NOT take a student’s money (e.g. via your website) without even talking to them or evaluating their suitability for the programme.
A good distance learning provider will insist on a detailed and measured application process to ensure that you only enrol on programmes where you have a good chance of success - and a good chance of completing the programme. Remember - if you withdraw from the programme because it proves to be unsuitable or because your motivation drops off, your distance learning provider will save all your tuition costs...
Read the rest of the 'Ten Commandments' on Oxford Open Learning's website.
OLCI Construction Training
Renewable or green energy systems convert energy from natural resources like the sun, the air and the earth. This can then be used for electricity, heating, or hot water in people’s homes, offices, shops, etc.
Concerns about climate change and fuel prices mean renewable energy is a thriving business for those with the right skills. The government aims to achieve 15% of all the UK’s energy from renewable sources by 2020. In addition, homes and businesses are increasingly turning to green energy systems to reduce their CO2 emissions and soaring energy bills*.
OLCI has introduced a range of courses that focus specifically on renewable energy
Heat Pump (Air and Ground Source)
Heat pumps absorb heat from the ground or air, which can then be used to warm water for radiators or underfloor heating systems, or to warm the air inside people’s homes. This offers several benefits, including:
Lower fuel bills – ground source heat pumps run on electricity, so there's no need to pay for gas, oil or solid fuels to heat the home.
Reduced CO2 emissions – on average a ground source heat pump could save around 540kg of carbon dioxide every year when replacing an oil boiler.
Less wasted electricity – heating a home with a ground source heat pump is much more efficient than using electric radiators.
Space saving – an air source heat pump system is compact, and requires no storage space for fuel.
Solar Thermal
Solar water heating systems use free heat from the sun to warm domestic hot water. A conventional boiler or immersion heater is then used to make the water hotter, or to provide hot water when solar energy is unavailable.
Solar panels, called collectors, are fitted to the roof, and these collect heat from the sun and use it to warm water which is stored in a hot water cylinder.
Solar Photovoltaic
Solar Electricity systems capture the sun's energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells. The cells convert the sunlight into electricity, which can be used to run household appliances and lighting.
PV cells are panels which can be attached to a roof or wall. When light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers - the stronger the sunshine, the more electricity is produced. Benefits of these systems include:
Reduced carbon footprint – solar electricity is green, renewable energy and doesn't release any harmful carbon dioxide or other pollutants.
Reduced electricity bills – sunlight is free, so once the initial installation is paid for, electricity costs will be greatly reduced. A typical home PV system can produce around 40% of the electricity a household uses in a year.
Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency Part L covers the conservation of fuel and power in buildings by:
Limiting heat gains and losses, both through thermal elements and other parts of the building fabric and from pipes, ducts and vessels used for space heating, space cooling and hot water services.
The provision and commissioning of energy efficient fixed building services with effective controls.
Providing to the owner sufficient information about the building, the fixed building services and their maintenance requirements so that the building can be operated in such a manner as to use no more fuel and power than is reasonable in the circumstances.
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting simply collects the water that rains onto roofs, then stores it in a tank until required for use. Rainwater is captured from the roof, and brought to a central point, via normal guttering and down-pipes, to enter a storage tank (frequently underground), where it is filtered on entry. A highly efficient and reliable submersible pump delivers the water to a service on demand.
PREMIER SCHOOL OF BUILDING
Our newest course…
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
This course is designed as an introduction for students within the design team who wish to gain a working knowledge of sustainable construction and may also be of benefit to students who have previously gained knowledge of the topic and wish to study further. The course contains references to both Government and International policies and politics and covers the development of sustainability within the built environment over a wide range of projects over the past twenty years. The textbook on which this course is based is considered to be the most comprehensive book available and has references to many case studies.
COURSE CONTENT
Sustainable Development
Policy Development
Related Cost
Material Selection
Low impact Construction
Services 1 Heating
Services 2 Electrical Installation
Services 3 Lighting
Services 4 Ventilation & Cooling
Services 5 Water and Sewage
Construction Processes
The course comprises of eleven lessons and it is expected that completion will take three months based upon approximately eight hours study per week. This is an advanced course and students are expected to have a general knowledge of the construction industry prior to enrolment.
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