Ballynahinch woman secures coveted research placement

Ballynahinch woman secures coveted research placement

5 August 2020

A BALLYNAHINCH woman has secured a coveted student placement with Nuffield Future Researchers, an organisation funded through the Nuffield Foundation and Northern Ireland based charity, Sentinus.

Jackie Morgan will participate in research from home, working with experts in a virtual learning environment.

Ms Morgan is no stranger to life-long learning, having studied for a number of courses at South East Regional College. She is currently an Access student at the college en route to a new career. 

“I heard about the Nuffield Foundation placements through the careers and lecturing team at the College,” she explained.

“Having read the requirements I thought I would make an application. It was during lockdown and I needed to remain mentally active.

“I had no idea how prestigious a placement it was prior to applying but now realise that it is a fabulous opportunity to upgrade the skills I gained at the College and increase my science and research skills.”

Ms Morgan has recently been on a four-week placement at Queen’s University Belfast working with its psychology team, researching dyscalculia, its effects, and possible intervention methods. 

Dyscalculia is a condition that can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to understand maths in early years, and also to manage many life situations in adulthood, such as remembering your left and right, managing money and understanding budgets.

“I personally was affected by an inability to comprehend maths but my brilliant math tutor at the College, Patricia Rooney, was excellent in recognising individual learning styles and the need to see maths in different ways,” said Jackie. “She was instrumental in helping me pass my GCSE maths.”

Jackie is now hoping to study an undergraduate university course in the UK.

She added: “My aspiration is to be able to work beyond retirement age, most probably in the public sector.

“I would like to thank my tutors who were fantastic in enabling me, a mature student, to learn new skills and to remember what I enjoyed about learning when I was a teenager. 

“Overall, it was a great experience and one I would recommend to anyone wishing to re-engage in education, no matter what age you are.”