Lifelong learning awards

Over 50 lifelong learners celebrated their achievements at Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning's annual Award Ceremony recently.

The ceremony is a formal occasion where students are recognised for their academic achievements in a variety of subject areas including: Humanities, Computer Studies, Science and Environment, Business Studies, Social Studies and Languages.

Foundation Certificates, Certificates and Diplomas of Higher Education, European language qualifications and departmental prizes were among the awards presented by special guest Professor Patricia Price, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Student Experience and Academic.

Alex Lamprey, who received a Foundation Certificate in Astronomy, said: "I had a great time at the Award Ceremony. My Foundation in Astronomy certificate is much more than just a handsome piece of paper. It's a very welcome "pat on the back" and a real vindication of all my hard work, highs, lows and narrowly met deadlines! The night was also a great opportunity to meet like-minded individuals from diverse fields."

People from many walks of life choose to study at the Centre for Lifelong Learning every year, even Cardiff University professors. This year the Centre was pleased to welcome Cardiff University's Professor Paul Atkinson who was awarded his Certificate of Higher Education in Italian.

Professor Atkinson said: "I normally attend University ceremonies as a presenter, but this year I was on the receiving end. I am a firm believer in continuing education, having completed a distance-learning BA in opera studies in my fifties, and having also studied Modern Greek for several years. I do think that as far as possible teachers in universities ought to be students too. Struggling to get essays in on time, preparing for examinations and summoning the nerve to talk in class are salutary reminders of what it is like to be a student. I was humbled to meet people for whom LEARN has provided a route into a degree at Cardiff, and to be reminded that for some people the opportunity to become a student is a very precious one."