Latest news with #UniversityofSouthWales
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Computer games design graduates selected for competition
RuneCube Studios – made up of Rhys Jones, Connor Elsbury and Cameron Fritz, along with BA Music Producing graduate Wigg Grant, who are all graduates of the University of South Wales, are among 21 teams across the UK to be chosen for this year's programme. Their game, Overstaffed, is a two player co-op action adventure set in the world of Arrilla. Now in its 10th year, Tranzfuser gives graduate teams the opportunity to independently develop a vertical slice of their game over the summer, culminating in a public showcase in September. Over the course of 14 weeks, RuneCube Studios, with support from the BA Computer Games Design course team, will work with a handpicked industry mentor. At the end, all teams will have the chance to pitch for grant funding of up to £25,000 from the UK Games Fund to support the commercial development of their game. Connor Elsbury, programme lead for RuneCube Studios, said: 'The competition is one of the best opportunities we could have received right after coming out of university. It is a great way for the team to develop their skills both existing and new by working on a game we are all familiar with developing."
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Newport set to secure training base in Treforest
Newport County are close to a deal to use University of South Wales Sports Park as their permanent training League Two side have prepared for the start of the season at the facility in Treforest under new manager David Exiles are close to finalising an agreement to stay there throughout the campaign after previously being based at Newport Stadium, their former home before a move to Rodney Parade in Huw Jenkins made improving training facilities a top priority after his takeover in January 2024."In the next two weeks we are going to finalise a rental agreement with USW," said the chairman at a Newport County Supporters' Trust event."We are 80-90% done but need to just get back in and meet finalise things for ourselves and the academy to be there."USW Sports Park has been one of the venues used by County in past seasons when poor weather forced them into late training start their season on Tuesday when they travel to face Barnet in the preliminary round of the Carabao Cup, before a League Two opener against Notts County at Rodney Parade on Saturday, 2 August.
Powys County Times
20-07-2025
- General
- Powys County Times
Powys school is 'thrilled' for award winning teacher
A school teacher has won a prestigious award for preparing pupils for their move to higher education. Powys County Council congratulated Lizzie Tiernan, a secondary school teacher who won the Supporting Progression into Higher Education Award at the Teachers' and Advisers' Awards 2025. Ms Tiernan is Head of Sixth Form at Ysgol Calon Cymru and received the award at the Teachers' and Advisers' Awards ceremony at the University of South Wales in Cardiff, in collaboration with Reaching Wider to celebrate outstanding contributions by teachers and advisers across the UK. Lee Powell, Headteacher of Ysgol Calon Cymru, said: 'We are thrilled that Lizzie's exceptional work has been recognised on a national stage. Her dedication to our students' academic and personal development is second to none, and this award is richly deserved." Lizzie's recognition comes as a result of her tireless dedication to the sixth form at Ysgol Calon Cymru. Her work has included developing a curriculum tailored to individual learners and organising a wide range of extra- and super-curricular activities that have provided students with valuable experiences to support their next steps into higher education. She was among 150 people from across the UK that had been nominated for the awards, with eight making the final shortlisting. Along with her award, she won £500 towards her continuing professional development or for staff wellbeing initiatives at their school. She was also congratulated by Powys County Council, with Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, saying: 'This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the passion and commitment Lizzie brings to her role.
South Wales Argus
17-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Newport has ‘lost out' over university investment promises
Newport has missed out on around £3 million of investment since a university merger and the closure of Caerleon Campus, a councillor has claimed. Cllr Matthew Evans said student numbers in the city have plummeted in the past 15 years, and criticised 'broken' promises to invest in higher education. The University of South Wales (USW) was created in 2013 when the University of Newport, Wales merged with the University of Glamorgan – two years after a new city-centre campus for business and media opened on Usk Way. The university's campus in Caerleon was eventually closed down in 2016, despite opposition, and most of the site has been redeveloped for housing – except for the main block and some other listed buildings, which later found fame in the Netflix series Sex Education. Speaking at a council meeting this week, Cllr Evans, the leader of the opposition Conservative group, alleged the only university students apparently living in Newport these days are 'a few from Bristol' – a far cry from the 10,000 he said the city welcomed in 2010/11. Cllr Evans raised a recent claim that 'when the Caerleon campus was sold for £6.2 million, there was an initial promise that all of this would be spent in the city'. On the university merger, he added: 'Promises were made that there would not be any campus closures, which were then broken.' The development of a so-called Knowledge Quarter in central Newport was meant to safeguard higher and further education, but Cllr Evans questioned the progress to date, and urged Cllr Dimitri Batrouni, the council leader, to 'ensure that this much-needed investment in the city centre materialises'. Cllr Batrouni said he had held 'honest and robust' discussions with USW's chancellor and vice-chancellor on the university's 'current status and future' in Newport, but described the sector as being 'in real trouble'. 'I think if we're all being candid with each other, not just in Wales but across England, higher education [and] universities are facing a financial crisis,' said Cllr Batrouni, who understands USW has 'no contractual obligation… to commit that money here'. 'I can also raise those matters directly with them next time I meet them – but I wouldn't hold our breath on that,' he added. Cllr Evans said public documents, published around the time the redevelopment of Caerleon Campus was decided, suggested 'the university intended to reinvest proceeds into the Newport Knowledge Quarter'. 'Yet again, we appear to have lost out,' he claimed. 'Apparently they have spent £3.2 million in Newport but that still leaves a shortfall of £3 million.' Cllr Evans called that spending a 'pittance' when compared 'to the £40 million they've just spent on a building in Treforest'. 'They promised us money,' he added. 'I do think it's important… we try and get some of this money back or at least buildings here.' Cllr Batrouni defended the Knowledge Quarter project as 'a beacon for this city' and said there were 'definitely students there' during his visit to the city-centre campus. He also noted several USW investments in Newport, including a 'state of the art' research and innovation centre, and a cyber centre 'which has won four national awards for cyber excellence, beating all the Russell Group universities'. 'I always want more, I always ask them for more and you know, if I can get more there, I will,' added Cllr Batrouni, with a note of caution that he could not 'sit here and promise' anything because the Covid-19 pandemic had 'decimated' higher education. USW was approached for comment.
South Wales Argus
09-07-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Cardiff mum creates documentary on postpartum depression
Sydnee Smith, now 21, became a mum to her son Parker, 2, at age 19. She convinced herself that Parker didn't love her, as he'd cry in her arms and settle down when visitors were present. Sydnee realised something was wrong when she started having graphic visions when her son was two months old. Sydnee suffered from graphic visions when Parker was two months old (Image: Supplied) She recalled changing his nappy and having illusions of Parker lifting his head and throwing it back down or bathing him and him drowning. Sydnee, a media and film graduate, from Cardiff, said: "I loved my baby, but I didn't think he loved me. I was adamant that he'd be better off without me. "I'd be driving and suddenly think 'should I drive off and kill us both?' 'He doesn't want to be with me'. I was petrified from going out driving." Sydnee found out she was pregnant unexpectantly when she was just 18. She had just been accepted into the University of South Wales but decided to still go, hiding her baby bump under baggy clothes for the first semester. Sydnee gave birth to Parker in December 2022 and immediately started to grapple with the feeling that he didn't love her. Sydnee juggled university and raising Parker before graduating (Image: Supplied) She said: "I was trying to be the perfect person for everyone. I was determined to prove everyone wrong. "I don't remember much from when he was first born - I was in my head. "From the moment he was born I'd have visitors all the time. By myself my baby was always crying and I'd be trying to settle him. A visitor would come over and he'd be completely still. That would upset me because I'd think I'm the problem." Sydnee's visions became worse when Parker was around two months old and she went to her doctor after five months of dealing with them. She was then diagnosed with postpartum depression. She was offered tablets but chose to see if she could manage it herself first – but she urges mums to discuss all options with a medical professional before making any decisions. She slowly got better by finding other mum friends and opening up about her struggles to friends and family. She joined apps and got into a better routine. Now she is graduating from her media and film course after producing a documentary on the subject - called 'Broken by Birth'. Alongside this achievement and raising Parker, Sydnee was also crowned Miss Cardiff 2025 and will compete to be Miss Great Britain in October this year. She's now striving to help others talk more openly about postpartum struggles. Sydnee has made a documentary about her struggles with postpartum depression (Image: Supplied) Sydnee said: "No women should feel embarrassed. I still have visions from time to time, but they are not awful. "I'm happier and I openly speak about postpartum depression. "Just because you're a young mum doesn't mean your life is over." The NHS says self-help, talking therapy and antidepressants can be used to treat postnatal depression but to speak to a GP, midwife of health visitor if you think you may have it.
