Course 2015 Update
Although we had planned for ten students to attend the 2015 Course due to problems obtaining Visas B.O.A.T. and Bicton College welcomed seven at the start of the Course on 22nd April.The official opening ceremony on 27th April was attended by approximately 40 people including the acting Principal & staff of Bicton College, B.O.A.T. Trustees and Friends of B.O.A.T.
Jane Townsend the Acting Principal emphasized the importance of the link between B.O.A.T. and the College, and welcomed the African students. The College kindly hosted a buffet lunch after the Ceremony.
David Wendover, Chairman of B.O.A.T. provided background information to the Course and introduced the students to those present.
From Kenya
Mosses Ochieng who is Grant Coordinator for the Rafiki wa Maendeleo Trust.
Kennedy Orwa who is Acting Executive Director of the Envoroment Liason Centre International, Nairobi.
From Malawi
Maxwell Chiputula who is a Senior Project Manager for Concern Universal for the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project at Ntcheu.
Prince Mdolo who is Lecturer in Enviromental and Resource Management at Natural Resources College, Lilongwe.
From Tanzania
Margaret Pallangyo who is Acting C.E.O. for the Livestock Training Agency, Ministry of Livestock & Fisheries Development, Dar es Salaam.
From Uganda
Emmanuel Amen who is District Coordinator at Maracha for the Kulika Trust’s Creative Capacity Building Project.
John Steven Onyango who is Assistant Project Officer for the Kulika Trust, Kampala.
The 2015 Course was very intensive but the group worked hard and all of them were successful. This year more self study time was allocated prior to handing in assignments. Again the level of performance was high. The students met the External Examiner and the Feedback was extremely positive.
A Questionnaire survey was conducted at the end of the Course with most encouraging feedback. On a scale of 1 to 6 the overall level of satisfaction with the Quality of the Course was a high figure of 5.6. Again the Pitman Training Days on Communications, Decision Making and Personal Effectiveness were well received with a high score of 5.7. More input on Business and Finance, Human Resource Management Leadership, Marketing, Quality Assurance, & Cash Flow Analysis was requested. The academic level of the Course was appropriate to Personal & Professional Development needs & scored a 6.0. The visits to Kingston Maurward College in Dorset, Devon County Show & Farms were highly rated. A summary of the Course content was that it was extremely relevant to the work done in their own countries.
One comment was: “The Course has so much I need to apply in my management work”
A most enjoyable Presentation Evening was held at Knightstone Manor, near Ottery St Mary by kind permission of Mr Jan-Eric Osterlund. Jan-Eric Osterlund gave a most interesting talk about the history of Knightstone Manor. Certificates of Attendance & Pitman Training Certificates together with a small gift from Bicton College were then presented to each student by Jane Townsend, Acting Principal, Bicton College.
