September 2002
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Youngsters invited to Summer School

The University offered 16-year-olds from across the region a free taste of university life at this year's Higher Education Summer School.

The scheme offered access to a range of fun and practical workshops based on undergraduate courses.

Young people had the opportunity to take part in eye testing in Optometry, look at old bones in Archaeology, learn how to read fingerprints with Forensic Sciences and build robots in Cybernetics. Other courses included Peace Studies, Business and Management and Health Studies.

Young people attending the day workshops took part in team building activities. They also met existing students and enjoyed a social evening of karaoke. After their week spent sampling university life and the different courses available, they were asked to give a short presentation to friends and family followed by a buffet meal.

The event gave young people who had completed GCSE exams a chance to look into subjects before going on to choose their sixth-form courses.

Summer Schools Co-ordinator Anwar Ayub said: "Last year the course was a great success attracting over 100 pupils from the Bradford LEA and we were eager to attract more people this year, which we successfully did. This was a fantastic opportunity for those looking into Higher Education."

The Higher Education Summer School is part of the Excellence in Cities Scheme. The Summer School ran for the first time in July 2000. Since then, hundreds of students have taken part. Here's what some of the past students had to say about their experiences of the Summer School.

Left to right: Sarah Kirkby, Zunera Naseer, and Bhavesh Prajapati.

Abdul Sahmad Mughal
Attended Summer School: 2000
Where are they now? Doing a BSc (Hons) in Computing at Leeds Metropolitan University.

"I made plenty of friends and had excellent fun all week. We still keep in touch. I have some very fond memories of the Summer School with friends. It gave me increased knowledge of University life, how jobs are related to University, about courses and how life operated at University. Before I came to the Summer School I had the image that only geeks go to University but after attending it has changed my view. If I had not taken part in the Summer School I would not have gone to University. By going, it encouraged me to apply."

Zunera Naseer
Attended Summer School: 2000
Where are they now? Doing a BA (Hons) course in Psychology and Management at Bradford College.

"The Summer School gave me an insight into University life. I was definitely going to University and the Summer School helped me to strengthen my decision. It also let me know how University life would be like at Bradford University. If I had not taken part in the Summer School I would have gone away from home to study because I heard that Bradford University was boring but the Summer School showed me that studying in Bradford would be a good choice. I really enjoyed attending. It helped me a lot in making my decisions for Higher Education. I also met many different people from different schools."

Bhavesh Prajapati
Attended Summer School: 2001
Where are they now? Second year of sixth-form

"The use of actual students of the University to act as mentors enabled a good perspective of University life. It was easier to ask them questions as they were in the University at that instance and not taking everything from memory. The use of workshops gave a greater insight into the lessons or tutorial atmosphere. The fact that is was held in and around University campus made me feel like I would enjoy getting involved in Higher Education. The use of down-to-earth mentors inspired me as they were role models and showed that whatever background you were from you could get into University. It enabled me to meet new people who are in fact strangers which simulated quite accurately the beginning of University life. I am currently taking Physics, English and History A-level and will be filling in my UCAS forms this year. I want to keep my options open. I would like to do Law. I decided that would be good after researching the University. The University gave me inspiration for that."

Sarah Kirkby
Attended Summer School: 2000
Where are they now? Bradford College doing an Advanced GNVQ in Leisure and Recreation

"The Summer School gave me the confidence to carry on in education and I'm determined to eventually go to University. Before, I did not have a clue about University. I would have been the only person in my family to go so I did not want to go. However, I enjoyed the Summer School very much, particularly Peace Studies, which was very interesting. When I came I was really shy and I would not have gone to University because I did not like meeting new people. I am now looking forward to college."

Mehnaz Kauser
Attended Summer School: 2001 Where are they now? Studying for A-levels

"The increased knowledge I gained of Higher Education was phenomenal as I had very little to begin with. I realised, and became aware of, all the opportunities available to me. At first I wasn't interested in Further Education, therefore the Summer School inspired and motivated me to apply to Higher Education and have destiny in my own hands. It helped a great deal to know the different courses available. The University gave me a taste of University lifestyle, the people you meet, the extra activities and basically enjoying University. The Summer School gave me confidence to speak my mind, and to make more friends. If I had not taken part I would have been in limbo about my career decisions and courses that I had to do. I would just like to give a massive 'thank you' for all your hard work into organising an event like this and giving me a memory to cherish for life."

David Norris
Attended Summer School: 2000
Where are they now? Studying Cybernetics at the University of Bradford

"More than anything else, the Summer School influenced my choice of course, cybernetics. There were only two universities that provide the course - Reading and Bradford. I chose Bradford as it is relatively small and, because of the Summer School, I knew the place well. I enjoyed the experience. It was easy to make friends and I did so quickly."

Homera Sahibzada
Attended Summer School: 2000
Where are they now? Studying Interdisciplinary Human Studies at the University of Bradford "I found the Summer School did influence my decision to attend Bradford. Whilst on the course, I attended an IHS lecture and was fascinated by the material being taught. I put IHS down as my first choice for University! I thoroughly enjoyed the Summer School and think it was a brilliant experience, even though I was in Year 12 at the time. It was beneficial and gave me a taster of what University life may be like. So thank you to the organisers and I wish I could attend again."

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