Presenter and content creator, Gwilym Pugh, 38, travels the world to share his experience of climate change and its impact on the environment and nature. After wanting to better understand the sights that he was seeing, Gwilym chose to study a BSc (Honours) Environmental Science with The Open University (OU).
As he nears the end of his degree, Gwilym talks about his OU journey and his ambitions to continue his studies with a Masters and potentially a PhD.
Flexibility to keep on exploring
Gwilym filming for BBC Studios
Gwilym’s job is far from the standard 9-5 and he’s often living out of suitcase from countries as far flung as the Guyana rainforest in South America to -30C temperatures of Lake Baikal in Russia. Gwilym was attracted to the OU because of its open entry policy and the flexible approach to learning.
“Although I left school and went to college to complete my A Levels, I didn’t get the grades that I was hoping for,” he says.
“At the time I wasn’t concerned about higher education, until I started to gain more of a presence on social media.”
Gwilym has nearly 300,000 followers on Instagram and produces content in partnership with the BBC and WWF.
“I was becoming disenfranchised with the lack of context behind some of the content that was being posted on Instagram.
“I wanted to understand the impact that I was having on the world in a more meaningful way and sought out a reputable organisation that could package up everything that I needed to know in a framework that I could easily follow.
“My job doesn’t have a set schedule and I needed to find a course that would complement my way of life. I’m able to fit OU studies around my other commitments and my tutors have been really supportive, granting me extensions on assignments when my workload has meant that a deadline has been hard to meet.”
More than a qualification
“I didn’t start my OU studies with the idea of getting a degree;” he adds. “I originally only had the intention of studying one module to add depth to my work and experiences.
“But it didn’t take long until I was hooked on learning and I’m now close to graduating, with my final assignment due in the summer. I’ve already got plans to start a Masters and have a research project in mind that I’d love to investigate further with a PhD.
“The process of OU study has changed me as a person. It’s 100% benefited me and has opened up opportunities both professionally and personally.
“I’ve developed skills that I didn’t know I needed, from time management to writing about complex subjects. The knowledge I’ve gained through my qualification has helped me to develop my position as a credible and authentic science communicator.
“Through my studies I’ve also found a community of people that are interested in the same topics as me. I can have amazing in-depth conversations and am developing new relationships with likeminded people.”
Advice for current and prospective students
After nearly four years of study, Gwilym has some great guidance for his fellow students and a word of encouragement for anyone thinking about pursuing OU studies.
“When you first start a module, read the assignment criteria straightaway, so that you have in your mind what you need to focus on in the course notes.
“If the assignment question isn’t clear, don’t be afraid to ask your tutor for clarification. They’ll be happy to help.
“And if you’re thinking about starting a course with the OU, just do it! There’s no regret on my part. If you need support financially, there’s plenty of financial aid schemes available. Speak to the OU’s student support team to find out more.”
Gwilym is part of the OU’s flash fiction competition #OU50words. The multi-award-winning campaign invites budding writers to craft 50 words of creative writing in response to the University’s daily video prompt. To join in the fun, visit the OU’s Twitter and Facebook pages.
To learn more about Gwilym and his extracurricular adventures follow him at instagram.com/gwilymcpugh or www.linkedin.com/in/gwilymcpugh/
