University’s high degree of success

FIVE years ago Oldham embarked on a new mission to help university students boldly go where they had never gone before.

Karen Doherty looks at the history and success of University Campus Oldham.

NOT many institutions can boast that they have been launched by the captain of the Star Ship Enterprise.

But that’s what happened when Patrick Stewart — famed for his “Star Trek” role as Jean-Luc Picard — sent higher education into the next generation in Oldham in May, 2005.

Famously turned away by Oldham Rep as a jobbing graduate in 1959, luckily the man from Mirfield, West Yorkshire, holds no grudges and has close connections with the borough in his role as Chancellor of Huddersfield University.

Five years ago the university opened satellite centres in Oldham and Barnsley to make higher education available to a wider range of people.

In effect, it brought the university to the community and within reach of people such as mature and ethnic-minority students who might not want, or are unable, to move away because of family commitments, finances or cultural reasons.

They might have the talent, but feel that university is for someone else.

UCO head Debbie Bridge explained: “Oldham had a very strong case for being part of this widening participation agenda and there was a lot of support from schools, colleges and councillors.

“It simplified what was already in existence to bring it together under one roof.”

Since then UCO has more than doubled its full and part-time students from around 500 to 1,289. That sits alongside an expansion in undergraduate provision which now includes subjects as diverse as law, teaching, construction and English.

In 2008 Patrick Stewart returned to open the £5.5 million University Studio Extension for digital journalism, performing arts, architectural technology and interior design, multimedia design, construction and digital arts.

Fresh from his acclaimed role in “Hamlet” in the West End and Broadway, he also held a workshop for performing arts students.

Next year’s prospectus boasts 41 courses ranging from diplomas and foundation degrees to post-graduate and professional qualifications. This means UCO is on track to have 2,000 students by 2010.

But Debbie stressed that it was not all about size — with a smaller institution bringing many advantages.

“It isn’t just about numbers and targets. It’s about quality. It is about the quality of degree the students achieve and ultimately, for the students, it’s about getting a job and that’s why partnership working is important.

“The reason we have been able to expand and be so successful over five years is having a campus that took advantage of all the partnership work that goes on in Oldham to develop the curriculum.

“But we have also got the influence of a big, recognised university. I believe it’s those two things that make it so successful.”

There is no data on the degrees achieved by students, but the partnerships include Oldham’s primary care health trust, architects Thorpe, Whyman and Briggs and Oldham Coliseum.

Debbie added: “It’s about giving the students the opportunity to network with a group of professionals in the workplace.

“Some of these opportunities are not available to students in other universities because of the size — there’s lots of advantages in being a smaller institution.’

Indeed, UCO has a friendly atmosphere while still feeling like a university with its refectory, student activities and Students’ Union officers.

It works also with schools and colleges in its main catchment area of Oldham, Rochdale, Tameside and North Manchester to encourage more pupils to go into higher education.

But while most students are local, there are also some from further afield and a small number of international students from the likes of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, the Caribbean and Hong Kong.

“One area that has started to attract more international students is construction and project management because the skills are valued in their home countries,” said Debbie.

It is clear to see that Debbie, who has been at the helm from the start, “absolutely loves” her job, as she explained: “It’s the variety. If you look at the course of a day, the different things you have dealt with, it’s working with schools, working with employers, talking to staff.

“Everyone’s reaction when you say it’s been five years is ‘it’s not is it?’ There is a real feeling of pride in the place. That’s what comes across when I take people around.”

But it is the effect that UCO has on students — and the knock-on effect on their families and communities — that is important and Debbie added: “We are not just talking about the impact on 1,200 students, we are talking about the impact on 1,200 families.

“One of our students was telling me about the impact. She’s viewing education differently because of her experience. It’s changed her expectations and the expectations of her children.

“That’s what the university campus is doing for Oldham. It’s not just about their experience when they are here.”

UCO has a range of events planned in the coming months to mark its anniversary.