Lifelong learning adult education start-up given launch boost by the University of Leicester
Joanna O’Neill and Michael Curtis.
A lifelong learning adult education start-up company has been given a helping hand by the University of Leicester as it prepares to launch its first courses.
Joanna O’Neill and Michael Curtis have combined their experiences of working in adult education with their expertise in archaeology and ancient history to found My Ancient World Learning.
Having between them, studied, worked and taught at the University, they have been able to take advantage of the business support services it offers to graduates and students.
With University support, the pair secured a £2,000 grant to invest in a learning management system, which is crucial for the company’s operation, and they’ve also been provided with a start-up workspace. The workspace, which is shared with other start-ups, is located just across from the University campus, in Salisbury Road, and provides hotdesking and access to a kitchen.
As part of the start-up support package, the University has also paid for My Ancient World Learning to become members of local business networks.
But the support doesn’t end there, as Michael and Joanna have also been able to use student interns to help them develop the learning management system, with plans to have future interns assist with marketing and strategy goals.
“The University’s support means we have a start-up that is so much more professional than if we were to do everything by ourselves,” said Joanna, who has an Ancient History degree and a Masters in Museum Studies from Leicester.
“We’ve been given the time, investment, help and the physical base we needed to get our idea off the ground. Now we cannot wait to launch our courses, which begin in March.”
The start-up’s relationship with the University is reciprocal, as Michael explains: “One of our founding principles is we wanted a business model that would give postgraduate students an opportunity to research and create their own teaching modules and deliver them in an environment where there could be participating adult learners from around the world. The chance to have teaching opportunities are few and far between for postgrads. By working with us, they will bolster their CV, develop transferable skills and have the reward of working with a hungry to learn, engaged audience. And, of course, it will be paid work.”
An Honorary Fellow and PhD student at the University’s School of Archaeology and Ancient History, Michael has been associated with adult learning since the late 1970s, developing and delivering a broad range of courses on archaeology and ancient history for local authorities, educational associations and community groups.
Both Joanna and Michael were adult learning teachers together in Northamptonshire, prior to setting up their company.
“The courses were always sold out, there’s a huge appetite for learning out there,” said Michael. “We thought, ‘we should do this ourselves’, and here we are.”
He added: “Our experiences of adult learners, is that many are put off by courses with accreditation tied to them. They want to learn for pleasure, not have assignments and targets to meet to gain a certificate at the end.
“Learning should be for pleasure, which is exactly how our courses have been designed.”
My Ancient World Learning offers educational courses in archaeology, ancient history and classical studies. They are specially crafted for curious adult learners looking to explore and delve deeper into the histories and stories of ancient civilisations. Courses are delivered online, with in-person study days and summer schools in the pipeline for the future.
The first courses, Britain in the Roman Empire and Latin for Beginners, launch in March, followed in April by Life and Times in Ancient Greece. A fourth course, Myth, Magic & Religion in the Ancient World, will run in the autumn.
The classical studies are taught by team member Sofia Bongiovanni.
Find out more and enrol on the website.
Tomas Ledgard, Head of Placements and Graduate Outcomes at the University, said: “It has been inspiring to watch Michael and Joanna’s vision for an adult learning service turned into a reality. They have a true passion for both their subjects and adult learning, and I am sure My Ancient World Learning will be a huge success.
“Not only has the University been able to play a key role in helping them get their start-up off the ground, but we’ve also been able to provide our students with micro internships at My Ancient World Learning, so it really has been a win-win situation.”
To find out more about workspaces at the University, visit the website.