A degree apprentice from the University of Winchester has been awarded a British Education Award in the Vocational category.
Remy Fuchs undertook an Employer Sponsored Degree programme in FdA Business Management for Information Technology, attending lectures at the University one day a week while working full-time at CGI – a leading IT and business process service firm. The award recognises Remy’s commitment to his studies and application of this learning to his role in the workplace.
While studying at the University of Winchester, Remy embraced all challenges that came his way, taking on roles and projects to improve his understanding of processes, client needs and management skills with enthusiasm. This resulted in an outstanding academic performance, where he achieved over 80 per cent in many of his modules.
This learning benefitted his full-time role as a Business Analyst at CGI, where Remy applied his knowledge of agile software development methodology to manage client projects and test software. He was pro-active in his support of others, taking the time to advise and coach colleagues who were encountering difficulties. This included creating documentation about the processes used in projects for new staff members, which has now been implemented and well-received by colleagues.
In recognition of his commitment to company values and dedication to his software testing role, CGI presented him with awards for ‘Outstanding Effort’ and ‘Process Improvement’. He has subsequently progressed to a Test Analyst role, which will allow him to develop new knowledge and skills.
Remy graduated from his FdA with distinction in 2017 and was awarded the University of Winchester Business School award for ‘Highest Academic Achievement’ in both 2015-16 and 2016-17. He has now started the one-year Business Management top-up degree programme at the University of Winchester, where he is expected to continue to excel in his studies and achieve a BA (Hons).
Lisa Harding, Head of the Department of Marketing, Event Management and Project Management at the University of Winchester, said: “We are pleased and delighted that Remy has been recognised with this award. A well-deserved achievement that reflects his commitment and enthusiasm to his studies and application of learning in the workplace.”
University of Winchester Psychology graduate, Lucy Parr, was also a finalist in the Degree category of the British Education Awards. Lucy graduated from the University of Winchester in 2017 with a First Class degree. The nomination recognised Lucy’s exceptional dedication to her studies and enhancing the learning of others, against the backdrop of a busy and challenging family life. During her time at University, Lucy completed her studies while raising four children, one of whom has a particularly severe form of autism. This feeds in to Lucy’s passion for psychology and education, especially in the area of special education. While studying for her degree, Lucy used her own experiences to educate others on the realities of raising a child with autism. She also volunteered as a statistics demonstrator, assisting first and second year students in their studies.
Alongside her studies, Lucy also acted as a Governor and volunteered for Montacute specialist school for children with Complex Learning Difficulties or Disabilities and acted as a voice for parents with special educational needs in the local area as part of the Poole Parent Carer Forum. She also manages a blog titled Revelations of a Slummy Mummy to share her anecdotal experiences of managing her son’s condition and navigating various support systems, family and public encounters.
Since graduating from Winchester, Lucy has commenced studying for a Masters qualification in Research Methods at Oxford University and intends to study at PhD level to enable her to research, educate and advise on special education and support policies at the highest level.
"We are delighted that Lucy was nominated for such a prestigious award,” said Jordan Randell, Lecturer in Psychology and Lucy’s Final Year Project supervisor. “Lucy is a fantastic student who has shown exceptional drive, commitment and capability in all aspects of her studies, consistently achieving top marks throughout her degree."
The University of Winchester offers a number of degree apprenticeships in partnership with local employers, so students can study whilst also earning a salary. Find out more at www.winchester.ac.uk/degreeapprenticeship