25 July 2011

DUAL Summer school graduation

Photo opportunity - 1.30pm, Tuesday July 26th,
Graduating students at the Tower Building with the Lord Provost

Over 60 students who have successfully completed this year's DUAL Access Summer School at the University of Dundee will 'graduate' on Tuesday July 26th.

The Dundee University Access to Learning (DUAL) Summer School allows students held back by adversity to earn a place at University.

One of the students graduating from this year's Summer School is Sean Howard (40), a former infantry Regimental Sergeant Major who was serving in Afghanistan last year.

Sean returned to Dundee after the end of his 22-year Army career and is now looking long-term to move into teaching.

'I was initially thinking about continuing to work out in Iraq but I’ve been away six months of the year for the past seven years or so and ultimately decided to do something that would let me stay closer to home,' said Sean.

'My partner, who is a schoolteacher herself, persuaded me that this would be a good option so I started looking at how I could go about it. I got in touch with the University a while ago and they recommended the Summer School.

'It's been great. I am looking to study for a Social Sciences degree in history, geography and international relations and then will look to moving in to teaching after that.'

This year’s school has attracted a broad mix of students, as Dr John Blicharski, Access and Participation Manager at the University, explained.

'Summer School always attracts a real mix of students and now in its 19th year it has been no different. We have some who have just left school and others returning to study, including talented candidates like Sean looking to change career,' said Dr Blicharski.

The students will gather for a graduation ceremony in the D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre, in the University’s Tower Building on Perth Road, Dundee, on Tuesday July 26th.

The ceremony will be attended by the Lord Provost and other local dignitaries.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277