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College Prospectus

The Oxford International Foundation
Programme (OIFP)

This is a new, one-year university foundation programme that has been developed by Oxford International College for students who have completed at least 12 years of schooling and who wish to progress to a UK university. The OIFP offers rigorous academic preparation, combined with a range of complementary and enrichment programmes that provide opportunities for students to develop wider skills that are increasingly valued by universities and employers.

For international students the OIFP provides an effective educational bridge between the students’ experience at home, within their own national curriculum, and their experience in Britain. It introduces students to a different qualification system and prepares them for undergraduate study in an English speaking university.

The OIFP Framework

Unlike other international foundation programmes which are internally-written and validated by the awarding institution (for example a university or private college), up to 90% of the modules that make up the OIFP are externally accredited by various internationally recognised awarding bodies. This not only guarantees consistently high academic standards, but it also has the advantage that the OIFP carries up to 410 UCAS Tariff points.

The diagram below presents the ways in which the various elements of the OIFP framework interlock to provide a dynamic and coherent curriculum:

Academic Core

The Academic Core of the OIFP forms the student’s main learning programme. This is based upon a combination of A-level and AS, as well as English language proficiency. Since A-levels are held in high esteem both nationally and internationally, their incorporation into the OIFP framework is intended to confer immediate credibility as far as university admissions are concerned. This will provide our students with a stronger competitive edge not only when applying to universities in the UK, but also for higher education courses in other English-speaking countries across the world.

To reflect the spread of subjects that individual students opt to study for their academic core, a number of ‘pathways’ have been identified. The following table illustrates the A-level subjects that may be taken for each of the OIFP pathways:

Complementary Learning Programmes (CLPs)

To supplement the core, an integrated group of ‘complementary learning programmes’ has been incorporated into the OIFP framework. These not only guarantee breadth and balance across the OIFP but also ensure that the programme provides students with opportunities to develop the wider skills that universities increasingly value in their prospective undergraduates.

The CLPs are thus designed to contribute to - and enhance - the knowledge and understanding acquired through the academic core. As such they are compulsory elements within the OIFP framework. The CLP allows students to focus on personal development, computer and digital literacy as well as skills for higher education. Upon successful completion, the student will also achieve three additional recognised qualifications.

The four main complementary programmes, which are formally assessed, are listed below:

1. Certificate of Personal Effectiveness

Achieving excellent academic qualifications for a good university is a priority for all of our students. However, students of all academic abilities often find themselves at university lacking some of the basic life skills to thrive and succeed in this new environment and in life in general. The Certificate of Personal Effectiveness enables students to:

• Develop and demonstrate a range of skills leading to personal effectiveness
• Broaden their experience and manage learning through enrichment activities
• Receive formal recognition and accreditation for the above

This is an externally recognised qualification accredited by ASDAN in which students gain credits by completing challenges from a choice of modules and provide evidence to demonstrate skills development in six areas:

• Working with Others
• Improving Own Learning and Performance
• Problem Solving
• Planning and Carrying Out a Piece of Research
• Communicating Through Discussion
• Planning and Giving an Oral Presentation

2. ICT Skills – The European Computer Driving Licence

This qualification is offered by the ECDL Foundation, the certifying authority of the leading international computer skills certification programme – ECDL/CDL. Each module provides a practical programme of up-to-date skills and knowledge areas which are validated by a test. Students take the following 7 modules:

- Concepts of Information Technology
- Using the Computer and Managing Files
- Word Processing
- Spread sheets
- Databases
- Presentations
- Information and communication

3. Award in Effective Team Member Skills

This qualification is awarded by the Institute of Leadership and Management. It is designed to introduce learners to the various roles, functions and responsibilities within a team and the limits of their authority and accountability. It is ideal for 
aspiring leaders who wish to gain a solid understanding of team dynamics and effective leadership. Areas covered include:

• Understanding Teams and Teamwork
• The Importance of Good Communication within a team
• Dealing with Conflict
• Reviewing Personal Performance

4. Thinking Skills

This highly stimulating course is based on Edward De Bono’s Thinking Skills. The purpose of this course is to broaden perception so that in any thinking situation we can see beyond the obvious, immediate and egocentric. Experience has shown that students who have been through the lessons develop a much broader view of situations. Research has also revealed the startling fact that teaching thinking skills to pupils improves their academic performance by between 30% and 100%.

Tutorial Guidance and Support

Finally, underpinning the delivery of the OIFP as a whole are regular, timetabled sessions with a personal tutor. These sessions perform a vital function in enabling tutors to monitor student progress across the various strands of the OIFP framework as a whole.

For an overview please download the OIFP framework.

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