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'Virtual' Graduates Complete Online Foundation Degree

Stuart Brown Bournemouth University’s first ever ‘virtual’ graduates are celebrating after completing a ground-breaking course via the internet.

The five inaugural graduates of Bournemouth University and Leeds Metropolitan University’s e-Learning Business and Management (eBAM) degree are the first to complete a part-time Foundation degree in Business and Management entirely online. They will officially receive their degrees during award ceremonies on Wednesday 8 November, in Bournemouth.

The course was launched just three years ago to give participants an opportunity to work at their own pace from anywhere in the world taking negotiated breaks in their study to allow for time and career pressures to take priority. Amongst the approximately 100 students currently enrolled on the course worldwide are a number from the Army, the first major corporate client for the course. Students on the course have studied from as far away as Afghanistan and Vietnam and from as near as the Dorset coast.

Stuart Brown, a staff sergeant in the Army, is among the first graduates of the course. 'I began studying the Foundation degree to consolidate everything I have learned over the years both in and out of the classroom and build on that experience. Trying to balance work and home life with education can be difficult, so I needed a degree that could fit in with my busy life. While studying, I have done course work while deployed in Germany and in the Maldives while on holiday.'

Stuart plans to continue his studies in September on the online BA (Hons) International Business and Management degree that has recently been introduced by Bournemouth University and Leeds Metropolitan University.

'We’re very pleased to have our first graduates of such an innovative course this year,' said Harriet Ridolfo, Course Leader. 'The course was designed to fulfill a promise to students based anywhere in the world that so long as they could gain access to the internet, they could continue to progress their studies which is one of the reasons the degree is so attractive to those in the armed forces.'

'The course has also continued to develop since its launch and now allows those who complete the Foundation degree to aim for a full honours degree in Business and Management – again, entirely online,' said Ms Ridolfo.

'The use of web-based technology means that you are never alone when studying but only a mouse-click away from a fellow student, a lecturer or an interactive team carrying out a task,' Ms Ridolfo says. 'Students are assessed and communicate entirely online and have formed a virtual community with their fellow students and tutors.'

Case Study

Helen Bainbridge is one of the first to complete Bournemouth University’s online Foundation degree in Business and Management. Helen, who works as a Customer Resources Manager for Business Link Wessex in Fareham has been in management for more than 8 years. She decided to study the Foundation degree to further her career. Now that an online Top-Up is available, she plans to continue her studies in September and obtain a full Honours degree.

Helen said, 'I wanted to be able to gain a qualification without having to give up my job or my way of life. The course had to fit in with my pressurised job, my husband, helping to run my husband's company without having to go away to study. The Foundation degree fulfilled my requirements perfectly.'

Helen is planning to continue on with the Top-Up course to complete with full honours. She said, 'I started this course just wanting a degree by the time I was 40 years old and I have ended up getting my degree (with merits). I’m also really keen to continue my education and I have learnt a lot about myself as a manager and as an employee.'

Helen Bainbridge Helen Bainbridge
Online Foundation degree in Business and Management

For further information on Bournemouth University’s online Foundation degree in Business and Management and the new BA (Hons) International Business and Management Top-Up degree, please visit www.ebam.ac.uk or contact Pieter Funnekotter (pfunnekotter@bournemouth.ac.uk) on 01202 961017.

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