Emma Collier nonetheless remembers the acute disappointment she felt when she didn’t obtain the grades she wanted to get straight on to a level course at Northumbria College. However now, greater than 5 years later, she’s a graduate of the college with a level in communications and public relations, and is employed as president of its college students’ union.
“I nonetheless bear in mind the ache of not getting the grades I needed on A-level outcomes day,” says Collier, 24. “However after I approached Northumbria by way of clearing, they have been so pleasant, it made me enthusiastic about going to school.”
She began on a basis yr, an additional yr of examine in the beginning of a college course, “which turned out to be actually helpful – there was much less stress, I made a great deal of pals, and it helped me work out which course was proper for me. Even should you’re undecided the place you’re going, the college will make it easier to each step of the best way.”
The social life
Collier loved her time at Northumbria a lot that she stood for election as president on the college students’ union, and now a part of her job is to assist new college students settle in.
“I bear in mind pondering in the midst of my first yr, ‘I’m meant to be right here. That is my college, and I don’t wish to be wherever else on the planet,’” she says. “The perfect factor about Northumbria is that it’s such a welcoming group, no matter you’re into. Now we have greater than 35 sports activities golf equipment right here, and 100 societies – every thing from salsa and snow sports activities to Disney and Physician Who.
“Once I began, I used to be within the hockey membership, and I completely liked it. I made pals for all times, and now I get to observe college students assembly their new finest pals at freshers’ week, with out even realizing it. Folks they by no means would have met in the event that they hadn’t come to Northumbria.”
To assist college students settle in, the college and college students’ union collaborate on an initiative referred to as Be Half Of It, which places on occasions and actions round Newcastle and the north-east.
“We’ll do pizza-making, journeys to the seashore, paddleboarding … there are a great deal of methods for college kids to fulfill folks and make pals,” says Collier. “The campus is ready up in such a means that it creates an actual group really feel. There’s a quad within the center, between the fitness center, the scholars’ union and the library, that’s good for assembly folks. There are benches dotted round, and a beer backyard exterior the union, and everybody sits exterior in the summertime – it’s an ideal place to hang around.”
Help with changing into unbiased
In addition to the social aspect, the scholars’ union works carefully with the college’s wellbeing workforce, providing free, confidential recommendation on every thing from funds to housing.
Northumbria’s pupil help community contains Ask4Help, a 24/7 help helpline open throughout time period time that’s a primary level of contact for any student-support enquiries, and a SafeZone app, which connects college students to safety employees or the emergency providers on the contact of a button, to allow them to present emergency help.
The coed help begins early. “We all know the transition from college to school is an emotional journey in addition to an educational one, so we begin speaking to college students about their wellbeing once they’re making their college decisions,” says Sue Broadbent, assistant director for pupil life and wellbeing at Northumbria.
“We additionally drive down into the private journey of every pupil. What are their particular person circumstances – monetary, well being and disability-wise? Who’re they as an individual, and what do they should make the leap into Northumbria College? Then we take a look at what affordable changes they could must settle in. It’s all about inclusion, entry to schooling, and offering a cloak of help.
“We take a look at what you must be resilient at college, not solely from an educational perspective, but in addition from a wellbeing perspective. You’ll develop as a person should you really feel properly – bodily and mentally – and that’s actually vital to us.”
A profession enhance
Simply because the help begins earlier than enrolment, it additionally extends past commencement, helping college students as they search for significant careers that swimsuit their new levels.
“The college’s careers advisers assist college students improve their employability, with issues like honing their CVs and touchdown work expertise or internships,” says Renée Fraser-Shepherd, 22, a final-year entrepreneurial enterprise administration pupil. “It’s a trajectory they take a look at from the beginning of your course – they’re all the time taking a look at your finish aim, and the way they might help you get there.”
Studying the talents to start out a enterprise
Partly due to the college’s help, Fraser-Shepherd has already landed a post-graduation advertising and marketing function, and he or she additionally plans to proceed constructing a skiwear enterprise she launched as a part of her diploma, Sloobie Skiwear.
“The entrepreneurial enterprise administration programme is so sensible – the course and your marks are literally based mostly on beginning and rising your individual enterprise,” she says. “It’s actually hands-on, and has given me loads of expertise to assist run Sloobie Skiwear after commencement, together with tips on how to cope with numbers, networking, advertising and marketing and buyer suggestions.”
Gaining life expertise
Going to school means she’s additionally gained expertise that aren’t simply educational, she says. “In addition to having a level to fall again on, I’m extra assured, time-efficient and disciplined, and I’ve discovered some very important life classes, akin to tips on how to dwell with folks and navigate social politics, which shouldn’t be underestimated.
“I’m so glad I got here to Northumbria – not only for the educational, however for every thing that comes with it. It’s greater than only a diploma.”
For extra info go to Northumbria College’s clearing hub