Gloucester nursing student Nige McIntosh believes online university is a great route | Gloucester Solicitor

Nursing student at Gloucester, Nige McIntosh is so excited to undertake his online degree that he encourages others to give it a shot. And given the impact of COVID on skills shortages, now seems like the perfect time.

“There’s no reason anyone in town can’t become a nurse or even a teacher,” Nige said.

And he wants everyone to know how easy it is to be a student.

“You don’t have to leave the house at all. I don’t think a lot of people know it’s over there.”

It refers to distance education, and through the University of New England (UNE) in particular.

Nige is in the third year of his Bachelor of Science in Nursing which will see him progress from a Registered Nurse (EN) to a Registered Nurse (RN). He completes his studies while working full-time and undertaking the program remotely, he is not limited to specific schedules for classes and tutorials.

“I can study whenever I want,” Nige said.

On average, he gets up at 6 a.m. to study for a few hours, then takes a nap before heading to the hospital for a shift. If he is so inclined, he can go back to study after work.

“If you’re a night owl, you can study in the middle of the night.”

I can study whenever I want.

Nige McIntosh

The University of New England has a long history of providing distance education and is continually working to improve its systems to make it easier for students.

It was one of the universities that was well ahead of the curve when COVID hit, and has since adapted further, taking over Zoom to run its intensives, which normally require distance students to be on campus.

“A lecturer held (online) lectures at different times so students could attend live and ask questions,” Nige said.

But it’s not just professors working to meet students’ learning needs according to Nige, the university has also extended its peer support system to distance students.

And Nige is one of them, helping freshmen learn best practices for studying online as well as bringing their concerns to the channel for the university to address.

Nige uses his own experience of having to figure out how to uni line to help. He even became an instructor.

His ultimate goal, in addition to completing his studies, is to see UNE expand its support center to other regional towns such as Gloucester. He currently has one in Taree. But since Taree is an hour away and the current university is only two and a half hours away, it really isn’t much closer.

“They could incorporate a study room into the library,” Nige suggested.

Nige sees this as a great way for more regional students to enjoy earning a degree without having to travel to the physical location of the university.