STUDYING FOUNDATION YEAR
University of Bedfordshire Business School
University of Bedfordshire Business School
Welcome to the Foundation Year at the University of Bedfordshire.
The University of Bedfordshire Business School (UBBS) is a supportive and close-knit community where we place great emphasis on supporting your academic development, building your confidence and preparing you for the world of work.
I encourage you to make good use of all the opportunities we offer and become an active member of our supportive School culture. For example, you could become an ambassador for our vibrant student society which provides an extra value-added experience to your course.
This booklet provides you with important information that will help you prepare for your course and for your first few weeks and months at University. If you have any questions before you arrive on campus, please contact a member of the team.
I look forward to welcoming you in September.
Dr Annie Danbury Head of School, Aviation, Marketing and TourismStudent Information Desk (SiD) beds.ac.uk/sid sid@beds.ac.uk
Student Support beds.ac.uk/studentsupport
BedsSU (Students’ Union) bedssu.co.uk
help@bedssu.co.uk
Welcome from the Portfolio Lead
Hello, my name is Linda Hopkins-West and I am the Portfolio Lead. We are excited that you will be joining us this academic year.
The first week in the Academic Calendar is Welcome Week where you will be introduced to your course, course team and fellow students.
Our team is committed to supporting and inspiring you to achieve your goals. During your studies, you will have a course coordinator, unit coordinator, tutors and a personal academic tutor (PAT) who are all here to support you. Course teams have weekly office hours so you can book an appointment if you need to chat to them. We will be with you every step of the way as you start your academic journey.
Portfolio Lead
Portfolio Lead
• Linda Hopkins-West – Unit Coordinator for Developing a Business Radar, linda.west@beds.ac.uk
Personal Academic Tutor
• Nicola Lay-Flurrie – Unit Coordinator for A Students’ Guide to Being Curious and Competent, nicola.lay-flurrie@beds.ac.uk
Foundation Year Tutors
• Emma Standen – Unit Coordinator for Aspiring to Succeed, emma.standen@beds.ac.uk
• Mohammed Aftab Mohiudin – Unit Coordinator for Credibility and Your Professional Future, mohammed.mohiudin@beds.ac.uk
Welcome Week gets underway on Monday 18 September
Our academic induction follows four key sessions which happen at the same time for all Business School students.
We start the week with an online session to say hello, (this will be at lunchtime on Tuesday 19 September for an hour). This is also an opportunity to hear from Faculty Executive Group members. On Thursday and Friday, we host four sessions designed to help you get ready for your studies. You will meet and work with your course team and meet other members of the faculty. You should attend the following sessions which will run for the full day:
Session 1
Meet your course team – get to know members of the teaching team and understand how your course operates
Thursday
Session 2
Take part in the Big Business Challenge – meet faculty executive members and some of the employers we work with, who will host a fun team challenge
Friday
Session 1
Meet your personal academic tutor (PAT) – get to know them and find out how they can support you throughout your studies
Session 2
Prepare for your first week of study – learn how to access our systems and resources so you can have the best possible start
All the details about the different activities and where they will be held are included on our Faculty Academic Welcome pages. Check this page closer to the time for any changes to the sessions. But be assured that the sessions will take place on Thursday and Friday so you can start planning your week now.
Our colleagues in the student support and learning resources teams will also host sessions for all new starters. These are designed to help you become familiar with all the essential services you will use throughout your time with us.
Of course, Welcome Week wouldn’t be Welcome Week without the Freshers’ Fayre, which is run by the University of Bedfordshire Students’ Union. They will host plenty of events and activities, so keep an eye on their website and follow them on social media to find out more (see p.5).
We use an online noticeboard called Padlet to help our students keep up to date with everything that’s happening. This is linked from BREO, our virtual learning environment, and each subject cluster has its own individual space.
You can only access BREO once you are registered with us as a student. However, the Padlet noticeboard for Foundation Year students can be accessed now via this link
Feel free to take a look and become more familiar with the exciting events, trips and discussions happening in your subject area.
The course assessment strategy is closely aligned to the University’s teaching and learning strategy which is designed to:
• Have an immediate relevance to practice
• Draw on expertise by experience
• Foster active learning and be learner-centred in approach
A distinct feature of the course is the range of assessment tasks including workplace assessments that can have an immediate impact in practice. This helps put into practice what you are learning in university and can help increase your confidence.
These can vary depending on the course you are studying, but here’s an example of what your assessments might include:
Handbooks
Reflective writing
Elevator pitches
In-class tests
Assessments are purposefully diverse and created to relate to industry practices.
Once you have met the conditions of your offer, you will receive an email to complete your online registration. Keep an eye on your emails and junk box to ensure you don’t miss it!
• Enjoy an amazing virtual tour of our campus
• Read about our School, the events we run, our research and how our alumni are doing
Take time to familiarise yourself with the layout of our campus and the names of buildings. This will help you get around with ease when you arrive.
• Luton campus
• Eating and drinking on-campus
To find out how to access your timetable go to beds.ac.uk/timetable
Academic information
Guide to referencing
Study Hub
The Foundation Year is designed to support you to develop the core academic skills you will need to study successfully, both now and in the future. Everyone on the Foundation Year course will have varying levels of experience of studying in an educational environment. Some will be coming from college or the workplace, while others will be returning to education after a considerable break. Students also tend to have an interesting mix of career aspirations and a variety of valuable life and work experiences and skills to share with peers.
The aim of the Foundation Year course is for all our students to become confident, competent, credible, creative, and curious learners with a clear vision of the opportunities available to them. This will allow you and your peers to move into the first year of higher education as active and competent learners.
You will study these four units in your course:
A Student’s Guide to Being Curious and Competent
Aspiring to Succeed
Developing a Business Radar
Credibility and Your Professional Future
We understand that everyone will face some difficulties now and again and we aim to be flexible. You are encouraged to discuss ongoing issues with your personal academic tutor or unit lead. For independent advice or for ongoing attendance issues you can contact studentengagement@beds.ac.uk
Unfortunately, this is not possible as classes run at set times on specific days. If you work part time, it is advisable to let your employer know when your lectures and seminars are scheduled to help avoid any clashes. All classes are compulsory.
The academic team is always available to guide you with the theory based content and you can book a one-to-one tutorial with your unit lead. If you need more time to complete an assignment, please contact the Student Engagement and Mitigation team (SEAM) who deal with assessment extensions. Their email is: mitigation@beds.ac.uk. You can find our Mitigation Policy and form on our website
What support is available for students with a learning difference or disability?
Our Disabilities team supports students with a range of disabilities including sensory and physical impairments, mental health difficulties, specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, and medical conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, sickle cell anaemia and arthritis. You may be eligible for a Learning and Teaching Agreement, where you can discuss any reasonable adjustments needed for classroom learning and examinations. You can email disability@beds.ac.uk for further information and advice.
Our dedicated Student Money Advice team offers confidential financial advice, information and support. They can advise you on a range of funding options such as grants, loans, bursaries and scholarships, as well as guiding you on the best way to manage your finances. You can contact them by emailing studentmoney@beds.ac.uk
Yes, the Students’ Union can tell you everything you need to know about sports clubs, activities and events for all our students. You can even set up your own society! Contact Beds SU by emailing beds.su@beds.ac.uk
The Foundation Year will help your academic journey, enabling you to excel in your studies.
Always remember, our team is here for you!
We know there’s a lot to take in when you start university. We’ll support you throughout, especially at the beginning. Some students adjust to university life more readily than others, and it can take time to feel at home, but this is normal and you’ll soon make friends. Remember, many of your fellow students will be feeling the same.
We are confident that you’ll love our friendly campus and everything the University of Bedfordshire has to offer.
The Foundation Year offers a solid academic grounding, memorable experiences and exciting intellectual exploration.
The teaching is engaging and inspiring – you will learn so many new things and your confidence will grow.
The class discussions are so helpful – you can ask questions about assignments and learn tips and tricks from the tutors to help write your assessments.
The University will become your second home –you will meet new friends and get to know your tutors who are inspirational and attentive.
The Foundation Year will help you become a confident, creative and curious learner.
You will be listened to and you will be encouraged to be curious and share your opinions.
The course gives you a clear vision of the opportunities available to you and how you can plan to reach them.
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