NSCG celebrates Lifelong Learning Week 2024

Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) will be celebrating Lifelong Learning Week 2024 which runs from 4-10 November.

Lifelong Learning Week is an annual week of celebrations taking place across England to raise the profile of lifelong learning across a range of policy areas. Throughout the week, NSCG will be highlighting the benefits of lifelong learning and the courses available to adult learners aged 19+ at both Newcastle College and Stafford College including employability and digital courses, English and maths courses and a range of recreational courses to aimed at boosting the confidence and wellbeing of adults across the region.

NSCG will also be shining the remarkable stories of a number of dedicated adult learners who have chosen to return to education to open up a world of opportunities by gaining recognised qualifications to enhance their future career prospects or to grow in confidence and learn a new skill.

Driving Instructor, Mohammed Yahiya has recently enrolled onto a part-time AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting to help him to begin a career in accounting whilst still working full time. 

Mohammed said: "I have always had an interest in accounting and my wife actually enrolled on a course a year before I decided to go for it, so I thought I would do something for myself which would also help with my own business. Studying can be a challenge, but once you pass an exam or complete the level, you feel a sense of accomplishment that makes all the hard work worth it."

Another learner, Abu Zobair Sarder, relocated to the UK in May 2023 from Bangladesh to join is wife and child, and recently enrolled on an English for Speakers of Other Languages course (ESOL) at NSCG. 

Abu said: "I chose to return to education for several reasons. I recognise the importance of effectively communicating in English, both personally and professionally. Enhancing my English language skills was something that I wanted to work on to help me to engage with other people, access further educational opportunities and advance my career."

Studying the Level 1 Award in Floristry course to pursue a passion and a potential new career, Olha Ivaschchenko said: "I fled the war in Ukraine and have lived in the UK for around two years. Before coming to the UK, I worked as a hairdressing teacher in a college, so I love learning environments. After studying English, I chose the Level 1 Award in Floristry as I enjoy working with flowers and making beautiful bouquets and I'm hoping that this could be my new career."

The week also coincides with the launch of NSCG's brand new Winter schedule of adult courses which include a wide-range of both part-time on-campus and online courses to help learners to upskill, retrain or take up a new hobby.

For more information on the adult learning opportunities available at NSCG, visit nscg.ac.uk/adults