News

Success for Foundation Programme graduates

(31 July 2003)

Among the 3,000 people who graduated at the University of Durham this month are a special group of students who have completed an extra year of study in order to realise their full potential.

Set up 6 years ago, the University�s Foundation Programme is a carefully created academic programme that prepares students from all walks of life for degree level study in a number of disciplines.

Sisters Judith Marshal, 43, and Janet Bell, 35, from Stockton are among this year�s successful Foundation Programme graduates. Both left school with a number of O�Levels, but were persuaded to look for jobs rather than consider their long-term career ambitions.

Judith said: �there was no family tradition of moving on to higher education and we never contemplated other opportunities at that time. Earning a living and bringing up a family was the norm�.

Both fitted in a variety of jobs around bringing up their children and both continued to do part-time courses for extra stimulation.

Janet said:� every year we enrolled on some course and it got to the point where I started to think about doing something more substantial. I had always wanted to be a teacher and helping at my daughter�s school made me realise that as my children started to grow up it was time to plan for my own future�.

Eager to move on, Janet attended an Open Day at the University�s Queen�s Campus and asked Judith to come along for morale support. Judith said:�I was amazed at the opportunity the Foundation Programme offered and decided to apply as well. The year flew by and gave us all the information, skills and most importantly confidence required to get through the next three years of our degrees�.

After successfully completing the Foundation Programme Janet moved on to teacher training and Judith progressed onto Health and Human Sciences. Judith enjoyed learning about different cultures and had a particular interest in mental health issues after completing her final year dissertation on Alzheimer�s. She is now working for Mental Health Matters as a full-time support worker for people adapting to independent living in the community. Janet has completed her teaching placement and is now undertaking supply teaching. In the long-term she would like to work with children with special needs.

Both are amazed how much they have managed to achieve, juggling their studies with family life. Judith said:"I cannot explain how much I have enjoyed spending these last four years at Uni. The support and encouragement received from the tutors made for a tremendous academic and social experience�.

Janet who has three children under 10 years old said �My family are so proud about me graduating. My daughter went straight to her school teacher and told her my results�.

Sir Peter Ustinov, Chancellor, conferred their degrees of a BSc (Hons) in Health and Human Sciences and a BSc (Hons) in Primary Education for Information and Communications Technology Specialists.