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Student Successes
Alex Rudd
A Banbury campus-based ICT student has shown everybody what a star he really is. After not obtaining the GCSEs he had hoped for in school, Alex Rudd, now 18 years old, proved that on the right course he could make a success of himself.
Alex, from Bicester, has now completed his First Diploma in Information Technology and Computing with exemplary results (equivalent of four GCSEs at grade A*) enabling him to start his National Diploma (a Level 3 course) in September 2007.
Although using computers is a major part of the ICT courses, writing assignments, reports and reviewing work make up a significant part of the workload and involve using skills such as analysis and evaluation as well as good communication skills and a flair for presentation.
Course Leader, Dion Van Overdijk commented that, “Alex combined a healthy dose of confidence with the ability to ask pertinent questions and made excellent use of classroom work time to do his course work. Alex made good use of the additional support that students can receive by contacting the ICT lecturing team using phone and email. Soon this is hoped to be complimented by a text and voice mail service making it even easier for students to get help with their studies when they are on self-study time”.
As part of the course students have the opportunity to seek work experience with local companies, helping to better prepare them for full time work after completing their education. However, whilst his peers persisted with a number of local employers, Alex felt that his skills and knowledge could instead be utilised by some of the curriculum areas within the College. After talking to members of staff at the specialist Performance Engineering Centre in Bicester, Alex felt that he could offer support and expertise creating a ‘Moodle’ presence for the team helping them to more effectively share documents, information and resources with their own students and other members of their team. Initially the course team underestimated the potential, but quickly realised the skills Alex had and how he could make this area work for them. Alex was even able to offer an ‘after-care’ service in helping the team manage the site in his absence.
Dion said, “Alex was particularly proud of the letter of recommendation he received from the Programme Manager, Evers Pearce. This will greatly help him when applying for future courses and especially when he enters employment.”
Alex also managed to achieve his level 2 communication key skills whilst on his course and also successfully re-sat his Maths GCSE. Alex’s response to all the accolades bestowed upon him is simply “I told you I like computers”.
Alex’s cohort only contained two females but a recent change in the syllabus has given the course team the chance to try and attract a greater gender balance with new modules such as web design. It is pleasing to see that already applications for the level 2 classes to start in September, traditionally a male-dominated course, are now equally divided between males and females.
Nicola Romera
Banbury-based Business student Nicole has come one step closer to her aspiration of becoming a solicitor after finding out she had achieved a Distinction grade on her course at OCVC this year.
Nicole started her National Diploma in Business in 2004, and with the guidance and support from her tutors on the course she secured a place at university on her dream course; a Degree in Law.
Her hard work and commitment on the course has meant that Nicole is well prepared for her four-year degree. “My tutors and lecturers at OCVC have all been excellent”, she says. “Their constant encouragement and support has helped keep me focussed throughout the course.”
Doing a qualification such as the National Diploma at OCVC means that students such as Nicole undertake modules in a variety of aspects of Business such as recruitment, marketing and law. She really felt this gave her a good knowledge in each area and helped students decide if they want to specialise in one particular area at higher education level.
Nicole feels that she has benefited greatly from the course, “It has really brought me out of my shell – assignments which involve debating and presenting information have made me more confident. Having strict deadlines to meet with coursework makes you a more independent and responsible person as you really have to push yourself to achieve your potential.”
Nicole’s studies have been helped greatly by a work placement that she has undertaken at local solicitors Brethertons as part of her course;
“I knew I wanted to be a solicitor since I was in secondary school when I did my work experience at Brethertons. I enjoyed it so much that when the opportunity for a placement at the firm came up whilst I was doing my National Diploma I was keen to return. It was a fantastic experience which complimented everything I had learnt on my course”.
Nicole has left college feeling she is absolutely ready for next step in her education. ”The course was ideal”, she says, “it’s given me a great understanding of the profession.”