Adult Learners Week at Teesside

Adult Learners Week, the national scheme to encourage adults back into education, runs from Saturday 20 – Friday 26 May. The scheme, now in its 15th year, provides access to information and guidance about learning opportunities, motivates adults to participate in learning and celebrates the achievements of adult learners.

As part of the campaign the University of Teesside is hosting three ‘Find Out More Days’ where people can visit the campus to learn about its facilities and details of courses in Forensics, Business, Sociology and Psychology.

Each ‘Find Out More Day’ begins at 10am with a presentation from the Student Services Department to explain about the range of financial and practical support available to all University of Teesside students, including the scholarships and bursary package available from September 2006. Details of the courses, lunch and a campus tour follow for a 2pm finish.

The dates for the Find Out More Days are:

Monday 22 May, Forensics Tuesday 23 May, Business Wednesday 24 May, Psychology and Sociology

For more information, or to book a place on either of the Find Out More Days, contact Sandra Johnston, Adult Access Co-ordinator – Advice & Guidance, on 01642 218121 ext. 5204 or via email s.johnston@tees.ac.uk.

One person who has seen the benefit of returning to education is Martin Burns.

Martin, originally from Belfast but raised in Middlesbrough, graduated from the University of Teesside’s BSc (Hons) Forensic Investigation and Consumer Law degree last year. He returned to education after a 20 year break where he worked a variety of jobs including labouring, crane driving, heavy plant machinery driving, sales, cargo distribution planning, ambulance and taxi driving.

Martin, a married father of one, is now a Trainee Trading Standards Officer at South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council. He said: “I was a bit nervous when I first went to university, but everyone was really friendly and I soon settled in. I knew that after three years I would be able to support the family better and that kept me motivated.

“I didn’t like school and like most kids you think you know it all anyway and you don’t really understand what an impact a good education has on your future plans until you’re older. I never thought for one minute I would have a degree - I thought it was beyond me but it just goes to show what you can do if you really try. It’s changed my life.

“Now that I’m working again, it’s a great feeling to be bringing in a good salary that will keep growing. The future’s bright and it was worth all the hard work at university.”

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