Students at South West College's (SWC) Erne Campus are celebrating the successful completion of their Ulster University BSc (Hons) Business Studies (Top-Up) degree, with graduates Margaret McCrory from Gortin, Rebecca Galbraith from Fintona and Nick Collen from Enniskillen sharing how SWC's flexible higher education pathway helped them achieve their ambitions.
The graduating cohort followed a range of pathways into higher education, including A Levels at local schools and Level 3 courses at SWC, before progressing to the Foundation Degree in Business Management at SWC's Enniskillen, Omagh or Dungannon campuses. Following successful completion of the Foundation Degree, students advanced to the two year BSc (Hons) top-up degree, which can be studied part time or as a Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA).
Reflecting on their journey, Margaret, who returned to education after a ten-year break, said:
“The attraction for me was how accessible the course was. Studying locally meant I could continue working full-time and still be present for my family. The part-time delivery, affordable fees and ability to stay at home removed a lot of the financial pressure that often comes with higher education.”
"Completing my degree has given me renewed confidence, and I now hope to progress into promotional opportunities with my current employer, the Education Authority. This qualification has opened doors that were previously out of reach."
Rebecca, who began her studies at SWC's Omagh Campus after completing her A Levels, highlighted the practical benefits of the Ulster University degree pathway, which allowed her to stay close to home rather than relocate for university.
Rebecca said: "During my studies, I completed a work placement which helped me gain confidence and put my knowledge into practice. The variety of assignments helped me develop confidence not only in writing reports but also in public speaking, something I was previously reluctant to do.”
"This pathway allowed me to stay close to home while continuing to work and gain valuable experience, helping to further my career and lead to promotion opportunities."
Nick also found the pathway offered a more affordable route to gaining a recognised degree qualification.
Nick said: “Being able to study locally and live at home helped reduce costs and made things a lot less stressful financially.”
"Throughout my time at SWC, the lecturers were always supportive and approachable whenever I needed help or guidance. The smaller class sizes also made it easier to ask questions and stay engaged during classes.”
"Overall, studying at SWC was the right choice for me and I would recommend the Foundation Degree and BSc Business Management pathway to anyone considering higher education in business."
Margaret, Rebecca and Nick are now looking forward to graduating this summer and agree that the pathway has not only provided them with a degree qualification but has also enhanced their career prospects.
Stephen Crawford Lecturer Commercial and Business Services at SWC, congratulated the graduates on their achievements.
"Congratulations to all our students on their achievements and best wishes for future employment, further academic study and continued career progression."
"The future is bright for all of our BSc Business graduates as they embark on careers across a wide range of business organisations in management level posts in finance, sales, production, purchasing, personnel and marketing both in Northern Ireland and further afield.”