Engineering Curriculum Manager, Mariutxy Cadavid, explains how she went from Access to HE learner to teaching the Diploma at Lambeth College T/A South Bank Colleges.   

I came to the UK in 1997 with my family and started to study English as my aim was to go to university.  It took a bit of time to catch up with the language, but I managed to gain a L3 English qualification. I originally wanted to study Science and later found I was more interested in Engineering. Looking for courses was not easy, but I found the Access to HE Diploma in Engineering that had the perfect the combination of subjects to go into my chosen area of Aerospace Engineering.   

I joined Lambeth College in 2002, where I studied an Access to HE Diploma Engineering course.  It was an intensive and rigorous course but also one of the best experiences I have had at college. I learned key academic subjects for Engineering including Maths, Science and Computing, as well as study skills which help to support my learning. The course was assessed with a mix of assignments, practicals, and exams which helped prepare me for university.  Alongside I had the most professional and supportive lecturers that guided me through any difficulties. They invested many hours in class, and they guided me to learn and work independently, which is needed to be thoroughly equipped for Higher Education. 

Following my Access course, I went to study Aerospace Engineering at Queen Mary University of London. A few years later, I was offered the opportunity to go back to Lambeth College to teach on the Access to HE course. I think my experience as an Access learner has helped me support and guide the learners I teach as I know what they are going through. I now teach and manage the Access to HE Engineering and Access to HE Built Environment Diplomas.  

The Access to HE Diploma gave me the skills and confidence to succeed in Higher Education and in my career, and through this career, I have witnessed myself and through the learners I teach, how the Access Diploma empowers individuals looking for a second chance to grow and change their live path to their chosen careers.