Student proves it's never too late to study
Wednesday 1st of September 2010
Ian Swithenbank was one of many Kirklees College students celebrating this summer after being awarded a first class BA (honours) Top-Up Degree in Applied Arts.
50 year old Ian from Mirfield is now one step closer to realising his dream of becoming a self-employed designer-maker, after returning to education from a career in banking. As a mature student, Ian studied the Applied Arts course on a part time basis at the college’s Wheelwright Centre (also known as the Batley School of Art and Design).
Ian said, “The course has been a real journey of experimentation. I have explored ways of using the clay and different techniques to push its tolerance and learn from the ways different clays, glazes, oxides and materials combine visually. There have been surprises, things have exploded and cracked; but I’m proud of my final collection and I’ve really learned a lot.”
Kirklees College offers a variety of part time higher education courses and there are still places available for 2010/11. In response to the lack of higher education places for learners nationally, the college will offer its places locally to people in Kirklees, before they are made available through clearing. The higher education qualifications are accredited by the University of Huddersfield and Leeds Metropolitan University.
June Durrant, director of curriculum for higher education and adult programmes said, “Although a wonderful achievement, Ian’s story is not uncommon. Part time higher education courses are the perfect way to fit your study around your other commitments, whether they are your career, children or interests. If you’ve got your A-Levels and you’re unsure which direction to take, Kirklees College could have just the thing for you.”
Places are still available on the following courses, health-related exercise and fitness foundation degree, sports coaching foundation degree, systems and networking foundation degree, e-business foundation degree, graphic communication foundation degree, fashion design and manufacture foundation degree, fashion styling and promotion foundation degree, fashion BA (hons) top-up, graphic communication BA (hons) top-up, applied arts BA (hons) top-up, photography BA (hons) top-up, and early years foundation degree.
Part time places also available across a whole range of HE courses.
More information about Kirklees College’s higher education courses is available online or you can call 01484 437070.