Foundation Degrees at South West College provides a real career
Samantha Kirkpatrick 28
FDEng in Engineering (Specilaism) PT, BEng (HONS) Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering PT, Fast Track.
Idea, South West College Educational Background: After completing my A-Levels at the Collegiate Grammar School (Enniskillen), I followed the conventional route to university but early on I learned I had chosen the wrong degree subject. Soon after, I returned home to Northern Ireland where I proceeded to work my way up through the hospitality sector. However I knew this wasn’ t what I wanted to do long-term so I began to look into options and discovered the Foundation Degree in Engineering with Specialisms at South West College (SWC). The course was parttime which was ideal for me as I could continue to work while I studied. In 2014 I completed the Foundation Degree in Engineering, with Distinction and I also progressed to the second year of the Ulster University BEng (Hons) in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, which is a fast-track part-time course that has enabled me to complete my degree in under three years, while working. In July of this year, I graduated with a First Class Honours Degree.
I know I’m not alone in being unsure about the next step after finishing school but it’s important to look at all the options out there, including the less traditional routes to higher education. I can’ t recommend a foundation degree enough - it gives you the opportunity to study at a higher level for a much lower cost and continue to work alongside your studies. Unlike many other graduates, I have completed a foundation degree and an honours degree debt-free, as the part-time delivery of these courses meant I could work and study.
I completed my dissertation at Ulster University, where I researched the ‘Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed Components’. This topic fitted perfectly with my current position at the Idea Centre at SWC, which is home to a range of printing technologies that I was able to access during my studies. My goal is to further my knowledge in the area of 3D printing/additive manufacture and build a career in this exciting new manufacturing age. I want to travel and see the world and I think a career in the engineering industries ideal in enabling me to do this.
I started studying again in 2011, after a four year break. The foundation degree and the support from South West College has introduced me to a network of people and opportunities that I truly believe I would not have got elsewhere. Starting off in the Idea Centre as a Student Intern before progressing to an Industrial Development Associate, has given me skills and expertise that are very rare in Northern Ireland. I do believe that studying on a foundation degree, with its combination of study, work placement opportunities, low costs and guidance and support from SWC staff has given me an edge in terms of where I am today.
For further information on Foundation Degree and Higher Level Apprenticeship courses available at South West College; telephone: 0845 603 1881, email: enquiries@swc.ac.uk or log on to: www. swc.ac.uk.