After our College celebrated 70 years of delivering higher education, the University Centre was officially launched in 2017. The first graduation in the newly launched University Centre was held in October 2017. Students studying on degree courses celebrated their achievements at this prestigious event.
Now, a year on, the partnership with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) continues to grow.New foundation degrees in Creative Industries and Criminology and Sociology were launched this year and we are anticipating a record number of students completing honours degrees including the first cohort from BEng (Hons) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (top-up) and the BEng (Hons) in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (top-up).
Degrees, Foundation Degrees and Teaching qualifications are awarded by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) as well as the Higher National courses (HND and HNC) by Pearson Edexcel.
Graduates have gone on to great success after their studies and one example is Sophie Appleton, who completed her FdA Fashion and Clothing Technology course.
She has now progressed to become a Senior Garment Technologist at vintage fashion retailer Lindy Bop.
Sophie said she benefitted from the ‘manufacturing and technical aspects of her course that shaped her career path into the industry’.
The University Centre can benefit adult learners due to smaller class sizes with more contact time and a higher level of support one-to-one.
It makes degree study realistic for adult students with flexible study options around life and work commitments.
Fellow alumni student, Beki Davies achieved a Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering with the College.
She did this while undertaking an apprenticeship with missile systems developer, MBDA. Now, Beki is a Senior Manufacturing Engineer with the company.
Beki said: “The scheme enabled me to not only complete industry related qualifications to a degree level whilst gaining valuable work experience but also to become an ambassador for females in Engineering, a honorary fellow and to scoop three national Apprenticeship awards”.
Dr Janet Thompson, Head of Higher Education at the University Centre, said ‘I am delighted to see the success of our past students who have developed their knowledge and skills through their degree level programmes to gain exciting careers and promotion at work. Our University Centre courses are designed with a strong focus on supporting our community to gain the higher technical and professional skills needed for the future workforce’.
For any queries about the University Centre Wigan & Leigh College, feel free to email us at applications@wigan-leigh.ac.uk or call 01942 761111.