Highclare Preparatory pupils recently had the pleasure of welcoming Professor Eperjesi into School. During his time with pupils from J3 to J6, Professor Eperjesi discussed future career options in science while encouraging the idea of learning as a lifelong aspiration. It has been wonderful to hear the fantastic feedback and questions from the children following this event, so much so that we would love to share a summary of the talk kindly prepared by Professor Eperjesi.
“When I was a child most adults would start employment in their teens and 20s and work for the same employer until they retired. Things are different now. People entering the work force are likely to have somewhere between 5 and 20 different employers during their working life. Some of these moves will involve a total career change. It is not enough now for young people to learn and qualify in a certain profession or job; it’s important to learn how to learn so that when new employers and new careers come along it’s natural to adapt to them and to be successful.
Learning how to learn has been defined as ‘…the ability to pursue and persist in learning, to organise one’s own learning, including through effective management of time and information, both individually and in groups. This competence includes awareness of one’s learning process and needs, identifying available opportunities, and the ability to overcome obstacles in order to learn successfully.’ This competence means gaining, processing and assimilating new knowledge and skills as well as seeking and making use of guidance. Learning to learn engages learners to build on prior learning and life experiences in order to use and apply knowledge and skills in a variety of contexts: at home, at work, in education and training.’
It is through this process combined with motivation and confidence in my own competence that I have had careers as a geologist in construction and oil exploration, as a free-lance optometrist, a business owner, a researcher in eye diseases and an educator working with university students and staff.” Professor Eperjesi
