Access students at South Eastern Regional College (SERC) have once again been very successful in being offered places in a wide range of university courses.
Access Course Coordinator Elaine Bradley explains “In recent years our students have been offered places at Universities at home, and in England and Scotland, to study subjects such as Nursing, Primary Teaching, Social Work, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Criminology, Psychology, Clinical Physiology, Sports Studies and Quantity Surveying to name just a few.
Elaine continues “What makes the staff at SERC most proud is that these students have returned to study after many years away from learning, or with a past where education didn’t engage them and they have managed to complete the course juggling home, family and work with study. And thanks to the course they have the opportunity for University studies, a route leading to careers which many believed were closed to them.”
Local woman Gloria Feenan-O’Neill, a first year student, commented, “The Access course has changed my life, the way I think and as a result my confidence has grown enormously. I now really understand the importance of education, for my children as well as myself and what’s more now I’m able to help with Maths homework – something I wouldn’t have dreamed of being able to do before this course.
“When I started last September I was really nervous and didn’t really know what to expect, having now nearly finished my first year I realise just how far I can go and am looking at all the options open to me. I had never sat an exam in my life before Friday 13th November last year. It wasn’t unlucky for me and I passed with flying colours. I would encourage anyone to give it a go. The tutors are all very encouraging and supportive and it’s nothing like school.”
To help support those who are unsure about whether they too could successfully undertake an Access course the College has developed a 12 week (2 mornings per week) introductory course – The Cornerstone Programme - which has been designed to help students build their confidence and skills prior to the new school year. The Cornerstone Programme will introduce students to new subjects and topics such as psychology, sociology, and science, help to develop their IT and mathematical skills, and to explore different career ideas and pathways.
If you, like Gloria would like to build a solid foundation or “cornerstone” on which you can make informed choices about future study and career options, the first step is to come along to an open morning on Tuesday 13th April at 10.00am in the Adult Education Centre at the Downshire Hospital Site. Further information can be obtained by contacting Roisin Mulholland or Pat Crane at 0845 600 7555.