In celebration of Universities Week, what does uni mean to you? Is it just about gaining a qualification or is there more to it than that? Share your thoughts here...
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Robyn Bateman (member of the Platform team)
Robyn Bateman - Mon, 13/06/2011 - 09:59
To me, university has lots of meanings - I got a diploma at London Met but it was about more than the qualification, it was about making friends and work contacts. While I groaned constantly about the workload and tutorials, it also allowed me to stroll across London and take in some of the sights before and after an all-day session with our tutor.
Universities are also about society - I went to an awards ceremony at Birmingham University several years ago and think it's great that universities can be used as venues for important local and national events. For example, how great is it that both David Cameron and Gordon Brown chose the OU to give keynote speeches?
I work at the OU so obviously university, to me, is about employment too and helping and supporting members of the OU community. I've made many good friends along the way and often feel lifted and motivated when I talk to students and alumni about thier experiences here. Having done a short OU course myself I know how hard our students have to work on top of raising families, full time jobs, ill health etc - and that has to be admired.
To me, university has lots of meanings - I got a diploma at London Met but it was about more than the qualification, it was about making friends and work contacts. While I groaned constantly about the workload and tutorials, it also allowed me to stroll across London and take in some of the sights before and after an all-day session with our tutor.
Universities are also about society - I went to an awards ceremony at Birmingham University several years ago and think it's great that universities can be used as venues for important local and national events. For example, how great is it that both David Cameron and Gordon Brown chose the OU to give keynote speeches?
I work at the OU so obviously university, to me, is about employment too and helping and supporting members of the OU community. I've made many good friends along the way and often feel lifted and motivated when I talk to students and alumni about thier experiences here. Having done a short OU course myself I know how hard our students have to work on top of raising families, full time jobs, ill health etc - and that has to be admired.
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Robyn Bateman (member of the Platform team)