Celebrating 20 Years of Opportunity: BA Social Science Foundation Year

On 13 May 2025 the University of Leeds welcomed alumni, students and staff (former and current) to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the BA Social Science Foundation Year.

Professor Paul Johnson, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Leeds, opened the event: “The reason why I think this is a fantastic event is because it celebrates a programme which is truly life changing and life enhancing, giving people a route into this brilliant university.”

“We celebrate this anniversary by making the pledge that we will maintain the programme; it's vital, as vital now as it was 20 years ago when it was started.”

Pictured: Professor Paul Johnson

Ms Suzanne Hallam and Professor Peter Dwyer who founded the BA Social Science programme added: “It's been a privilege to work on Foundation Year at the university, and it's been a privilege to work with the students” and “We were committed to widening access to people who maybe didn't think of the University of Leeds as a way to get into university... and to cut a long story short – it's been very successful. 1000 students is brilliant.”

Pictured: Professor Peter Dwyer and Ms Suzanne Hallam

Professor Jeremy Higham, former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, who was instrumental in helping to set up the BA Social Science (Foundation Year), spoke about the quality of the students: “Ultimately the quality comes from the quality of the discussion and the engagement and the life experience that the students… bring to the seminars or lectures.”

Pictured: Professor Jeremy Higham

At the event alumni and students also shared their experiences of BA Social Science and the impact it has had on their life. Ruth Joy Akinsanmi said that, “For me, it was completely transformative in the sense that I'm able to live my dreams now, I have the career that I've always wanted.” Dr Gemma Carr said, “This is why you need to keep the foundation year – I still pinch myself every single day.” Paige Kesemeyer added, “I now teach the love of my life – Sociology – and every single day... and I absolutely love it.”

Pictured (left to right): Ruth Joy Akinsanmi, Dr Gemma Carr, Paige Kesemeyer

Lisa Jones-Brook and Kara Keal described how the programme was “the beginning of something that completely changed both of our lives...”. “The Foundation Year shows us that change is possible, growth is always possible and new beginnings can come at any time.”

Pictured: Lisa Jones-Brook and Kara Keal

Natalie Asquith added that the Foundation Year “helps you question things, understand things and build your resilience to be able to keep going on...”. Stephen Christian said for them, “It was a great achievement. I was the first one in my family to go to uni – it was a massive achievement.” Manon Best highlighted that “you can have kind of everyday conversations and still talk about big things and that's just really special… I'm really, really glad that I've had that opportunity.”

Pictured (left to right): Stephen Christian, Natalie Asquith, Manon Best, Umut Alagoz

Umut Alagoz said the teaching staff “weren't just educators they are motivators. They believed in me, especially in moments when I needed them most and I'm grateful beyond words for their encouragement.” Current student Zedan Aftab added that it “is one of the best things I've done...”.

Richard Tavernier alumni, former Programme Director and current lecturer on the BA Social Science (Foundation Year) said, “Thank you to the foundation year team and staff who've supported us over the 20 years... I think that's one of the many attributes of the programme. It's always trying to do better and I think it's been quite successful at that.”

Pictured: Richard Tavernier

Professor Lisa Buckner the current BA Social Science (Foundation Year) Programme Manager, closed the event with the words, “Our Foundation Year students are inspirational. It is an honour to manage the programme in its 20th year.”

Pictured: Professor Lisa Buckner

Thank you to all those that made this event possible, in particular, Grace Idle and all the staff in the Esther Simpson Building.

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