NEWS BULLETIN FROM IARC September 2005

 
Contents

1. AGM –New Executive Committee

2. New Recognised Institutions

3. Warnborough Receives Investor in People Award

4. Networking Opportunities

5. Meeting in Australia 2006

6. RHS Certificate 2 in Horticulture

7. Katie Freeth Resigns

8. Free Course with Book

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1. AGM –New Executive Committee

The following new committee was elected at the August AGM

John Mason (Australian Correspondence Schools) Chairman/President

Carmel Thompson (Southern Cross Connection)

Stephen Eddy (Health Schools Australia)

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 2. New Recognised Institutions

The following institutions have been granted recognition over recent months:

Swiss Management Center
Baarerstrasse 112 CH-6302 Zug - Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)41 767 2552
Fax: +41 (0)1 274 29 34
Website: http://www.swissmc.ch
Email: info@swissmc.ch

Lifestyle Learning Direct

36 Industrial Ave, Molendinar, Queensland, Australia 4214

Phone: +61 7 5538 3977

Fax: +61 7 5630 6195

Website: www.sackvilleacademy.com.au

E Mail carly@morrisint.com.au

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3. WARNBOROUGH COLLEGE RECEIVES INVESTOR IN PEOPLE AWARD

Warnborough College was awarded the prestigious Investor in People (IiP) standard in April 2005. IiP is a UK government-backed initiative to help organisations to be more successful by adhering to good practice for the training and development of staff.

Vice-President and IiP team leader, Dr Julian Ng spent the last year preparing for the audit through the Going for Growth programme. He said: “Achieving this quality standard reflects the hard work administrators and faculty put into our commitment to the College and to students”.

Warnborough College has a long history of commitment to academic quality, student welfare and staff development. IiP provides a practical tool for internal and external reviews for continuous improvement. Dr Ng added: “The benchmark for achieving IiP is high, and not easily awarded. We have an excellent quality IiP profile, and we intend to maintain standards at all levels. Students can be assured that Warnborough is at the forefront in what it provides.”

President Dr Brenden Tempest-Mogg said: “Providing a good working environment, team spirit, job satisfaction, and opportunities for personal training and development are passed to our students, thus enriching academic and personal care for those studying here.”

The IiP auditor noted in his report that outcomes from the Warnborough work done for ISO9001:2000 and for Investors in People standards, “were clearly in evidence – people development processes in particular have been strengthened There is a very open culture (staff talked of a genuine ‘open door’ policy), and internal auditing systems not only promote continuous improvement, but also encourage staff to embrace change. All staff demonstrated an appetite for improvement.”

Many UK universities and colleges have achieved IiP status, and Warnborough is proud of meeting the requirements for this award.

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4. Networking Opportunities

IARC offers a variety of advantages to those recognised institutions who have joined our self organisation.

For some, the opportunity to network and enter into business arrangements with each other has been a major benefit; but for others, this potential could be used to greater benefit.

There are various ways you can take better advantage of networking with other members:

· Contribute to this newsletter, (If nothing else, send a 200-300 word profile on your institution, or send media releases about your institution to us whenever they are sent to the media).

· Email other members direct

· Contact and visit other members when visiting their country or state.

· Come to meetings. We hope to organize more meetings in the future to foster both interaction between existing members, and growth in the current membership (see below).

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5. Meeting in Australia 2006

The new executive have decided to organize a 2 day symposium or conference on the Gold Coast, Australia, in 2006. Stephen Eddy from Health Schools Australia is coordinating the event and would welcome suggestions for content and timing from any IARC members, or other interested parties in the wider education community.

At this stage it has been suggested to conduct the meeting in either February or March. What would suit you better?

Contact: stephene@healthaustralia.com

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6. RHS Certificate 2 in Horticulture

Opportunities exist for institutions around the world to license delivery of this UK accredited qualification.

ACS Distance Education (www.acsedu.co.uk ) has recently developed a CD based delivery of the new Royal Horticultural Society Certificate in Horticulture, Level 2.

This course leads to a British Accreditation Council accredited qualification, awarded by the RHS after sitting and passing two theory exams with the RHS.

The CD contains over 160,000 words of text, hundreds of interactive self assessment tests and large numbers of colour photographs and illustrations.

Enquiries: tracey@acsedu.co.uk

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7. Katie Freeth Resigns

Katie has been an executive officer with IARC for the past five years, over which time she has contributed with a great deal of enthusiasm and support in the establishment of IARC, providing a point of contact in the northern hemisphere. We thank Katie for all her efforts and wish her well as she moves on to other things.

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8. Free Course with Book Idea

John Mason, Chairman of IARC has a new book being published by Simon & Schuster (Kangaroo Press) this month. The front cover of the new book promotes a free online course. You need the book to do the course properly; but in essence, the course will promote the book, and the book in turn will promote courses at John’s school (ACS).

If you are interested to see how this works, you can check out the free hydroponic course and interactive tests at www.acs.edu.au/bookcourse