Reading ready for the final

HERE’S a starter for ten: which longrunning university TV quiz show has been set alight by the exploits of four fabulous Reading students?

Buzz!

Reading, Van De Noort!

University Challenge, of course!

I am sure many of you have been closely following the progress of Reading’s University Challenge team over the last few months.

After storming through the first, second and third rounds, the Reading team gave us a thrilling semi-final match on Monday night, which saw them defeat the University of Edinburgh 145-115 to reach the final.

This achievement marks the furthest a Reading team has ever gone in the show.

Of course, we hope the team manage to go one step further, and we can’t wait to see their appearance in the final, to be broadcast this coming Monday (4 April).

Whether they bring the trophy back to

Reading or not, the team’s achievement has been about more than just winning. They have impressed the world with how they have played the game.

These students represent the great talent and diversity that we have here at Reading.

Our people are our University.

We are an international community, with staff and students from more than 140 countries.

This mix of people helps to make Reading so special, in a community that celebrates excellence, inclusivity and engagement with the outside world.

Each of our University Challenge team members helps to embody this spirit.

Team captain, Michael Hutchinson, who has impressed with his encyclopaedic knowledge and inclusive leadership, is now a teacher at Highdown School in Emmer Green, after completing his PGCE post-graduate certificate in education.

You may recognise Margaret Ounsley, who has lived in Reading for 45 years and is a former Reading Borough councillor, now studying for a doctorate in history.

Sylvian Jesudoss, a PhD student from

Henley Business School, has been joined by second year undergraduate Kira Bishop, who is studying maths and psychology and replaced English literature master’s student Alex Skopic, who appeared in earlier matches before returning home to the US.

The team includes people from the local area who are making the most of the university on their doorstep.

Many people think of universities as places for people in their late teens and twenties, continuing their studies straight after finishing school.

While that is true for some students, many people come to university later in life, for a variety of reasons: to further their existing careers, to train themselves for a new career, or simply for the love of learning.

Study can be undertaken either full-time or part-time, to work around existing jobs or family commitments.

We all have our fingers crossed for our quiz show heroes.

Whatever happens in the final, they have done Reading proud.

They have shown the world a snapshot sample of our amazing students, for whom each and every day is an achievement in their own personal university challenge.