2008 University College Annual Report - St Mary's University College

St Henry Walpole Prize Winners
The Service Learning
module takes the
prize for creating
undergraduate
work placement
opportunities within
the local community.
The Principal with Liz Coombs
and Alan Murphy
In keeping with our mission to
‘engage with the wider community …
and to develop students’ ‘academic,
professional, moral, physical and
spiritual potential’, St Mary’s has
always supported volunteering in
the local community.
Liz Coombs, Director of the Centre for
Workplace Learning, was presented
with the prize for her work on the
Service Learning Module, which
harnesses our tradition of community
involvement and incorporates it
within the existing academic
framework. The module requires
students to undertake a practical
work placement in a not-for-profit
organisation. By combining theory
and practice the module enables
students to develop their awareness
and understanding of community
and their role within it, and to enhance
their skills and employability through
a process of practical application
and reflection.
Through this distinctive experiential
learning opportunity, Service Learning
encourages social responsibility.
Students get involved in active
citizenship, and can see for themselves
how their skills and talents make
an important contribution to their
communities. They then view service
to the community, not as just a oneoff
act performed while at university,
but as a lifelong commitment one they
can continue both to give to and
benefit from, for the rest of their lives,
whatever their chosen career path.
This year, Liz’s presentation for the
Walpole Prize concentrated on the
positive impact Service Learning has
on the students. It is heartening to see
how organisations and the people
served by them have benefited
from our students coming in as
extra volunteers, equipped with
plenty of enthusiasm, dedication
and knowledge.
Perhaps the greatest impact of
Service Learning has been on the way
that students view their own futures:
“ Undertaking this module has
given me a greater appreciation
of the value of ‘job satisfaction’.
I am now even more certain that
I want to find a job that satisfies
me emotionally and intellectually
as well as financially. Of course,
financial security is important,
but I am convinced that a
fulfilling life requires something
more and deeper.”
Level 2 student, 2006
Alan Murphy, Programme Director of
the MA in Catholic School Leadership
received the award for developing a
distance learning course through
innovative use of ‘St Mary’s Online’.
This MA is the only programme of
its kind in the UK that meets the
distinctive needs of leaders who
work within all phases of Catholic
education. It gives these school
leaders, at every level, access to the
course through a variety of modes of
study, including full distance learning.
The main challenge that Alan faced
when developing the full distance
learning mode was to make sure
that ‘independent learners’ did not
become ‘isolated learners’. St Mary’s
Online provided the solution, by
allowing students to be brought
together inside one virtual learning
community.
A prime example of this is shown
by one of our students, based in a
Catholic school in Malta, who has
been able to discuss the principles
and practice of Catholic education –
not just with fellow learners based
on the St Mary’s campus, but with
those based in centres in the north
of England and Wales, as well as
with other distance learners across
the UK. St Mary’s Online also makes
available a wide range of relevant
literature sources and direct access
to key websites.
Assessment of the frequency and
quality of contributions to the online
discussions was introduced in 2007.
The aim of it was to reward those
who respond to the learning
opportunities offered. Tracking tools
within St Mary’s Online allow tutors
to monitor the activity of students.
This data also shows that in 2007–08
one module alone received over
30,000 hits!
“St Mary’s Online allows students to be brought
together inside one virtual learning community.”
Alan Murphy
St Mary’s University College
Twickenham London
Annual Report 2008
St Mary’s University College Annual Report 2008
www.smuc.ac.uk 20
Twickenham London
www.smuc.ac.uk
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