Carmel Morgan, a dedicated professional and mother of two, has credited South West College (SWC) with helping her unlock her potential and advance her career through the ILM Level 5 in Leadership and Management course.
Having relocated to Dungannon in 2019, her journey with SWC began when she reached out to course coordinator Dominic to explore flexible learning options that would fit around her family’s schedule. Dominic introduced her to the Skill Up programme, which offers free upskilling opportunities, and connected her with the team.
The course proved transformative. “Taking part in this course unlocked potential I never knew I had,” she shared. “I’ve been able to enhance my job role, take on more responsibility with confidence, and improve my ability to learn online.”
Carmel currently works as a Personal Assistant to an Assistant Director at the Education Authority. She says the course has made her more confident in managing both her director’s schedule and her own workload. “I’ve recently been moved to a more advanced division due to a restructure, and I’ve been able to implement what I learned in the ILM Level 5 into my day-to-day duties.”
One of her proudest moments came after overcoming self-doubt during the final module of the course. With support from her lecturer Claire, who provided feedback on her drafts, Carmel achieved results that left her “overwhelmed and extremely proud.”
She credits her success not only to the support of her lecturers but also to her family. “I was my own obstacle,” she admitted. “But my family encouraged me every step of the way, ensuring I could attend classes without worrying about my children.”
Carmel draws inspiration from her two daughters and her late brother, who earned a First Class Honours degree just weeks before passing away from brain cancer in July 2024. “He is my biggest inspiration for completing ILM Level 5,” she said. “I want to show my daughters that mothers can work and expand their education at the same time.”
Looking ahead, Carmel hopes to continue her educational journey and further her career within the Education Authority. We wish Carmel the best of luck with her future studies and career progression.
