Showcasing USW at the National Eisteddfod

The University of South Wales (USW) are proud sponsors of the 2024 National Eisteddfod – one of Europe’s biggest cultural festivals – taking place at Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd from 3 to 10 August.

From our USW stand on the Maes, and at our Treforest Campus, we will be showcasing all that the university has to offer, hosting a full timetable throughout the week with exciting activities for visitors of all ages to enjoy.

Activities on our stand will include:

Ski Erg competition: Test your strength, speed and endurance with a 100m ski. This will run throughout the week, with daily prizes for the fastest person to reach 100m.

Fashion ‘zine: Our Fashion students will be documenting iconic fashion moments from across the Maes, collating all images into an event magazine to be displayed and shared with visitors.

Allied Health and Nursing workshops: Join academics from our Allied Health and Nursing courses and test out our state-of-the-art healthcare equipment.

T-shirt printing: Join Fashion academics and students and create your own personalised T-shirt.

Brain model: Ever wondered what your brain actually looks like, and what it does? Join us as our Psychology lecturers demonstrate a model of the human brain and its function.

STEM kits: Have a go at some of our Science and Technology games.

Primary Education and Teaching: Join academics from our Primary Education team for craft activities and Virtual Reality tours of our state-of-the-art teaching spaces.

Visual Effects workshops: Use our portable green screen to see yourself in stunning locations and backdrops, without leaving the stand.

Fashion Styling workshop: Use our styling rails to create iconic looks.

CSI: Eisteddfod – Forensic Analysis workshop: Unlock your inner detective! Visit us to uncover the clues, dust for fingerprints and reveal the secrets to catching the killer!

Law session: Join our Law lectures to discuss law in action. We will consider your safety on social media, sentencing powers and whether a Jaffa cake is a cake or a biscuit.

Social Prescribing workshop: Find out more about Social Prescribing and how it makes a difference to people’s lives. You can also learn about the family resilience tool (FRAIT) developed at USW.

Live music: Join us for live performances by USW students, partner college students and alumni, including AWDL, MELLT, Rhosyn Jones and Melys Edwards.

Alumni reception: We will be hosting a special reception to celebrate our incredible alumni.

Exhibitions: We will be showcasing our Documentary Photography students’ work in the Station to Station project, a collaboration with Transport for Wales which provides a glimpse into everyday life in the South Wales valleys. Also on display will be Finding Home, an exhibition telling the stories of USW students who have fled war or persecution and are now rebuilding their lives as refugees in Wales. USW staff member and author Peter Roberts, will also be on site to chat to visitors about his books on the Rhondda valleys, Pub Life and Park Life, which offer a slice of social history, community and culture through pubs and grassroots football.

Find out about USW: Find out more about becoming a USW student, chat about our courses and virtually visit our campuses via VR headsets.

Bookable campus tours: Sign up for a tour of some of our fantastic facilities in Pontypridd, including our Sport Park, Crime Scene Investigation house, Aircraft Hangar and Flight Simulator, and our Healthcare Simulation Centre.

View USW's programme of events here. 

USW is also proud to be co-sponsors of the Science and Technology Village – a firm fixture in the festival – alongside Cardiff Capital Region (CCR).

USW and CCR will be based in the Village to advise on career paths in the world of science and technology, as well as promoting upskilling opportunities in cyber and digital skills in South East Wales.

Visitors are invited to join USW for a Rocketry 101 workshop, where they can build their very own rocket and attend a VIP rocket launch event at our Sport Park later in the week. USW will also be hosting a talk on the Future of AI in Education.

View the Science and Technology Village programme of events here.

Dr Ben Calvert, Vice-Chancellor of USW, said: “We are delighted to be having a significant presence on the Maes at the National Eisteddfod, and to be supporting the festival as it comes to Pontypridd for the first time in more than 130 years.

“The Eisteddfod provides a platform for us to showcase the fantastic work we do at USW, and I’m proud that our colleagues and students have put together such a packed programme of exciting, innovative activities for all who come to our stand.”