Juggling the demands of work, part-time study and family life has paid has off handsomely for Liz Gordon, Caroline Arnott and Sandra McIntyre who work with, Johnston Campbell Partnership, Invest NI and the Western Education and Library Board respectively.  All three not only completed their MSc in Human Resource Management but did so in style, graduating today with Distinction.

Course Director, Jeanette Harrison said their success should inspire others thinking of taking up the challenge of part time study.

“The MSc in Human Resource Management meets the professional development needs of experienced HR managers wishing to update their knowledge; those with less experience may initially embark upon the Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource and gain Graduate Membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).  This award is crucial for career development within the HR profession. 

“As part of the MSc, students undertake a substantial piece of research within the HR field which culminates in a dissertation; this can be very beneficial not only for participants’ own development but also for their employers who can then implement the recommendations of the research to improve procedures in the workplace.”

She added that although Liz, Caroline and Sandra came from quite different academic and professional backgrounds, they each found the course very beneficial.

Liz is now Head of HR Support Services with financial services company Johnston Campbell Partnership.  She left school without any formal qualifications but in 2000 decided to go back to school and enrolled on a Foundation degree course as the first step. She then signed up for a two year CIPD accredited course and once that was completed, enrolled for the MSc in Human Resource Management. 

“Although I always wanted to back to school and my family encouraged me to do so, the time didn’t seem right until 2000. I had worked my way up to a management position based on results based promotion but then found myself without a job. Even though I had many years of experience, my lack of academic qualifications limited my options. I got a temporary position with my current employer and continued to work there full time while studying on a part-time basis.”

Liz’s topic for her MSc dissertation involved in-house research with JCL to help develop effective management skills and the company has now implemented the process she devised. She has since used her own experience in lifetime learning to encourage and influence ongoing learning within JCL, something which was recognised by Investors in People when they accredited the company in July this year.

“Although the research was work based and it was my own choice to carry it out, it involved a lot of weekend and evening work but the company was most supportive.

“I suspect that there are a lot of people who like me did not get a chance to follow the traditional GCSE/A level route to university. My advice to them is to ‘go for it’ as they will find that having qualifications will help open doors to a better career.

 “The support and encouragement from all the teaching staff and my work colleagues was second to none. Combining the course with my full time job helped me to apply the theory to practice.  My goal was simply to pass the course.  Getting a distinction is a real bonus,” she said.


Winter Graduation News 2005

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young