CASE STUDY: Jayne Johns

Jayne completed her Foundation degree in Communication in Organisations in June 2009. The programme is now running under the course title Foundation degree in Business, Management and Communications, delivered at Abingdon & Witney College and validated by Oxford Brookes University.

 

Jayne left education after O-levels (equivalent to GCSE qualifications) to go into employment and although she undertook some short courses offered through work she had never before studied at HE level.

Jayne found out about the Foundation degree in Communication in Organisations when she attended an Open Day at Abingdon & Witney College with her daughter who was just about to start sixth form. As she was reading through the prospectus, the Foundation degree caught her eye. Jayne had been working at the Ministry of Defence as a command clerk for the past four years and as the Foundation degree programme involved work-based assessment and an afternoon release from work, Jayne discussed the possibly of studying with the regimental officer who was her supervisor. He was very supportive and felt that there would be many benefits, including promoting an improved communication model within the workplace and for Jayne's continued professional development in learning oral presentation techniques.

Jayne enjoyed the balance between the time spent at college and found that one day a week from 2pm-8:30pm at college was manageable for work. The majority of Jayne's classmates were also in full-time employment from a variety of backgrounds which encouraged interesting discussion within the class about the work-based projects they were undertaking. Foundation degree students have access to both college and Oxford Brookes University facilities, which Jayne found particularly useful especially when it came to accessing the sociology material in Brookes library.

Jayne explained that her attitude towards higher education has changed completely since studying on the Foundation degree. "Before, I regarded higher education as exclusively for the privileged and also did not appreciate the different modes of part-time learning available which make it possible to undertake a course while also working full-time".

Jayne would like to now go on to the third year of an Open University Honours degree in Communication, Media and Culture and is not ruling out in the future undertaking a Masters. The Foundation degree has also given Jayne the confidence to apply for a higher pay grade. She plans to take the exam and 2 interviews which are a pre-requisite to complete before moving up a grade.

Jayne praised the Foundation degree programme leader at Abingdon & Witney College for the support that she has received and stated that she would like to keep in touch with her. Jayne's advice for others thinking of or about to undertake the Foundation degree would be to schedule your workload carefully according to your deadlines, "as otherwise the works backs up and it isn't the sort of assignment work that you can undertake at the last minute".

Ian Williams, a warrant officer managing an administrative unit of 500 people, acted as Jayne's workplace mentor. Supporting Jayne through the Foundation degree as a mentor has also broadened Ian's knowledge and whetted his appetite in the subject. "It has also opened my eyes to the possibility of entering into HE and given me a greater awareness as a manager of communication tensions. I have watched Jayne grow in confidence and deal with problems within the workplace by identifying issues early and becoming a peacemaker".

We spoke to Jayne in June 2009