orkney college uhi strategic & operational plan 2015 draft€¦ · draft . 2 contents page ......

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Appendix 1

ORKNEY COLLEGE UHI

Strategic & Operational Plan

2015 – 2018

DRAFT

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Contents

Page

Section 1 Introduction 3 Section 2 Mission Statement 4 Section 3 Vision and Strategic Aims 2015 - 2018 5 Section 4 Strategic Objectives 2015 – 2018 and Targets 6 2015 – 2016 Academic Year

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SECTION 1

Introduction Orkney College UHI is a small, but vibrant, college operating in an island community (population ~21,500), which is both rural and predominantly agricultural. As an island community, the population of Orkney is reliant upon the College to provide a wide range of educational opportunities full-time/part-time, further education/higher education. The curriculum offered is solidly based on the needs and strengths of the community. The College provides a wide range of courses, which are in demand within the community, including a range of short courses for businesses and longer-term vocational training for employees. The College is one of very few in Scotland that are not incorporated, with responsibility for Further Education being vested in Orkney Islands Council. The College Management Council has continued to discuss the status of the College but has concluded, because the College serves a specialised local community and has good relationships both with the business community and Orkney Islands Council, that there is no real advantage in a change of status. A major change for the College has been the creation of the Highlands and Islands Regional College with Orkney College being assigned to the University of the Highlands and Islands with all of the Further and Higher Education funding now coming through UHI. This has not changed the legal status of the College but has seen the introduction of a Further Education Regional Board to which the College is additionally accountable. A challenge for Orkney College UHI is the limited population living within daily travelling distance of the College. The College has to identify innovative ways of delivering cost effective courses to small class sizes and provide suitable progression opportunities. An important development over the next three years will be closer working with the other colleges in the Highlands and Islands to explore what provision can be shared between partners and what new provision can be offered by more strategic collaborative working.

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SECTION 2 Mission Statement

Orkney College UHI – Realising your Potential

The mission statement reflects the College’s commitment to helping people: -

to realise their potential; and

to provide the educational support to help them achieve that potential.

In other words the College exists to provide an education and research environment that will

help people further themselves in life.

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SECTION 3 Vision and Strategic Aims 2015 - 2018

3.1 Vision The vision of Orkney College UHI is that in the next five years:

The College will embrace a range of learning, teaching and research methods appropriate to the needs of students in the 21st century, delivering courses developed in house, those accessed from partners within the UHI network and elsewhere for the benefit of all students.

Orkney College UHI will attract students from a wide geographic area studying a range of courses within the context of lifelong learning.

Orkney College UHI will support a growing academic/research community,

contributing to the local economy and culture.

Orkney College UHI will continue to be a vibrant part of the local community. The development of this vision is contained within the following aims and objectives, which will be monitored, reviewed and updated on an annual basis as appropriate. This development plan provides indicative targets within the objectives.

3.2 Aims The Orkney College UHI has identified four strategic aims, each with a number of key objectives:

To provide a diverse range of high quality education, training, and research to meet market needs and encourage participation within an inclusiveness agenda

To ensure the financial security and to develop the College as a sustainable organisation.

To enhance partnership links at local, regional national and international levels contributing to economic growth / regeneration and cultural enrichment

To nurture and encourage an ethos of continuous improvement

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SECTION 4

Strategic Objectives and Targets 2015 – 2016 Academic Year

4.1 Introduction For each of the College’s strategic aims over the period 2015-2018 the College has identified a number of objectives that will apply in each academic year. Associated targets have been developed to achieve these objectives which are owned by all staff and are the focus of the annual dialogue meetings between the principal, head of division and each curriculum team when planning the academic year ahead. The further and higher education sectors are in a state of rapid change and the strategic objectives and targets will be kept under review and updated accordingly. The Highlands and Islands Regional Outcome Agreement for 2014-17 has been jointly agreed by UHI and the SFC. This sets out Highlands and Islands wide outcomes. The College Strategic and Operational plan for 2015 – 2018 has been written to embrace this outcome agreement, acknowledging that there is a high level of diversity across the academic partnership and that the colleges are in many different places in terms of meeting some of the Regional matters in areas such as student retention and attainment. Orkney college is actually already very well placed in terms of these key performance indicators and the local target is to improve or at least maintain exiting attainment levels even where these already exceed the Regional targets. The College underwent a full review by Education Scotland in March 2014. This was a very positive experience and the points for action from that visit have been integrated in to the plan for 2015-18, along with recommendations from the Annual Engagement Visit in May 2015. As the strategic and operational plan is a three year rolling plan a number of actions span years or roll over on an annual basis. Significant changes or updates to the plan are highlighted in bold. There are a number of key priorities for the College over the coming three years, which are integrated across the aims and objectives. These can be summarised as follows and are referenced in bold italics to the relevant ‘aim’, ‘objective’ and ‘target’.

1. Achieving financial security for the College as a whole at a time of standstill or reduced funding levels and increased costs such as the impact of national insurance increases, Council agreed two year pay award and other inflationary linked increases in operating costs. Ref: 1.1a; 2.1a-h; 2.2a-d; 2.3a,c; 2.4a-d.

2. The need for all business / research areas to achieve at least break even funding positions against a historic background of rarely achieving this. Ref: 1.5a-g; 2.1h; 2.3c.

3. The need for the College to play a leading role, in partnership with the schools, in achieving the ‘Orkney Offer’ real for all senior phase age young people in the county.

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This will include the establishment of Foundation Apprenticeships from 2016 onwards. Ref: 1.3a-d; 1.6d; 1.8; 3.1g,i,j.

4. To optimise the opportunities from the ESIF funding to increase FE activity in subject areas related to the needs identified in the Highlands and Islands Skills Investment Plan. Ref: 1.7; 1.8; 2.4b.

5. To improve student engagement both in terms of students playing a greater part in the life of the College and improving the support for students through the Highlands and Islands Students Association (HISA). Ref: 4.4a-g.

6. To grow Higher Education student numbers through increasing student numbers on existing courses and to offer a wider range of UHI networked courses. Ref: 1.1a; 1.2b; 3.5a.

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AIMS OBJECTIVES TARGETS DEADLINE LEAD PROGRESS in 2015/16

Aim 1.

To provide a diverse range of high quality education, training, and research to meet market needs and encourage participation within an inclusiveness agenda.

1. To continually review the further

education (FE) and higher education (HE) portfolio.

To maintain FE and HE provision in a changing environment of increased HE student numbers and reduction in value of funding. New FE Funding Credit target of 3,622 for 2015/16

To prioritise provision aimed at improving employability including programmes for students with non-traditional entry qualifications. To deliver new employability programmes to numbers determined by SDS contract for 2015/16. Request for funded numbers in January 2016 At Regional level in regard to the number of apprenticeships and places delivered through SDS National Skills Programmes – Colleges will deliver their contracted apprenticeships and places from the SDS National Skills Programme as per the March 2015 allocations.

To appropriately respond to the needs of new and developing local industries for the benefit of the local and regional workforce including new maritime provision and renewables sector Work in collaboration as part of the Highlands and Islands Regional College to agree the Regional College Outcome Agreement with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) To deliver to the funding Credit target of 3,622 for the academic year 2015/16. Note this is the same activity equivalent target to the 5,109WSUMs target as 2014/15 with the same level of funding as 2014/15.

To explore the feasibility of offering sports and leisure management course in partnership with other H&I Regional College partners. To seek external funding support to further develop Hairdressing courses to meet local student demand

Aug 2016 Jan 2016 April 2015 – Mar 2016 Aug 2016 Mar 2016 & Annually Dec 2015 Aug 2016 for Sept 2016 start. Jan 2016 for Aug 2016 start

BR

CMT

CMT

IG

BR

CMT

BR

BR

IG

2. To make available more

Review of student numbers annually at unit / module level

Aug 2016

CMT

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networked courses in Orkney at further and higher education level.

to ensure viable class sizes, including use of UHI mean average class (MAC) size data. Increase availability of networked degree offering to students. Appoint Personal Academic Tutor to support students. To enhance the provision and delivery of further education courses through collaborative work within the Regional College. Details to be agreed within future Regional Outcome Agreement - Shared curriculum development Networked FE provision in trial areas

Aug 2015 – Aug 2016 Aug 2016

CMT

BR

3. To further develop internal and

external progression routes.

Increase internal and external progression routes including FE to FE; FE to HE; HE to HE; FE to employment; HE to employment. Baseline figure provided in2014 – 2017 UHI / Regional College Outcome agreement. To be measured by progression figures to be produced annually by College and UHI. To play a full and active part in producing the ‘Orkney Offer’ to all senior phase stage pupils / students across College and schools in Orkney.

Revise timetabling of courses to better accommodate movement of young people between schools and college during the college/school week. In partnership with schools introduce Foundation Apprenticeships in two subject areas (Maritime and Care) in 2016-17 academic year.

Mar 2015 Aug 2016 Aug 2016 Aug 2016

BR

CMT &

school Heads

CMT

CMT &

school Heads

4. To promote diversity and

inclusion in all its contexts.

Implementation of College Equality Outcome Action Plan with monitoring by CMT. Specifically within the College Equality Outcomes action Plan provide staff training in promoting diversity (to be identified and delivered through Learning, Teaching and Assessment strategy activities).

Aug 2016 Mar 2016

JW

CMT

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Monitor staff team plans for the promotion of equality and diversity. Staff evaluate within curriculum self-evaluation reports. Monitor volume of proportion of credits relating to learners from different protected characteristics and report regionally Publication of information required under the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties Scotland Regulations 2012) Curriculum Leaders evaluate protected characteristics statistics.

June 2016 Baseline Sept 2013 April 2016 Annually

CLS/ JW/IG

JW/BR

JW

JW

5. To have a sustainable research

profile.

Monitor progress towards milestones & undertake quarterly budget review of Archaeology Institute to ensure income and expenditure are balanced on a rolling basis across teaching, research and commercial activity. Seek to extract best opportunities from International profile of research work. Achieve sustainability in relation to Agronomy research through promoting benefits of quality value added of Orkney sourced food and drink products. (including second round of whisky product coming to market) Further develop supply chains relating to researched crops and build on international collaboration opportunities. Undertake quarterly budget review and if necessary make necessary saving to achieve financial sustainability

Seek new income streams for Centre for Nordic Studies. Explore funding to support progression to Institute. Build on the current areas of success of the CNS expanding research and student numbers, whilst simultaneously reduce operating costs. Review arrangements to ensure that Shetland and Orkney locations of CNS both attain financial stability. Undertake quarterly budget review and if necessary make necessary saving to achieve financial sustainability

Investigate opportunities for growing research profile in

Aug 2015 – Aug 2018 Aug 2015 – Aug 2018 Aug 2015 – Aug 2018 Aug 2015

JD

JD/RA

/CS /BR

PM

PM /BR /CS

DH

DH /BR /CS

AB

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Art and Design, linked to research development in other UHI partners and cross sectoral developments in Orkney Undertake thorough 6 monthly reviews of financial performance of all business areas to ensure financial viability and where necessary undertake appropriate remedial actions Identify clearer methods for presenting business unit budgets and showing where income will come from. Implement necessary actions resulting from findings of Internal Audit review being undertaken in 2015/16

– Aug 2018 Aug 2015 – Aug 2018 April 2016 Aug 2016

BR/CS/KG & res. leads

CS

BR/ CS

6. To establish suitable

accommodation arrangements for students without homes in Orkney

To maintain an accommodation list of self-catering rental and B&B properties in Orkney suitable for students. To work with OIPDL to make full use of student housing facilitated by OIC. To explore opportunities to expand student accommodation opportunities further through cross-UHI student housing project. OC in Phase 3 of UHI student residences project. To explore opportunities for young people from the isles to access school hostel accommodation when studying as part of the ‘Orkney Offer’.

Maintain Aug 2016 Dec 2017 Aug 2016

BR/IG

BR/IG

BR

BR

7. To expand the range of

teaching approaches including the use of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to promote effective teaching as set out in the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy

Implementation of UHI wide VLE framework for FE through UHI Senior Managers Curriculum Team. Curriculum Development funding through ESIF available from Aug 2017 – July 2020

Agree local targets for increased use of VLE through LTA strategy.

Dec 2016 Aug 2016

BR

IG

8. Curriculum Developments

planned in specific curriculum areas. (Note: SFC have identified joint funding with

Agriculture - Explore opportunity for offering

HNC Agriculture in partnership

with other UHI partners

Aug 2016

BS

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Europe from 2014-20 onwards with a joint bid being coordinated by the SMCT of the Regional College – which may support some of the developments identified here.)

dependent on demand.

Construction - Access courses are popular but

need to encourage employers,

where possible, to take on an

increased number of apprentices

as long term investments.

Art & Design - Contribute to delivery of a

Masters level module in Art &

Design.

- Contribute teaching to Degree –

Film & Video networked

course, contributing one or two

modules from Orkney.

- Introduce SVQ in Small Craft

Business development.

Hospitality - First run of HND Professional

Cookery in 2014-15. (N.B. HNC

and HND will run alternate years).

Hospitality Generic Worker –

non clinical development

Business - Introduce Intermediate 2 in Office

Administration for 2015/16 subject

to numbers.

Introduce Modern

Apprenticeship in Office

Administration

Maritime - Deliver Life raft training

courses.

- Develop Advanced Fire Training

courses using facility established

Aug 2016 Aug 2016 Aug 2017 Aug 2015 Aug 2015 – June 2016 Aug 2016 Aug 2015 Aug 2015 Jan 2016 Aug 2016

MR

AB

AB

AB

AH

AH

MSm

MSh

MSh MSh

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at Kirkwall Airport.

- Deck Rating Apprenticeship to be

developed over coming three

years. Start date depends on

current market research.

Business Engage. - Keep offering and pricing

structure under review.

Care - Development of higher level

courses in Hairdressing &

Beauty Therapy. Funding

sourced from RBS - £15,000 to

develop facilities.

- Introduce and deliver new

‘Education Assistants’ course.

- Introduce and deliver new

Dementia training course.

Introduce and deliver new

Autistic Spectrum Disorder

course.

- Continue to support the

development of Generic Care

Worker SVQs.

Employability - New bidding round in 2015-16 for

employability programmes –

aiming to expand the College

SVQ portfolio pending successful

bids for funding.

School/College - Agree revised college / school

timetable for 2016/17 to facilitate

new senior phase provision.

Aug 2016 Aug 2016 Aug 2016 Aug 2015 – Jul 2016 Aug 2015 – Jul 2016 Aug 2015 – Jul 2016 Aug 2015 – Jul 2016 Jan 2016 Aug 2016

MSh

DL/BR

IG/WB

WB

WB

WB

WB

IG/IW

IG/BR

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Development of ‘Orkney Offer’

in partnership with Orkney

Schools

Energy/Engineering Explore opportunity to introduce

basic engineering courses if

sufficient local interest can be

identified from employers and

potential students – Engineering

SVQ (work based

apprenticeships).

Introduce Foundation

Apprenticeship in Marine

Engineering as part of ‘Orkney

Offer’ – Funded by SDS

Teacher Training Introduce PGDE Secondary

Education Teacher Training to

Orkney with focus on STEM

subjects and other local

shortage subject priorities.

Dec 2015/ Aug 2016 Aug 2016 or later dependent on funding & demand Aug 2016 Aug 2016

IG/BR

IG/ MSh

IG/ MSh

IG

/

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Aim 2.

To ensure the financial security and to develop the College as a sustainable organisation.

1. To ensure that the College

operates within its budget and that it operates on sound financial planning principles and respond to Scottish Government Reform Priorities

Balanced Annual Accounts Student number returns report achievement of student number targets Achievement of financial security as demonstrated by balance of income and expenditure on a year on year basis. FE funding for 2015/16 and 2016/17 to remain at 2014/15 level. Increases in national insurance costs will necessitate compensatory savings.

Clean Financial and SFC Funding Credits Audits Financial Forecast Return (FFR) project sustainability Ensure appropriate staff are trained / empowered to monitor their own budgets Achieve the SFC Funding Credits target of 3,622 as the previous WSUMs target of 5,109 with same level of funding as 2013/14 with implied efficiency gains to cover inflation / 1.5% pay award in 2015/16 and 1% in 2016/17. All three business / research areas achieve balanced budget in order to avoid adverse impact on overall college budget. Introduce compensatory savings actions if this is not likely to be achieved.

Mar 2016 & Annually Aug 2016 & Annually Mar 2016 & Annually Oct 2015 & Annually July 2016 & Annually Dec 2015 & Annually April 2016 Aug 2016

BR

BR

CS

CS

CS

CS/ BR

BR

BR/ CS

2. To comply with the financial and

reporting requirements of Orkney Islands Council (OIC), Scottish Funding Council (SFC), Highlands and Islands Regional College, the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and other funding bodies.

Annual Accounts returns Completed Student data returns Successful SFC Funding Credit Audits

April 2016 & Annually Aug 2016 & Annually Oct 2015 & Annually

CS

CS

CS

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Address outcomes of OIC Internal Audit review of business / research areas.

Aug 2016

BR/ CS

3. To maximise business efficiency

across teaching, research and support areas.

Develop and introduce new activity volume measurement to determine if class sizes are viable (N.B. New methods required due to change in FE funding methodology.

Improve efficiency of room utilisation, student timetabling and staff deployment through introduction of CELCAT timetabling software in 2016, pending sufficient finances to purchase software. To act on recommendations that arise from the OIC Internal Audit of the College business / research areas being undertaken in 2015/16.

Aug 2016 & annual review Mar 2015 Aug 2016

BR

BR/ LS

BR/ CS

4. To review funding to maximise

income generation, including seeking recognition of additional costs of delivery in island communities

Seek to maintain remoteness funding for island colleges in new Regional College. To optimise income generation from new European funding (ESIF) aimed at funding new FE provision for better preparing young people for employment. Optimise curriculum delivery in response to new SFC Funding Credit replacement for WSUMs To seek to influence the SFC review of rural and remoteness funding to ensure that the additional costs of operating in an island community are recognised.

June 2015 Aug 2016 – Aug 2020 Aug 2016 Aug 2016 – Aug 2017

BR

BR/ CMT

BR

BR

5. To raise awareness of the

economic benefits of Orkney College UHI to the Community.

Arrange awareness raising briefings and visits of CMC Members to departments College Management Council Membership – two vacancies for ‘business member’ – arrange to advertise & recruit

Mar 2016 & Annually Jan 2016

BR

BR

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Aim 3.

To enhance partnership links at local, regional and national levels contributing to economic growth / regeneration and cultural enrichment

1. To strengthen collaborative

work with schools, employers and other organisations.

Regular engagement with Education Authority, schools, SDS, Orkney Health and Care, Job Centre Plus and local employers. Participation in Open Days at Schools and other events such as Careers Fayres. Revitalising Maritime provision through partnership working with, for example, Orkney Fisheries Training Association, European Marine Energy Centre, HIAL etc. Engagement with Construction Skills and Orkney Construction Training Group. Pier Arts Centre – monitor development of new visual arts centre in collaboration with Edinburgh School of Art and investigate opportunities for a College input. Provision of training for OIC – on-going work to establish College as a key provider of training for the Council. Look for opportunities for closer working within the wider Leisure and Lifelong Learning Service and work jointly on delivery of the Service / Council Plan.

Engagement with ‘employability’ services – ensuring coordination of activities Employability Strategy Group. The play a key role in establishing the ‘Orkney Offer’ to all 16 – 19 year old young people in Orkney. Undertake required curriculum revision and timetabling in order to facilitate this. Target Thursdays and Fridays as main days for school pupils to partake of college provision. Introduction of two Foundation Apprenticeship course in 2016/17 in partnership with schools and employers

Aug 2016 & on-going Aug 2016 & on-going Aug 2016 & on-going Aug 2016 & on-going Aug 2016 & on-going Aug 2016 & on-going Aug 2016 & on-going Aug 2016 & on-going Aug 2016 Aug 2016

CMT

JW

IG

IG

IG

BR

BR/ KG

BR/ KG

BR/ CMT

BR/IG

2. To be a full partner in the local

To make a full contribution as a statutory partner in

Aug 2016

BR

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Community Planning Partnership

the Community Planning Partnership

To implement those elements of the Wood Commission report ‘Education Working For All! Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce – Final Report’ that fall within the remit of the College. To engage with and encourage other relevant bodies to take forward the Wood Commission recommendations and seek opportunities for the college to support this through partnership working. To ensure that the College is appropriately represented on relevant Community Planning Partnership strategy and working groups.

& ongoing Aug 2016 & ongoing Aug 2016 & ongoing Aug 2016 & ongoing

BR/ CMT

BR

BR/ CMT

3. To engage in partnership

working locally, nationally and Internationally.

Maintain an influential presence on UHI key strategic groups including, Executive Board; Partnership Planning Forum; Learning & Teaching Committee, Finance Directors Group and other steering groups. Play full part in the development of the Highlands and Islands Regional College including FE Regional Board; Senior Managers Curriculum Team. Continue to Chair the UHI Senior Managers Curriculum Team ensuring a high level of OC participation in Regional College developments including FE VLE developments and sharing of curriculum development / delivery Partnership working to be undertaken by College curriculum areas at local level and some national Partnership working to be undertaken by College research areas at local, national and international level

Aug 2016 & ongoing Aug 2016 & ongoing Aug 2016 Aug 2016 & ongoing Aug 2016 & ongoing

BR / IG / JW / CS Chair / BR

BR

CMT

DH / JD / PM / AB

4. To be responsive to the needs

of the business community.

Ensure a responsive Short Course / CPD programme

Aug 2016 & annually

CMT

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Maintain / establish effective industry advisory boards for each curriculum area. Target of all areas having an operational advisory group.

Establishing research / industry links. Supporting the establishment of supply chains through Knowledge Transfer The Regional College has identified a priority of improving the level of engagement with business and industry and particularly SMEs regarding curriculum development and more broadly. Work with regional lead for employer engagement to promote Orkney College training services across the region.

Mar 2015 Aug 2016 & on-going Aug 2016

CMT BR + research leads BR & CMT

5. To be a full and active partner in

the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Expanding range of provision available to learners in Orkney including development of Professional Development Awards (PDA)s. Increase the number of degrees taken up by students in Orkney by at least one each year for the next three years To take a lead role in promoting the need for (and benefits of) of all academic partners promoting a wide range of networked degrees to students in their locality Greater networking of HNC/D provision, building on successful work with North Highland and Shetland colleges Engagement of staff in major developments and processes e.g. curriculum; research, quality, Re-approval events; subject review; staff development; quality processes ; CPD systems; academic planning; Postgraduate taught (PGT) courses.

Aug 2016 & on-going Aug 2016 Aug 2016 & on-going Aug 2015 & on-going

CMT

BR

IG / LR

CMT

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Aim 4.

To nurture and encourage an ethos of continuous improvement

1. To use key performance

indicators (KPI) to inform strategies to improve year on year student retention and achievement.

Review and analysis of PIs by Course Teams, Curriculum areas and CMT. All Course Annual Reports (CAR) to include clear analysis of KPI data including benchmarking against national data where available. Inclusion and effectiveness to be monitored by Assistant Principals. Focus in 2015/16 is for reviews to be more evaluative. The baseline for the number and proportion of students achieving a nationally recognised qualification in the Regional College will be established and reviewed annually by FEPPC to decide if this is to be increased. Regional Target for early student retention rate of 92%. As OC is already above then target of increase or, at least maintain. Attainment rate target for College for 2015-16 will again be to exceed national attainment figures with focus this year on course level targets and use by staff of PIs at course level to improve learning experience.

Oct 2015 Oct 2015 Mar 2016 July 2016 Jan 2016

CMT

CMT

BR

CMT

CMT / CLs

2. To demonstrate rigour and

consistency in self-evaluation leading to enhancement of learning and teaching.

College Management Council monitoring and reporting on quality. Through CMC Quality group. Produce annual combined UHI Quality Monitoring Report and SFC Statement of Institution-led Quality Review Activities Annual review of learning teaching and assessment strategy Engagement with students regarding self- evaluation of learning & teaching Undertake student reviews at course level using Curriculum self-evaluation tool. Arrange staff development on diversity of learning and

Dec 2016 Sept 2015 & annually June 2016 & annually Oct 2015 Dec 2015 & annually Mar 2016

BR

IG

IG

IG

IG

IG

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teaching strategies for staff – organise through Learning and Teaching Strategy

& bi-annual updating

3. To increase the embedding of

national priorities for the Senior Phase, blended learning and ICT in learning and teaching across all curriculum areas

UHI Senior Managers Curriculum Team, chaired by OC Principal has remit which includes ensuring: -

a) Facilitating cross college curriculum groups at

FE, linked to HE. UHI as a partnership is developing modules to support the senior phase in schools across the Highlands and Islands with roll-out planned from August 2015. Work with Regional lead to contribute to blended learning delivery of senior phase options across the Highlands and Islands

Sept 2014 – Aug 2015 Aug 2016

BR

BR/ IG

4. To increase student

engagement in the work and life of the College.

Strengthen support provided to student engagement – review priorities of role of student engagement / marketing officer shifting focus to student engagement in response to increased importance placed on this by Scottish Government and Education Scotland.

College student engagement officer to work with student course representatives to organise a sequence of student engagement activities throughout the year.

Ensure that student representatives on College committees, including the College Management council receive appropriate induction and schedule space for student input on agendas. Provide training for student representatives to ensure that they understand their role fully, including feeding back to their peers following course review and other committee involvement. Regional College target to evidence student engagement and satisfaction. To achieve a consistent approach to evidencing this in order to allow meaningful comparisons

Aug 2016 Mar 2016 Sept 2015 Sept 2015 & annually July 2016

BR

IG

IG

IG/ Reg. Coll.

BR / Reg. Coll.

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across the nine colleges will be put in place by August 2016 for use in session 2016-17 Monitor student engagement across the Regional College partners to measure progress at increasing student engagement. Support the new Highlands and Islands Student Association at Orkney Collegeto provide a range of student activities in 2015/16. Review achievements in July 2016.

July 2016 July 2016

BR/ FEEB

BR/ CMT

5. To work towards becoming a

Green College

The Region will, with SFC support, put in place a sustainability framework which the nine colleges will use to ensure that there is consistency of approach – ongoing discussion in Regional College.

The Regional Board will set sustainability targets locally and regionally for academic year 2016-17 by the end of academic year 2015-16 The Region will, with SFC support, undertake a review of the estates of the nine colleges by Aug 2015 (College estate being evaluated by OIC – will feed in to Regional estates survey) The Regional Board will have agreed its key estates priorities by the end of academic year 2015-16 Establish baseline carbon footprint for Orkney College in 2015/16, engaging with Zero Waste Scotland. And using SFC framework Ensure that College statutory reporting on green priorities takes place – N.B. Support from Technical Services required to gather necessary estates information and plan priorities for action.

Mar 2016 July 2016 Mar 2016 Jul 2016 Mar 2016 Mar 2016

BR

BR

BR

BR

BR

BR

6. To engage proactively with

Education Scotland though the Annual Engagement Visit and College HMI.

Maintain, and build on, the positive outcome from Education Scotland Full Review with a minimum target of satisfactory quality ratings (Regional College target). Obtain Confidence ratings in all aspects of Education

Aug 2016

CMT

23


Scotland Full Review / Annual Engagement Visits. Implement action plan for improvement following Education Scotland Review in March 2014 and Annual Engagement visit in May 2015. Actions incorporated in this plan and specific activities of Learning, Teaching and Assessment strategy; Access and Inclusion Group, College Management team etc. Arrange a programme of visits by College HMI in support of Education Scotland Review main points for action Ensure that College quality systems and reporting are kept up to date in relation to best practice in the sector and changes to Education Scotland priorities.

Aug 2016 3 visits in 2015/16 Aug 2016

CMT

IG

IG

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