Another day, another parade of proud university graduates (From The Northern Echo)

Another day, another parade of proud university graduates

9:13am Thursday 26th November 2009

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For a fourth day, students are celebrating hard-earned success at the University of Teesside’s graduation ceremonies, in Middlesbrough Town Hall.

Masterful achievement for Rwandan sextet

A SEXTET of Rwandan National Police officers came to Teesside to study for Master’s degrees at the university.

They were all successful, but had to return to Rwanda before today’s graduations, so received their hard-earned certificates and academic gowns last month.

The officers’ studies came via the university’s links with the Kigali Institute of Education (KIE), in Rwanda.

All Rwandan police officers now enrol on a four-year degree in professional policing at KIE as part of a reshaping of national police training.

The degree evolved through contact with Teesside lecturers and the university’s staff also act as external examiners on the Rwandan degree.

The ongoing work and research of Dr Emma Martin and Dr Pauline Ramshaw with the Rwandan National Police paved the way for officers to enrol on the one-year Master’s degrees. More Rwandan officers will be coming to Teesside in January.

Oscar Mananura, a chief inspector, said: “We received a very good education at Teesside. The course was very interesting and challenging. I feel more knowledgeable and I can relate what I’ve learned to my situation back in Rwanda.”

Pictured, from left, Goretti Mwenzango, an inspector who achieved MSc Criminology; Jean Nepo Mbonyumumuny, superintendent, Ismael Baguma, chief inspector; Bosco Gahigi, inspector; Oscar Mananura, chief inspector and Boniface Rutikanga, Chief Inspector who all achieved an MSc in criminal investigation.

A double celebration

MIDDLESBROUGH Town Hall will be a very familiar place for Sarah Phoenix and her mother, Sue, today.

Sarah will be awarded her BSc (Hons) Sociology in the first graduation of the day at the town hall, watched in the audience by her mother, brother Thomas and grandmother Audrey.

Following a short break, the family will all return to the Town Hall for Sarah and Mrs Phoenix to swap places, with Sarah watching her mother receive a Master of Arts (MA) in creative writing.

Sarah, 23, from Acklam, Middlesbrough, transferred from another university to complete her sociology degree. She said: “We’re really excited to be getting our degrees on the same day; it’s purely a coincidence that it’s happening.

“Even my brother’s looking forward to it, I didn’t think he would! I’m so pleased I transferred to Teesside, the lecturers were really helpful and there were many opportunities for self-directed study. I’m enrolling on a two-year Master’s degree here in January in occupational therapy. I’ve been inspired to do this through my work in a local nursing home, which I’ve enjoyed, and want to work in this area of health care.”

For Mrs Phoenix, it’s her second Teesside graduation, as she’s already achieved a BA (Hons) English studies.

She said: “Seeing my daughter graduating, I’m going to be so proud and happy, I may shed a tear.

Our Thursday graduations are going to be a fantastic experience and we’re planning a joint celebration.”

Mrs Phoenix combined her MA studies with running a home-based business.

“I was absolutely over the moon when Teesside was awarded University of The Year; it’s so good for the North,” she said.

Partnership role for Allan

THE study of crime has paid off for Teesside University student Allan Cattermole as he has gained his first job as a partnership intelligence analyst with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

Although employed by the council, he is working as part of Redcar and Cleveland Community Safety Partnership based at Cleveland Police’s Redcar headquarters, at Kirkleatham, in a diverse role.

This includes the monitoring and evaluation of drugs intervention programme and the prolific and priority offender scheme.

He is also providing analytical support in the areas of crime, drugs and anti-social behaviour.

Mr Cattermole, 21, from Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, will graduate today with a BSc (Hons) crime and investigation.

He said: “I was attracted by the variety of the degree, as it includes law, forensics, criminology and psychology.

“There are so many different avenues you can go down after graduating, such as finger print analysis or law. The lecturers also give a lot of support; they’re always willing to help at any time.

“I enjoyed the law modules, looking at how criminals have been caught out by processes.

“I also enjoyed my final-year dissertation where I explored football hooliganism over a 20- year period, from 1989 to the present.

“It showed what’s perceived as hooliganism has changed massively over that time.”

The community safety partnership brings together the public, private, community and voluntary sectors to work in partnership to deliver positive outcomes in crime, fear of crime, anti-social behaviour and substance misuse for the residents of Redcar and Cleveland and Mr Cattermole’s post is a crucial part of this partnership.

Mr Cattermole secured the job after his first interview and said: “The degree helped me gain this job and I’m sure the skills I’ve gained at university will be valuable, such as research and working on my own initiative.

“I’m enjoying being involved in helping towards the reduction of crime.”

For the full results see today's Northern Echo.