So far...

We had a recall day and I decided to find out the views of my colleagues about their journey so far in Ruskin. It is amazing how we, students, share the same opinion of views about Ruskin and how beneficial it has been to been to all of us. In my placement I met a qualified Social worker who did her diploma at Ruskin. She still bears the same witness we bear now about Ruskin. So many years have passed but Ruskin college is still giving its best to their students today. Today I am asking my other colleagues to share with us their experiences on the Social Work course at Ruskin Fantastic three years have stretched my mind and my social circle having made so many lifelong friends. Alison I have loved every minute of my three years at Ruskin College. This staff have been fantastically very supportive and I have made some wonderful friends I will be sad when the agent course is over. Anna Can't believe how fast the three years have gone. Staff have been very supportive and I have met some wonderful new friends. I would recommend the course highly. Catherine I have been at Ruskin for five years and have enjoyed every minute. Ruskin are so supportive and encouraging. I have achieved so much more than I thought myself capable. I would recommend it to anyone thinking of returning to education. Dawn My time at Raskin has been three of the most in enriching years of my life. The staffs have offered above and beyond the expected level of support and I have made some good friends. I have recommended the course to others and as a result an ex-colleague from my first placement is in year one of BA Social Work. My name is Nancy. I am in my last year on placement in Social Work. Raskin has changed my life and thinking. This has been a wonderful and great learning experience. Ruskin College has been inspiring with great tutors and friendly atmosphere

Theory into Practice

How time flies. I've been on my last placement for the year. This year, things are rather more practical. I'm doing my Placement at a hospial. Even though it's been busy, I really prefer it as it's a lot more hands on. I work within a social work unit whose duty among other ones is to work out a care package for clients. It's been actually involved in interviewing clients and recommending care packages for them. Now I'm able to put all the theories I learnt on the course into practice. I will be posting my experiences over the next weeks until the placement is finished.

Another term begins...

Hi to you all. How are you keeping. Welcome to the new students. You have made the right decision in choosing to study at Ruskin. Ruskin has enabled me to embark on a degree course that I would not have been able to afford at all. My future prospect changed from gloom to a bright one and a future with as a carer.

This is a summary of last term  - my second year. I can't even believe myself that this September I will be in my third year. Well, last term went well and I was really enjoying it. Especially the different topics that were covered. We had external professionals who were invited to teach us. They came from different specialities and gave practical teaching examples that really helped. It gave us a clearer view, understanding and practical tips to dealing with people from different walks of life.

Although I really enjoyed the term, towards the end I had challenging situations that I had to face. I lost a dear and loving sister to cancer. It was so painful and I had to take sometime off. I tried to put into practice bereavement theory that I had learnt but it failed. At the same time, I was also facing difficult challenges that can not be mentioned here. I almost gave up on the course; that was how low I felt!  It affected my performance and I now have to redo one of my assignments. I received great support and encouragement from both family and the college. The good thing is I have a tutor to support me and a tutorial session as well to help me work through my assignment. Wow !!. Where else can you find such support? No where I think. 

I have been having a lot of chats with people about Ruskin and they have been very impressed about  the great work and change it's bringing to a lot of people that had given up by given them a second chance. The journey continues and all comments are welcome.

First placement completed

Hello everyone! Can you believe it? My placement is over and I am almost at the end of my second year. Me? No, I don't believe it. It all seems like a dream but it is real.

My placement went on well. Of course there were some challenges and good times. There were opportunities for me to shed light on the good work, teaching and support Ruskin College is giving its students.

Some of the challenges faced are coming to terms with the work that go on in the children/family centre because I was not familiar with it but I had support.

Almost to the end of my placement, my husband was hospitalised and I had to juggle my placement, family, college and work. It was very difficult and a very stressful process. But hey, I was determined to push on. Not only that, the support I got from my tutors was amazing. My colleague was really amazed by it. My tutors were available to be called and my supervision time was regular. They worked hard for me to be able to gain all my experiences and knowledge needed.

The good times were meeting new people as usual. Being able to put theory into practice, working with people to bring a change to their lives. In one instance, a family's circumstances changed as a result of taking up their case and working on their behalf. They are much happier now. It felt really rewarding to me.

Some of the challenges were also dealing with ethical issues but because of confidentiality, I will not be able to say anything more on it.

Overall, it was a good learning process for me. At first, I thought too much work was required of us compared to a colleague from another university that was on the same placement with me. On closer look, the work that we are required to do made me more aware of theories, approaches, legislation and a lot more. From the feedback I had, Ruskin College is the best place for studying.

I want to use this opportunity to say thank you to all my tutors and supervisors for their support in enabling me to go through my placement and second year as a whole.

Catch up with you soon.

Happy New Year!!

Thanks to everyone who has been following me through my blog and for all the encouragement. Happy New Year to all of you. I hope those who have pursuing further education as part of their new year resolutions will consider Ruskin College.

I hope you all have a great, prosperous New Year. Catch up with you soon.

Hello again

Hello all. It's been a while. I've been rather busy with my placement activities which is going on well and I am almost half way through it. So far I have learned new things, put some theories into practice and most importantly used the opportunity to interact with service users as well.

The opportunity never ceases. Almost every day someone would ask me where am I studying and why is it different from any other university? How am I coping as a mother of two young kids and family as well. They think I am some kind of super woman. I tell them the support from the Ruskin College has been immense which has made a lot of difference.

As part of my work at the placement center, I come across people from all walks of life especially those who aspire to get further education but are prevented due to one reason or the other. I try to encourage them to consider Ruskin and the opportunities there.

Second Interview at BBC Oxford

As promised in an earlier post, this is a second interview done at the BBC Oxford studies about my first year's experiences at Ruskin. Enjoy.