University News Last updated 27 July 2011
A former Codsall High School pupil, who turned her back on a career in banking, has been named as of her year at university.
Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences has named Victoria Rowlands Student of Excellence – BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography Victoria, 27, who now lives in Halesowen, originally gained an English degree, then worked in banking before realising that it wasn’t the career for her. She decided she wanted to work in healthcare and enrolled on the BSc hons. Diagnostic Radiotherapy at the University in 2008. Now, three years later she has achieved the top grade in her year and picked up an award to recognise this at the Faculty’s Health and Social Care awards 2011, at the Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston on Friday 22 July.
As part of her training, Victoria had placements at the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford and New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, where she will be starting a new job as a Diagnostic Radiographer.
Victoria received her plaque at the Faculty’s awards ceremony on Friday 22 July at the Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston, Birmingham, where the guest speaker was Barbara Kuypers, West Midlands Local Supervising Authority Midwifery Officer.
Victoria said: “When I heard I was nominated for an award I was totally surprised, I had not heard anything about it until I received my invitation to the awards ceremony at the Botanical Gardens.
“I enjoyed my course, although it's been hard at times, especially as it runs for more weeks a year than some other courses and often involves working 9 to 5 on placement whilst still having coursework to do. The Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences’ skills suite was very useful for practising, but also being out on placement gave us a really good grounding in working for the health service in a Radiology department. The course has prepared me well for my new career.”
Professor Ian Blair, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health, Education and Life Science said: “This is the fifth year that the Health and Social Care Awards have been held, and this year the selection process has been more difficult than ever.
“The awards were created to provide formal recognition of the excellent efforts and achievements of our outstanding students, and to celebrate the relationships the Faculty has built with our practice partners.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our award winners and wish them the very best for the future.”
Birmingham City University is running a major awareness campaign in the Midlands to demonstrate how it is upgrading the future of individuals and companies. To find out more visit www.bcu.ac.uk