Faces of Reading

With the help of my supervisors and mentors, I was able to adopt a flexible approach to my work; I began to split my time between home and my office. I was also given a computer so I could continue with my work, and bursaries from the University to spend on childcare arrangements. This was extremely beneficial, and made what could have been a stressful time much easier. Having regular meetings with my supervisor was really, really helpful - they enabled me to remain in the loop while I wasn't in the office.

Thanks to this help from the University, family commitments haven't held me back - I was awarded PhD Researcher of the Year 2013 Faculty of Science winner. Now, I work as a Research Scientist in the Department of Meteorology. I've been given opportunities to pursue my personal interests, to lead on research projects, and to develop computer-based skills including data implementation, analysis and coding.

I'd recommend Reading - as a place to work and study - to anyone. I'm regularly contacted by students back home in Cameroon asking how they too can study for a PhD here. Since I first arrived, I've found it to be a very friendly, welcoming environment - something that hasn't changed during my time here. I now have two children, and am looking forward to returning from maternity leave to continue my work later this year.

The HR team was really helpful in going through my options with me, and my manager helped to make sure my responsibilities were split between the other Business Partners while I was on leave. Because of this, I was able to help my wife, Khrystyna, but I also had the opportunity to get to know my son.

What I found is that going to work is the easy part. At home, you have to dress and feed your child, bathe them and read to them, make sure they sleep and take part in activities. And just being there for them is integral. That time is very hard to achieve when you’re working: you come home, de-stress, and do all the basic necessities, but just spending time with your child is when you really bond with them and see what type of person they’re becoming. Thanks to the University’s flexibility, I got that time with Luke.

Read more about family leave at the University of Reading. 

My previous job was in retail so it was quite unsociable and involved long hours. My department gives you flexibility, you have to be in for core hours but you can come in early and then you're off again, it's fantastic.

Following the Professional and Administrative Services (PAS) review, I got the job here as Programme Administrator in August 2016. I work with a good group of people - we all bounce off each other, dig in and help each other out.

There is definitely a focus on staff development - I've recently finished the Springboard Women's Development Programme. My manager gave me the time to go on that course because it was important to me and being part of that cohort was really fulfilling.

I'm also an LGBTQIA+ Ally. I've always considered myself a diversity and LGBTQIA+ ally, mainly because I have a brother who is transgender, so it is something close to my heart. As soon as I heard about the Ally programme, I was very keen to be part of it.

I speak several languages, so I know exactly what the main problems are with learning a new language and what students find most difficult. I try to encourage them to speak the language and overcome any difficulties on the way.

Everyone here has given me the opportunity to show my potential and challenge myself as a language teacher, but most of all to do what I love.

I'm an audiovisual translator and I study BSL. I believe that deaf and visually impaired people should have access to language learning too. My aim is to work as an interpreter in the future, and I am proud that BSL will be taught here at the University.

I'm a School Champion for Diversity and a member of the LGBTQIA+ staff scheme. I think it's important to promote diversity and inclusion.

At the University of Reading, our students come from all around the world and this makes their learning experience really interesting. I really like to build a relationship with my students, watching them grow as independent learners, helping them with their learning process, and making them feel part of a community.

I give a lot and receive a lot; it's beautiful. This is why I'm still teaching after 12 years.

Read more about the University's LGBT Plus Staff Network.