Our employees share what they've been studying
Ever wondered what the employees at Open Universities Australia (affectionately known to us as ‘OUAers’) have been studying themselves? Now’s your chance.
What do the people who live and breathe education choose to study, when they’re not helping students take the leap themselves? That’s what we set out to find out. From OUAers who chose to study for passion, to others who are chasing career progression, the answers are varied and inspiring. Let’s dive in.
Anthony Elliott, Chief Operating Officer
I studied: “a Graduate Certificate in Finance with RMIT, online through Open Universities Australia.”
Why this course appealed to me: “I was looking for a short form qualification in finance. My original qualifications are in engineering and while I have spent most of my career in and around the financials and operations of organisations, I didn’t have a formal finance qualification.
I felt that an additional qualification would help position me well with the CFOs [we liaise with at Open Universities Australia] from our partner universities [who list their courses on our website].”
Reflecting on my experience… “Nothing compares to actually trying to juggle life, part time study, work, family and expectations (of myself) to get a first-hand appreciation of the challenges our students face. It took me 12 months to complete but I felt really proud to achieve it.”
“After a break of 21 years since my post school university experience, I’ve been able to add a new formal learning experience every two years since 2018 [when I completed this certificate], so perhaps this helped reboot my love of lifelong learning. Where next? Who knows….. but I am sure it will be interesting!”
Advice for students like me: “Be kind to yourself and clear on your own expectations. Taking on part-time study while working is hard. Having a clear goal and mind and working towards it at your own pace is really rewarding when you reach your goal. So, my advice is run your own race, and of course, have Open Universities Australia there to support you.”
Cathy Withers, Executive Assistant to the CEO
I studied: “’Psychology A’ with the University of Tasmania, online through Open Universities Australia.”
Why this course appealed to me: “I have always had an interest in people. I think “normal” is a very wide range and that individuality is a wonderful thing – we all have something different to bring to the party.”
Reflecting on my experience… “I have been applying some of the knowledge and skills [in my current role]. If I would like to pursue this path, then this course has given me a step into a degree and more confidence that I can do it!”
Advice to students like me: “Don’t give up on you or your dream. The worst thing that can happen is that your mark isn’t as good as you hoped, but you will get better with more and more practice.”
Brontë Wicker, Content Operations Lead
I studied: “a Graduate Certificate in Internet Communications with Curtin University, online through Open Universities Australia.”
Why this course appealed to me: “Part of my role here at Open Universities Australia is to write about the new courses on marketplace. The more I read about Curtin’s internet communications course, the more I realised how relevant it was to my work as a content professional. I already had a business degree and plenty of industry experience, but I wanted to feel confident and upskill to unlock career progression.”
Reflecting on my experience… “I knew the course was relevant to my work, but I was amazed at how it extended to everyday life. I learned so much more about social media, but instead of growing my web presence, I became really conservative. Studying the ways information is shared and stored across the internet makes you think twice about what you do online!”
“Every day at work, I’m using skills from the course, including writing for the web and online collaboration. I’d love to continue my studies and I’m thinking about applying for the Graduate Diploma in Digital and Social Media. There’s so much more to learn in this exciting and relevant field! And one of the great things about working at Open Universities Australia is the opportunity to study online with [learning and development contributions], plus study and exam leave.”
Advice for students like me: “If you’re curious - but cautious - keep it low-key and enrol in a single subject. That way, you’ll find out if you’ve got enough time in your life for uni. Online study is definitely flexible, but you need to concentrate, read, collaborate, and do your assessments—and that all takes time.”
Thinking about part-time study while you keep your day job? As these passionate lifelong learners have shown, it’s completely possible. And the benefits? They’re endless.
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