Some adult learners gain their degrees and use them to further their careers, like former student Deborah Gajic, who was one of the first cohort of students to graduate on the 2+2 degree.

A chance conversation with a friend led to me enrolling on the first ever 2+2 Social Studies programme which was in partnership with North Warwickshire College (now North Warwickshire and South Leicester College) and the University of Warwick. My friend told me about this exciting opportunity at a toddler group we both attended. At the time I had two young children and had decided not to return to my career in banking and finance. Nobody in my family had ever gone to university, but it seemed an exciting prospect and a way to achieve my childhood dream of becoming a teacher.

The course was due to begin in September 1991 which was excellent timing for me as my oldest child was due to start school and my youngest could attend the on-site nursery at North Warwickshire College, the availability of a grant made this financially achievable. I quickly rediscovered my love for learning and made some great friends amongst my cohort, we developed a strong support network as the majority of us were parents with young children. In the first two years we studied Sociology, Politics, Economics and Law. Sociology was my favourite and I credit Ronnie White’s enthusiasm and inspirational teaching for this.

Moving to the University was a daunting prospect after the relative security and convenience of North Warwickshire College. However, the support network was yet again a great help as we organised car shares to spread the cost of travel and helped each other out with childcare where necessary. My love of Sociology was deepened by the wonderful Margaret Archer at the University of Warwick, she was a wonderful role model to me. It was a very proud moment when I graduated with a 2:1, all the hard work and sacrifices had paid off.

After graduating, I completed a PGCE in Social Science at the University of Leicester and became a secondary school teacher. After just a year of teaching, I secured a position as Head of Department. However, I now had to teach Psychology alongside Sociology, so was concerned about my lack of qualifications in psychology. My love of learning led me to complete a MSC in Psychology with the Open University. I enjoyed a great career in teaching until 2018 when I decided to change direction and become an Independent Educational Consultant. I now work freelance running CPD training for teachers, writing, assessing and tutoring students. My first book (a book for trainee psychology teachers) is due to be published this year, which will be another very proud moment.

The 2+2 programme really did change my life. Both of my daughters went to university (I hope inspired by my example!), one being a primary school teacher and the other a midwife.

Other students, like Jon Winfield, develop a love of learning and continue into research.

I was given details of the 2+2 degree from the University of Warwick in 2014. I had always regretted not carrying on with my education after leaving school, but I made some poor choices, and it did not happen because I had a job and commitments. When I looked at the course and the variety and options available it really appealed to me, so I applied. I had an interview and was accepted to start the degree at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire college where I spent two years. The first year gave us all an introduction to the core subjects, politics, sociology, research methods and health and social policy. It was the second year where it all began to mesh together and I did a project on a policy introduced by the Conservative Government of Margaret Thatcher, this policy was Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988. As part of the project, I learnt the joys of researching and discovering why things happened; how the media influenced what people thought and how government reacted. I still remember a comment made by the course leader when I said everything I read led me to want to read more – that comment was: ‘This is how a PhD starts.’

Years three and four were spent on campus at the University where there was so much choice about what to study. I decided to study what interested me and it is hard to pinpoint my favourite, but one module, Widening Participation in Higher Education led to the topic for my final year dissertation. My interests were definitely drawn to how much inequality there is in the world and how destructive it is to blame people for the situation they find themselves in. Most of the modules I chose showed how these inequalities are rife, for example how healthy high-quality food is unaffordable for many, maybe we were to blame for the ‘Horse Meat scandal’. I was also lucky enough to meet a range of people on the course with a variety of interests and saw some of them change significantly. One woman who had never voted before, became very politically engaged after our politics classes in years one and two, another friend even shifted their political allegiance.

As my undergraduate studies drew towards an end, I really wanted to get into the world of research so I could influence policy. Therefore, I applied for and was accepted onto a MA in the sociology department called Social Research and from there was accepted onto a PhD course looking at the benefits of employers providing good work in low pay sectors. This is a topic that fits in with my work experience and my beliefs that everyone should be paid a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.

I have never regretted taking the decision to start a degree and it has changed me in many ways - all for the better. I have become more understanding, confident and inquisitive. When I read a newspaper or see the television news, I question the sources and the bias of the organisation reporting.