University opportunities for district’s residents

Cardiff University is throwing open its study and career opportunities to residents in the city’s Grangetown district as part of a community project.

Career and Role Model week, which runs from 23 to 28 April 2018, will offer support for university applications, careers advice, job interview coaching and much more.

Cardiff University’s thriving Community Gateway project is behind the initiative, which is seeking to provide mentors and experts to help Grangetown residents to fulfil their potential.

The project has sought to encourage the community to take advantage of courses and job opportunities at the University, with much success already.

Two members of Community Gateway’s youth forum – Nirushan Sudarsan and Shoruk Nekeb, both 18 - have been successful in securing places on undergraduate degree courses at the University following the project’s support.

Ali Abdi, Community Gateway partnerships manager, said: “To many people in Grangetown, the University has previously appeared a million miles from their lives so we’ve been helping to bring the University closer to the community.

“We’ve been helping young people to aspire to study at Cardiff University and many of them now know it’s something for them, something they can get into.

“We’ve helped Nirushan and Shoruk with things like attending open days and meeting departmental staff because they perhaps lacked that bit of confidence initially, but they have done brilliantly.”

Nirushan is studying law and politics while Shoruk has been accepted to study architecture. Both students attend Fitzalan High School.

Nirushan said: “I really appreciate the support I’ve had from Community Gateway and I certainly benefited from attending last year’s careers week in Grangetown.

“I look forward to being a role model at this year’s event and I’ll be supporting any young people who are thinking about their future studies and careers.”

Shoruk said: “I know that a lot of girls aren’t always interested in STEM-related subjects so I want to show girls in my community why STEM is important and that they can follow in my footsteps along the path to an interesting career.”

In addition, staff from the Human Resources and Careers & Employability departments have been raising awareness in the community about job opportunities that exist within the University.

Sue Midha, the University’s Director of Human Resources, said: “It’s a great opportunity for us in HR to get to know members of the Grangetown community and to showcase what a great place Cardiff University is to work, including the variety of roles available, and to offer support and guidance to community members looking to come and work with us.”

And now Community Gateway has organised a Career and Role Model week to showcase the opportunities that the University can offer all Grangetown residents.

There are themed days taking place at Grange Pavilion, Grange Gardens, Grangetown, during the week offering advice about careers and study.

Budding entrepreneurs and business owners are also catered for, with Tuesday’s sessions providing information about how to set up a business, and the opportunity to meet our procurement team to find out how your business can work with the University.

The programme for each day:

• Applying to university for work and study (Monday 23 April, 16:00 to 19:00)
• Starting a business and doing business with the University (Tuesday 24 April, 16:00 to 19:00)
• Getting into your chosen career, featuring stands from many University Schools (Wednesday 25 April 15:00 to 18:00)
• Getting into health careers (Thursday 26 April, 16:00 to 19:00)
• Cardiff University Sport activities (Friday 27 April, 16:00 to 19:00)
• Visit Cardiff University to find out what it’s like to study here (Saturday 28 April, 10:00 to 13:00)

Community Gateway, which has already launched more than 40 community-University projects, works hand in hand with residents and local organisations to help make Grangetown an even better place to live and work.

The project is part of the University’s Transforming Communities programme, which works with communities in Cardiff, Wales and beyond in areas including health, education and wellbeing.