‘Future Leaders’
Dear Friends
Today I completed our ‘Flying Start’ induction for the Freshers which has been running for 6 weeks and I ended on a sombre note. I made it clear that they had to make the next couple of years work and shared one of my Turkish sayings; one life, one chance and only one love. I explained that University is like an invitation to a swanky (and in future a very expensive) party but it is down to them to network and make the most of it.
There are currently so many viable and cheaper alternatives to University such as Apprenticeships or Foundation Degree’s or Work Based Learning or Professional qualifications. On the other hand a Senior Manager at BAE commented during a recent Placement visit that graduates are the ‘future leaders’ of our business since they usually have a burning desire to succeed and think outside of the box. However, I worry that exorbitant tuition fees will extinguish some of our ‘future leaders’ and in the long run may damage the viability and competitiveness of UK PLC.
As I walked out of the class I really felt for those kids but I am determined that I will do my damn best to inspire and mould the ‘future leaders’.
The road to success is always under construction…
Faisal
About Faisal Sheikh
I am currently a Senior Accounting & Finance Lecturer working for Sheffield Hallam University (SHU). Previously I spent 12 years working as an Auditor / Chartered Certified Accountant / Consultant specialising in the international not-for-profit sector. I also spent 18 months in Further Education in Manchester before joining SHU in the summer of 2010.
I am an Economics graduate; member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA), recently completed my Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and began my Doctorate in Business Administration in September.
I look forward to sharing and engaging with my fellow academics about pedagogy, the future of Higher Education (H.E) and rewards / challenges of working in H.E. I have already discovered the multifaceted nature of my role as I am expected to be an inspiring teacher, competent researcher, and businessman.
I am probably working harder then ever especially with a daily 3 hour round commute as I still live in Manchester. However, the immeasurable rewards outweigh the problems since I have the potential to leave an indelible mark on the minds of young people…hopefully for the better!
