Teaching degree provides farmer with a new career

An award-winning student who turned to helping reformed criminals back into education when he was made redundant as a farmer was celebrating graduating this week.

Dennis Mahar, of Little Sutton, collected his BA (Hons) Post-Compulsory Education and Training (PcET) at Glyndŵr University’s first awards ceremonies.

The 51-year-old, an education and training officer for the probation service, is now going on to study for an MA Education degree at the university in Wrexham.

“It’s an incredible feeling – an incredible achievement,” said Dennis. “When I returned to education five years ago, it was more than 20 years since I’d been at college, and that was to learn about becoming a fabricator welder. I don’t come from a group that’s very academic but it’s so pleasing now that I’ve made it.”

Dennis kick started his return to education after discovering that he needed more qualifications in order to progress in his new-found career with the probation service. He enrolled on a City and Guilds qualification in teaching before completing a PGCE in further education.

In 2006, he was given a ‘Highly Commended Inspire Award’ from the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE), before starting on Glyndŵr University’s PcET programme.

Dennis, who completed his studies part time, works with a whole host of criminals, including some of the most serious offenders, sourcing opportunities to encourage them to return to work or education. So far this has included placing people on further or vocational education courses, securing employment for others and even helping one offender start up his own business.

“I’m working with a group which is one of the most difficult to reach out to,” he added. “Each person needs help in different ways and it’s my job to try and get them back into the community.

“It’s so important. If I don’t give them a dream to aspire to, they won’t get a chance to move on. I’m a totally different person now to the one I was five years ago. I’m so much more confident and a lot of that’s down to the university. I’ve got so much more knowledge now and I feel I can really make a difference to people’s lives.”

Glyndŵr University held four awards ceremonies over two days, formally recognising the achievements of more than 1,000 students.

Graduates were also given a special commemorative coin to mark the first awards ceremonies at the University, formed in July when the North East Wales Institute of Higher Education was granted full university status.

Professor Michael Scott said: “My congratulations go to everyone on their achievements.  I am proud to be able to celebrate success with all of our graduates, and to acknowledge the hard work which each individual has put in to achieve their degree.
“Our graduates are the future, the future workforce for the local, regional, national and world economy. Whichever direction their careers take after today, I wish them the very best.”