[18
MAY 00] UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK NEWS
Lifelong Learning For All As Jackie Celebrates
After
the birth of her third child Solihull mum Jackie Baker decided that
she would like to go back to education.
The
only thing holding her back was her lack of qualifications. The
traditional time spent at school had yielded little and she left with
nothing to her name.
But
she preserved and managed to gain two GCSEs at Solihull College.
Her
attention then switched to getting a degree, and she went on a special
course for mature students run by Warwick University.
The
2+2 programme gives people without the traditional background that
usually leads to a place on a degree course the chance to get into the
system.
After
showing some suitability to be considered, the students spend two
years at a Higher Education college, and transfer to the university
for another two years.
Jackie,
aged 44, struggled through the course, juggling it with family
commitments and health problems, and her dedication paid off and she
graduated with a first class honours degree.
She
even plans to return to university to start postgraduate studies in
health related issues.
And
she will be rewarded for her efforts on Saturday when she receives the
award of Midlands Lifelong Learner of the year.
She
said:
"I
find it incredible to be writing such plans when five years ago I
did not have a single O level.
“University
seemed like an impossible dream, certainly not for people like
myself. How wrong could I be.”
At
almost the same moment as Jackie collects her award in Birmingham,
Warwick University will be running a Lifelong Learning open day
between 10am and 1pm in the Arts Centre on the main campus.
Staff
and current students will be there to explain all the university's
life long learning opportunities for mature students from the short
courses offered by its Open Studies departments, Part Time Degrees,
and 2+2 degrees.
The
event is free and all are welcome.
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