RETURNING to learning is already paying off for Jeni Kongolo, 23, from Bolton, with the offer of a place to study genetics at the University of Manchester paving the way for a fantastic new career.

Jeni started her adult learning journey at Wigan & Leigh College, without any qualifications at all.

Originally from Lisbon in Portugal, Jeni came to the UK four years ago. Having left school without completing her exams, she joined Wigan & Leigh College taking up maths and English functional skills, alongside a Pre-Access to Science course. She followed this with the Access to Higher Education in Health, based at Leigh College.

Jeni, who works as a cleaner in Manchester, around her three days a week study commitment, said: “I’m really glad I decided to go back to college. The tutors are fantastic and the facilities are great. And now I really like physics!”

Her long-term career plan is to research genetic diseases, following her next big step of taking up the MSci in Genetics at the University of Manchester this September.

Now Wigan & Leigh College is encouraging others to sign up to adult courses which start in September.

Enrolment events are from 2pm until 7pm on Tuesday, June, 26. Call 01942 761111 or email applications@wigan-leigh.ac.uk