Nuffield Future Researcher - Jackie Morgan

Several South Eastern Regional College students recently gained work placements though the Nuffield Future Researcher programme, including Jackie Morgan, 57, from Ballynahinch. Jackie is an Access student and no stranger to life-long learning having studied Psychology and English Literature, NVQ Level 1,2 and 3 in Advanced Counselling Skills and Theory, and NVQ Level 3 in Professional Cookery - all at SERC over the years.   She decided the Access course was her route to a new career.  

She heard about the Nuffield Foundation placements through an email from SERC Careers Advisor, Ruth Annett, and again from her Psychology tutor, Lisa Mulholland. “I read the requirements and initially thought I would make an application because of lockdown and my need to remain mentally active. I had no idea how prestigious a placement it was prior to applying but now realise that it is a fabulous opportunity to upgrade the skills I gained at SERC and increase my science and research skills”  Speaking about her placement Jackie said,  “I received notification on the success of my application on 6th May, but due to Covid19 restrictions I wasn’t able to attend the induction day planned at Queen’s University and since then, all activities have been carried out online. I’m on a four-week placement in the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences at Queen’s and I will be working in the field of Psychology, more specifically researching Dyscalculia, its effects, and possible intervention methods.” 

She continued, “It was interesting to begin researching Dyscalculia, a condition which affects a broad majority of people, of which I knew little about. Unlike Dyslexia, Dyscalculia is less understood but can have a significant impact on a person's ability to understand maths in early years, and also to manage many life situations in adulthood, such as remembering your left and right, managing money and understanding budgets.  

She added, “I personally was affected by an inability to comprehend maths but my brilliant math tutor at SERC, Patricia Rooney, was excellent in recognising our individual learning styles and need to see maths in different ways.   She was instrumental in helping me pass my GCSE maths.” 

Jackie spoke about progression and plans after the completion of her Access course and some of her thoughts on her time at the College,  “Being a mature student,  I decided to apply to universities in Scotland, Wales and England to do an undergraduate course in Psychology and Counselling.  My aspiration is to be able to work beyond retirement age, most probably in the public sector. 

“I would like to thank my tutors who were fantastic in enabling me, a mature student, to learn new skills and to remember what I enjoyed about learning when I was a teenager. Overall, it was a great experience and one I would advise anyone wishing to re-engage in academic learning to undertake, no matter what age you are. 

Apply now for courses commencing September 2020. Visit www.serc.ac.uk to find out how you could be #BetterOffAtSERC