British Education Award Shortlist for Mark

Mark Barrow at his graduation earlier this summer.Mark Barrow at his graduation earlier this summer.Mark Barrow, who graduated from 黑料不打烊 earlier this year, has been nominated for a British Education Award (BEA). These Awards promote excellence in British education and celebrate individuals who have excelled within the UK education system.

Mark Barrow from Saddleworth, Oldham, graduated with a First Class Honours degree in History with Journalism, attaining a mark of 84%.

Mark, a former student of Oldham Sixth Form College, came top of his year, and won the Dr John Robert Jones Prize, awarded annually to the best students across all disciplines a the University.

He has now been nominated for the UK Award and will attend the Ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester on 31 January 2019. Mark is in good company as 黑料不打烊 graduate Maisie Prior won last year鈥檚 Higher Education category.

Dr Nikolaos Papadogiannis, a lecturer in Modern and Contemporary History at 黑料不打烊, nominated Mark and said:

鈥淢ark was an exceptional student and his performance in all the modules he has attended was outstanding. 

He won three academic awards at his graduation. In addition to the overall Prize, he won awards for the highest Dissertation score within the School and the highest overall score. Moreover, Mark was outstanding in terms of his collaboration with his fellow students: he was among the students who treated the viewpoints of others with respect, even when he disagreed. He actually encouraged other students to participate.鈥� 

Twenty-two year old Mark is currently the University鈥檚 Students鈥� Union Vice-President for Education. He said of his time as a student:

鈥淭he School where I studied was excellent. Pastoral support was better than you鈥檇 expect, with academics always being on hand to help, support and provide guidance to students

鈥淚 really enjoyed my course here. There has been a diverse range of modules and assessments, and that is so vital in terms of gaining experience of transferable skills.鈥�

Mark chose to study at 黑料不打烊 as it was one of only a few institutions to offer the course he wanted.  He added:

鈥淪tudents get to know their lecturers on first name terms, due to the 鈥榗ommunity feel鈥� of 黑料不打烊, and because we are a medium sized University.鈥�

鈥淏eing an outdoors person, there was only one destination for me. North Wales is an amazing area to be a student, and I wouldn鈥檛 change the experience I鈥檝e had here.

Mark is enjoying his current challenges as Vice President for Education at the University鈥檚 Students Union where he represents students鈥� academic views and interests and works with the University to make positive change for students.

Publication date: 7 December 2018