The Vibe, Issue 3

ST PATRICK'S STUDENT

NEWSLETTER

Issue 3January

2015

ISSUE 3

I T ’ S

A L L

A B O U T

Opening message

St Patrick’s college moves to new campuses

St Patrick’s students graduate

Welcome to our new UniNettuno students

St Patrick’s student accepted into prestigious institute

Student Hall of Fame

Inspire to aspire

Leaver ’s word

A wicket side

Project Runway: eclectic styles & global influences

Meet your staff...

St Patrick’s 5-a-side Cup

Student Experience department profile

St Patrick’s student elections

Student Experience calendar

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2014 has really been an eventful year for us all at St. Patrick’s. You, the student body, elected the first ever Student Council to represent you, giving you a student voice that will be heard. You also took part in the first comprehensive Student Experience Survey, with over 840 of you responding. This seriously was impressive; comparatively, many universities do not experience such participation from students, so well done!

You also took part in many student activities, including setting up our very own football team who played 2 competitive matches in their first season in addition to the St. Patrick’s Football Cup Tournament – which fell in line with our Health & Wellbeing Campaign in May which encouraged a healthy lifestyle.

We have adopted a student-centric approach in all that we do, and we try and enhance the student experience wherever and whenever possible. That’s why last year was all about YOU - and we aim for the New Year to be the same, or better!

I think a big well done to you is in order for being such a fantastic student body: ready to engage, ready to be involved, and ready to be heard.

Amol Gurung, Director of Student Experience

Opening message

THE VIBE

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ST PATRICK’S THE VIBE

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NEW CAMPUSES


Our new campuses in Billiter Street and Duncan House in Stratford, are now fully operational, despite some challenges. We hope you are all fully settled in now!

So far, you’ve given us some great feedback on the location, especially as it is easier to commute to for many of you, and the building and facilities are much improved compared to those at New Court.

We’re glad that we can now give you a campus that offers you a better experience, including a new library, canteen, and breakout areas. Let us know what you think about our new home at studentexperience@ st-patricks.ac.uk

St Patrick’s college moves to new campuses

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ST PATRICK’S STUDENTS GRADUATEIn October, students from St. Patrick’s took part in a joint graduation ceremony held at St. Giles-in-the-Fields Church near Soho.

Professor Daniel Khan addressed the students and spoke of how proud he is of their achievement, adding that they must go on to inspire others to achieve great things too.

St Patrick’s is proud that so many students continue to go from strength to strength after graduating, and wishes them the best for the future.

Well done to the class of 2014!


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Welcome to our new Uninettuno students

St Patrick’s student accepted into prestigious institute

One of St Patrick’s recently graduated students, Helen Abumchukwu, has secured a place at INSEAD...

St Patrick’s College recently welcomed a group of new international students from Uninettuno.

From a range of over 20 countries worldwide, these students are studying courses ranging from Global MBA, Finance & Investment, Strategic Marketing and International Business Law. Our business department have left nothing to chance, supplying them with the best lecturers to ensure they have a top quality learning experience with us.

...after completing her Extended Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership.

INSEAD (the European Institute for Business Administration) is one of the top institutions in Europe for business. Ms Abumchukwu has been offered a place on their Executive MBA Global programme.

St Patrick’s is proud that one of their top students continues to go from strength to strength, and wishes her all the best for the future.

St Patrick’s principal, Professor Daniel Khan OBE, welcomed them with a meal at a traditional English pub near Billiter Street. He showed them what they can expect from other staff members: that they will be friendly, welcoming, and happy to help.

With their first term almost over, they have been working hard and enjoying their time with us.


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STUDENT HALL OF

FAME


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What is your background?

At the age of 17 I had a deal with Polydor Records, a music record label. During this time I realised that it was more about business than music: it wasn’t about creativity, or making music from the heart. It was a factory line of artists.

Going through that inspired us to start Their Icarus. I have been a youth worker for over 20 years and I have seen the talents of so many young, exceptional individuals go to waste. They were people who tried, but weren’t given the opportunities to follow their dreams. This was the main reason we decided to start Their Icarus.

What are you studying at St Patrick’s College, and why?

I study Business Management, because I want to add to my business knowledge.

What do you do in your spare time?

I do mixed martial arts, mentor young people in schools and youth centres, spend time with my family, and write film scripts. I’m currently making my first feature film.

What inspired you to start up your own business?

We were inspired by all the gifted people we have known and the young people we believe were not given the opportunity to reach their full potential.

What type of business do you have?

My business is called Their Icarus. It will be a website-based crowdfunding platform and social network, with categories covering music, sport, science, arts, technology, medicine, business and invention.

The social network platform will allow gifted individuals to connect with other like-minded people, so they can collaborate with people who are in the same or similar industry. The website will also allow fans of these individuals to support them and follow their career progress. They can seek financial backing from family, friends and the wider internet community to create products related to their field.We would help provide mentors from their chosen field to give advice and support them throughout their journey.

The ultimate aim of the website is to give exceptional individuals the chance to fulfil their goals and share their gift with the world.The site will be completed and launched in March 2015.

How did you get your business off the ground?

We pitched to a company called SOLVE, who help people make their business ideas a reality by becoming a seed investor. We thankfully secured the investment to start building the website.

Where do you see your business in the next 5 years?

In 5 years we hope to be the one stop shop for talented people where they can get all the support they need, whether it is through financial backing or mentoring. We want to be the place to go to discover the next big thing; the next up and coming artist, scientist, sports person, or inventor.

What has been the highlight in your journey?

The highlight has been meeting all these gifted people and seeing how happy they are when we tell them we are building a website where they can showcase these gifts and be recognised for it.

What motivates you?

Helping people, and knowing there are many with great ideas and talents that go to waste. Even though they tried, they didn’t get the opportunity to share their full

potential with the world.What has been your biggest challenge?

Making sure that everyone on board, from the web developer to the first project owners, understands and has the same passion for the website as we do.

Do you have any advice for any students who is starting their own business?

Do your research and know your market, but most of all believe in yourself. Stay true to your vision and remember that all the doubters’ negative comments are only words. Only your actions decide what happens, whether those words become true or not.

Interested in what Their Icarus do?

Follow them:

Facebook – Their Icarus project Twitter – @theiricarus

We want to celebrate successful St Patrick’s students who have mapped out a post study path or who are business owners. We hope that these exceptional students can inspire you to continue pursuing your road to a bright future.

This issue, our role model is Colin Ralph.


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INSPIRE TO

ASPIRE THE ASPIRATIONS INITIATIVE ...

Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible. Tony Robbins

Opportunities don’t often come along. So, when they do, you have to grab them. Audrey Hepburn

Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds. Gordon B. HinckleyI am not a product of my

circumstances. I am a product

of my decisions. Stephen Covey

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. Thomas Paine

Success doesn’t come to you, you go to it. Marva Collins

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. Thomas Jefferson

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THE ASPIRATIONS INITIATIVE ...

As a college, we want to inspire you all to fulfil the best of your potential. Whether it is in your studies, life goals and ambitions, or self-confidence, we want to provide you with the tools to reach beyond your expectations through our new initiative. The Aspirations Initiative is soon to be launched in 2015 at St Patrick’s by the Student Experience team. Our aim is to provide you with career development and direction whilst on your course, with activities including CV classes, discussion

groups, and information galleries. As an ongoing service, the initiative will also support you in your quest to find course related placements, helping you to determine what your long term goals are and map a path to achieving them. Our information galleries will feature typical job roles and salaries which successful students can aim for, as well as identifying role models within your chosen field. However, for some nothing can beat a real world example,

and this is why we will also host talks from real people with real stories who have climbed the ladder of success. This series of talks will be called ‘Fresh Futures’, and it will also include a student discussion group to allow you to exchange your opinions and ideas. As the saying goes: “Each one, teach one”. And if this wasn’t enough, we will also be increasing the regularity of our CV workshops. We want nothing more than to support you all, creating

opportunities for you to see the possibilities around you and encouraging your drive to succeed.

If you would like to find out more or participate in these activities, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Email: studentexperience@ st-patricks.ac.uk

Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. Napoleon Hill

I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse. Florence Nightingale

Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. Albert Einstein

Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement.. W. Clement Stone

In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can. Nikos Kazantzakis

Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later. Og Mandino

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Maya Angelou

The mind is everything. What you think you become. Buddha

Eighty percent of success is showing up. Woody Allen

You are never too old to

set another goal or to dream

a new dream. C. S. Lewis

If you can dream it, you can do it. Walt Disney

It is never too late to be what you might have been. George Eliot


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LEAVER’S

WORD


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Achievements•Technology Student Council Officer•Green Machine Football Team,

Position – Midfield/ Attack•Principal’s Award for Outstanding

Academic Achievement: For the student who has performed the best academically

•The Transnational Education Award for Enabling Globalisation: For the most proactive and impressive International Student

I’m Benjamin Dunkwu, and I’ve had a really enjoyable time studying here at St Patrick’s.

It’s emotional to say good bye; it’s been a long but very good few years.

I’m happy to be leaving to start something new, and I think I will be leaving St Patrick’s a better place. Whilst I’ve been here, there has been a great atmosphere, great staff, great students, and it’s a great place.

Thank you, and goodbye!

Benjamin Dunkwu ,HND Technology Class of 2012-2014


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A WICKET

SIDE


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by Jonathan Osanyingbemi

If I was going to become a legend of the game, I would need to reflect on what the game meant to me. Suddenly, my mind became flooded with forgotten images of watching my West Indian Granddad become animated at the sight of a fellow Caribbean catching a cricket ball on our TV screen. Despite having little understanding of what this meant, I decided that the West Indies were my team and Viv Richards was my hero. The crazy thing is that to this day I still maintain that belief, despite not being able to recall a single moment of watching the sport. So, my knowledge would have to improve for the game. After fourteen days of playing Stick Cricket on my iPhone, I knew someone was in for a surprise. Unfortunately, it landed not on my opponents but on the man who had put too much faith in the hands of Steve Jobs: me. After receiving the proud accolade of not being picked last, I looked around at what was

about to unfold. On one side stood several St Patrick’s cricket enthusiasts dressed in traditional white cricketing attire alongside brightly clothed newbies, all ready to play and drawing astonishment from passers-by. Directly opposite were another happy bunch from our college, preparing to play rounders for the first time as adults. I would partake in both, but for now my focus was the gentleman’s game. With my team first to bat, I stepped up to the crease. I looked into the eyes of the vultures dressed as fielders and the man taking on the legend in waiting (according to the author). He threw the ball towards the ground; the ball spun up and hurtled towards my wicket. Contact was made - fortunately, it was with the bat. I had managed to protect my wicket. I scored nothing, but I had achieved my first aim: to hit the ball. In came the next, and I prepared to repeat the same trick. Maybe I should have done that earlier, because suddenly everyone around me

was shouting in jubilation: “OUT!” Whilst waiting to field I had a less serious go at rounders, and indulged in some hummous dip as music played from the speakers we had brought along. Before long, it was my team’s turn to field and there he was: the man who had dared to scatter the wickets of the self-proclaimed batting king. This time, the shoe would be on the other foot. I would have revenge. After narrowly missing a group of spectators, I decided enough was enough. It was time to prove I could do more than scare the crowd. Reader, it should be pretty clear by now that I was not going to achieve anything spectacular, but my bowling did improve, and I even found fielding to be a great exercise in meditation. But there was more to it than that. I learnt that regardless of your ability, any activity which promotes interaction with people from different backgrounds is a great thing. Oh, and by the way - we won.

After the events for football, basketball, and athletics, it was now the turn of cricket and rounders. The first ever Cricket & Rounders Picnic was hosted at the end of last term in Hyde Park.

Why cricket? Because a large number of students had repeatedly and passionately requested for the game. Why rounders? Because, unlike rounders, many do not believe that the game of cricket can just be picked up – and as the organiser (and an intended participant), I set out to prove this wrong.

Students from the School of Fashion & Textiles are in full-scale development on their final major project, which will be showcased at the St Patrick’s Spring 2015 Collection. They are creating nothing but the best designs, using eclectic styles and showing that they have what it takes to meet the standards of the industry and demonstrate their love for fashion.

This final project gives students the opportunity to exercise their skills in Garment Manufacture, Fashion Collection Realisation and Project Design, and Implementation and Evaluation. The collection features a wide range of styles, with diverse global influences from classical Egyptian sculpture to the 1960’s ecological movement or the Japanese Wabi-Sabi aesthetic.

The 2nd Year fashion designers will be showing off their Spring Collection in their own Fashion Show in the early 2015, hosted by St Patrick’s. The styles on display will include:

•Eveningwear, merging gowns influenced by the Hollywood golden era with art nouveau silhouettes inspired by nature

•Daywear and coats drawing inspiration from 1920’s deco, American tailoring, and the contemporary Egyptian couture of Zuhair Morad

• Luxury street wear for the sustainability-minded woman, combining modernist styling with natural textures and finishes and organically dyed fabrics

•Pop-inspired knitwear evoking the idealism of the 1970s ecology movement, filtered through the lens of Jacques Cousteau

•Radical bridal wear inspired by Japanese couture, combining grace and vibrancy from custom designed prints

•Menswear and accessories, with a subtle theme evoking Samurai and medieval imagery


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E C L E C T I C S T Y L E S & G L OB A L I N F LU E N C E S


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With all these designs on show, this will be an event that is definitely not to be missed.

Aig O Imoukhuede,President of the Student Council

MEET YOUR STAFF...

Where are you based?

Stratford Campus.

What are two interesting facts about you?

I love music and to dance.

What is a memory you have from when you were a student?

I was very motivated for sports and communications.

What are your hobbies?

Dance, watching movies, and travelling.

What advice would you give to students here at the college?

Work hard for great results.


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Tamara Torres, Essential Skills Tutor

What do you do at St Patrick’s?

I work with the students, providing ways to assist them

academically and non-academically. I also oversee the Student Council and make sure the student’s voices are heard.


22 Billiter Street.

What are two interesting facts about you?

1. I graduated from St Patricks College as an International Student

2. I aim to be a professional life coach - mentoring, counselling and coaching people to help them achieve their goals.

What is a memory you have from when you were a student?

There are actually a number of memories I would like to share,

such as the Christmas Boat parties, fashion shows, and St Patrick’s Day, but one memory that stands out is the St Patrick’s Pantomime.

What are your hobbies?

Outdoor sporting activities, travelling, music and watching TV.

What advice would you give to students here at the college?

Regardless of your experience as a student or the reputation of the school, your college is only what you tell others it is. You are an ambassador of your college.


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ST PATRICK’S 5-A-SIDE CUP

The tournament featured three strongly equipped teams: Wayne’s Wonders, Blue Brigade, and Patrick’s Players. In an eventually sunny day, they competed in a round robin format, ensuring everyone had the chance to impress.

Despite a great performance from star striker Joseph Elume, Wayne’s Wonders failed to qualify for the final, and bowed out after coming third on goal difference to Patrick’s Players.

After a final game with Patrick’s Players, Blue Brigade put out the

fire and celebrated as they held their trophy aloft.

It was a great end to the football season and all of the teams look forward to getting back to training.

Last term, the first ever St Patrick’s student and staff 5-a-side cup kicked off at the Ferndale Community Centre in Brixton.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE DEPARTMENT

PROFILE24



In Room 120 at Duncan House, and on the 7th floor at Billiter Street. How long has the department been a part of St Patrick’s?

The department was created in January 2014, it will be our one year anniversary! What do you do as a department?

We provide a new, fresh outlook on the college experience, and generate ideas on how to further engage the students here at St Patrick’s.

We focus solely on student satisfaction and strive to give students the best experience they can possibly have during

their time here, whether that is by encouraging them to grow, to be ambitious, or to realize their potential and be successful. How do you assist students?

We create events and other extra-curricular activities to improve and develop students’ academic skills. For example, we liaised with the Essential Skills department to provide S.E.E.D workshops.

We also have a student council in place to give students the opportunity to be heard constructively.

This year, we have released two student surveys to receive student feedback on how we can improve the experience at the college, and what extra-curricular activities students would like to see in place.

Lastly, we have been assisting 2nd year Health and Social Care students with finding work placements for them to successfully complete their course.

What would you like to achieve?

We would like to achieve the best student experience possible for our students, and continue to develop better communication between us. What words of advice would you give to students?

Don’t let any experience dictate the level of your success. Continue to strive towards greatness.


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REGISTRATION OPENS ON 5/01/15REGISTRATION CLOSES ON 15/01/15

Essential

• Excellent attendance record• Up to date with assignments• Good communication skills• No adverse disciplinary record at St. Patrick’s• Completion of at least one term at St. Patrick’s• Applicants must have a minimum of two terms

of study remaining at St. Patrick’s

Desirable

• Existing class representation• Excellent managerial and leadership skills• Flexible availability• Committed & dedicated to student issues• Self-motivated and responsible

CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATION


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Email the Student Experience team at [email protected] with your:

• Student No• Full name• Course name • Start date • Contact details

REGISTER NOW TO STAND IN THE ELECTION

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STUDENTEXPERIENCE CALENDARJanuary

Student Council Elections - Registration opens 5th Jan (Both campuses)

February

•S.E.E.D Workshops: academic writing, Microsoft Office, CV, and interviews (Both campuses)

•S.E.E.D guest speaker/industry visit (Both campuses)•Skills exchange (Both campuses)•Debating Society (Both campuses)•St Patrick’s Sports Activities (Off campus)

March

•S.E.E.D Workshops: academic writing, Microsoft Office, CV, and interviews (Both campuses)

•S.E.E.D guest speaker/industry visit (Both campuses)•Skills exchange (Both campuses)•Debating Society (Both campuses)•St Patrick’s Sports Activities (Off campus)

For queries about the football training, please speak to Jonathan (7th Floor, Room 708, Billiter Street). Email him at [email protected], or contact Ijah, (1st Floor, Room 120, Duncan House, Stratford) at [email protected].

For queries about the S.E.E.D workshops, please speak to Ijah (1st Floor, Room 120, Duncan House, Stratford) at [email protected]

ST PATRICK’S

Follow usFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/StPatricksCol

Twitter @StPatricksCol

Interested in writing an article for The Vibe? We would love to have your contributions!

Email us at [email protected] with subject heading ‘Writing for The Vibe’ to get in touch and let us know what you’d like to write about. If you’d like to give us any feedback, email us on the same address with subject heading ‘The Vibe Feedback’.

Would you like to help organise events and activities St Patrick’s? To be part of it, email studentexperience @st-patricks.ac.uk with the subject line ‘Getting Involved’.

ST PATRICK'S STUDENT

NEWSLETTER

Issue 3January 2015

Documents

The Vibe, Issue 3