It was a family celebration when father and daughter Mark and Faye Brannigan graduated from the University.
Faye (20) completed her BA Hons Childhood Studies degree at Sunderland at the same time as her father Mark (53) was working towards his Post Graduate Certification in Higher Education.
The pair, from Gateshead, supported each other during their studies, and really appreciated the encouragement, skills and expertise they could share.
“I loved the course” said Faye,“I struggled a bit at first, but once I’d overcome that I really enjoyed my second and third years and was so pleased I stuck with it. I worked on placements at Gibside School in Whickham working with children with special education needs and finally at Oakfield Infant School in Low Fell, where I worked in Reception. It was a great experience, I thoroughly enjoy working with Early Years as I enjoy the combination of curriculum teaching and learning through play“.
Mark said of his daughter: “I’m very proud of Faye; she worked so hard on her coursework, kept her job going - working every weekend while studying for her degree - and also had the real challenge of her Mam being unwell.”
Faye’s mother needed brain surgery for a tumour while Faye was in her second year and she took her for radio therapy treatment every day for six weeks. Faye was also preparing for her mother to have a second brain operation whilst completing her dissertation. Faye commented: “My lecturers were very supportive when my Mam was unwell; they understood, were there for me and helped with extensions for assignments if I needed them.”
Mark was persuaded to undertake a Post Grad Certification in Higher Education after five years spent as a business mentor for the University of Sunderland’s Enterprise Place, advising students and graduates on preparing business plans and financial information to help them start up their own business.
“When John MacIntyre asked me to start to teach it all fell into place. I’ve worked for the University of Sunderland as a business mentor for four years. I have a lot of respect for what John is doing there, he has great vision and understands the need to connect students with business and give them business skills. So when I was asked to do a teaching qualification it seemed the obvious choice to do that at Sunderland, it has a good reputation.”
While Faye initially struggled in her first year, Mark also found returning to the classroom after 15 years was hard, he commented: “Faye and I met for coffees and helped each other, she struggled the first year and I think it’s hard for someone my age to go back into study – we egged each other on. I wasn’t sure how to do assignments and Faye helped with that and we got there in the end.
After enjoying the graduation celebrations as a family Faye is keen to do social work with children and is applying for jobs in the North East, meanwhile Mark is continuing to mentor students and help them to become entrepreneurs, he commented; “The University of Sunderland is forward thinking - mixing business people with education is the way to go. The support I had was first class, I was never afraid to ask for help and it was always forthcoming.”
John MacIntyre, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science commented of Mark: “It’s great to see Mark graduate, he has been a mentor with the University for some years now and the constant good humour and enthusiasm that he brings to the work he does with the University positively affects both students and staff. That he has added a teaching qualification to his already extensive business knowledge makes him an even greater asset in our endeavours to increase student start-ups and entrepreneurialism in our graduates.”