Cardiff’scalling Issue 02 2008
The magazine for students and parents
Wales Rugby Captain Ryan Jones talks about his time at UWIC See page 3 UNIVERSITY OF WALES INSTITUTE, CARDIFF ATHROFA PRIFYSGOL CYMRU, CAERDYDD
Cardiff’scalling Issue 02 2008
The magazine for students and parents
Welcome UWIC’s academic year to date has been very busy. Graduations, award ceremonies, estates development plans and sharing in the success of our students new and old are just some of the highlights included in this issue.
Cardiff has also been thriving; new developments in the Bay, festivals and gigs – all exciting and great to see. We hope you find the latest edition of Cardiff’s Calling interesting as we have really enjoyed putting it together for you. If there is anything you would like more information about or you have suggestions as to what you would like to see in future editions, please drop us a line at: uwicinfo@uwic.ac.uk
Open Days The best way to see what UWIC and Cardiff have to offer is to join us on one of our open days. What to expect: • An opportunity to visit UWIC campuses • A chance to speak with academic staff and students about the range of courses and career opportunities on offer • A guided tour of our excellent resources including accommodation, learning resource centres and superb sport facilities. It is essential that you book before attending an open day. UWIC will be having a General Open Day across all four campuses on Saturday 28 June. In addition to the general open days most UWIC courses also offer their own specific open days, for further information please contact the Open Days Officer. To book a place on any UWIC open day please visit: uwic.ac.uk/opendays or contact the Open Days Officer on: 029 2041 6042
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Wales Captain talks about his time at UWIC Wales’ Grand Slam winning Six Nations captain Ryan Jones has praised the coaching he received at UWIC. UWIC’s student newspaper, Retro, recently interviewed the Wales and Lions star when they were invited to watch a Wales training session. During the interview, former Sport and Exercise Science student Ryan credits his success to the standard of coaching he experienced at UWIC. When asked if there was a particular coach he remembered he said: “Kevin Bowring. As far as I’m concerned he’s still one of the best, if not the best coach I’ve ever had. I still keep in touch with him now. “I owe a lot of what I’ve achieved to him.” UWIC rugby is known for its rigorous training schedule but this seems to have been good for the new skipper, as the tough regime at UWIC prepared him for international rugby: “It always was tough but that was the mentality you had to get because we had some pretty tough fixtures. It certainly did me well to go through that process.”
“It always was tough but that was the mentality you had to get because we had some pretty tough fixtures.”
Ryan Jones, Wales Captain
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International graduation event UWIC celebrated the success of its partnership with the London School of Commerce (LSC) with a graduation ceremony held at City Hall in February. The collaboration between the two institutions allows international students to take world-renowned University of Wales degrees in London at the London School of Commerce. The success of the partnership continues to grow, and there were double the number of students attending the event compared to last year. More than 1,100 people from around the world were present on the day including VIPs, graduands and guests. Over 50 countries were represented on the programmes and students travelled from 04 Cardiff’s calling - Issue 02 2008
as far afield as Tanzania, Thailand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Russia. John Phillips, Dean of International Affairs at UWIC, said: “UWIC is very pleased with the partnership with the London School of Commerce. The ceremony highlights the successful conclusion of studies for a very able and well motivated group of students who come from many different countries.” Guests of honour at the event included Lord John Tomlinson of Walsall and Mark Field MP, Cities of London and Westminster, who are both members of the LSC Advisory Board.
When Lauren Therin began her degree in Sport and Exercise Science at UWIC, she was an athlete specialising in javelin – but three years on she has just been awarded a medal at the World Bobsleigh Championships.
of the International World Cup Circuit, where they finished fourth place – another medal finish, followed by the World Championships in Germany where they finished in sixth place. Lauren, who has also competed at the
Lauren ‘sleighs’ the opposition
Lauren Therin, (far right) Member of The British Bobsleigh Team
Lauren, 22, changed direction from the javelin after chatting to a friend at university in 2006 who suggested she might be good at Bobsleigh. Practising throughout the summer at a circuit in Bath, Lauren competed in a bobsleigh race for the first time at the International Europa Cup Circuit. Lauren and her driving partner Nicola Minichiello raced at the European Bobsleigh Championships in Torino, Italy, this year and finished in sixth place, placing them on the podium with other medal winners. The team then went on to their fourth race
Commonwealth Games in the javelin said the pair were delighted with their achievements so far. “Germany usually dominate the Bobsleigh competitions worldwide, so it was fantastic to be standing amongst the German teams on the podium representing Great Britain,” said Lauren. “We also beat the Canadian team, another country which usually dominates the event, so we really felt we’d achieved something. Hopefully, we will continue to do well next season.”
Visit: www.bobteamgb.org for more information © 2008 ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/Getty Images
Issue 02 2008 - Cardiff’s calling 05
Roger Moss’ art form created by a rapid prototyping machine
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Sculpting with medical technology Medical technology at UWIC has been given a new use by a Carmarthenshire-based sculptor. Roger Moss uses technology at the National Centre for Product Design and Development Research (PDR), based at UWIC, to create sculpture in a way that is new and innovatory for the fine-art industries. Roger has used the computer programme ‘FreeForm’ to generate his pieces. This programme allows the user to ‘sculpt’ objects on the computer, through the sensation of touch, which are then created by rapid prototyping (RP) machines. These processes are typically used to create medical models to aid surgeons when undertaking reconstructive surgery. An exhibition held at the Senedd, home for the National Assembly for Wales, showcasing his work was opened by Rt. Hon Rhodri Morgan AM, Welsh Assembly Government First Minister. Mr Morgan said: “I’ve always found PDR a fascinating centre because it merges design for industry and design for head and neck surgery, design by computer and design by old fashioned hand, eye and brain. PDR merges them all together; it’s interdisciplinary to the nth degree.”
RP has been a succesful aid within the field of reconstructive surgery
RP machine creating a model using FreeForm software
Professor Robert Brown, Pro ViceChancellor of Research at UWIC, said: “Five years ago PDR made the decision to appoint a sculptor in order to challenge and exploit the creative potential of our range of advanced design and manufacturing technologies. I had long admired and respected the work of Roger Moss and was delighted when he agreed to join us. “This exhibition is a testament to the way in which Roger’s creative inquisitiveness and his highly disciplined application, has pushed the technological boundaries to their limits whilst maintaining 100 percent the intellectual rigor and creative integrity of his work.” The art forms created by Roger explore the nature of sculpture and the implications of working in a virtual space compared to the more traditional, physical interaction a sculptor has with his medium. This daring technique makes full use of PDR’s advanced digital design technologies, demonstrating that computer-aided product design, 3D scanning, rapid prototyping and rapid manufacture can be used to produce intricate objects of art in a variety of materials from resins to stainless steel.
“This technology has meant that I have been able to deal with forms that would be difficult, if not impossible to make using traditional tools and materials”, said Roger. “Colleagues and fellow artists have been deeply surprised by this way of working. The way that we can manipulate and work with these new tools and materials opens up new and exciting possibilities. “Who knows where these new ways of working will lead? This could revolutionise fine art and design-crafts in the way that new technology has revolutionised architecture. “I am very pleased that the exhibition went so well and I would like to thank Rhodri Morgan, for his moving speech and Andrew Davies AM, Minister of Finance and Public Service Delivery, for giving us the opportunity to exhibit at the Senedd. This kind of exposure has given visitors the chance to experience at first hand, the creativity and innovation that underpins the future development of Wales.”
Art form created by Roger Moss with RP machine
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New Literary Fellow helps students Students at UWIC are being offered advice on writing skills from a published author, regardless of the subject they are studying.
Question time at European Parliament
Writer Lucy English has joined UWIC as part of the Royal Literary Fund Fellowship – a scheme set up in 1999. Merited writers in the scheme are placed in universities and further education colleges across the UK. Royal Literary Fund Fellows are established professional writers of literary merit, representing a wide range of genres, including biography, translation and scientific writing. Lucy is spending two days a week at UWIC, offering any student the chance to have one-to-one advice and support in writing essays and dissertations. Many students have already visited Lucy to ask for help and advice with their written work. Lucy said: “Not all students arrive at university with the academic writing skills they need for extended essays and dissertations. My role is to help these students develop their written work so they can communicate their ideas and knowledge in the best possible way, and improve their writing skills for the future.”
UWIC Students recently ‘grilled’ a Welsh MEP on issues in the grand surroundings of the European Parliament. Twenty seven students from UWIC’s Department of Humanities travelled to Brussels led by programme tutors Dr Russell Deacon and Steve Belzak. The visit to the European Parliament was sponsored by Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans, who was questioned by the students for 45 minutes in the debating chamber on issues including the European Union, nuclear power and the Welsh language. Dr Russell Deacon said: “This is our sixth visit to the European Parliament in the last 15 years. Living on the fringe of Europe it is important for both our students and those MEPs in Brussels to realise that Wales despite being on the edge of Europe - also often feels like it is at the heart of Europe. “The students were impressed by the warm welcome they received in the European Parliament.”
08 Cardiff’s calling - Issue 02 2008
Writer, Lucy English
Jacqui Hare, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Learning and Teaching at UWIC, added: “Lucy’s presence at UWIC is invaluable to all students, regardless of their subject choice or level of writing ability. It is a fantastic opportunity for all students to glean advice and focused support from an established writer.”
Festival Focus: swn ˆ Radio 1’s Huw Stephens has been a champion of Welsh music and the local Cardiff scene for many years now.
Huw Stephens represented Welsh music at world-renowned music festivals across the globe including ‘South By South West’ in Texas, ‘Sonar’ in Barcelona and ‘Airwaves Festival’ in Reykjavik. Inspired by the vast amount of music on show and the exposure given to these areas of the world, Huw came back with the idea to do the same for Cardiff. And so, ‘Swˆn Festival’ was born. The three day festival is now an annual event and showcases some of the best music from Wales and further afield. Swˆn features bands from across the world, the hottest local acts, DJs, film and art, with sounds from hip hop to indie, folk, dance and rock and is held in many of Cardiff’s best venues across the city including: Buffalo Bar, Café Europa, Callaghans Bar, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff University CF10, Clwb Ifor Bach, Glo Bar, Norwegian Church, Tommy's Bar (UWIC) and The Point.
Record labels and music websites from across the world are involved in the organisation of the festival, and the one-price, cross-venue tickets have proven to be the hottest in town. Huw explained how he was inspired by Cardiff’s recent musical renaissance to start Sw ˆ n last year. “One of the things that makes Cardiff a special city is its commitment and enthusiasm for live music of all genres, with something going on all the time. I've been lucky enough to go to inner city festivals around the world, and had been thinking about starting a festival in Cardiff for a few years.”
www.swnfest.com
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Artists impression, design subject to change.
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New building at Cyncoed Article by Taz Rosoman
We can now reveal the first artist impressions and plans for the new Student Centre at Cyncoed. In an interview with Adam Painter the Students Union President, revealed that the new centre will provide services aimed at students, staff and visitors and will include: 1. A new table service catering operation 2. Centralised student union advice and support services 3. A dedicated night-time entrance 4. Extended social learning areas 5. A dedicated training and development room 6. A new Athletic Union area providing support facilities for the club officers. 7. A lounge, external seating and terrace facility. Adam explained that the operation would offer facilities and services from first thing in the morning until last thing at night, it will be a place where you can chill out, grab a coffee or have a meal served to your table. There will be wireless internet access (Wi-Fi) and the seating will be planned to allow for social learning and group working and will become the showcase for all new and prospective students. “It is nothing less than our students deserve and whilst it has taken a long time to get to this stage, we can now announce the plans. We are really pleased to have got this project up and running.”
When asked why it was not being called a students’ union, he advised: “We want to get away from some of the old perceptions of what a students’ union was. We want this to be seen as a modern facility offering high quality services not only to our students but also the staff and visitors to UWIC. Of course we will improve on the representative role we provide to our students and this new facility will provide us with the base to drive this forward. “One of the key things that I am particularly keen on is the new training and development room, as this will now allow us to develop what we do in terms of providing more opportunities to give the students something extra. I am working with the architects and design team to ensure that we end up with something special both internally and externally where the designers have been tasked with making it stand out as a showpiece on the campus. “In order that the new campus centre can commence this summer, there will be some enabling work carried out to locate the facilities that are coming out of the sports cafÉ area. There is going to be a new ‘grab n’ go’ located by the gym, the launderette is going to be relocated closer to the halls, and the Athletic Union will move temporarily down to the Students’ Union Offices for the next academic year. Although the sports cafÉ is going, plans are being made for the new ‘grab n’ go’ and for Taffy’s bar to provide enhanced services for next year.” Issue 02 2008 - Cardiff’s calling 11
Students perform ‘Animal Farm’ UWIC’s Secondary Drama students took to the stage to perform George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ as part of UWIC’s annual Theatre in Education (TiE) project. The aim of TiE is to help secondary school students understand theatrical writing at a higher level. The student teachers, after the day time performances for GCSE and A level pupils from schools including Cardiff High, Chepstow Comprehensive and Lewis Girls, hold an interactive drama workshop, which allows the students to explore the text further. The popular TiE project which celebrated its tenth anniversary last year, sees the Secondary Drama students put together the entire production in just ten weeks. Stage Manager Kayleigh Llewellyn said: “There have been 20 of us involved and we each take on a different role to put everything together from scratch. We build the set, do lighting and sound, stage management, design the costumes and are in charge of marketing and publicity. “We have a budget we have had to stick to and hold production meetings every week to keep everyone on top of their targets – there has been a lot to do in a short space of time. The rehearsal process has gone really well 12 Cardiff’s calling - Issue 02 2008
and been natural to everybody being drama students, the production side has been more stressful but everything has come together. “It is great preparation for our school placements next term.” Lecturer Meryl Hopwood said: “The students have been very committed, worked very hard and set themselves very high standards. We are all pleased with the outcome.”
UWIC students have been rewarded for their talent at one of the most important design events in Wales. The talented designers of the future from UWIC’s Cardiff School of Art & Design won in two categories, at the ‘Design Futures Ffres Awards’ recently run by Design Wales, securing themselves £1,000 each.
won first prize in the Gelert-sponsored Product Design category. For the Textiles brief, entrants were asked to design a textile collection for IKEA. Lucy produced an energetic range of furnishing designs which were bold and colourful. Sara Pratt from IKEA said: "Lucy captured the essence
A grand night of design for UWIC students
Contemporary Textiles Practice student Lucy Dixon scooped the textile prize sponsored by IKEA, while Product Design student Joel Williams
of a 'young Swede IKEA’ product which could easily sit on our shelves amongst our product range. It is a great project which showed the development of sketches from local inspiration, right through to a range of commercial products." Gelert requested that the Product Design entrants create an innovative portable tent/shelter for the modern family. The winning design had to meet four key criteria of aesthetics, tent standards, ecodesign and suitability. Nick Langdon from Gelert said: “Joel delivered a design concept incorporating many commercially sound ideas for lighting, storage and entertainment, and it is obvious he spent
a great deal of time analysing the brief and identifying the issues associated with camping.” Runners up in both categories were UWIC students, Charlotte Beecham in the Textiles section and Jacques Munro for Product Design. The Ffres Awards is a Wales-wide design competition for undergraduates studying fashion, textile, graphic and product/industrial design. The aim of the award is to help prepare students for working in industry by setting competitive briefs that are presented to industry professionals in order to encourage the development of appropriate skills and highlight the talent of future designers from Wales.
Issue 02 2008 - Cardiff’s calling 13
Name Phillipa Jones Course BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science Year 3 Where do you live? Llanedeyrn (just behind uni!) What time did you get up today? 8am – bright and early! What day is it? Wednesday What did you do in the morning? Got up, packed my kit back and headed up to UWIC for a Physiology lab session 9.00am - 10.30am Where did you go for lunch? UWIC Sports CafÉ - where I had a tuna baguette that cost me £1.85 – just in case you all wanted to know!! What was in your schedule in the afternoon? I play for the UWIC women’s football BUSA league team, and we had a home football fixture. What did you do for dinner? I headed home to create something from my ‘student rations’ in the kitchen.
Did you do anything in the evening? After food, I popped to the library to pick up some books needed to complete an assignment, then met up with the gang for a UWIC football team social in Taffy’s bar. We generally start there as we get discount on drinks with our ‘pulse’ cards. Next stop was ‘The George’ in Roath, it’s not too far from home but not in the centre of town… it also gives student discount with ‘the yellow card’ – yes there are a lot of cards... ha ha! How did you get home? Taxi What was the best part of your day? A lot of my friends are in the football team and we tend to socialise together; so being able to spend time with my friends, doing things that I really enjoy always makes me feel like I’ve had a good day.
‘ I headed home to create something from my ‘student rations’ in the kitchen.’
A day in the life of a UWIC student Phillipa Jones
LOCAL DEALS Location: Taffy’s Bar – Cyncoed Campus Price of a drink: under £2 with a ‘pulse card’ Opening Times: feels like it’s always open! Location: The George (Scream) – Roath Price of a drink: Around £2 with the yellow card Opening Times: daily from 11am
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Gigs now until August 2008
Tuesday 3 June BLACK KIDS Club Ifor Bach
Tuesday 22 July MICHAEL BUBLE Cardiff International Arena
Tuesday 3 June GIRLS ALOUD Cardiff International Arena
Friday 25 July REM The Millennium Stadium
Tuesday 3 June CECILIA BARTOLI St David's Hall, Cardiff
Festivals
Thursday 5 June ALI CAMPBELL Cardiff International Arena
Friday 6 - Sunday 8 June RAGLAN MUSIC FESTIVAL From local choirs to Wishbone Ash, this small village rocks in June
Concerts
Friday 6 - Sunday 8 June BOYZONE Cardiff international Arena
Sunday 18 May GIRLS ALOUD Cardiff International Arean
Saturday 7 June MONSTER JAM TRUCK RACING The Millennium Stadium
Monday 19 May SHANE WARD Cardiff International Arena
Saturday 14 June BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN The Millennium Stadium
Tuesday 20 May WESTLIFE Cardiff International Arena
Thursday 19 June NEIL DIAMOND The Millennium Stadium
Friday 4 - Sunday 6 July WAKESTOCK Extreme watersports and great music by the sea in Gwynedd
Thursday 22 May MARK KNOPFLER Cardiff International Arena
Monday 23 June JOURNEY Cardiff International Arena
Friday 11 - Sunday 13 July SMALL NATIONS Three days of the best Welsh & international music
Saturday 24 May HEINEKEN CUP FINAL The Millennium Stadium
Saturday 28 June FIM BRITISH SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX The Millennium Stadium
Friday 18 - Saturday 19 July SESIWN FAWR Dolgellau's annual Welsh-orientated 2 day shindig
Sunday 25 May DUFFY Cardiff University
Tuesday July 1 GEORGE BENSON Cardiff International Arena
Tuesday 27 May AMY WADGE St David's Hall, Cardiff
Thursday 3 July RUSSELL WATSON Cardiff International Arena
Friday 8 - Sunday 10 August BRECON JAZZ The internationally- renowned festival of jazz and lots more.
Wednesday 28 May FEEDER The Point, Cardiff
Friday 4 July DOLLY PARTON Cardiff International Arena
Thursday 29 May BOYZONE Cardiff International Arena
Monday 14 July DEF & WHITESNAKE Cardiff International Arena
Saturday 31 May AVRIL LAVIGNE Cardiff International Arena
Wednesday 16 July JAY – Z Cardiff International Arena
Friday 6 - Sunday 8 June NW BLUEGRASS Three summer days of bluegrass country music Saturday 14 June ESCAPE INTO THE PARK The biggest dance festival in Wales and the West, held in Swansea
Friday 15 - Sunday 17 August GREEN MAN FESTIVAL The folk rock festival gathering fans year by year. Saturday 30 - Sunday 31 August METRO WEEKENDER The annual two-day event held in Cooper's Field, Cardiff. Friday 22 - Sunday 24 August PEMBS JAZZ 'N' BLUES Fishguard is the home of a range of blues and jazz artistes.
Issue 02 2008 - Cardiff’s calling 15
UWIC Bursaries & Scholarships Bursaries and scholarships is a concept introduced across all UK universities. They reward high achieving students, as well as attract potential students from lower income backgrounds. The aim is to ensure all students from all walks of life can enjoy the great benefits of university. Bursaries and scholarships are gifts from the university and do not have to be paid back. There are several schemes at UWIC: The Means Tested Scheme: To be eligible you must be a home (UK) student, who is interested in applying for a full-time undergraduate, HND or Foundation degree. The scheme is based on household income that must not exceed £39,300. Successful applicants could receive up to £750 per year. In addition candidates who receive a full UWIC bursary can also qualify for an additional Welsh Assembly Bursary of £310 – otherwise known as The Welsh National Bursary.
The Scholarship Scheme: UWIC’s new Scholarship Scheme is open to all UK/EU students and is designed to acknowledge and reward high levels of academic achievement. There are hundreds of scholarships available in many subjects across the university, each worth £1000.
Cardiff’s calling Magazine is produced by UWIC's Communications, Marketing & Student Recruitment Unit. Editor: Ruth Walton, Publications Officer, Gemma Smith, Marketing Executive, Communications, Marketing & Student Recruitment, UWIC Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2SG. Tel: 029 2041 6294 or email: rwalton@uwic.ac.uk
Design: Jon Macey, Senior Designer, UWIC Creative Services Tel: 029 2041 6056 Front cover photograph: Huw Evans, welshrugbypics.co.uk Information was correct at time of going to print. © Copyright UWIC 2008
UWIC Academic Schools Bursaries: There are also a number of prestigious sponsored bursaries available for students. There are many subjects available offering cash incentives of up to £1000 per annum. Details of these awards are available at uwic.ac.uk/bursaries or call the Bursaries Officer on 029 2041 6143