Adam Fox

A British mountain guide working in the US has studied for a degree on the job, thanks to learndirect Learning through Work and University of Derby.

Adam Fox, 29, has spent the last ten years teaching climbing and training mountain guides across the world.

One of only a handful of people in the States able to offer the kind of guide training he specialises in, Adam found that despite his experience his lack of academic qualifications was posing a threat to his career.

He explains; “Various universities have said they’d love to have me on their staff, but you can’t teach at that level in America without a degree. Even the private company I was working for eventually had to tell me in order to keep my position, I needed a BA.

“The problem was both money and time. Climbing seasons do not fill well around semesters, and in the States your major is only part of your degree. Thirteen years into the industry it seemed pointless to have to go back and study algebra or art history alongside outdoor education. I was also worried about how much it would cost me over the three of four years.

“I decided to go back to see what British degrees could offer me, and that’s when I went to University of Derby. I had a chat with the people there, who suggested the learndirect Learning through Work programme. I couldn’t believe it, it fitted me absolutely perfectly.

“With learndirect Learning through Work you get to specify your own degree programme based around your job. I’m working towards a BA in Outdoor Education and Management, and I can design modules which benefit me and my work. Each module is then assessed, and you keep building up credits in the bank until you have a degree.

“I can email my tutor Chris with drafts of my papers, and she comes back within twelve hours with suggestions and comments. The first time I sent her some stuff I joked with some guys at work and said ‘this degree is easy’ – I feel embarrassed now even at the thought. She came back with three pages of critique, and I had to make changes to the whole thing.

“With this degree you have to decide what your doing and how you’re doing it, you have to research everything, get feedback, do more research to see where you’re going wrong and then correct things accordingly. I’ve definitely earned my credits, and it definitely hasn’t been easy.”

As part of his course Adam has submitted his website for marking, a DVD and research paper on testing climbing materials in a laboratory, plus a 20,000 word manual to accompany one of his training courses.

He says: “Every project I’ve done has been useful. I’m using the DVD in training now, and everyone in the climbing world has been meaning to write the kind of manual I’ve produced. I’m getting emails from all over with people wanting to use it on their courses.

“The part which has really pushed me is the education side. The things I’ve been learning about education methods and theories have made me a much better teacher than I ever thought I could be.

“I used to feel awkward about having no training in this area and teaching outdoor education to university professors whose job it is to teach outdoor education! Now I’ve done my research I feel a lot less embarrassed – I know I’m doing a good job and it’s a great feeling.”

With industry contacts across the globe, Adam has been able to undertake research into new areas, and present his ideas and findings in new ways.

“A lot of the teaching in this area gets very complex and involved,” he explains. “What I’m trying to do is condense it down to a more simplistic way of teaching outdoor education, and that accessibility seems to be working for people. They want to listen to me and they want to read my papers, and it’s definitely pushing my career forward.

“I found school very hard and left with nothing, purely because I had no interest in the things I was doing. I’ve never learnt very much in a classroom, but this is different because it’s practical, real, and in an area I know and love.

“We’re finding in America now that outdoor educators come out of university with their degree, and are absolutely useless at anything other than teaching in a classroom setting. They’ve just not been immersed in the job, or had the opportunity to do their own research and training.

“I think this sort of on the job learning is the future, because the experience it gives you simply can’t be learned at any sort of university. It takes commitment, self discipline and ingenuity to get the information you need, but I’d definitely recommend it to anyone.”