Case Study

Before coming to Sunderland, I was Vice Principal of a leading British curriculum-based school in Nigeria, where I was leading a large team. I chose to return to university to further my education and develop myself professionally in my career – mentoring and coaching teachers, improving school growth, and setting up international schools in Africa.

I decided to come and study at the University of Sunderland as it was highly recommended to me by a friend, and I discovered their education courses rank highly amongst UK universities. One of the things I enjoyed most about studying here was the deep sense of unity between the academic staff and the students. The lecturers would make huge sacrifices to support their students’ journey – particularly international students – at all levels of the MA Education course. They were always willing to go above and beyond to lend a helping hand towards you achieving your goals or offer support if you experienced any difficulties along the way. They made it clear they prioritised your wellbeing.

The MA Education course, specifically the skills I acquired in the criticality modules, has helped me come up with balanced arguments for the improvement of my work and further career development. These skills are supporting my work now, and I was offered full-time employment just 72 hours after receiving my letter of completion, before my graduation ceremony in December 2023.

In the future, I intend to pursue a doctorate degree in education, and would likely consider Sunderland again to do this, as my lecturers have told me they’ll support me. Completing a PhD would further strengthen my mentoring and coaching skills to help me achieve my dream of making an impact on teachers and organisations.

My advice to prospective students planning to study at the University of Sunderland would be to make the most of the student-teacher relationship, as everything you need to succeed will be made available to you by the lecturers. My experience has been truly amazing and having my lecturers believe in me has opened doors to all sorts of possibilities. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Published 10 April 2024