John Gurney: BSc Hons Business Information Technology

John Gurney

BSc Hons Business Information Technology, 2004

After working within various industries all of his life, University of Luton graduate John Gurney decided to focus on a new career in teaching information technology.

Hailing from Dunstable, John has a very varied working background but has now realised what he wants to share the skills and expertise he’s developed through working for the past 20 years.

After leaving Manshead Upper School in 1981, John undertook a vocational business course at the Milton Keynes College of Further Education in 1986.

“I left school not really knowing what I wanted to do with my life and held down various jobs,” explained John, who is now studying for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in the Post Compulsory sector of 16+ and adults, at Oxford Brookes University. "This wasn’t always a bad thing because I had the freedom to try new things, travel abroad and even took a working holiday around Australia and Europe.”

Between July 1992 and May 1994, John taught English as a Foreign Language in the Czech Republic. After returning to Dunstable, John worked within various roles for local companies, including a Project Co-ordinator and a Logistics Controller, but he never felt completely satisfied with his work life.

“It was whilst I was working at Interbrew UK Ltd that I decided to bite the bullet and go back into education,” said John. “I’d been there for nearly two years and had been thinking about going back to education for ages. I’d been made redundant several times in the past and it was my brother who encouraged me to seriously look into it.”

So, in September 2001, John started a two-year Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Information Technology - and he graduated with eight distinctions. John’s lecturers encouraged him to study for an extra year and top his HND up to a BSc (Hons) degree, which is exactly what he did.

“I graduated with a first class degree and was so proud of my achievements,” said John. “I could not have done this without the emotional and financial support of my family, particularly my brother. I sold my house to help fund my time at Luton and my brother supported me throughout.

“The main reason I succeeded, aside from the support of my family and friends, was the enthusiasm and encouragement I received from my lecturers. They were fantastic. My dissertation supervisor, Elizabeth Baker, in particular always had time for her students, provided guidance, and advised rather than told.”