The 2014/15 Board

My name is Koo Asakura and I am in my second year studying English Law at the University of Dundee. It was only after what seemed like many long years at school that I began to grasp the importance of education and what a difference it makes for a person’s future. In the summer after my high school graduation, I decided to travel to Vietnam and make a small difference by teaching around 20 children English for several weeks.

I am looking forward to taking this further by being on the PSAB and having the opportunity to make a contribution to improving education from its core, the textbooks. As a student on a course that places much emphasis on independent learning, I know the importance of having good learning materials. I am very excited to be able to bring my own personal experiences and the viewpoints of those who ultimately use the textbooks to one of the largest producers of these invaluable learning tools, whilst simultaneously learning about the business of education.

Hi, I’m Irina, a second-year student of Business Information Systems at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. I love my course, because it provides an understanding of technology in the context of a business environment. I strongly believe in creating technological solutions that suit the settings they are deployed in and greatly increase the capabilities of people using them, rather than simply change the way things are done.

Having self-studied for several ACCA modules through available textbooks in addition to a part of my degree, I can appreciate good learning resources. Outside of my course I enjoy various outdoor sports, as well as dancing and travelling. The latter has provided me with an opportunity to explore different cultures and instilled my passion for change and exploration. I hope to use the opportunity of actively participating on the PSAB to help create innovative educational solutions, which recognise that we all approach learning in our own way.

This year, I will also maintain my role as a Web and Social Media Expert at the Union of my university. I am excited to combine both functions in ways that benefit the development of Pearson's resources and Strathclyde students. Through my participation on the PSAB I look forward to a year filled with both challenges and plenty of opportunity for personal development.

Hello, my name is Hazel Coaley and I am a second-year student at the University of Winchester studying accounting and finance. My degree covers a variety of different topics, some of which are more business focused than others. Working with Pearson would allow me to explore more into those areas and gain a valuable insight into the way certain aspects of business work.

Throughout my A levels and my degree so far, I have come to understand the importance of good quality textbooks and learning resources and I am looking forward to contributing to projects to help develop Pearson resources as a member of the Pearson Student Advisory Board.

Throughout my life I have always looked for challenges and things that will allow me to make the most out of my time. I have nearly completed my gold Duke of Edinburgh award and in my first year of university I was one of the student representatives for my course.

Musical theatre has been a major part of my life for several years and I have learnt to balance being a cast member of numerous musicals alongside my studies. This year I have also been elected as the treasurer of Performing Arts Winchester, the university’s biggest society. All of these experiences have presented me with different opportunities and challenges and I believe they have given me the skills to be an active and enthusiastic contributor to the Board.

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a member of the Student Advisory Board, to be able to collaborate with people working within the industry and to have a unique, hands-on experience within a business environment.

Hi, I am Anita Kaneti. I am delighted to be a part of the Pearson Student Advisory Board! I am a second-year Information Management for Business student at UCL. I aim to focus more on marketing and my future plans include working in the marketing department of a company, a masters degree in social psychology or consumer behaviour and then becoming a marketing lecturer one day.

I have always been committed to education and passionate about learning. When in high school, I tutored students from lower years, on weekends I tutored 10-year-olds and now at university I volunteer as a mentor, tutoring in Italian and Turkish. I also assist two professors with their research.

I have always paid attention to how an educational book is organised and how it could have been better in helping students learn in a more efficient way. Since I aim to pursue an academic career, I will continue working closely with educational books. For these reasons I believe my contribution to Pearson Advisory Board will be very interesting for me and my diverse experience of different education systems will enable us to put forward even more exciting ways to enable students learn efficiently. Looking forward to all the projects!

Hi, I’m Niel and I am a second-year Marketing and Management student at the University of Sussex. It is great to be part of PSAB this year, helping to shape and improve all our educational needs. Working with PSAB gives me the chance on behalf of my fellow students to link my vested interests in marketing, technology and the development of studies with the world of publishing. For one, the digital movements in education provide great scope for creative projects that produce promising times ahead for the board.

My first year at university was fantastic: the course modules I took were a valuable learning curve into my degree whilst the atmosphere of the campus was great. On the board I have the opportunity to connect further with my wider university student body, a capacity I am looking forward to. Outside of my degree, I am a central defender for the University of Sussex football team and elected Club Treasurer.

Over the year on the board I would like to make the most of this fantastic opportunity and follow my passions toward a wholly successful PSAB tenure, utilising this gateway to take student learning forward.

As a third-year Economics and Politics student at the University of Sussex, I really appreciate the value of good educational resources and this opportunity to be part of something that shapes future learning is exciting.

My university experience has taught me to be proactive and to always seek out opportunities as you never know where they may lead. I have been involved with numerous societies on campus including Enactus and in the running of Sussex Model United Nations Society as Treasurer. They have taught me useful skills that I apply in everyday student life and I hope to apply in my future career. This opportunity on the PSAB will feed directly into that as the skills and opportunities provided will enhance my skill set and help me when making graduate applications.

I really appreciate this opportunity to join the PSAB so that I can have my chance to make a lasting difference. Having participated in the Pearson Student Panel previously, I really enjoy giving feedback and reviewing products because it means I am actively giving back to the learning of future students. I am not afraid to ask questions or take on a challenge and I am sure that I would benefit from this opportunity a great deal.

Hello, my name is Colesta and I am presently in my second year of studying Psychology at London South bank University. When the opportunity to work on the Board presented itself, I knew this was an exceptional opportunity to learn and explore the education world further and gain great knowledge of the considerations and underground work that goes into developing effective educational resources and learning aids to the student population!

I am a keen learner and enjoy exploring new and innovative ways to support myself and others in reaching new heights of success in education. I love my course simply because of what it is: exploring human behaviour through scientific study. A lot of knowledge we have about human behaviour and thoughts come from different theories of psychology and I have learned that as students tackle their academic work, having educational resources that recognize that people learn in different ways is essential for students to maximize their potential in education.

This is something I value greatly about Pearson, because the products and resources they offer are tailored in ways to suit different needs. I am extremely pleased that I am on the board with 7 other students working with a renowned company in the field of education to contribute my passion for learning.

Hi, my name is Letitia and I am a second-year Economics and Management student at Brunel University. I am very interested in the field of education as I have come to believe that there is a pattern for education in every culture throughout the different times of history and I have noticed that around the world students do not find their place in this pattern anymore. I believe that this is either because of the lack of focus when it comes to learning something that they are not interested in, or because they are using totally different approaches than their tutors or peers when it comes to learning.

We are in deep need of developing a different way of approaching learning and education. I believe that societies should be flexible enough to learn to adapt the educational system to the particular and evolving needs of the students by finding a viable and feasible response to these basic requests. I hope I will be able to learn to address this issue through my studies and I hope to be able to study for a Masters in the Economics of Education.

I wanted to join the Pearson Student Advisory Board because I am very eager to work with other professionals that are interested in education as much as I am. I also want to be a part of the change that is so soon to come in education, throughout the world, and I believe that at Pearson I will be able to do that.