Minister praises creative facilities and college partnerships at USW

11 October, 2024

Minister for FE and HE, Vikki Howells, with Dr Ben Calvert, Jonathan Morgan and Coleg y Cymoedd students

Vikki Howells, Minister for Further and Higher Education, has praised the cutting-edge creative industries facilities at the University of South Wales (USW) that provide students with the knowledge and skills for their chosen careers.

The Minister visited USW’s Cardiff campus yesterday (Thursday 10 October) to see how USW’s Strategic Alliance with partner colleges helps to create learning and employment opportunities for students in the creative industries.

The Alliance, which includes five FE colleges in South East Wales – Bridgend College, Cardiff and Vale College, Coleg Gwent, Coleg y Cymoedd, and The College Merthyr Tydfil – was first formed when USW was established in 2013, and marks a commitment to produce a collaborative plan for skills development, progression pathways, industry engagement and applied research.

The Minister enjoyed a tour of USW’s facilities which replicate industry workplaces across the creative sector, including the theatre, film and TV studios, fashion studios, design and visual effects classrooms, green screen studio, photography studios and many more.

The Minister met with Vice-Chancellor Dr Ben Calvert; Dean of the Faculty of Business and Creative Industries, Adam Williams; Principal of Coleg y Cymoedd, Jonathan Morgan; and Head of Partnerships for Development and Innovation at Coleg y Cymoedd, Alistair Aston, as well as students from USW and its partner colleges, to discuss the benefits of the Strategic Alliance – regarded as the most established FE / HE network in Wales.During the tour, the Minister spoke to Gavyn Brewster and Emma Williams, who are studying Costume Construction at Coleg y Cymoedd – a course jointly developed by USW and the college to meet demand in the screen sector.

Gavyn and Emma have attended industry masterclasses run by Creative Wales and HEFCW as part of the Academi Sgrin Cymru / Wales Screen Academy project, formed in 2023, which is a partnership between Strategic Alliance colleges, Screen Alliance Wales and four Film and TV studios across Wales.

The Minister also met with Elizabeth Evans and Anton Petersen, who are studying Prop Making at Coleg y Cymoedd. The full time, three-year course is awarded by USW and aims to develop students’ professional knowledge and skills, preparing them for the industry.

USW students Santino Sayers-Gillan, Darcy O’Dwyer and Dominika Drzewicka, who are all studying BA Film, also met with the Minister and shared their experiences of progressing from Cardiff and Vale College, Neath Port Talbot College and Coleg Gwent respectively.

The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Vikki Howells, said: “Collaboration is a key part of the Welsh Government’s long-term vision for tertiary education, and seeing a university, colleges and businesses working together, delivers on this vision.

“It was really inspiring to hear firsthand from learners supported by this partnership. Their stories remind me why it’s so important that education and employers work closely together to ensure learners get the skills and knowledge they need in a rapidly changing job market.”

Dr Ben Calvert, Vice-Chancellor of USW, added: “We are committed to supporting all learners to achieve successful outcomes and graduate destinations, which is what the Strategic Alliance aims to achieve.

“We have a strong record of making a difference to individuals, communities, employers, and local schools, working with our partner colleges to deliver equal opportunities to lifelong learning, and we are delighted to have been able to demonstrate this to the Minister for Further and Higher Education during the visit.”

Jonathan Morgan, Principal of Coleg y Cymoedd, said: “The partnership between Coleg y Cymoedd and USW exemplifies our shared commitment to offering industry-relevant education that equips our learners with the skills needed for successful careers.

“Through innovative programmes like Costume Construction and Prop Making, our learners receive hands-on experience and opportunities that set them apart in the creative industries. We are proud to be part of the Strategic Alliance, which continuously fosters collaboration and enhances learning experiences across Wales.”