XCEL STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2009
Fiona Hopkins
University of Wolverhampton
BSc German and Information Systems
WINNER OF
Xcel IT and Computer Science Student of the Year
Xcel IT and Computer Science Student of the Year award
As a mature student, Fiona began by working full time whilst studying part time for her degree. Having been employed for many years in industry as a computer key user, she was able to match her practical experience to theory learned at university and through hard work and determination she achieved a first class joint honours degree.
Part of her achievement included writing a critique of German translations of the works of Terry Pratchett, including suggestions for improvements!
“The Xcel awards give very high-profile recognition to the work that students put in, so I was naturally delighted, but also amazed to hear that I had won the IT and computer science award. Applying to study as a mature student was a leap into the unknown for me, especially going into IT, which is perceived, quite literally, as a young man’s game. The award reflects the hard work I put in, but it is also a testament to the academic and emotional support I received from so many lecturers. They fostered my confidence in my own abilities and encouraged me to apply my many years of experience in industry to my assignments.
“When I began this degree I was working in industry as a sales admin supervisor, but focusing on issues to do with the SAP computer system that my company operated. I was the key user, or ‘desk expert’, but had developed my skill and knowledge through a process of trial and error and constantly questioning things, rather than through any formal training. Eventually I realized that, no matter how good I was, I would need formal qualifications in order to progress in my career. That was the impetus I needed to push me into higher education.
“For the first 3 years, I was working full time in a very demanding job whilst studying part time, which was extremely stressful and meant very long days. It was also somewhat daunting to be in a minority in all my classes, either as a woman, or as a mature student, or both. However, in the end, I found that my experience actually gave me an advantage in that I could apply the theory I was learning to actual situations.
“There are probably many older people out there who are nervous about going back into education, simply because it has been so long since they sat in a classroom or wrote an essay, but I would urge anyone who feels they would like to improve their education and their prospects to give it a go. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I feel this degree has opened up a whole new world to me.
“I hope that people who see me here, winning this Xcel award, will be inspired to go the extra mile for their ecucation. There are so many who really battle against unimaginable hardships and barriers and ultimately realize their dreams, but who may never receive the recognition they deserve. Listening to the stories of what the other winners have gone through to achieve their goals, it is clear that I am in the company of some highly motivated and talented individuals; students who have overcome illness, injury and disability and who even find time whilst studying to tackle knife crime in their own neighbourhoods! So it’s a tough call to measure up to that standard of excellence and commitment.
“At the moment, I am working at the University of Wolverhampton as a support worker for deaf and disabled students, but my next aim is to do a PGCE in Post compulsory education and go on to assist other adults who are looking to improve their life chances. That way, hopefully, I can make a positive contribution to the system which has given me so much.”
She deserves a prize just for suggesting how to communicate Terry Prachett’s humour and wit in German!”
Andre Dixon, Xcel Awards Manager.
