Glasgow Kelvin College

Glasgow Based Further Education College

Simon’s Local and National Success Continues

By

Biba Behind Glass by Simon Murphy

Photography Lecturer, Simon Murphy, is having a blisteringly good month when it comes to recognition for his formidable talents.  As part of an already impressive creative team at Glasgow Kelvin College, the skills Simon brings to the photography department continue to engage and inspire students.

In the last week, he has featured in the Glasgow media for a community focused project and, marvellously, has also had one of his works selected in the ‘Hold Still’ National Portrait Gallery competition, organised in part by the Duchess of Cambridge.

Govanhill Project

The Glasgow Live ‘Lives in Lockdown’ focuses on Simon’s career as a photographer and Lecturer and spotlights his ongoing project, ‘Govanhill’ which celebrates the community through the lives and images of its people.  Read more at   https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/glasgow-lives-lockdown-simon-43-18907929 

Simon has already won a series of awards for the intensely personal portraits he produces, capturing the character and experiences of his individual subjects.

Hold Still Exhibition

His latest accolade has only just been announced.  A piece of his work has been selected for the National Portrait Gallery ‘Hold Still’ exhibition.

Spearheaded by The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of the National Portrait Gallery, Hold Still is an ambitious community project which was launched in May 2020 to create a unique collective portrait of the UK during lockdown. They invited people of all ages to submit a photographic portrait, taken in a six-week period during May and June, focussed on three core themes – Helpers and Heroes, Your New Normal and Acts of Kindness.  Over 31,000 submissions were received from across the country, with entrants ranging from 4 to 75 years-old. From these, a panel of judges selected 100 portraits, assessing the images on the emotions and experiences they conveyed.

Simon’s beautifully sensitive portrait of his daughter, ‘Biba Behind Glass’, during lockdown has been selected as one of the 100 images.

View all the images at https://www.npg.org.uk/hold-still/images/

Glasgow Kelvin is delighted for his accolade and privileged to have Simon as a member of the team.  He says;

"Lockdown brought its challenges, especially trying to re-learn the subjects that I now had to teach the kids; especially the maths. Sometimes it was too much for us all so it was time to teach my girls something I know - Photography. We started a project where we would all photograph our new situation. I photographed the girls and they photographed the world from their perspective.

At the start of lockdown, Biba felt trapped and missed her friends and family terribly. The glass in the portrait represented this barrier but Biba's stare straight into the lens represented her determination to make the best of the circumstances. Looking ahead to the future with hope and strength.

To have one of the images included in the National Portrait Gallery's permanent archive is very special and to have my daughter represent the struggles and hopes of the nation at this time is something we won't forget."

Congratulations and well done on the Royal Seal of approval, Simon!

Signing Up to Acknowledge and Stamp Out Racism

By

Derek Smeall signing declaration

Glasgow Kelvin College Principal, Derek Smeall, recently pledged the College to support the declaration:

“Racism exists on our campuses and in our society.  Call it what it is and reject it in all its forms.  We stand united against racism.”

The Critical Conversations to Critical Action project is being run by Advance HE and led by the Race Project Steering Group.  It was launched by the Scottish Funding Council in response to a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, ‘Tackling Racial Harassment’.  The Commission recognised that the sector lacked confidence in challenging racist behaviour and addressing its role in dismantling racist structures. https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/news-and-views/critical-conversations-critical-action-we-stand-united-against-racism

Principal Smeall said,

“Glasgow Kelvin College is keen to endorse the Sector anti-racist declaration to ‘Call it racism; Challenge racist behaviour; Change racist Structures’ and we welcome this step to acknowledge and tackle racism in our institutions and in society.  I am delighted to pledge the College’s support for the project and the recommendations of EHRC for the sector.”

Picture of declaration

Changes To Induction Day

By

To save you travelling to the college, your induction session will now be provided online at the same date and time. 

You should have received a meeting invite from your course tutor by end of today (Friday 21st August).  To join the session, you should click on the link in the email.  You can access this meeting on any digital device, including mobile phones, tablets or PCs.  If you have difficulty, instructions have been attached to this message.

This induction is an important opportunity for you to meet your course tutor, to find out how your course will be delivered and the changes that have been made to make sure that the college is safe.

A register of attendance will be taken on the day so failure to attend may affect your Bursary, SAAS and or Childcare payments.

If you have not already enrolled online, you should try to do so before induction using the college’s Online Enrolment page. You will have received instructions on how to do this along with your offer.

Students unable to attend should contact their class tutor by email to discuss how they can be supported to complete induction.

 

*Please Note this does not include ESOL and Support for Learning students, they should attend Induction sessions in the college as previously arranged

Image for Induction day

What to Expect When Coming to College This Year

By

Welcome to Glasgow Kelvin College!

The College has been busy pushing out information and putting arrangements in place for this year’s new students who will begin to engage with the College from 24th August 2020.  Those who have received/accepted offers will now be aware, by email, of the plans which have been made, even more important this year as we implement a whole new way of working.

If you still haven’t enrolled then please do so, following the instructions on your email.

We’re delighted you’ve chosen to study with us and we’ve put together a video to let you know what to expect under the COVID19 safety measures.  Our Student Association Presidents will take you through the arrangements in place.  We hope this gives you reassurance and confidence that we’re putting student and staff safety and wellbeing at the heart of our operations.

College Appoints New Vice Principal

By

Glasgow Kelvin College is delighted to announce that it has appointed Jeanette Evans as its new Vice Principal – Operations.

Jeanette is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has an extensive career in the public sector, working with Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow Caledonian University and as Head of Corporate and Technical Services at City Property (Glasgow) LLP for the last five years. Her accomplishments include a range of high level development and funding projects.

An adept and experienced strategic and senior manager across a range of functions including finance and risk, governance, HR, performance management, business support, communications, health & safety, facilities management and technical services, Jeanette brings valuable skills and expertise to the College’s Senior Management Team.

She joins the College at a crucial time for the sector and college operations relating to the impact of the COVID19 pandemic.

Principal, Derek Smeall, said;

“We look forward to welcoming Jeanette to the Kelvin Family and take this opportunity of wishing her every success in her role with the College.

The College looks forward to having Jeanette on board and to her joining the team in November."

VP Jeanette Evans