Tribute paid to ‘best-ever education’

OLDHAM College has already had a response from former students for its 120th anniversary celebrations — from as far afield as Hong Kong.

As previously reported in the Chronicle, the college is calling for past students to come forward and share their memories to mark the milestone.

Oldham’s Big Reunion will be holding special get-togethers and events for former students where they can find out more about the ongoing transformation of the campus into a new centre of learning.

There will even be special preview tours of the new buildings and chance to be part of a legacy exhibition early next year.

One former student who has answered the call is interior designer Louisa Lee, who attended the college in 2006-2007 to study for a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design and now lives in Hong Kong.

She said: “After achieving a distinction at Oldham College, I got an accredited place at the University of Salford studying for a BA in interior design. After graduation, it was difficult to find a career-related job, so I worked as an intern at a local Manchester company specialising in hotels and restaurants.

“A few months on, I went on holiday to Hong Kong and out of the blue, I landed myself a job there.

“I worked at the International Finance Centre, designed by the Italian Architect Cesar Pelli. It was a finance company and my responsibility was to act as a design consultant.

“Myself and my boss were responsible for the refurbishment projects of two hotels as in-house designers. We also worked on a 3000sq ft apartment in Repulse Bay.

“One year later, I decided I wanted to advance and was offered a job at Aedas Interiors HK. I am currently working on a five-star international hotel in Seoul, Korea, specialising in sourcing and designing all furniture pieces. I have designed the lift car interior and also the washrooms.

“It’s a tough life in Hong Kong, but it’s great experience.

“I would highly recommend young people to travel and work in different areas of the world. You gain much more experience, not just for work but for your whole mind set.”

The college is undergoing a £25 million redevelopment of its campus which will include a new digital and creative career college and a new learning centre.

For further information and to get in touch contact bigreunion@oldham.ac.uk

You can also share stories and photographs on www.facebook.com/oldhamcollege and twitter.com/OldhamCollege#BigOCreunion 

LinkedIn members can join the college reunion at www.linkedin.com/company/78450?trk=tyah.
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