46 It is important that the proposed curriculum provides the full range of identii ed specialisms and
extends the range of entry and progression opportunities. Both FE and HE provision must build on
existing reputations of the existing partner colleges and must ensure that industry and employer links
are enhanced throughout the merger, development and realization of the new college.
It is important that each specialism is properly and fully recognised and supported by management
teams, with no ini ghting or individual empire building allowed to get in the way of the planned
strategic approach and development of the curriculum for each specialism. With regard to Engineering
and Maritime Studies, these highly important specialisms must be safeguarded and further developed,
given the vital importance of the Maritime Sector and the Merchant Navy particularly to the Scottish
economy. However, these developments must be fully in line with International and UK requirements,
as well as meeting Scotland's specii c sector needs.
The Learner Engagement Strategy is very important and could go further in terms of identifying and
reducing issues leading to 'drop outs' from courses, plus recognising a commitment to providing
destination information.
47 Curriculum - this needs to be tailored to meet the needs of the community, national and international
markets and to have the l exibility to adapt to political, technological and commercial pressures. It is
also essetnial to establish and maintain the highest possible standards.
48 The Greater Glasgow Articulation Partnership welcomes the opportunity to assist in liason between the
new merged college and Glasgow Caledonian University as well as other HEIs within the partnership.
GGAP recognises the benei ts of collaboration between GCU and the new college in the further
development of specialist and niche activity in both HN and degree levels within the SCQF framework.
This will ensure that such developments maximise the opportunities for relevant progression,
contribute to a coherent curriculum for learners in Glsagow city-centre and avoid unnecessary
competition or duplication of ef ort. The merger will provide a platform for the joint development of
new articulation routes for learners, as well as helping to strengthen existing progression pathways.
It also opens up the possibility of a further charing of resources, facilities and staf expertise in shared
development and delivery of programmes.
49 The formal agreement reached in December 2009 to create a city-centre Lifelong Learning Articulation
Framework between Glasgow Caledonian University, the Univerity of Strathclyde and the four
existing city-centre colleges will be one of the mechanisms by which such collaboration and shared
development can be explored. GGAP looks forward to building on its exisitng links with the three citycentre
colleges as they move towards a formal merger.
50 Grouping of any curriculum areas can be problematic however if done correctly the impact on learners
will only be positive.
51 I am concerned slightly by the numbers in creative industries and have to take the New College's
assessment of employability. From a personal viewpoint, thsi looks a little exposed, especially as many
of these industries are shrinking. I would be extremely concerned if specialisms were developed in
games technologies. There is simply not enough work there and there are existing courses in HE. Key
issues are addressing database driven websites, social media (very heavily database based) and, for the
future, open save technologies like P+P My SQL etc.
52 We welcome the extension of thinking that this merger document represented. It builds well on the
previous (quite excellent) research and evaluation undertaken. Notwithstanding this, we would suggest
that further consideration is given to 'exporting' access and non-advanced provision to Glasgow's
community colleges. This will form a central element in the Langside College response to the Scottish
Funding Council's curriculum consultation.
We welcome both the dif erentiating features contained in the quality statement (which allow for
dif erentiation between the new college and the community colleges) and the very positive and
extensive commitment to learner engagement. We would suggest that present Glasgow community
college students should be consulted.
53 The envisaged portfolio of subject provision appears to be shaping towards relevant and existing needs
of the College's stakeholders and the economy and it will be important to maintain the mixed economy
of FE and HE provision to ensure the student and business community are catered for.
The University believes that there are excellent opportunities for working towards ensuring better
articulation links in business, engineering and science which would be aligned with the university's own
areas of strategic importance.
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Appendix 10: Consultation Results