Two Bobs get bitten by the learning bug

Many of the University of Teesside’s short part-time courses are offered in local community centres these days.

And among those to benefit from this fresh and flexible approach to learning is 88-year-old Bob Walker, who is due to gain his University Certificate in Professional Development in IT at a special academic awards evening this week at the University.

Bob, who lives in Saltburn, has completed five of the modules on offer at Terminus, a training centre in Saltburn, which was among the first to offer the short introductory courses in collaboration with the University’s School of Computing & Mathematics.

Today the range of the short part-time courses has spread across other academic disciplines and to many other centres around the Tees Valley. English and History are among the subjects proving to be particularly popular.

Bob Walker is one of the special vintage students undertaking University courses in the community.

But he is not alone. For fellow octogenarian, Bob Hamlett, from Coulby Newham has just completed three short courses at St Francis’ Church Centre, Ingleby Barwick. In his case, he studied regional writing and local history and ‘graduated’ with his University Certificate in History and English at the first of two Awards nights for community learners and part-time students organised by the University on Thursday 10 January.

Bob Walker is well known in the community for his work rescuing stray dogs and hopes to use his new found IT skills in developing his crusading activities.

“I am even thinking about developing my own web site,” he said, after completing introductory courses in IT, Word Processing, the Internet, Web Authoring and Spreadsheets. He tackles databases next.

“I used to be a bit suspicious about IT, but I do think computers are fantastic mathematical tools, even if they can be frustrating at times. I am on my second year and think the courses at Terminus are great. The tutors are excellent and extremely helpful,” said London-born Bob Walker, who left school at 15 and studied part-time to become a chartered mechanical engineer before moving to Teesside to work for Head Wrightson.

Bob Hamlett, 80, is another former engineer who certainly agrees you are never too old to learn. “Studying has rejuvenated me sand taken 20 years off my attitude. It has been a kind of mental therapy.”

To find out more about the huge range of short part-time courses available both on and off campus ring the University’s Centre for Lifelong Learning on 01642 384277 or e-mail lifelong@tees.ac.uk for a ‘Courses for 2002’ brochure.

Alternatively, you can pop along to one of the advice, guidance and enrolments events taking place in the University’s Student Centre, behind the Dickens Inn, Southfield Road, Middlesbrough. These take place on Saturday 19 January (10am-3pm); Wednesday 23 January (12noon-7.30pm); Saturday 26 January (10am-3pm) and Wednesday 30 January (12pm-7pm).

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