Sarya Begum

Best Masters Dissertation

MA Early Years Education

Whatever the circumstances, Sarya Begum just keeps on going.   Indeed, her great enthusiasm and determination to succeed resulted in her gaining a recent UCB HE Academic Award for producing the Best Masters Dissertation.

Working 17 hours a day was not unusual for Sarya whilst studying for her MA Early Years Education. She knew what she wanted to achieve and knew that she had to keep focussed to study and carry on with home life – including looking after her four children!

Originally Sarya completed her Foundation Degree in Supporting Learning at UCB, moved to a different University to top up to degree level and then returned to UCB to do her Postgraduate Certificate in Education.

After that she secured a job as a teacher at Barford Nursery School in Birmingham, enjoying every minute of it she says. 

Children in the school had very diverse needs and Sarya developed a keen interest in issues around inclusion and how teachers coped with the challenges of fulfilling those needs, especially in light of cutbacks in provision.

Keen to do more research, Sarya enrolled to study a Masters degree, part time, and centred her dissertation around her interests at work.

Many people would perhaps take a break after working so hard towards a qualification but not Sarya. She is now considering starting a PhD. “ I would like to research further into inclusion in education. The more I know the more I can support the children in school. I love to read and by learning as much as I can I can evaluate better and be a better practitioner”.

In the future Sarya would like to work with older children and pass on her knowledge and skills to other colleagues starting out as teachers.

We have no doubt she will reach her goals and wish her every success.

Sarya’s prize; £50 kindly donated by the Institute of Directors.

For further information please contact Jane Smith j.c.smith@ucb.ac.uk