By Tina Allen

11 March 2025

As someone who proudly wears the title of a first-generation university graduate, I know firsthand how education can transform lives. I didn’t come from privilege, I came from a background where university wasn’t the natural next step, but rather a distant dream that seemed just out of reach. Fast forward to today, and here I am, a Course Director at the University of Staffordshire, leading an incredible team that inspires and empowers students every day. And if you’ll indulge me for a moment, I’d love to tell you about one of the most inspiring journeys I’ve had the privilege to witness, the impact of the Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) for our military learners.

The CMDA isn’t just a higher degree apprenticeship; for some, it’s a mission. And like any good mission, it requires strategy, adaptability, and an unshakable commitment to the cause. At University of Staffordshire, we have the honour of working with military professionals who bring their discipline, resilience, and leadership into the world of academia. But make no mistake, while these soldiers are trained for battle, it doesn’t mean their journey through university is easy. In fact, for many, it’s a fight of a different kind.

Take one of our recent graduates, for example. They completed their CMDA Apprenticeship, which includes a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Professional Management, and while they’ll humbly credit their own hard work, they’ve also shone a well-deserved light on the exceptional support of our staff. From the financial reporting module that almost broke them (until our own Senior Lecturer in Finance, Dr. Dil Hewage, swooped in like an academic superhero), to the constant struggle of balancing deployments with deadlines, this apprenticeship was well and truly earned in the trenches!

And speaking of trenches, let’s talk about the unique challenges of studying in the military. Imagine this: you’re in the middle of Europe, no internet, no access to your laptop, and yet, you still have assignments due. No problem! Karen Castle and our team devised a contingency plan fit for a battlefield, ensuring that even when service members were off the grid, their education didn’t have to be. As they say in the military, ‘No plan survives first contact’ but thanks to my team, this one did.

And then, there are the battles you don’t expect, the ones that aren’t part of the curriculum, the extracurriculars, or the job description. One of our students, mid-degree, received a life-altering cancer diagnosis. Let that sink in for a second. They had spent years juggling deployments and studies, only to be thrown an even bigger challenge at the final stretch. But giving up was not an option. With the outstanding and unwavering support of Jennifer Rutter, Work-Based Education Officer, and my team, they powered through chemotherapy, surgeries, and all the mental and physical toll that came with it to ensure they graduated with their cohort just as they’d always planned. If that isn’t the definition of resilience, I don’t know what is.

So why am I telling you all this? Because education is more than just lectures and textbooks. It’s about people. It’s about the academics who stay late for one-on-ones, the support staff who rewrite the rulebook to make things work, and the students who refuse to let anything stand in the way of their success.

To my team at University of Staffordshire Business School, thank you. Thank you for your dedication, your passion, and for making the impossible possible. To our students, past, present, and future, I can only say keep pushing, keep believing, and know that you are never alone on this journey.

And to anyone reading this blog who has ever doubted whether university is for them, if a soldier in a warzone can do it, a cancer fighter can do it, then so can you. At University of Staffordshire, we will support you to make those dreams a reality. We are the Catalyst for Changing Lives!

Now, who’s ready to take the first step?