Zain returned to higher education while working and raising a family
A dad-of-three has successfully completed a second degree at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) after returning to higher education 10 years after his first graduation.
After originally studying telecommunication engineering at a university in Pakistan, Zain Ul Abdin moved to England. He wanted to pursue a career in the field of science and technology but his personal circumstances meant he had to delay his future studies.
During those seven years, he never gave up on his dream to study software engineering at UCLan and he is delighted to be graduating.
The 35-year-old, from Haslingden, said: “I feel very excited, motivated and confident to be graduate. I came back to studying as I enjoyed coding and wanted to learn more. Now I believe this degree will open doors of opportunities for me.”
While studying full-time on the three-year degree course, Zain has held down a supervisor’s position at Lidl and is raising three sons, Mohammad, nine, Amaan, eight, and Musa, five, with his wife Rehana.
Zain said: “Time management was the biggest issue for me. Sometimes I felt I should have 48 hours in a day.
"Studying full-time with three kids was difficult. I had to manage time for study, work and most important of all for my wife and kids"
— New UCLan graduate Zain Ul Abdin
“When I started the course, my eldest son had just turned seven. Studying full-time with three kids was difficult. I had to manage time for study, work and most important of all for my wife and kids.
“Moreover, studying online because of Covid-19 made it more challenging but it was worth the hard work.”
He praised all aspects of the course but had special thanks for Dr Nicholas Mitchell. “He is one of the best teachers I have learnt from. He made very complex topics fun and entertaining, I really enjoyed his teaching.”
Now having completed his degree, Zain is hopeful it will lead to further career opportunities. He added: “My next step is to get in a tech role where I can demonstrate my skills and knowledge which I gained from this course and build my career.”
He was one of 4,000 students who graduated in front of family and friends at UCLan’s Preston City Campus.