Monday 4 April 2016

Goodbye - for now!



Semester is over and exams are coming! The ISC is closed over summer, thank you for making this year with us amazing and the new committee will be delighted to welcome you back next academic year! We wish you good luck for your exams smile emoticon
Your ISC Core Com

Sunday 27 March 2016

What's on in Week 11

Hello everyone!

Week 11, last week of term, we have finally made it! For those who are done - congrats! For those who still have exams - hang in there, you’re not by yourself, we wish you all the best of luck. Also, for study breaks, we're open 12-4pm every week day for you to stop by and relax for a while with free coffee/tea and biscuits. This is the last week we are open, so drop by! :)
Here is what's on for this week:

Tue, 29.3.: Last ISC Coffee Evening and Photo Competition Exhibition, 4-6pm in the ISC Lounge. Come along for food, a chat or a fun board game! Browse our photo gallery and get inspirations for where to travel to this summer!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1689077991373592/

Thu, 31.3.: Last ISC Pub Night, 9pm at the Greenmantle.

With this, have a good week 11 and happy easter!

If you want to stay up to date on our events and trips, join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/isced or just regularly check back on this website. You can also sign up to our mailing list here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ASQYlmLlNjlEIP50-Bn1ufEffbaDzhGNskg0OuYl0u8/viewform

We’re hoping to welcome you to our lounge soon!


Your ISC Committee

Friday 25 March 2016

ISC Core Committee Election Results

Dear all,

These are the results of yesterday's AGM:

President: Liga Skarda
Vice President: Stephanie Bouwhuis
Treasurer: Bryn Evans
Secretary: Rebecca Spross
Publicity Secretary: Lindsey Nkem
Trips Coordinator: Thomas Dalhuisen
Events Coordinator: Ishana Sanan
Social and Lounge Coordinator: Alba Priewe


Congratulations to the newly elected committee :)

Monday 21 March 2016

What's on in Week 10

Hello everyone!

Week 10, then one week more and this semester will come to an end. We hope work isn’t piling up too much for you! Our AGM is coming up on the 24.3. and remember to register if you want to participate or vote. Information can be found in the link below. Also, we're open 12-4pm every day for you to stop by and relax for a while with free coffee/tea and biscuits. Also, our photo competition has come to and end and we will have an exhibition with the photos in the ISC in Week 11 - more information soon!
Information regarding the ISC AGM: https://www.facebook.com/events/929530723832517/

Here is what's on for this week:
Tue, 22.3.: ISC Coffee Evening, 4-6pm in the ISC Lounge. Come along for food, a chat or a fun board game! 

Thu, 24.3.: ISC Annual General Meeting 2015/16, 7pm in the ISC Lounge. Don’t forget to register to participate!

Thu, 24.3.: ISC Pub Night and Meet the Core Com, 9pm at the Greenmantle.

Sat, 26.3.: ISC Trip to Braemer and Balmoral Castle, 8am.

With this, have a good week 10!

If you want to stay up to date on our events and trips, join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/isced or just regularly check back on this website. You can also sign up to our mailing list here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ASQYlmLlNjlEIP50-Bn1ufEffbaDzhGNskg0OuYl0u8/viewform

We’re hoping to welcome you to our lounge soon!



Your ISC Committee

Sunday 13 March 2016

What's on in Week 9

Hello everyone!

Week 9, can you already see the end? We certainly can since our AGM is coming up on the 24.3.! Remember to register if you want to participate or vote. Information can be found in the link below. Also, we're open 12-4pm every day for you to stop by and relax for a while with free coffee/tea and biscuits. Also, last call for our photo competition, so participate while you can (link is below)!

Information regarding the ISC AGM: https://www.facebook.com/events/929530723832517/


Here is what's on for this week:

Tue, 15.3.: ISC Coffee Evening - Get to know the Core Com!, 4-6pm in the ISC.
Lounge. Come along for food, a chat or a fun board game! Also, don’t forget, photo competition photos are due today.

Thu, 17.3.: ISC Pub Night and Meet the Core Com, 9pm at the Greenmantle.

Sat, 19.3.: ISC Hiking Trip to Beinn Dubh, 8am.

With this, have a good week 9!

If you want to stay up to date on our events and trips, join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/isced or just regularly check back on this website. You can also sign up to our mailing list here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ASQYlmLlNjlEIP50-Bn1ufEffbaDzhGNskg0OuYl0u8/viewform

We’re hoping to welcome you to our lounge soon!



Your ISC Committee

Wednesday 9 March 2016

Information regarding the ISC AGM 2015/16

Dear all,

The ISC Annual General Meeting is coming up and so are our Core Committee Elections! 

If you want to participate in the elections or vote, please fill in the registration form here:
I repeat, you NEED the membership also to VOTE.

If you are interested in taking volunteering to the next level by supporting the ISC, this is the best way to do it. As Core Com member you have more responsibilities within the committee and you have the power to actually shape how the ISC is going forward for the next academic year. These are the positions in the Core Committee (listed in no particular order):

President (Thomas Schmidt)
Vice President (Jue Theresa Wang)
Treasurer (Fanny Franov)
Secretary (Stephanie Bouwhuis)
Publicity Secretary (substitute: Jue Theresa Wang)
Trips Coordinator (Ivana Cernanova)
Events Coordinator (Rebecca Spross)
Lounge Coordinator (Julie Simond)
House Manager (Lindsey Nkem)

The descriptions of the positions in the ISC Core Committee are below the post. I have also added the names of the people who are currently occupying each role so that in case you are not quite sure what one of the positions involves, you can get in touch with us directly, either by looking at the Facebook group where we have the admin roles, or by looking us up in the University Name Register in the email service. You also have the opportunity to "attack" us with your questions during pub night and coffee evening on these days:
Tuesday: ISC Coffee Evening 15.3.2016
Thursday: ISC Pub Night 17.3.2016

If you decide to run for a Core Com position, please do talk to us so we can give you a clear idea of what our position entails. Also, you will need to draft a statement that would be the equivalent to the 5 minute talk that you will be asked to give before the election. This statement needs to be mailed to the ISC e-mail address (iscedi@gmail.com) by Sunday, 20.3.2016.

The election itself will be in the ISC on Thursday, 24.3.2016, at 7pm.

I am hoping to see you guys soon and also at the elections!

All the best,

Jue Theresa Wang

on behalf of the ISC Core Committee




ISC Core Committee Positions

President
Job Description:
As President you are responsible for the overall running of the ISC. You will lead committee meetings, deal with the IO, EUSA and other university entities. It is your responsibility that things happen, properly and in time. You must take the initiative to get things done if they are not underway and make decisions when others cannot. That includes making sure everybody in the committee is doing their job, but also to ensure that things which nobody in particular are responsible for (Pub dealings, Garments, etc.) are done, together with the Vice President.
Despite not having any greater formal power than other committee members, you will have the opportunity and position to shape the ISC much the way you wish. You set the general agenda and can enforce it within the ISC but also towards other bodies such as the IO, EUSA and the university in general. Therefore, you must have good leadership skills, be reliable, ready to work at any time and have a drive and vision for the ISC.

Essential qualities:
  • General leadership skills
  • Organised
  • Driven
  • Reliable
  • Ability to make decisions and be decisive when appropriate
  • Diplomatic

Vice President
Job Description:
This position is often misunderstood as one which ranks highly but comes with little work. In reality, however, at the ISC, this role is varied in that the VP functions as a second-help not only to the President, but also to the Trips Coordinator for weekly trips and to the Events Coordinator for the larger events. With the President, the VP helps to liaise with entities of the university. Given the amount of work that the Trips Coordinator and the Events Coordinator have, the VP should give them as much support as possible. The VP is responsible for administration work, parts of it can overlap the Publicity Secretary's work, but that is up to the committee to divide these tasks amongst each other. To conclude, it's safe to say that this role is probably the most dynamic in terms of what work needs to be done.

Essential qualities:
  • Hard-working
  • Leadership and teamwork skills 
  • Reliable
  • Initiative and drive as the job of the VP is very dynamic and changes as per the needs of the three aforementioned positions that it supports


Treasurer
Job Description:
The treasurer is responsible for all the money of the ISC. The job itself is to basically look after the money that goes in and out of the ISC.  This means dealing with reimbursements, invoices, payments and monitoring cash flow. The money that goes through the ISC is sometimes substantial so it is very important to be careful and pay attention to detail. The treasurer allocates the funds for each of the ISC sub-committees and subunits (Trips and Events as well as the Lounge itself, Volunteers Parties and the like). As treasurer you need to maintain the internal balance sheet and also forecast movements for the rest of the semester/year so that the funds are allocated appropriately to the sub-committees.

Essential qualities:
  • Organised
  • Basic numeracy
  • Attention to detail
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Excel

Secretary
 Job Description: 
Write meeting minutes. Minutes have to be typed up and sent around to the rest of the Core Committee. At the end of each meeting, points to be discussed at the next meeting and tasks each Core Committee member has to accomplish should be included.
Responsible for all correspondence sent to the ISC Gmail account. This includes replying emails, forwarding emails to the relevant Core Committee member, and informing the rest of the Committee/The ISC regarding offers that are sent to the email.
If any letters need to be written, this should be your responsibility.

Essential qualities:
  • Good command of English (the grammar/spelling in your minutes should not have to be checked)
  • Organised
  • Diplomatic in dealing with external correspondence


Publicity Secretary
Job Description:
Essentially: to promote the ISC and anything that is happening at the ISC. This would usually entail writing newsletters on Facebook and the blog on a weekly basis and using twitter if necessary. The Publicity Secretary is also responsible for maintaining the ISC website.
Other things that may need to be done: advertise weekly events on Facebook by occasionally creating events on these weekly things to remind people. As Publicity Secretary you also prepare the weekly schedule and send it out on all the channels of the ISC. Also, you should be help the trips or events sub-committee to advertise their trips and events.

Essential qualities:
  • Organised, with eye for detail
  • Perceptive (knowing what people will want know about happenings at the ISC)
  • Creative (when advertising and the way you word things)
  • Diplomatic (to deal with questions that people may have regarding events or happenings at the ISC).

Trips Coordinator
Job Description:  
The Trips Coordinator is responsible for the organization and running of the weekly trips. You and your sub-committee decide the schedule of trips for each semester, i.e. you make sure that each trip has buses, volunteers, schedule, flyers, posters, and proper pricing. This job will require you to be able to lead - your goal is not to organize all the trips themselves but manage the committee to make sure all jobs are done fairly and on time. 

Essential qualities:
  • Leadership skills
  • Ability to delegate and run a committee,
  • Good people/public skills
  • Good time management
  • Good problem solving skills

Events Coordinator
Job Description:  
As the Events Coordinator your main duty is to organise and chair the events sub-committee, ensuring the weekly/bi-weekly events take place; these can be anything from cultural nights to film nights to potlucks. In organising these events it is your responsibility to speak to the relevant individuals regarding hosting, room bookings and any other organising outwith the ISC. It is also your responsibility to ensure that those within your committee are contributing to the workings of the committee. It has recently become the events coordinator’s responsibility to organise the trips to Edinburgh Castle, as well as multiple other large events throughout the year, including the International Desserts Night and the International Evening. In organising these events, it is the responsibility of the events coordinator to maintain an overview of these events, ensuring all pieces fit together as required.

Essential qualities:
  • Leadership skills
  • Motivated
  • Organised
  • Able to communicate and work with others
  • Good time management


Lounge Coordinator / Social Coordinator 
Job Description:
As Social Coordinator you are responsible for running of the ISC Lounge. You work closely with the House Manger to ensure the lounge runs smoothly and that the lounge hours are staffed by volunteers. At start of the semester, you recruit volunteers for the semester and coordinate the lounge volunteers throughout the semester. You create a rotar showing the weekly volunteers and continually check the sign in book to make sure volunteers are showing up. You also arrange events/socials to help foster closer ties within the three volunteer sections of the ISC, the biggest one being the Volunteers Night, where we celebrate all the good work we have done together as a committee and thank all the volunteers for their great help.

Essential qualities:
  • SOCIABLE - This is an absolute must!
  • Motivated 
  • Confident 
  • Outgoing 
  • Organised 

House Manger
Job Description:
The House Manager makes sure that the ISC always has everything it requires to run smoothly: Coffee Evening supplies, milk/coffee/tea for the Lounge, stationery for the Office, etc. You are responsible for keeping the ISC in a presentable state: get volunteers and visitors to clean up after themselves, tidy the place when you are around, fix or get replacements for broken furniture. 

Essential qualities:
  • Organised
  • Reliable
  • Sociable



Sunday 6 March 2016

What's on in Week 8

Hello everyone!
Week 8, time is flying. Essay deadlines and dissertations, whew, all that stress! It’s important not to let it get to us. Remember we're open 12-4pm every day for you to stop by and relax for a while with free coffee/tea and biscuits. Also, check out our photo competition (link is below)!

Before we get to the schedule: WE STILL HAVE TICKETS FOR THE LAKE DISTRICT. I know you are busy and honestly, what’s the best way to be effective in your studies other than trying to get some rest whilst getting to view absolutely beautiful sceneries and marvelling at all the culture that is out there in England? Did I get you interested? We’re selling the tickets during COFFEE EVENING this week on Tuesday! Please bring the cash with you when you come to collect your ticket.
(For more questions, contact the ISC Facebook page, Ivana or mail us!)

Here is what's on for this week:

Tue, 8.3.: ISC Coffee and Get A Toastie Evening with BYOT, 4-7pm in the ISC.
Lounge. Come along for food, a chat or a fun board game!

Thu, 10.3.: ISC Pub Night, 9pm at the Greenmantle.

Sat, 12.3.: ISC Weekend Trip to the Lake District, 8am at the ISC

With this, enjoy week 8!



If you want to stay up to date on our events and trips, join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/isced or just regularly check back on this website. You can also sign up to our mailing list here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ASQYlmLlNjlEIP50-Bn1ufEffbaDzhGNskg0OuYl0u8/viewform

We’re hoping to welcome you to our lounge soon!


Your ISC Committee

Monday 29 February 2016

What's on in Week 7

Hello everyone!
Week 7 folks, I know we’re all dreading it but I just have to say it - after this week, it’s only a month to go until end of term! If you haven’t yet seen it, although the word usually spreads like wildfire, the exam timetable is up. While de-stressing or procrastinating the latest piece of work you ought to be doing (do it!) enter our fabulous photo competition! The link to it is further down the post.
Remember we're open 12-4pm every day for you to stop by, so drop by when you have a chance.

Before we get to the schedule: WE STILL HAVE TICKETS FOR THE LAKE DISTRICT. There are only a couple of them left, so get them while they last! It’s an absolutely breathtaking place to visit. (Contact the ISC Facebook page, Ivana or mail us!)

Here is what's on for this week:

Tue, 1.3.: ISC Coffee Evening, 4-6pm in the ISC 
Lounge. Come along for a chat or a fun board game!

Thu, 3.3.: ISC Pub Night, 9pm at the Greenmantle.

Sat, 5.3.: ISC Trip to Loch Lomond, 8am at the ISC

With this, enjoy week 7!




If you want to stay up to date on our events and trips, join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/isced or just regularly check back on this website. You can also sign up to our mailing list here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ASQYlmLlNjlEIP50-Bn1ufEffbaDzhGNskg0OuYl0u8/viewform

We’re hoping to welcome you to our lounge soon!


Your ISC Committee

Monday 22 February 2016

What's on in Week 6

Hello everyone!
Innovative Learning Week is over and week 6 has officially started. We hope you have made the most of this week in order to start out full of energy this week. The Gather festival has also started, so check out what is happening. Also, our Photo Competition is running, so get your entry in. Useful links are further down the post.
Remember we're open 12-4pm every day for you to stop by. 

Here is what's on for this week:

Mon, 22.2.: Lake District Ticket Sale Start

Tue, 23.2.: ISC Coffee Evening, 4-6pm in the ISC Lounge. Come along for a chat or a fun board game!

Thu, 25.2.: ISC Film Night: Lemon Tree. Join us for a screening of an Israeli film about a riviting tale of a Palestinian Woman and her relations with the two conflicting territories through the conservation of her lemon tree.

Thu, 25.2.: ISC Pub Night, 9pm at the Greenmantle. 

Fri, 26.2.: ISC Weekend Trip to the Isle of Skye, 6pm

With this, enjoy week 6!

Useful links:


If you want to stay up to date on our events and trips, join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/isced or just regularly check back on this website. You can also sign up to our mailing list here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ASQYlmLlNjlEIP50-Bn1ufEffbaDzhGNskg0OuYl0u8/viewform

We’re hoping to welcome you to our lounge soon!

Your ISC Committee

Wednesday 17 February 2016

ISC Photo Competition

Hello everyone!

Exciting times, the ISC is having a photo competition! For details see the flyer below. We’re looking forward to your entries :)

Your ISC Core Com


Monday 15 February 2016

What's on in ILW

Dear all,

Happy Innovative Learning Week! I am sorry to say that the last post actually had some misinformation, which is that during ILW, the ISC is actually closed and no events will be happening. We will see you again after the break!

All the best and enjoy ILW!

Your ISC Core Com

If you want to stay up to date on our events and trips, join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/isced or just regularly check back on this website. You can also sign up to our mailing list here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ASQYlmLlNjlEIP50-Bn1ufEffbaDzhGNskg0OuYl0u8/viewform

We’re hoping to welcome you to our lounge soon!

Your ISC Committee

Monday 8 February 2016

What's on in Week 5

Hello everyone!
Week 5 and Innovative Learning Week is just ahead. Can you believe it’s almost half-term? Remember we're open 12-4pm every day for you to stop by. Also, since today is Chinese New Year: 新年快乐!

Here is what's on for this week:

Tue, 9.2.: ISC Coffee Evening, 4-6pm in the ISC Lounge. Come along for a chat or a fun board game!

Thu, 11.2.: ISC Film Night: Bride and Prejudice. See the Bollywood twist on Jane Austin’s classic!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1561193227532684/

Thu, 11.2.: ISC Pub Night, 9pm at the Greenmantle. Apparently there is also a pub quiz going on that night - join us!

Sat, 13.2.: ISC Trip to Aberdeen and Crathes Castle, 7.45am in front of the ISC.

With this, enjoy week 5! 


Your ISC Core Com

Monday 1 February 2016

What's on in Week 4

Hello everyone!
Week 4, what’s up? Time is flying, and remember we're open 12-4pm every day. Chinese new year is coming and we have planned a couple of big trips for you and two of them are going live, so check it out.

Tue, 2.2.: ISC Coffee Evening, 4-6pm in the ISC Lounge. Come along for a chat or a fun board game!

Thu, 4.2.: Lunar New Year Celebration, 6-8pm at Teviot Debating Hall.

Thu, 4.2.: ISC Pub Night, 9pm at the Greenmantle. Great food, great drink, what more do you want?

Sat, 6.2.: ISC Trip to Dumfries and Caerlaverock Castle, 8am in front of the ISC.

Fri, 26.2.: ISC Weekend Trip to the Isle of Skye, 6pm in front of the ISC. I know it is a little early, but we need to plan this trip ahead since it is a longer one. Here is the information and the itinerary.

With this, enjoy week 4!


Your ISC Core Com

Monday 25 January 2016

What's on in Week 3

Hello everyone!

Week 3 already! The weather is quite mild, but still, feel free to come and stop by for a hot drink in our lounge. We're open 12-4pm every day. Other than that, we have a film night going on and a Harry Potter-esque trip to Durham this week - check it out!

What's on this week:
Tue, 26.1.: ISC Coffee Evening, 4-6pm in the ISC Lounge. Come along for a chat or a fun board game!

Thu, 28.1.: ISC Film Night, 7pm, Appleton Tower LT 4.
https://www.facebook.com/events/696082757196720/

Thu, 28.1.: ISC Pub Night, 9pm at the Greenmantle. They have great pub food, I recommend the burgers!

Sat, 30.1.: ISC Trip to Durham, 8am, ISC. Join us for this charming trip!
https://www.facebook.com/events/427000440831547/

With this, enjoy week 3! :)

Your ISC Core Com

Monday 18 January 2016

What's on in Week 2

Hello everyone!
We hope that you were able to settle back in into uni life in week 1. If you fancy tea or of coffee, or something to nibble on, why don't you stop by at the ISC this week? We're open 12-4pm every day.

What's on this week:
Tue, 19.1.: ISC Coffee Evening, 4-6pm in the ISC Lounge. Come along for a chat or a fun board game!

Thu, 21.1.: ISC Pub Night, 9pm at the Greenmantle. They have great pub food, I recommend the burgers!

Sat, 23.1.: ISC Trip to Stirling & Bannockburn Visitors Centre. Stay tuned for further information on this trip.

With this,have a good start into week 2! smile emoticon

Your ISC Core Com

Thursday 7 January 2016

Welcome back to semester two!

Hello everyone!
And, the blog is back in action! Thank you for being patient with us, we have also changed to look of it a bit in our hiatus time.

Winter break is almost over. We hope you got into 2016 healthy and well rested! Now it's time to start the second semester fresh and full of energy. This also means that the ISC will open again. We are open from Week 1 on, so feel free to drop by from January 11th on. Our opening times will be as usual: Monday-Friday 12-4pm.
(The image is courtesy of http://dubeat.com /2015/12/3-things-to-keep-in-mind-before-starting-a-new-semester/)
For Week 1, we have prepared a couple of events for you.
From Monday to Wednesday, we will have free cake in exchange for cake vouchers (which you can collect in front of the library) in the lounge during regular opening times.
Tuesday, 12.1.: First Coffee Evening of the semester, 4-6pm in the ISC Lounge.
Wednesday, 13.1.: Introduction to Edinburgh - Hear about fun trivia about Edinburgh, 5pm in the ISC Lounge.
Thursday, 14.1.: In place of our usual Pub Night, we have organised a Pub Quiz in the ISC! During this Quiz, you can also inquire about the possibilities of volunteering. 9pm, in the ISC Lounge.
Saturday, 16.1.: Our traditional trip to St. Andrews, as start into the new semester! Save the date, more details will follow wink emoticon
All the best from us, and we hope we will see you around soon!
Your ISC Committee
---
To keep up to date with us, you can also sign up to our mailing list: 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ASQYlmLlNjlEIP50-Bn1ufEffbaDzhGNskg0OuYl0u8/viewform