Featured Fellow

My name is Aerin de Garis-Young. I am currently studying Musical Theatre at level 4 here, having previously studied for the level 3 extended diploma in the same subject. I also work part-time at Sunderland Empire, front-of-house. In addition to my love of the theatre, I also do gymnastics and play the violin in my spare time.

As a fellow, I am a student representative for the Student Engagement and Partnership Committee (SPEC). I wanted to represent my classmates and see that all our issues are dealt with importance and respect to make sure everyone has a positive student experience. I enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds and discussing their experiences at NCUC, as well as meeting senior staff members and seeing how much they care about the college and us.

In semester two, I am looking forward to being involved in writing the student perspective section for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). I am excited to see this submitted once it’s finished.

Being a fellow has provided me with an excellent opportunity to engage with a broader community at NCUC. I have learned about issues I was not aware of, while also developing my personal and academic skills.

I would recommend the Student Fellowship Scheme to anyone considering it! It sometimes means you get a little less time to watch Netflix a night, but it is such a valuable experience. If I had to choose three words to describe what it is like being a fellow, I would say…rewarding, motivating, and empowering.

My name is Donna, and I am currently working towards Level 5 in Health and Social Care. The degree contains a mixture of tasks to complete, such as essays and discussions, regarding the health and social care sector to expand my knowledge about guidelines, legislation and experience.

I have dyslexia, which means that I find academic work challenging to complete sometimes. This can cause me to worry, thinking I cannot complete an academic task, so I wanted to help others who may struggling with stress or anxiety issues because of their university studies.

I enjoy helping other students to complete their academic work, and I am able to draw on my own experiences from Level 4 to improve their confidence. Being a student fellow has enabled me to reflect on my own experience of university study, which has in turn helped me to advance my academic skills.

Everyone needs support from time to time, and getting involved in the Student Fellowship Scheme can help us all to support each other as a community within the college.

I am currently studying level 4 Integrated Health, Social Care and Wellbeing at Newcastle College University Centre. As a part-time as a support worker, I would like to progress into being a social worker. I am unique, funny, and honest, and I am a big fan of art. In my spare time, I enjoy painting, playing basketball, watching films, and staying with family.

The BAME fellowship appealed to me because I like to share my views, thoughts, and ideas on specific matters, and this role shares the same values. I also hope that this fellowship allows me to make a good impact on the wider world by making it a better place to live in.

I am quite enjoying my time as a Fellow. I have managed to contribute my ideas towards the fellowship’s aim of making students from various backgrounds feel accepted and included in the university experience.

In semester two, I am looking forward in getting involved with the leaders in making decision regarding BAME students. Being a fellow provides me with the opportunity to be involved in the development of NCUC. If other students want their voice to be heard, and want to develop skills such as leadership, then the Student Fellowship Scheme is the right step to follow.

The three words I would use to describe what it is like being a fellow are: Freedom of Speech.

My name is Laura, and I am a Level 5 counselling student. I was class rep the previous year, and I wanted to try take a step-up. Therefore, being a fellow felt fitting. I thought being a student fellow would be a great opportunity to make connections, get my name out to counselling organisations, and to add something valuable to my CV.

I am very much enjoying being a fellow. It gives me the freedom to make the role my own, and I am very much looking forward to creating my newsletter. I would recommend the Student Fellowship Programme to anyone, as it provides you with the opportunity to gain valuable skills and experience.

The three words I’d use to describe what it is like being a fellow are busy, interesting, and beneficial.

I study BA Creative Enterprise which is a top-up course that I progressed on to after my foundation degree in Fashion Retail and Enterprise. Creative Enterprise is an art and design course with a business and marketing twist! Once I graduate this summer, I will be starting a master’s degree in Journalism at Sunderland University!

For the specific fellowship that I do, I was most interested in getting involved behind the scenes at the university centre and helping to make a difference for future students at the university centre. The pay is pretty good too.

I have been a fellow for 2 years now and I’ve had a great time! This year has been great because I’ve been able to get involved in so much more, now that covid restrictions have dropped. I really enjoyed planning the Expo 2022 event and getting involved with a range of activities across lots of different subject areas. I’ve also had the opportunity to meet and work with other students from different curriculum areas which has been lovely.

My time is almost up as a fellow now but at the beginning of the year, I enjoyed being involved with ethics panels for the first time and learning what they are all about and how they work. It’s given me the chance to develop some great transferrable skills and to develop myself personally and professionally. It’s definitely enriched my university experience too!

For anyone asking if they should get involved in the Student Fellowship Scheme, I’d say go for it! It’s definitely worthwhile and you won’t regret it

The three words I would use to describe what it is like being a fellow are: rewarding, fun, and interesting!

I chose the Advanced Techniques and Semi Permanent Makeup course purely for the makeup side of it but once I got started I love the tattooing and I will be continuing on with improving my skills to tattoo.

I wanted to get involved in the Student Fellowship programme to gain more experience with managing events, social media and just being trustworthy. I am really enjoying my time as a fellow because I feel as though my course isn’t well known but I am trying to change that, the thing that has stood out the most is the the confidence it has given me in my self.

I am most looking forward to the big events along side the theatre group for the showcases and planning them out with the other students.

Being a fellow has most definitely benefitted me, I really struggled with anxiety and my confidence but since becoming a fellow I am rarely anxious with talking to others. It’s a great help with confidence, keeping yourself motivated and busy and the money isn’t bad either.

Three words to describe what it is like being a fellow are: courageous, fun, and interesting.

Hello! I’m Chloe and I am a current second-year Fashion Retail Enterprise student. I am an attentive, self-motivated individual, always aspiring to be the best version of myself. My love for fashion, trends, social media and marketing extends further than my studies. It plays a huge role in my identity! I love what I do. Studying Fashion Retail Enterprise has opened up many doors for myself; through live briefs, industry talks, placements and lectures, I have been prepared for a career in the fast-paced industry by exploring creative fields within fashion business. These creative fields include, styling, marketing, creative direction, range planning, fashion photography, trend forecasting and more!

I have always been a lover of social media. The combination of content creation, photography and marketing is an area I have always wanted to dive into and the Student Fellowship programme was a great starting point to gain some industry experience (whilst being paid – bonus!)

I have enjoyed my time as a Fellow as it has allowed me to gain some experience whilst studying. My favourite thing about managing the social media and creating content is that I know the students enjoy and benefit from what I post. Students studying first year told our tutor that they love the ‘Top Tips’ I post on a Friday and they use them in their work!

Joining the fellowship programme has allowed be to be involved in something that will ultimately make me look more attractive to employers. Thanks to this opportunity, I have physical experience before going into industry! There’s nothing better than trying someone new and adding to your current skillset. It’s super rewarding.

The three words I would use to describe what it is like being a fellow are: rewarding, insightful, and creative.

My name is Nicole, and I am studying on the PGCE young people and adult specialist, on the full time 1 year course. My placement is set in the art and design sector, and I am currently teaching Level 3 students.

When I seen the student fellowship programme advertised, I was intrigued by the concept of being able to explore the specific different posts available, and when I investigated this further and seen the Sustainability fellowship available, I decided to proceed with the application. I believe that the UN sustainable goals link very importantly into teaching, and I was intrigued as to how I could get others involved in exploring the process of bringing the issues into teaching practises.

I am enjoying my time on the fellowship immensely. There has been ample opportunity for me to be involved not only in activities I have set, but for other opportunities that have took place within the institution as well. I enjoyed my time participating in the tree planting opportunity in first term, and often check to see how my tree is doing as I’m walking past, its fulfilling seeing something I had a hand in planting starting to sprout and grow leaves. I also enjoyed the opportunity I had of presenting my findings so far to the rest of the college and fellows.

I am currently planning on making a journal in which my peers contribute how they have implemented sustainability into their teaching, as well as some of my own activities, to make a journal for implementing sustainability into everyday teaching for new teachers.

I have started exploring the different entries that could be part of this and I am looking forward to putting this together into a working document as I believe it could help and influence others.

It has allowed me to explore a topic that I have been intrigued by for years, and it has really opened my eyes to the problems with sustainability we are experiencing and what I can do myself to influence change, but also how I can show this in my teaching too.

Do it, the fellowship scheme allows you to explore an exciting topic, and if you’re considering it, you already have a peak of interest. You can find a way of linking your fellowship into your course and see how they align together; this makes the topic more intriguing to you and allows you to get your peers involved, by doing this it can start interesting discussions and developments throughout your time as a fellow.

The three words I would use to describe what it is like being a fellow are: interesting, intriguing, and insightful.

I am currently studying Fda in Aesthetics Practices and Spa management. I joined the course from another college after undergoing a career change and studying my level 2 and 3 beauty therapy qualifications. From this degree I am hoping to complete my bachelors and gain a teaching qualification to develop a new career in education.

As part of the course we are required to complete hours in the colleges retreat clinic. A role involved in this is sometimes acting as manager and organising the other therapists. When this role became available I saw it as an opportunity to develop my skills within the retreat, to engage and educate new and current clients on treatments and procedures on offer within The Retreat.

I have enjoyed my time as student fellow and felt it has helped with my confidence as I was able to share things I had learnt on my course. As this is something you are solely responsible for it does create a sense of self-determination and a chance to really prove yourself.

As a social media fellow I was involved in creating posts and content for The Retreats Instagram page.

I was really looking forward to expanding content on the page with relevant and educational posts about the treatments available alongside subject matter related to skin health. I was able to raise engagement and followers during my time.

I think being a fellow has benefitted me by building confidence in my subject knowledge and creating a sense of autonomy when doing my submissions.

I would definitely recommend taking on a student fellowship role, it allows you be involved in your course and gives you responsibility for something of interest to you.

It doesn’t get in the way of your studies and have thoroughly enjoyed my experience.

The three words I would use to describe what it is like being a fellow are: interesting, enjoyable, worthwhile.

I am currently in my final year of a BA (Hons) Photography degree, so as you can imagine I am very passionate about photography, more specifically contemporary fashion. My course has been amazing for me to develop and grow my skills as a photography as I came into it almost clueless, as well as allowing me to grow in confidence in social situations and in my work.

I wanted to get involved with the Fellowship programme because I felt that it would help me advance further with some of skills and knowledge, but also give me to the opportunity to work within an actual work environment and give me that experience. It has also allowed me to work within a team and see how a successful team of people should run and communicate with each other.

I am really enjoying myself as a Fellow as I feel that it is allowing me to gain a more professional manner with things and I can apply this to other situations in my life. I have massively liked working with the graphic design team when sending over briefs for artwork for the college’s social media channels, it has been enjoyable sending them my ideas and seeing what they create from them.

I am most looking forward to working with the marketing team as I have previously been a fellow with them and they were amazing then, so I can only imagine that they are still amazing now.

I think that by being a Fellow it has allowed me to develop massively on skills I already had but also develop new ones, for example working within a professional team and environment. These skills and experiences will allow me to stand out on my CV and help me effectively in the future when looking for a job.

I would say to go into it with an open mind as at first it can be slightly daunting as you will be working within a professional team of people, but don’t let that stop you… if anything let it encourage you to do it because I can guarantee that they will be an amazing group of people that will help you throughout it all.

The three words I would use to describe what it’s like to be a fellow are: exciting, motivational, beneficial.

I’m currently 19 and have been studying at the academy since leaving school in 2018. I spend my spare time going to the gym and spending time with my friends, family, and boyfriend. Recently I just left my job at Newcastle Airport in the security department to start my dream job as cabin crew for Jet2.com. With just finishing my 4-week training course as crew I currently look forward to my first flight whilst I finish off my university course.

I study Airport and Airline Management. This course allows for managerial aspects to be explored to learn what it takes to be a manager with the prospect to apply it one day in employment. We cover all aspects of aviation whether its airports or airlines. Currently I am studying and completing assignments on leadership and motivation, marketing and social media, commercial management, and work-based learning. Throughout the course we are assets in various ways such as presentations both group and individual, academic posters, reference documents as well as practical assessments such as role plays.

I wanted to get involved with the Student Fellowship programme because it was a new experience to expand my skills. I felt I could bring knowledge from my experience of being a student at the college for 4 years. I felt I could also be a benefit by sharing my experiences as I was previously an airport ambassador. From the ambassador programme is where I was able to gain employment and a permanent position in the security department.

I’ve enjoyed the experience. What personally stood out was the interaction I was able to achieve with other students, this allowed me to personally develop my skills in a practical environment.

I’m looking forward to being part of other student’s experiences. I personally have had a positive experience at my time at the academy both at college and university, therefore look to have this effect on others.

The fellowship benefited me in many ways. It has benefited me by introducing me to other students who are involved in the aviation academy. The experience allowed me to use my time at work to be with the ambassadors for direct communication. I was able to share what I learnt in security with others as they spend time in the security department. This allowed me to expand my skills as I communicated with the other students.

I would recommend getting involved in the Student Fellowship programme. It’s a different way to improve academically and is a positive experience.

The three words I would use to describe what it is like being a fellow are: positive, learning experience, and empowering.

Hi, my name is Robert Head and I’m a Level 5 BSc (Hons) Aircraft Maintenance Engineering student. I’m currently enjoying the second year of the programme, which is all delivered at the Aviation Academy at Newcastle International Airport. For me, the environment is excellent; mixing a lot of theory and practical together, and the lecturers offer many years of industry experience. Although the Modules are quite extensive and the scope is quite wide, I really enjoy studying about the various sub-systems that you’ll find on the aircraft. In most cases, we get to put this into practice when we work on some of our jets, including the BAe Jetstream 31, a Boeing 737, and others!

I was previously involved in the Transition Fellowship, where we investigated student experiences and put recommendations forward to the leadership team, to improve upon those experiences faced when enrolling onto HE courses here. It enabled the relevant departments to find out where the experience suffered and identified methods of good practice too.

Moving forward from there, I decided to apply again to join as an NCUC Fellow, as I began to bond with the other students and began forging relationships with the RSSE team. I also felt pleased to bring about representation as an engineering student, to hopefully bring about more student engagement in this area.

I’ve been fascinated when I’ve joined the Ethics and Quality & Standards Committees across the academic year. Primarily, it gives you a handy insight into how the different departments work at the NCUC – meaning you can learn about the Ethics process, for example. Personally, that’s been very helpful since my dissertation project isn’t until next academic year, so by having that understanding now, that’s quite valuable in preparation for later!

Another project that the team have worked on, has of course been ExPO_22. It’s been interesting to see how our initial ideas were developed over the months, then implemented and brought to life. To be part of the event planning develops us as individuals, as well as the overall HE student experience. It was a delight to watch and hear from other curriculums, as the students showcased their projects and achievements.

I’ve really liked the social aspect of the Fellowship – it’s interesting to meet other Fellows from different curriculum areas; to have the chance to relate to similar things, to discuss and discover what’s different across the board. I’ve certainly enjoyed the weekly meetings with the team and it’s a fantastic chance to make meaningful connections with different staff members across the NCUC; in turn, to develop the student-teacher relationship that we have here.

Additionally, I’m involved in the Student Perspective Fellowship at Aviation, alongside another student on my course. It’s been terrific to collaborate with other students of other year groups, to bring about enhancements to how students achieve here.

Getting involved in the Fellowships develops your confidence, communication skills and other interpersonal skills; helping you to stand above the crowd in a job interview. It’s a pleasure to be part of the Fellowship team, and I look forward to contributing to more projects in the future. Could you be involved too? Apply now or speak to the RSSE team for more info!

During my time on the fellowship I was completing my dissertation for my masters in business course, whilst also working part time. Besides working and studying I also enjoy going to the gym and taking care of my mental/physical health through activities I enjoy such as meditation and yoga.

I wanted to be involved in the learning resource fellowship to see what happens behind the doors at college, where the money college receive goes to. Not only this, I like to be involved in helping people which I have previously done through another fellowship programmes a couple of years ago.

My time as a fellow has been amazing. This was down to doing it with my classmate as we both think and have similar opinions/ideas, but also massively down to Rachael who helped us along the way. We couldn’t have done it without her and she needs some appreciation for being one of the best people I’ve met.

What stood out was the level of time and commitment everyone puts in to make college that extra step more manageable, enjoyable and stress free for students.

I was also shocked at how much goes on behind the scenes that students do not know about. It showed me every single thing a student suggested to college has been took into consideration and college have tried to make that happen. Somethings may not always be feasible, but it should be known to students that they did try for them and they are listening.

I am most looking forward to getting involved in meetings and seeing how my opinions, thoughts and/or ideas may help college with bettering themselves further.

The fellowship allowed me to become more confident as I was able to use my voice in a board meeting to put my own experience from being a student for 7 years out there, to let the directors and chairmen and everyone else know what has or hasn’t worked for me and other students. I benefitted from being able to put my creative side into designing screen slides to be showcased around Floor 10.

The fellowship works around you and when you are free so that you can give a couple hours a week to attend meetings and put work together. You don’t do anything alone, as there is always someone there to help you or guide you in the direction you need to go. You are never just expected to know something/everything and your opinions are always valued.

The three words to describe what it is like being a fellow are Eye-opening, valuable and amazing.

My name is Kevin and I’m just about to finish a BSc Hons degree in sport and exercise rehabilitation. My course will allow me to work with athletes and the general public helping them with musculoskeletal injuries and rehabilitation.

I was drawn to the fellowship programme because I felt I had something I could give to students just starting on the same course as me. Not only would it give me the experience of hands-on teaching in a mentor role, but a big part of my course was taken away from me due to covid and lockdowns it also allowed me to get the hands-on experience that I missed. My time as a mentor fellow has given me great opportunities to build relationships with first and second-year students and it has allowed me to pass on what I have learned, not only from the course but from various placements and working within my clinic. Being able to offer support and reassurance from a student perspective I think is a great tool for making students feel at ease. Having someone there to help relieve the anxiety or apprehension about the course and to come and ask questions is a great tool to have.

Being a fellow has benefited me by helping with my learning and conversational skills, how I retain information and relay information has been a great help in my studies and practical examinations. Learning how to talk to different people and adapting your explanatory skills to help them learn has been a great help within my clinic and on the course. If you’re on the fence about taking part or applying for the fellowship role, all I can say is “Do it!”. You won’t regret it, it’s been a great experience and has allowed me to build new relationships, and learn more about myself, while helping me with my studies.

Three words I would use, to sum up, what I feel it’s like being a fellow are Fun, Informative and character-building.

My name is Nicola, I am a mature student, and returning to studies has allowed me to change my career path and better my prospects. I have been studying BSc (Hons) Aircraft Maintenance Engineering at the amazing Aviation Academy. It has been a fantastic experience, supported by the best team of staff who are wonderful, hardworking, and always help to encourage the best from us students.

I wanted to get involved in the Student Fellowship programme because I felt that I wanted to immerse myself as a student and to potentially shape the future for students that followed in the future. As I have enjoyed my time so much, I hope that everyone will have the same fantastic experience that I have and to see if there is a way to make that even better.

I have enjoyed my time as a fellow although I think this is the general reflection of my experience as a whole while studying at the Aviation Academy.

I am looking forward to the potential that this fellowship may help students in the future to better their grades for assignments and gain the highest level of degree they can, leading onto the more opportunities for employment after they finish their studies. It could mean that this fellowship shapes people’s careers which is very important and where we aim at the end of the level 6.

I feel that the Fellowship has helped to show willingness to go above what is normally expected of a student, particularly being a mature student who has family and has not been in full time education for a long time. It is a fantastic opportunity to make something better for the future. It is also very good for those who feel they want to add more diversity to their CV.

Three words I would use to describe what it is like being a fellow are, interesting, opportunities, and confidence.

Hi, my name is Laura Fleck, and I’m studying FdA Children and Young People and currently on level 5 here at NCUC. I enjoy the course as it gives me a holistic view on how children development and learn.

I am also undertaking the Journal Editor Fellowship alongside my studies. I was receiving excellent grades from my assignments, was incredibly proud of the work I submitted and enjoyed writing academically. The journal editor fellowship role can aid me in helping other students with academic writing and have a foot in the door for teaching in the future.

I have enjoyed the whole aspect of the fellowship. Being involved in something within the college that gets printed has boosted my confidence, as well as an achievement I can put on my CV to show future employment my skills. I am looking forward to the journal getting printed and being involved in the process. As well as seeing my journal submission printed, as well as other students work that have worked hard.

The fellowship has also been something that has benefited my grades within my assignments as I have seen and edited excellent pieces of work. Any student that is thinking of going into a fellowship role should go for it. I was low on confidence at the start, and I was very unsure. I am now pleased I went with it as it has boosted my confidence, academic work and my CV. Being a fellow is empowering, inspiring, and made me happy.

Hi, my name is Angela and I’m a mature student studying L4 Culinary Arts part-time in the University Centre. I studied Level 2 and 3 within the college so I thought it would make sense to attend Level 4 here as well. I’m finding the course very challenging, but at the same time I am loving it – especially the patisserie side of the kitchen. The tutors are great, and really encouraging for pushing you to improve and bringing your own style into the dish.  My aim is to stay on to complete Level 5/6 then look at opening a small business.

I fell into the student fellowship role when, on induction day, my lecturer explained to the group who the Transition Fellows were and he suggested I applied. I hadn’t heard of the fellows until then, but decided to apply. I’m pleased I did.  Even though I’m a people person, I’m not that confident in pushing myself out of my comfort zone, so I decided it would be a good way to build my confidence as well as being a great addition to support my CV. I completed the four-week role, and at the end I applied to stay on as an NCUC Fellow for the whole year.

Fellows are the students’ voice, and, since being in the role, I have seen how important that voice is. They strive for equality for each individual student and help to implement your ideas and suggestions – supporting those who are viable making improvements to student life. It is a nice feeling that, as a fellow, the ideas you put forward could effectively help students in the years to come.

I am really enjoying the role. NCUC staff give you all the support you need, whether it be in person or on Teams, and members of the NCUC Fellow group are really friendly. I’ve met some lovely people, and, apart from the serious work, we also have a laugh. If I’m truthful I actually look forward to meeting the fellows every Wednesday (it’s a break from my studies!) I agreed with the group to attend an academic board meeting on Teams, and, although I was nervous, everyone was so friendly and I ended up really enjoying it. It really opened my eyes as to how much planning and thought goes on behind the scenes to run the college, and how much the student is at the forefront of all the changes. It actually made me feel proud to be a student within NCUC, and I’ve since attended another Teams meeting and equally enjoyed that.

There isn’t really one individual thing I’m looking forward to, but, if I had to choose, I’d say the upcoming ethics panels. Being a fellow has definitely helped me with confidence when speaking out – making me feel valued and part of a team.

It is a privilege to be involved.

My name is Carl Huscroft-Bell, and I am doing a Foundation degree in Children and Young People. Now in my second year, the course is about the stepping stones to enhance career opportunities in schools, early years settings, youth work, and working with children with Special Educational Needs. The course provides an insight into safeguarding, the stages in the curriculum, and working with parents and families, while also providing opportunities for professional development and small work-based research projects to get you ready for dissertation level (if you decide to do a top up with a Level 6). I have found most of the modules interesting, and they have helped with my further knowledge, as well as giving me an insight in to the job role I would like to do.

The NCUC Student Fellowship was an opportunity for me to gain more professional skills, for example talking in committee meetings with management team, observe how management teams work as eventually I see this for me as a career opportunity in my chosen field. I was also aware that there might be opportunities to organise events and be part of them and possible presentation opportunities. Being an NCUC Fellow therefore provides me with transferable skills to add to my CV.

I am enjoying my time as a Fellow as it is giving me opportunities and exposure into what happens behind the scenes. With the college wanting to have student input, I feel that our voice is being heard. I enjoy meeting other students on different courses, and hearing how their own journey is going. It is nice to be a part of the NCUC community, and I have enjoyed listening to plans for future students and being part of this development. I have also enjoyed being involved in the committee meetings, whilst my involvement with the planning Expo_22 in early 2022 is something I am looking forward to.

Being an NCUC Fellow helped me with my confidence. It has also taught me how to be more professional, how to communicate with others, and how to consider other people’s views and opinions. I am sure there will be more experiences to come, and

I would encourage anyone thinking about becoming involved in the Student Fellowship Scheme to give it a go. It provides you with good skills to add to your CV (potentially making you stand out from others), while the opportunity to push yourself out of your comfort zone helps to build your confidence and resilience. You also have the potential to make changes for students that attend after you – your feedback is central to the continued development of the student experience at NCUC. Finally, some fellowships schemes come with a small amount of earnings, giving you that little bit of extra cash on the side.

I would describe being a fellow as being part of a wider community that provides a variety of opportunities to develop useful transferrable skills.

After twelve years of travelling and working all over the world, I settled down in Newcastle with thousands of pictures. These pictures did not reflect my experience and I wanted to know why. I joined a basic photography course with the Newcastle City Learning scheme. This led to a new hobby (obsession) and after several courses, was recommended by my tutor to apply for the BA Photography course at Newcastle College University Centre.

Not only did I have a lot to learn a lot about photography and art, I also had to learn the English learning system and how to be a student again. The Covid-19 outbreak did not make things easier, but I am highly motivated and working hard to achieve a Distinction for every module. In the last two years, I have changed my mind about what I would like to do with my degree (at least a hundred times!) I still do not know for sure, although I feel like I would like to go into the commercial product and food photography business.

I received a lot of help in my first year from other students. It is only fair to return the favour. It is a great addition to my skillset and CV and doing something is often easier than explaining it. It helps me to think about how a subject is being handled.

I was quite excited about helping others and being there to assist. Unfortunately, due to the lockdown, I have only been face-to-face with the Level 4 students  three times. The first time was our introduction and the other two were to give a demonstration in the studio. For this reason, it has so far not being the experience I was hoping for but am confident that once we are back to normal, things will pick up.

I am most looking forward to being involved in studio demonstrations, equipment advice and SWAT analysis. I think I can help a student to recognise their potentials and find confidence in their skills. Being a fellow has helped me a lot in terms of my own practice: having to explain what the process of work is makes me think more about the steps. It makes me a better photographer.

The Student Fellowship programme is a great opportunity to help others and also  grow yourself. It helps with building, not only your knowledge, but also your confidence.

Three words to describe what it is like being a fellow:

• Motivating
• Positivity
• Influencing

I am in my third (and final year) at Newcastle College University Centre, currently studying Level 6 BSc (Hons) Applied Computing. This course can open a number of different doors and focuses on the following modules: systems development, website development and applications development.

Being a more mature student, I was worried about what options are available to me after I complete my course. I feel that most jobs within my degree are mainly based in other parts of the country. I want to get to know what jobs are available right here in the North East.

By getting involved in the Student fellowship role, I am hoping that it will open opportunities and contacts with employees within the industry, and also hopefully encourage other students to follow.

I am enjoying my time as a student fellow, as it has given me the confidence to help others and meet with different students and college staff. I also like to hear other the ideas and thoughts and other students.

I am most looking forward in meeting with employers from the industry and planning the events so that other students can also get the chance to also meet with them.

The fellowship role has given me the confidence to meet new students from outside my course. It has also given me the confidence to put my ideas forward.

I would say that this is a great opportunity for anyone wanting to get involved! It is a great chance to meet with people/employers that you would never think of. It also gives you great people skills as you will be working in a team and alongside college staff.
Three words to describe what it is like being a fellow:

• Rewarding
• Encouraging
• Confidence-boosting

In my practice, I specialise in oil paint and am mainly inspired by the principles of Surrealism as a way of exploring my unconscious thoughts: exploring who I am as a person and the human experience and how we interact with our reality. I am particularly interested in discussions on sexuality and the turmoil that can come with it from the personal perspective of being a gay woman with an anxiety disorder. I love the female form and I use it as a vessel for thoughts and emotions concerning these topics. Existentialism is at the core of it all as I am using how I perceive my own reality to question the wider human experience.

I would like to be a professional Fine Artist, and the pandemic has made me worried for the future of my career and of Fine Arts practice in general. So, I was very interested in being involved with this fellowship to not only help myself but also others with similar concerns. Art is all around us, and it is needed in times of disaster. I do not want to see it impeded because of the fact that attending galleries and studio spaces is not possible right now and the way we go about doing so might be changed forever.

What has stood out to me so far is how important it is that we do this to help practicing artists feel more confident for the future. We can do this by looking into what we can do to work around the restrictions that we have in order to create the best art we can. This situation is so new to all of us and we need to work together to ensure our dreams and aspirations are not hindered. I am looking forward to the Open Studios Instagram exhibition that we are organising because the work that has been achieved in this lockdown is something to be greatly celebrated. I want to make every artist feel that their art is being appreciated, especially since this situation has proven to be very isolating. I am also eager to hear about the strategies people have developed when making art in this time as I am sure this information will be beneficial and I hope it will help us fellows come up with ways to help keep Fine Arts practice thriving.

The Fellowship scheme is a great way to get further involved in key areas you are interested in and to gain experience in leading and managing a project. I am working on skills that I would not usually be focussing on because I am quite a shy, reclusive person. Being a fellow has helped me step out of my comfort zone, and as a result it is helping me gain confidence in myself when handling responsibilities. I still have a lot to learn and a long way to go, but I know that at the end of it, I will feel proud that I took that step.

As part of the Fine Art BA (Hons) Fellowship, it has been such an amazing experience to be able to work with my fellows and lecturers in order to build up more experiences for everyone on the course. As a second year, it’s been more challenging, due to the current situation, however just as fun as first year. Being part of a creative degree course has really pushed me to do my best for my degree and to be as creatively inspired as I can! This inspires me for the Fellowship Programme: to be able to think outside of the box for events for our peers and year groups and to bring a sense of community that we would have if we weren’t in lockdown!

The reason I joined the Student Fellowship programme was solely to help out during this difficult time. Sadly as the college is closed, it has been a strain for the people on my course. Not having a studio, not having group crits, I want to help! I want to help organise events for my peers and the other year groups on my course in order to regain that sense of community  we have while being in lockdown! The opportunity to help my peers and come up with new ideas for the fellowship was perfect for me! Being able to work in the Fellowship makes me really positive about the future of our course and for bringing everyone together!

I’m enjoying my time in the Fellowship! Having the opportunity to create new events for peers has been so much fun and gives me hope that it will bring morale back into the Teams Calls, getting everyone involved and having more to do in lockdown. Being part of the Fellowship has also built up my communication skills up! Being more confident in speaking to my peers and other fellows has been a benefit to me. The communication between lecturers and the students has surprised me, since the New Year we have meetings to discuss further plans and what we could do for events and opportunities. I love being part of the management side of the course and the communication between me and the other fellows has been very positive! We look out for each other and organise roles evenly so we’re all involved and included. Having the opportunity to talk to my peers and other year groups has been great, we have organised a critique week which me and my fellows will be hosting, it will be a great experience for us to work with our peers and year groups! We have also planned an online exhibition for all year groups to showcase our work completed during lockdown. We cannot wait to start being able to use Instagram as a way to promote our artists and course!

If anyone is thinking about becoming a Fellow, it’s so worth it! The experiences and opportunities you get benefit you so much. The role helps with confidence, speaking openly with year groups, organisation skills, and management skills too! It’s a great experience to have as part of your course and adds more content to the work and events.

I have returned to Newcastle campus (and specifically, the Mandela building) almost twenty years, to complete my BA(Hons) in Fine Art. I want to finish my journey where I started. While I feel that’s a little cliché, it is something I need to prove to myself. I have what is known as a hidden disability and this comes with its own discrimination in society.

While being open and honest about my disability, I try and use my life experiences and personal view of the world through my Art. This something I had never considered doing prior to returning to education. I call my work Equality Art: it challenges stereotypes, as well as political and social developments that affect people with disabilities.

I try to show this in a way that is visually appealing and that will open up a conversation. I find the more that we are open and talk freely about all topics, we can break down these barriers and get an even perspective from both sides of one point of view. We don’t have to agree, but can at least agree enough to respect individual perspectives and opinions. I cannot change the world, but I will fix what I can for equality for disabled people when the opportunity presents itself.

Being a fellow has benefited me personal and academically. From a personal point of view, I have been able to elevate points of view that are sometimes voiced but never heard due to the right audiences not being present at the time of discussion. Having the communication with the university and departments that can implement change that may have not been noticed or deemed to be required is such a valuable tool to have in your arsenal.

The academic side of being a fellow has helped me grow and understand the implications and the process that needs to be explored before changes can be implemented. Learning that certain factors need to be considered and evaluated in a more formal structure with outlines of proposals and plans and their benefits vs the negatives to help both work to help us achieve change.

If I was to give advice to anyone wanting to join the fellowship programme, it is to understand that you need to be the voice of your peers. There is nothing scary or daunting about this role – we are all equal, we just have different roles. A student’s voice is just as, if not more,  important than the college or university’s voice. Newcastle College FE and HE staff strongly support this idea: if we do not engage, then we can never improve in are studies and benefit fully from our time on campus when normality resumes.

Three words I would use about being a Student Fellow are:

• Engagement
• Educational
• Rewarding

Hi, I’m Hannah. I’m a PGCE student on the English specialism course, NCUC Fellow and editor of the Seven Bridges journal. I have a BA in English Literature and History and an MA in Creative Writing. I was working as a freelance writer and tutor before deciding to do the PGCE and so far, I’m loving it! It’s very practical and learning to teach during this time of change has been exciting.

I wanted to be as involved in college life as possible – especially with lockdowns and having spent so long working from home. I saw the Student Fellowship role as an opportunity to meet new people and also get an insight into what goes into the running of the college behind the scenes.

I am really enjoying my time as a fellow: I’m learning a lot, but also, I feel lucky to have this extra support network to voice concerns, hear from others and feel reassured by how much the college really cares about students. This support has been especially integral during the Covid pandemic. I am particularly looking forward being involved with Seven Bridges as editor, and hearing from other students about their research.

I would sum up what it’s like to be a NCUC fellow in three words: Interesting, inclusive and community-orientated. To anyone who is considering becoming a student fellow, I say go for it! I’ve gained so many skills and insights that are vital for my future career, and on top of that – it’s such a fun and valuable experience!

Hello, we are Josiah and Chloe and we are both students on our Level 6 courses at the college. I am (Josiah) currently studying my final year in Mechanical Engineering- this is my fifth year here at Newcastle College after starting off at Level 3 in Engineering and following all the through to Graduating this next summer. As for me (Chloe) this is my 5th year with the college studying, however I took a 4-year break to concentrate on family life but have chosen to come back and finish my degree with a L6 Engineering Management top up.

We were both drawn to the OFS Stay and Succeed Fellowship Role for the same reasons: having a prominent feature on our CVs to show our engagement, the exposure to industry and having direct contact with employers, being able to create pathways for future students into industry and to create a working and positive relationship between students and the college. So far, we are both really enjoying our involvement so far. It’s great as we have the chance to help others. This is such as big project and we feel there is genuine interest in the consideration of student ideas that are put forward and we can approach the staff members involved at any time and they respond, giving way to really clear communication between staff and students. There are some really exciting things coming up and we are looking forward to planning events, helping to improve studentship and to work with employers in industry in turn helping our peers and fellow students to connect with these employers.

By being involved in the fellowship we’ve been connected to students outside of our specific courses, we have the ability to have an impact on the course and have the chance to be involved with management. We have also had experience in the way we put ourselves forward to potential employers ahead of graduating.

If you are thinking of becoming a Fellow have an open mind as you will be required to work as part of a team in a collaboration to improve and adjust the programme itself. Also, do not be intimidated by working with higher members of staff as everyone is working towards the same goal. It is a great opportunity for progression and change and we really recommend it- if we had to pick 3 words to describe the Fellowship, rewarding, opportunities and motivating.

I am Neil Ferry and I am excited about the prospectof being the chosen editor for this year’s Fo-lio magazine.
Fo-lio is an annual publication, launched back in 2017 and celebrates the work of students in Creative Industries, here at Newcastle College.

The magazine is a full colour journal which highlights the work of students involved in Fashion, Fine Art, Textiles, Digital Design, Animation, Graphic Art, Illustration, Photography, Performing arts including Music performance & Technology, Acting, Dance, Musical Theatre and Production Arts.

So, if you’re involved in any of the above genres at Newcastle college then the Fo-lio can give you the opportunity to showcase your work. Each year the new editor is given creative freedom to take the Fo-lio forward in a slightly different direction and this year is no exception.

So firstly, I’m looking for the following…

A showcase of a body of work.

There will be several double page features in the magazine.

Students will provide a brief biography about themselves, along with a photograph, images & the story behind their body of work.

This could be a live show, the recording of an album, a L6 final exhibition, a series of documentary photographs, the design of a game. This is an amazing opportunity to show off your projects

A Day in the life of

This will give students the opportunity to document a day in your life. It could be a simple day at college, preparing for and holding a fashion show, the final rehearsal and day of a musical theatre show, an acting audition, a day at a trade exhibition, again the possibilities are endless and we’re looking for the best ideas to turn into single page features.

A Photo Essay

This is one for the photographers. Back in the day of Life Magazine, photo essay’s were incredibly popular, a way of documenting someone’s life over a period of time. We’re looking for ideas for a really interesting photographic essay, for inspiration you need look no further than iconic photojournalist W. Eugene Smith and his amazing Photo Essay, The Country Doctor.

Submissions Submissions Submissions…

In this edition of the Fo-lio we intend to showcase the work of more students than ever before.

This year we are hoping to give the 10 centre pages of the magazine over to you. We want to include 60 – 70 individual artworks. These can include Photographs, Art, Fine Art, Graphic Design & Game Design. We’d also like to see our photography departments collaborating with the performing Arts department, to include the work of our dancers, actors and musicians.

This is a fantastic opportunity to have your work in a published journal that will be seen by academics across the UK.

So, if you’re interested in having your work featured in this year’s Fo-lio, Then please contact me at s2021648@students.ncl-coll.ac.uk

I am Laura Chiru. I am 31 years old and a mother of two children aged 4 and 7. From as young as I can remember, I have always dreamed about becoming a Primary School Teacher. When I left school, University was never a viable option for me, none of my family had been to University and student life I felt was for ‘other people’ not me. I went straight into full time work when I left school, some of them were great jobs, others not so good! When I had my first child at 24, it reinstalled my passion for teaching children. I would drop my children off at school with a lump in my throat wishing it was me welcoming a classroom of children in every morning. By 28, I had two children so totally thought that ship had sailed- mothers can’t go to Uni! I tried the next best thing and applied to be a teaching assistant in a local primary school- that job changed my life. Watching other teachers every day filled me with so much confidence to know I could also do this job and I applied to start an FdA in Children and Young People. There were a few hiccups on the way, but once they were sorted, I enrolled on the course and had the best first year. I learnt so much about children, met some amazing friends (some were also mothers and older like me- I wasn’t alone!) I finished my first year with great scores and I’m now on level 5 with the aim to complete the BA Hons top up next year and a SCITT level after that. I will be a qualified teacher by 2023.

Whilst I was working on level 4 last year showed me that university is for everyone, if you’ve got it in you to achieve, you can do it regardless of your age or caring responsibilities. COVID and lockdown hit in March this year and it wasn’t until I was home schooling two children, looking after the household duties alone whilst my husband was working full time and trying to do a full time degree that I thought, “Wow, being a mum and a student is wonderful, but so much hard work!” I felt like I wanted to support other mothers out there who may be struggling. This is when I knew I wanted to get involved in the Fellowship programme.

NCUC student fellow programme is wonderful because it allows you to pick a subject yourself that you may feel passionate about and help to change the way university works for you. My fellowship is researching the experience of mothers studying, investigating why mothers are reluctant to enrol on a degree and how NCUC can support and encourage mothers to ensure that everyone can “unlock their potential”. I am enjoying being a Fellow so much, I feel like already I’m making an impact on how University life is going to be for future mothers and the Fellowship hasn’t even yet got off the ground. I think for me the biggest stand out is the support I’ve been given by the Fellowship staff, from the first email I sent over giving some ideas and wondering if it was something I could run with, I’ve had nothing but support and encouragement. I’m looking forward to seeing a difference in how mothers are encouraged and supported to achieve their goals. If I hear from someone in a couple of years saying the reason, they entered a degree was because they heard something following on from my fellowship and it encouraged them, I would be over the moon.

Being a Fellow It has given me a bigger boost to complete my own degree to the best of my abilities to show that mams can do this! It has also encouraged me to further stand up for people who may be struggling. We all want to support people but often feel like our small input won’t make a difference. Doing this fellowship has shown me that anything we can do always makes a difference.

If you want to be involved in the programme have a good think about something that you are passionate about, don’t just keep it in your head, reach out, ask one of the fellowship team, broach the subject and I’m sure there will be someone who believes in you! If I could sum up the Fellowship in 3 words: Empowering, Interesting, Exciting.

I’m Mike, and I’m currently on my second year of my Airline and Airport Management foundation degree. I got involved in the Fellowship programme in my first year and now I’m back for my second time. Not going to lie, financial incentives might have been involved, but I thought it would look good on my CV as well. I am really enjoying my time as a Fellow again, we’ve recently pulled off an amazing TEDx event in the beginning of March, which has been the highlight of the programme so far. It was a huge event (bigger than last years) lots of guests, and everything went smoothly. Being able to stick through it, from design through to execution, has been really rewarding and I got to meet some really interesting people.

There are so many benefits to being a Fellow- it’s given me a chance to practice some of my existing skills. Things like communication, organisation, a little bit of time management. As I said before, the optics of it are great for CVs. Anyone who is considering getting involved in the Student Fellowship Scheme, go for it! It’s definitely been worthwhile for me. If you feel like doing something extra, then this is it. In 3 words being a fellow is: Engaging, Rewarding and Unique!