Sam Kalubowila

Head of Greater Manchester Higher

My parents moved to London from Sri Lanka in the 1970s to further their own education and my first HE experience was at the University of London’s nursery as a baby! As the eldest of three, I was expected to go to university to set a good example to my younger siblings.

My A-levels didn’t go exactly to plan, but I was lucky and found a place at Sheffield Hallam University through Clearing and started a BSc in Business & Technology. However, part way into my degree I realised I’d made the wrong choice AGAIN, and with the support of academic and pastoral staff, I took a place on a combined studies course in the faculty of humanities, which allowed me to tailor my degree. During my final year, I had the opportunity to work for my university as a student ambassador, supporting young people to help them make decisions about their future. This inspired me to work in the field of widening participation, which I have done since my graduation (2:1 with honours, thanks for asking) in 2003.

Jamie Bytheway

Operations Manager (Activities & Projects)

From a young age, my Mum and Dad always told me that I would go to the local university, even though none of us really knew what that meant or had ever visited it as I was the first in my family to go, and that I would be an accountant as I was good at Maths.

Fast forward to now and I have a degree in English Literature from the University of Manchester – Y10 English quickly went from being my least to most favourite subject, and when I was in Y13, I decided I wanted to move away from the small mining town I’d grown up in to live in a big city!

I never really knew what I wanted to do (sorry Mum and Dad, but I wasn’t sure about being an accountant) but my English degree has equipped me with useful skills such as communication, seeing things from multiple perspectives and the ability to form a good argument!

Grace Sheldon

Operations Manager (Governance)

After getting my A-Levels at my local FE college I went to the University of Liverpool to study Sociology and Criminology (mainly because I was interested in those subjects, but also because I liked the feel of the place when I went to their open day).

My degree helped me to get a graduate role straight after Uni with a company who run Tuition centres for kids, which was great as it combined working with young people and managing a business!

Since then I’ve worked in a variety of roles with different organisations that involve working with young people and communities in some way- each one giving me new skills and experience which have helped me to keep progressing in my career.

Ian McGarry

Advice and Guidance Manager

I left school at age 16 with a clutch of strong GCSE grades and determined to cut it in the world of journalism. I didn’t progress past the local newspaper. It took me until the age of 23 to wake-up and realise that university was the answer. Manchester Met University gave me a chance – despite the fact that I had no A Levels to my name.

University opened my mind. I met some brilliant people. It gave me the confidence to get on in my career. I was the first member of my family to go into higher education. I didn’t get the Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) I needed, at age 16. I didn’t think people “like me” went to university. I just wanted a job and to earn some money.

Fast forward to today and there’s never been a greater need for impartial, accurate and tailored IAG to help young people understand the choices they have – and all the possibilities.

Mark Burke

Monitoring and Evaluation Manager

My parents moved to the UK from Jamaica in the 1960s as part of the Windrush Generation, where my father continued his career as a minister. Although my father never formally attended a higher education establishment, he taught in a number of teaching positions within the church.

Like many of my peers, I had no idea what I wanted to do when I left school, so I stayed on at sixth form for a year and then attended a local further education college for 3 years and part-time through my first and second job roles where I gained BTEC qualifications. Also at the time, in a brave new world, I gained a number of typing qualifications. Remember this was pre-Microsoft Windows and desktop pcs!

I have got better as I’ve aged and have engaged with a number of courses throughout my career and completed amongst other things, an ILM Level 5 qualification in Leadership & Management.

Sarah Starkey

Marketing and Communications Officer

I was the first one in my family to go to uni, (it’s a shame my graduation photo is so bad and still hangs in my parents’ front room!) My mum was keen for me to apply, and sometimes, Mums know best.

Whilst I was in sixth form, I wasn’t sure whether university would be for me, I found the idea quite daunting – not knowing anyone, being somewhere new, but when I went to visit the University of Lancaster I realised it was the uni for me and now, I wish I could do it all again.

My degree has provided me with skills that have helped a lot in the workplace, from confidence and independence to organisation and self-motivation. Studying a subject I was really interested in helped me focus, and meeting new people helped to ‘bring me out of my shell’.

Edit Zsibrita

Project Assistant

Unlike many people, I knew from a very early age, I wanted to be a teacher (my dolls had school reports) and with that desire in my heart, I sailed through university with my eyes fixed on the ultimate goal. After having gained a QTS, I taught History to GSCE and A level for 7 years that helped me to develop a deep commitment to enhancing students’ experience.

However, whilst I was on the mission to prove people who say `there is no such a thing as straight career path’ wrong (or at least to become the exception to the rule), I unexpectedly (and blissfully unaware) ventured off my obvious route by changing country. Due to the language barrier and educational differences, I had to start my career again from the very bottom. Two years of working as a cleaner and a baby sitter helped me develop humility and respect to every human being and provided me with opportunities to improve my English. Subsequently, I gained an EFL teacher (English as a Foreign Language) and a Level 3 Community interpreting qualification that helped to secure a job with the Stockport Council. During those years, I completed a Master’s degree at MMU that provided me with real HE experience in the UK and helped me to master my research and analytical skills that eventually led to writing a successful PhD proposal.

I’m having a rest before starting the next stage of my student journey and, after a 5-year gap, I will be going back to teaching and proving that my dolls didn’t suffer in vain.