Inspirational 麻豆网 tutor wins national tutor award
A 麻豆网 lecturer who reminds her students to phone their families has won a national award.
Human Geography lecturer Si芒n Pierce, who says she finds people 鈥渆ndlessly fascinating鈥�, has picked up an after watching thousands of her students graduate in her more than 20 years.
The awards celebrate the achievements of exceptional tutors and mentors in Wales who have shown outstanding passion and commitment to encourage, support and teach other adult learners to pursue their goals and transform their lives, whether it鈥檚 in their community or the workplace.
Run by, with support from the Welsh Government, the awards reward outstanding individuals whose commitment, knowledge and communication skills have given adult learners the tools to transform their lives.
Si芒n, 61, joined the university鈥檚 staff in 1996 after 11 years spent as a civil servant, helping people with their benefit claims.
The experience, she says, encouraged the empathetic approach she uses every day with her students.
She said: 鈥淚t taught me to listen. When a student is in crisis, it can sometimes be what they are not telling you that鈥檚 important. I鈥檒l ask them 鈥榠s there something else you need to think about or talk about?鈥�
鈥淎lso, in their first week at university, I keep on at them to phone their families - I tell them to involve those who have helped them in their learning journey.鈥�
As senior tutor in the Environment section of the university鈥檚 School of Natural Sciences, Si芒n is in charge of pastoral support, making her a point of contact for more than 500 students, as well as staff.
Si芒n with some of her students.She also runs the school鈥檚 Welcome Week programme, and for the Environment students is Peer Support and Employability Coordinator and Disability Tutor.
鈥淚 have a disability myself [Si芒n had major surgery 10 years ago and was unable to work for 16 months] and I tell some of the students who worry they鈥檙e not going to be able to finish their degrees that it鈥檚 going to be hard, but I understand the challenges that they face. I tell them that as a team we will encourage and help them on their journey: 鈥楴ever give up - we鈥檒l get you there!鈥�
鈥淲e place a lot of emphasis on fieldwork within our degrees, much of which takes place in the uplands of Snowdonia. This can be a challenge for some of our students, but it鈥檚 the best feeling knowing that as a group of staff, we鈥檝e fostered an inclusive environment in which all our students are able to engage with this work and get the most from their studies.鈥�
Si芒n studied at the same university, gaining a degree in English and Sociology as a mature student when she was 35, later completing a post-graduate qualification in Social Science research and then moving into research as a geographer.
Having given up what was then regarded as a job for life, she struggled at first with the concept of being a student, but credits one of her lecturers for helping to get her on track.
She says: 鈥淗e gave me the impetus to carry on, saying to me 鈥榊ou think the others know everything? Ask the questions they are all too afraid to ask鈥�. So, I did and here I am, 30 years later, dispensing similar words of advice and encouraging them to hold on for their own breakthrough.鈥�
Inspire! Adult Tutor nominations were invited for 鈥榦utstanding individuals鈥� who give 鈥榦ver and above鈥� what is expected of them, from areas including higher education, further education, the workplace, community education and schools.
鈥淯niversity life can be full of distractions but our plan from day one, as a team (including our brilliant peer supporters), is to get every student through to their graduation ceremony,鈥� said Si芒n, who praised the 鈥榚xcellent鈥� Student Services support team.
She added that working with these colleagues enables students to face the challenges on their journeys and has helped the school gain some of the highest retention rates in the university.
鈥淎 geography degree teaches you to think on your feet. Thanks to platforms like the Discovery Channel, you can travel the world - it鈥檚 more popular than ever. Most people when I tell them what I do, will say 鈥榠t was my favourite subject at school.鈥� Human Geography is my passion. I find people endlessly fascinating.鈥�
鈥淚 absolutely love what I do. The best thing is hugging my students on graduation day, talking to their families and saying 鈥榟aven鈥檛 they done so well?鈥� Several years ago, I was delighted when a student introduced me as his second mum - to his own mum! It鈥檚 good to know that students鈥� families also appreciate what we do.鈥�
Kirsty Williams, Minister for Education, said: 鈥淕ood mentors are important at all stages of our lives. The role of an adult tutor comes with additional challenges in helping someone returning to education achieve their goals.
鈥淭he Inspire! Tutor Awards are a great way to thank people like Si芒n whose skills, time and commitment continue to support so many journeys in learning, often with life-changing results.鈥�
David Hagendyk, Director for Wales at Learning and Work Institute, said: 鈥溾�楤ehind every successful adult learner are the tutors, lecturers and support staff who work every day to help individuals unlock their potential and fulfil their ambitions.
鈥楾he Inspire! Tutor Awards are a fantastic opportunity to recognise the excellent work of the individual winners, as well as to thank everyone working in our colleges, universities, schools, workplaces and communities for their hard-work and dedication.鈥�
The Inspire! Tutor Awards are funded by The Welsh Government and the European Social Fund and organised by the Learning and Work Institute Wales.
For more information about adult learning or becoming a tutor, call 0800 028 4844.
Publication date: 25 January 2019