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PROGRESSION MENTOR BLOG | DECEMBER 2021

By Abi MacPherson, Progression Mentor @ City of Portsmouth College

This term at our Highbury Campus, students across multiple sectors have been introduced to a variety of L4 progression opportunities; through attending university trips, participating in internal workshops or listening to visiting guest speakers. After nearly 2 years of limitations around engaging with these in-person opportunities, students have thrown themselves in with enthusiasm and excitement.

Whether it has been our Health and Social Care students hearing from Solent University about how to become a Mental Health Nurse, our Media students attending a 3-hour workshop delivered by Aysha Iqbal on how to succeed in the television industry, or our Childcare students attending the University of Chichester for a taster day to hear about brand new courses available – they have all demonstrated a keen interest in learning about L4 pathways. The University of Portsmouth has generously created a new suite of outreach taster sessions for students, one of which our Construction and Built Environment students experienced, which involved course relevant talks, practical challenges, and a Q&A with current students. In addition, our Art students had the opportunity to attend an Art UCAS exhibition in London where they were introduced to a plethora of art-related courses across the country, and our Floristry students attended a beautiful exhibition at the Academy of Floristry in Bournemouth.

There has been much anticipation for each of these activities from both staff and students, which has of course been boosted by the odd free lunch or free time exploring a new city! There is brewing excitement for more of these opportunities over the coming months, which I look forward to facilitating for our brilliant students.