Distance Learning - Case Studies

Name: Thomas Lynch

Rank on Exit: Petty Officer

Years of Service: 10 years

Qualifications Gained: PRINCE2 Practitioner , Sales & Marketing

 

 

Petty Officer Thomas Lynch, 29, left the Forces in September 2008 after ten years in the Royal Navy, specialising as a Communications Technician. Still serving as a Naval Reservist, he says that he left ‘to create further value and to capitalise on my potential’. He gained an array of civilian qualifications while serving: BTEC (Advanced) Communications; Advanced Modern Apprenticeship (Telecommunications); NVQ level 3 (Telecommunications); ECDL; First Line Management ILM level 3; Introduction to Management Certificate; Certificate in Business Studies and Certificate in ICT – both with the Open University (OU); as well as A levels.

He complemented the above achievements during his resettlement phase by taking the following courses: PRINCE2 Practitioner; Microsoft Project; Sales and Marketing; Management Accounting; Management Consulting; and Business Start-Up. His CTW, he says, ‘allowed me to understand further the civilian market and what my USP would be’.

Having made extensive use of distance learning, he says ‘I have undertaken a number of courses – both academic and practical case study learning. For instance, the Chartered Management Institute’s Chartered Management Programme allowed me, through distance learning, to consolidate my existing leadership and management skills, and build on them with enhanced project management and change management skills. It was a year-long programme that I started after completing my MBA with the University of Leicester, and resulted in me becoming a Registered Chartered Manager. The course allowed me to continue in my full-time role as head of marketing and strategic business development at Nylacast Ltd, my first assignment on leaving the Forces. I also worked while doing my MBA, which meant that I had to put in long hours and work hard, but it was definitely worth it in the end.

‘While serving, I studied both Business Studies and ICT via distance learning through the OU. I found the course content and deliverables easy to use, and the OU support mechanisms absolutely invaluable. With limited time off during operations, there are times when you have to dig deep and commit yourself to undertake work when your friends and colleagues might be taking part in other activities during any downtime. However, once you have completed a module, a course, a qualification and then your degree, the success – both personal and aspirational against potential – is massively rewarding.’

Thomas is now enjoying his current role as a mobile radio and broadband market analyst with IMS Research, which involves ‘providing global statistics and forecasts, as well as market assessments, to leading radio communications companies around the world, calling for international travel and key customer engagement to achieve the best results.’

‘Opportunities do exist out there,’ he concludes, ‘for those who can truly add value to their organisation.’
 

Name: Sarah Edwards

Rank on Exit: Captain

Years of Service: 6 years

Qualifications Gained: Graduate medical degree

 

Captain Sarah Edwards, 30, Royal Engineers, found the time to study for an AS level in Chemistry while stationed in Iraq. Motivation came from Army medics with whom she worked closely during her service. Early in 2006, she decided to leave and retrain as a doctor.
‘Having spent six years in the Army, I experienced the medical profession in a variety of different theatres, both overseas on operations and, more routinely, back in barracks. The variety of the job really appeals to me, as does the compassion and utter devotion to their job that the medical professionals I met displayed.’

She faced an immediate challenge: to gain entry to an accelerated four-year graduate medical degree, she needed an AS level in Chemistry. But, with full-time study out of the question and a demanding work role, she looked for a way to get this qualification.

By chance, she found Bright Futures (brightfuturesonline.co.uk) on the internet. As an online provider of A-levels, it offered the flexibility to start when she wanted and the ability to fit the study around her variable working routine. Online classrooms are available 24/7 from anywhere in the world, giving students control over when and where they study. A tutor is assigned to the student every step of the way and, using Skype technology, students can chat safely and securely with tutors and fellow students at any time.

Finishing the qualification in just five months, Edwards found that: ‘It was difficult to get into a study routine at first. I would have to ensure that when I had a quiet week I worked twice as hard. As I got further into the course I developed efficient working practices and managed to have a final push before my exam.’
Now studying medicine at Southampton, she underlines that ‘grants are available and I used mine to offset the course fees’.

For further information on all the courses available, visit the website at www.brightfuturesonline.co.uk.

Name: Dawn Gabriele

Rank on Exit: Sergeant

Years of Service: 24 years

Qualifications Gained: Foundation Degree

 

Flight Sergeant Dawn Gabriele, 42, is an aerospace systems manager at RAF Boulmer in Northumberland. She has served in the RAF for just over 24 years and plans to leave in 2010. ‘I started my first course with the Open University in 1998. I’ve got a certificate in early years practice and I’m currently studying for a foundation degree in early years, and possibly then going on to a BA (Hons).

‘I joined the OU mainly because my husband, who’s in the RAF as well, was studying with them at the time. He was fitting studying in around his shifts and I decided I’d like to try something similar. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, so I started out with a social sciences course as I’d done sociology at school. At the time I was living in Milton Keynes so it was great to have tutorials at the headquarters. The OU gives the flexibility to study anywhere. I’ve since worked in Shetland, Cornwall, Scotland and Germany.

 

‘Studying has given me a real passion for life-long learning. Though it’s hard work, I do like it. I’ve actually got friends and colleagues involved. I mainly study in the evenings. I’ve had some extremely good tutors; they’ve been very flexible with deadlines, as long as you get to the end goal.

 

‘At the moment I travel to Durham for tutorials but, when I was in Shetland, I did a lot of phone tutorials. I had the flexibility of support face-to-face, on the phone and I make use of the online student forum, which is really helpful. I like the coursework and clear guidance about what’s expected and assessments. When there are problems there is always someone to turn to and everything you need to complete the course is delivered to you. I’d thoroughly recommend it to anyone.’