11 March 2013
28 years of changing lives through Foundation Studies
Today Foundation Studies is seen as a pivotal way to help people with gaps in their schooling into tertiary education.
However, 28 years ago when Linda Russ joined the newly developed Foundation Studies programme at Manukau Institute of
Technology, it was regarded with suspicion.
“The attitude was why would you bring people into a tertiary institution if they are not ready for tertiary study,”
Linda says.
During her time at MIT that question has been answered for Linda time and time again.
“I wouldn’t have stayed here for as long as I have, if we weren’t getting the results that we do. We are changing lives
every day.”
Linda has recently been appointed the head of the School of Foundation Studies, which is essentially a bridging
programme allowing people to gain the qualifications they need to enter tertiary courses.
There are many reasons why people need Foundation Studies. It could be they have had disrupted learning due to their
families moving around a lot. They might not have seen the relevance of school at the time, or may not have fitted into
the mainstream education system. Occasionally the school has people who want to change careers and need certain
qualifications to do so, Linda says.
Without Foundation Studies many people simply would not be able to move into the careers they want. Linda says this is
one of the reasons she moved from secondary teaching to Foundation Studies nearly 30 years ago.
The importance of what she and the school do was never more clearly illustrated for Linda than during a short stay at
Middlemore Hospital.
As she was wheeled through the hallways she was stopped five times by former students who had gone on to become
qualified nurses.
“It’s wonderful to watch our students’ progress. At the beginning they can be so insecure about learning, but then go on
to achieve their goals and move into further study and employment.”
Linda has had very personal experience of this. Her son went through the Foundation Studies programme, and he is now the
manager of a successful business. Her niece has also been a student at the school.
“So I’m a very big believer in the value of what we do here,” she says.
When Linda started at Foundation Studies there were just 16 students. Today the number has reached 600 each semester,
with students ranging in age from 18 to 70.
“That just shows the need there is out there. I continue to be inspired and passionate about what I do every day,” Linda
says.
ENDS