Auchentashan distillery

Only 30 minutes by train from Glasgow, it's was the opportunity to visit a pure malt whiskey distillery with international students of the campus. 
I've enjoyed the malt-testing at the end. 

The campus is close... due to the snow

This is BlackBoard  (BB) The personnel account of each students.
You get the latest information regarding your courses (modification of room, topics to prepare...)
A efficient tool of communication but sometimes complicated to use.

Bachelor Enterprise presentation, semester one

I’m going to give you the key elements of the Bachelor I’m preparing at the UWS. 

For the first semester (September 2010 to January 2011), I have 3 courses.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

We have started the 1^st lecture by giving the framework of the economic growth. And our main objective is to try to understand if there is a link between entrepreneurship and economic growth. For that we need to define the concept of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneur (that is in fact complex and wide subject), its role in the economy, the importance of innovation and R&D, why is there a re-emergence of the SMEs from the 1970’, the process of knowledge spill-over and much more.  

It could be seen as a very theoretical approach. Well at first glance it is. They are a lot of economic theories (neo-classical, Austrian, German school…) related to this course but we are not only focused on that (and we don’t need to learn them but just to pick up elements related to entrepreneurship and understand the different concepts). We are starting with the theories to a concrete approach.

The lecture (one hour) starts with the news related to the subject and we are then illustrating the theories studied previously. [For example today’s news were about the protest from England’s students concerned by the future rise of the university fees. We’ve raised the question about positive knowledge externalities that the graduated students’ benefic roles will play in the society. So why will they have to pay more? And also compare the UK and US regarding the university fees.] 

Then we followed by a power point presenting the day’s topic. It’s an interactive lecture where the students can ask questions to the teacher at any moment. (Pas de cours magistral)

And during the last part, we were split into 3 “cohorts” (groups of 15 students) and every week a team (3 to 4 students) is presenting an article selected by the teacher. It’s an Academic article and it’s not about summarizing the article (because every students of the group has already read it) but by giving main elements to make the connection between the course’s subject.  

So with the step back it’s in fact a very concrete and current subject we are studying with multiple everyday life examples linked such as the world financial crisis. 

The final assessment (=exam) is composed of: an oral team presentation / a individual essay / a final exam in January 2011.

Conference and Business Tourism

This is the second course I’ve selected for the 1^st semester. It’s about giving the framework of the Conference and business tourism that differs from the Tourism industry. It’s also related to marketing: how to promote an event? How to create a destination branding? A link is also made with the Scottish tourism industry. During the 2 hours’ lecture (and around 80 students) the senior lecturer presents the topic with a PP.

We’ve got after one hour tutorial to be divided in small groups of 15 students to prepare (in group or individually) a previous article or question that has been asked . And then discuss on it during the tutorial

The course’s notation:  At the beginning of the semester, we had to establish a group and then choose a conference that we will have to present in front of the senior lecturer. I’m in a group with 2 girls from Czech Republic (that’ll, I hope… spoke about the Bachelor they are preparing) and we have chosen the European Green Capital Conference, that took place this year in Stockholm. Then we need to write a report with our conclusions and recommendation (that what we are doing now…). And then an individual essay that you can choose between 3 subjects. I’ve chosen subject 3 “Within the next 5 to 10 years, video conferencing will replace a significant amount of business travel.” (And I’m working on it… almost done).

This is a very concrete course (few theories) and lots of practice.

Contemporary Issues in Business

This course is composed of a two-hour lecture (no tutorial) and its aim is to give a general approach of the “International Business”. This is a wide subject once again. We have started to discuss the issues related to the globalization, the role of government, the cultural aspect, the business ethics, the environmental issues… lots of subjects that can only briefly be presented in a power point, which is way the individual work stays important in this course. I’ve got the feeling that I’ve already studied this aspect of International Business during my previous studies, so it reminds me some elements I’ve formerly forgotten.

The concrete part of this course is our team work. I’m working with 3 Chinese girls from Beijing and one Taiwanese. We could choose between two subjects. We finally chose: “The importance or otherwise of understanding cultural issues for business firms operating internationally”. The oral presentation should take place this Thursday (if not snow storm) and one written report (due for last week’s semester). The final exam will take place in January.

Conclusion; the courses of the 1^st semester are all interesting. I just regret that we only got 3 courses each semester. I found that it’s not enough. However the personal work is quiet important especially at the end of the semester when you start to feel that lots of work has to be done. The courses with the tutorials have permitted me to meet and work with several foreign students (I do my best to stay away from the “French community”) in the objective to acquire knowledge in an English-speaking environment.

Spain vs Scotland, EURO 2012

Final score 3-2 for Spain

Héhé, the Kilt...

Articles to come

I'm currently preparing articles on:
- the accommodation of the Thornly Park UWS campus
- the city of Glasgow
- activities I've previously done


- YOU choose ! Just tell me !

Welcome to the students of the IUT of le Havre

Hi all of you!

I know I should have done this a long time ago, but you know, time is running so quickly.

However here is the website I've created to give you accurate and useful information about my studies at the University of the West of Scotland in Paisley campus. You want to study abroad after your DUT? Do a DUETI? A DUETI in Scotland? A DUETI in Glasgow? Well read my articles and please do not hesitate to ask me questions.

I'll update new articles/photos/links... during this month but you can already get an overview of my first semester.

Keep in touch'

EXAMS

According to your module, your teacher will let you know the different types of exam you can have:

Individual/team essay; individual/team oral presentation; individual/team written report or the Exam(individually) that are taking place in January after the Christmas Period (called the "Exam Diet") and then during the beginning of May.

BUT BEFORE BUYING YOU AIRPLANE TICKETS MAKE SURE THAT THE EXAM SCHEDULE IS 100% OFFICIAL ! 

The Campus

The undergraduate room. Have a group meeting here or upstairs.

It’s a “real campus” in the sense that you’ll find everything you need to work, have fun, and meet people… (Except for the sport infrastructures that are located in Thornly park campus, 10 minutes by bus).

There are different types of class-room, with comfortable chairs !) no writing or chew gum on the tables or walls; the computers’ equipments are well connected to the projector and other devices (so no waste of time trying to set up cables…); air-conditioning and heating are all running correctly. It could sound basic but it’s not always the case everywhere. (Some class-rooms are not connected to the university wireless network. Smart decision to avoid entertainment activities on internet during the lectures).

A library on 3 levels (where you can read international newspapers, access to internet, scanning/printing documents). There are silent room and meeting rooms. Lots of books, articles … but some of them are sometimes very old… More than 20 year for a book on Marketing…

The Union

A cybercafé, the Student Link (where you can ask for administrative documents…) several “snack-bars” (yes there is no canteen only snack-bar where you can buy sandwiches, drinks, snacks, soup. And I haven’t seen microwaves…), the Employability Link (Pôle emploi au sein de l’université) and one which deserves well its finality ! Where you can meet people helping you to write your English resume (different from the French one) or a cover letter, to find a part-time job or a work placement (some ads are updated every week). At the beginning of the year, you attend a “work atelier” to create your CV, to prepare an interview and so on.

But most all: The UNION. It’s a special space dedicated to all the students. It’s located 1 block from the campus (20 sec from the library). During the day you can meet there with your friends or group members and discuss in large sofas , enjoying music and with one pint of Tennent’s (the beer of Glasgow), yeah right alcohol in a public place and moreover with students! SCANDAL!! Well not at all!! But remember “la modération a bien meilleur goût” .

Paisley Center

And during the night, (9PM to 3 AM) the Union is the place where lots of parties in Paisley take place. It’s a night-club with students and of course the appropriate security. The Union is open almost every nights (but I think it’s close on Sundays).

Don't get loss

 On my way to the Univ.

The ITC center

The 3rd level of the librairy

 The "cantine" (ground floor of the Union)

 (3rd floor of the Union with the snack)

 Inside the Union at 13 PM

Main entrance, but we never enter by this gate