Geoff Simmons

What appealed to you about Northumbria University?

Having originally completed a BSc at Northumbria in 1995, I had first hand experience of the University and the diverse nature of the city and surrounding
areas. Upon discovering that a number of staff who were involved in the delivery
of my undergraduate course were still working on campus, my decision to return to Northumbria University was made all the easier. After catching up on ‘old times’ and learning more about the numerous developments that have taken place since my graduation, I was confident that enrolling upon a Masters course would be as exciting and
rewarding as my first degree.

What qualifications did you have?

I originally had a BSc (Hons) in Applied
Consumer Sciences and discovered the
MSc via the University website.

How did you feel during your first week at Northumbria?

Although I was initially apprehensive about returning to full-time education
after 13 years of working in retail, I was amazed at how quickly I managed to get
back into the swing of academic life. The most notable change I observed would
have to be the considerable investment Northumbria University has made in its IT facilities. ‘Desktop Anywhere’ is undoubtedly one of the most useful applications and allows me to work from home at any time of the day.

What do you like most about the course?

I really enjoyed the New Product Development module. Replicating what would actually take place in industry, I worked in a team that generated an idea for a new food product, which was later developed, evaluated and analysed in the lab. Drawing upon a wide range of methods such as sensory evaluation, nutrient analysis and marketing, the team created a product which could be considered suitable for sale in any food retailing outlet.

Do you have any advice for anyone applying for your
course, or for university in general?

Although a one year course is very
intensive, the broad range of skills and
knowledge you develop as a result
are definitely worthwhile. Any mature
student who is thinking of embarking
upon a degree will be both surprised
and reassured by the number of
like-minded individuals who are
in the same position as you.

What three words would you use to describe your time at Northumbria?

Enjoyable, enlightening, challenging.