Meet Your Colleagues - Irwin Pryce

Here at SERC we are keen to promote internal colleagues to allow staff the opportunity to get to know each other and put a face to the name, particularly due to the size and scope of SERC.

This week’s “Meet your Colleagues” features Irwin Pryce. Irwin is a Lecturer in Public Services in the School of Applied Science, Sport and Access here at SERC. 

What does your role at SERC involve?

I teach across several subject areas within SERC. This can be challenging though allows for plenty of variety.

As Level 3 Public Services Course Coordinator, I try my best to ensure the students get a good experience and are kept active, working closely alongside the services. I’m currently taking the students through Millennium Volunteers and Duke of Edinburgh, this keeps me busy with voluntary organisations while facilitating students being introduced to avenues of work they wouldn’t ordinarily be involved with. The programme is enjoyable due to it’s varied nature. The students are lively and fun to work with and I’m privileged to work alongside friendly and supportive staff in delivering the course.

I also teach University Access and Restart Education courses to adults. This is really rewarding, the progression of learners on these courses is noticeable and it’s great to see adults succeeding after being out of education for long periods of time. Several previous students have contacted me after a few years to tell me that they have secured employment in their dream jobs, it’s fantastic to have played a part in their success. Recently, I have been taking a sport unit, this has been enjoyable too.

I’m the elected branch Chair for UCU. I enjoy helping people and providing advice to members. I regularly attend meetings with the FE Council and will be proposing a motion at the Irish Union Congress later this month.  

Tell us a bit about your background?

I’m a graduate of Lancaster University where I studied Sociology. I then completed a P.G.C.E in Citizenship at Secondary level and spent several years after this working in every job imaginable, often at once. I taught English overseas for a year and then returned to work for local government as a Neighbourhood Officer. This involved meeting with community groups, identifying anti- social behaviour hotspots and enforcing council byelaws. Having worked with the college for almost ten years now, my pre- SERC background is increasingly becoming a distant memory!  

What 3 words best describe you?

Cooler than you 

What do you like to do outside of work?

When I’m not marking work during evenings, I go to the gym and take part in exercise classes, usually circuits or spin. Working out with other people motivates me and it’s a great way to meet new people while keeping fit.

I spend all of my holidays travelling around with a bag on my back and visiting new cities, beach holidays just aren’t for me. I’ve travelled extensively throughout Asia and have ticked almost every country in Europe off my list.

I’m a craft beer drinker who turns his nose up at cheap lagers, I’m also a coffee snob. I’m constantly redesigning the interiors of my house and given my love for beer, my living room is designed as a pub.

I’m really into all genres of music, though mainly electronic. I have spent most of my life going to live shows and can’t see myself ever stopping. The list of artists I have seen is exhaustive and the extent of my music collection is reflective of this.  

If you could swap jobs for a day who would it be and why?

I would most like to swap jobs with Emily Eavis, organisor of the Glastonbury Festival. It would be fun to book varied music acts according to my tastes while working within a budget for the largest outdoor music event in the world. Curating stages and being involved with the design would be fantastic while helping to raise money for worthwhile causes.

I’m not sure if she would be willing to swap the wellies and mud for a day at SERC though! 

List 3 items you would want with you if you were stranded on a deserted island?

Hotel complete with bar, pools and casino.

Phone for calling Michael O Leary’s head office to complain about Ryanair leaving me stranded.

Back catalogue of BBC Desert Island Discs on an MP3 player for apt entertainment.  

What is your favourite film and why?

It’s a tough call as I’m a bit of a movie buff and rarely miss a big release. Overall, it has to be Pulp Fiction. The film has everything; comedy, drama and suspense with each scene intertwining and you can never get tired of watching it. Even the soundtrack and poster are fantastic.  

Where do you most want to travel, but have never been? 

It would have to be North Korea. I lived in South Korea about 10 years ago and had my trip to the north cancelled after they shut the border following an incident. I loved everything about Korean culture, particularly the food. When I was there, the closest I could get was the DMZ where I technically stood on North Korean soil. I’ve always been fascinated with it. One day I will go, I’m just not sure how easy it will be to find travel insurance! 

If you would like to partake in “Meet Your Colleagues” please contact Calum Donaldson (Marketing and Engagement Intern) at cdonaldson@serc.ac.uk for more details.