March 9, 2026
ARU Alumni to ARU College Lecturer: Denise Sparrow’s Story
Denise Sparrow’s journey with ARU has come full circle. She first joined the university in the early 1990s as a Legal Practice Administrator in the Law Department. Working closely with law students reignited her passion for learning, and so she began studying part-time for a BA (Hons) in Business and European Studies in 1994. Years later, Denise has returned to ARU College to teach and support our students. We asked her to share a little about herself and why she loves teaching at ARU!
How did your time at ARU prepare you for your professional journey?
After graduating and then working as a Teacher in European Studies at Basildon and Thurrock Colleges, I later went on to gain my QTS qualifying as a secondary school teacher and progressing to Faculty Head and Assistant Headteacher. In 2014, I was invited to take on a position as Senior Lecturer teaching Business Studies at a University in London until recently. Now I have joined ARU college. I am so thrilled to be able to return to give something back, I love learning and want to share my passion with students at ARU.
What did you enjoy most about your time as a student at ARU?
As a mature student, I enjoyed having the opportunity to participate in class discussions which allowed me to share real life experiences to support application of class theory.
Was there a particular professor, course, or moment that had a lasting impact on you?
I studied a module called Organisational Behaviour which I found interesting and the lecturer for this gave me a huge amount of support and encouragement when completing my dissertation.
What module(s) are you currently teaching at ARU College, and how do you think they prepare students for the rest of their degree with ARU?
I am currently teaching Level 3 Introduction to Business and Level 4 How to do Business. The module content for both courses covers a range of business concepts designed to give students a solid grounding in preparation for their further studies. Many of these concepts and themes reappear and are expanded upon in more advanced business modules, so a strong understanding from the beginning helps students gain confidence in the subject area. The modules also include current topics that impact business, which is thought-provoking and encourages healthy discussion in class.
What do you hope students take away from your classes or mentorship?
Confidence in their learning and the ability to achieve whatever their circumstances.
What’s a fun or unexpected fact about you that people might not know?
I have my first level qualification as a sommelier. I am a huge F1 fan and attend many Grand Prix weekends.
What message would you like to share with prospective students considering ARU College?
ARU College is a perfect learning environment with a caring and supportive staff who want students to have a successful and enjoyable learning journey.
If you could go back and give your ‘student self’ one piece of advice, what would it be?
Read, read and read more!