issue 03 JUNE 2013
The Newsletter of Ayrshire College
PRINCIPAL DESIGNATE
New STUDENT PRESIDENT
For Ayrshire College
We’ve had another busy month,
with positive news and exciting
developments happening both
on and off campus.
THE new Student
President for
Ayrshire College
is gearing up for
an exciting - and
challenging - year
ahead. Sharon Rennie
intends to hit the
ground running.
WELCOME
On his recent visit,
Sir Ian Wood, chair
of the Wood
Commission into
the links between
Curriculum for
Excellence, post
16 education and
employers, was very
impressed by the
Heather Dunk,
partnership working
Principal, Ayrshire College
between colleges,
Community Planning Partnerships and
employers in Ayrshire. His visit provided
Ayrshire with an excellent opportunity to
influence future government policy for
colleges across Scotland.
I’m delighted to announce that Jane McKie,
Michael Breen and Bernadette McGuire have
been appointed Vice Principals in Human
Resources and Organisational Wellbeing,
Corporate Services and Learning and
Teaching respectively. You can read more
from them on the next page.
Our workstream groups have had positive
update meetings over the last few weeks
and the Vision Values and Voice workshops
have been a great success.
We also have a new Student President,
Sharon Rennie, who shares her vision for
the future of student life at Ayrshire College
in this edition’s newsletter.
Have a great break over the summer.
I look forward to working with you in
Ayrshire College in August.
“I’m really passionate about
making sure students have better
opportunities and high quality
learning and teaching,” explains
the 34-year-old from Ardrossan.
“I think the merger can only be
good news for students here in
Ayrshire and I honestly believe the
new college will quickly become
an award winning organisation.”
Sharon, who has held the position
of Student President at James
Watt College twice in the past
three years, has more than
10 years’ experience of study
and work.
She says: “My James Watt journey
began all the way back in 2003
when I did a social sciences HNC,
and I came back to work at the
college as a vocational assistant
in 2008.
“That was a fantastic role, working
with students experiencing
difficulties and helping them
to realise their full potential.
“It was tough at times, and hard
work, but it was very rewarding.
Out of the 16 people I was working
with, 14 went into education and
some of them are now doing
degree courses.”
Sharon, who also has an NC
in plumbing and an HNC in
construction from James Watt
College, was previously a part-time
youth worker with North Ayrshire
Council and self-defence teacher.
“I’ve experienced education from
both sides,” she says. “I know
what a world of difference good
quality learning and teaching can
make to someone’s life.
Sharon will be supported in her
role by three vice-presidents,
one for each campus.
“We know there is a lot of hard
work ahead, and there will be
many challenges, not least of
which will be communication,”
she says.
She adds: “But the main challenge
for us, as we become Ayrshire
College, is the same as it always
has been – we need to ensure
that the student voice is heard.”