Alumni to share career development experience with students at online event

Graduates from UWTSD’s Childhood, Youth and Education Studies programmes will join an online event with current students to share their own career paths and discuss how they are applying what they learnt during their time at UWTSD in a variety of fields.

The aim is to show students the different career pathways available after graduation.  Speakers include graduates who have become teachers; social workers; healthcare professionals as well as those have ventured into the business world and opened their own nurseries.

“The event is always a great success and it is wonderful to be able to welcome back graduates to come and talk to our current students,” says Alison Rees-Edwards, an Early Years lecturer at UWTSD and one of the organiser of this event, which takes place this evening (January 18.)

“Our programmes – delivered at the University’s Carmarthen and Swansea campuses – explore the links between theory and practice and have a strong emphasis on children’s well-being and development; children’s rights; the importance of listening and respecting children’s ideas and decisions, and the right for children to have access to play.

“One of the main questions we get asked – either by prospective students, their parents and even current students is what career our degrees can lead them to – so rather than hearing from us in a presentation we decided  a few years ago to expand our annual employability event and invite graduates who’ve gone on to follow different pathways – be it education, health, social work and invite current students to hear from them directly.

“We have graduates who started off as Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) who chose to follow the flexible learning route and having graduated with us, have gone on to do the PGCE before becoming successful primary school teachers.  Others are now lecturing in the FE sector, developing the students of the future.  We also have students on several programmes within the discipline now as leaders and managers in education, social and care sectors.

“Our degrees open many, many doors and sometimes, there’s a misconception that you can only follow the education route but we have graduates taking part who’ve gone on to be leaders in early childhood settings, others in key wellbeing, safeguarding and research roles in local authorities and others involved in the health care sector as nurses and midwives. Some students are also now part of the justice system including as police officers. We also have a mother and daughter who’ve been successful in opening their own day nursery on their farm – all showing the exciting opportunities available to graduates from our courses.

“Childhood, Youth and Education Studies offer a wide variety– for example a range of traditional three-year degree programmes in the day as well condensed fast rack full-time degrees in the evening, part time evening study and top up provision. For example, for those who work in the Early Years or schools’ sectors evening study means they do not need to give up work.  This means that they’re working full-time, while also studying and some will also be raising a family. This graduate evening is essential as it just shows how students can balance work and study, and how successful our graduates can be. Having role models who have been so successful is also a wonderful motivator, especially in what has been a very challenging year for those in early years care and education related fields”

The alumni speaking to the students are graduates of Childhood, Youth and Education Studies programmes including either the traditional three-year degree schemes or the flexible evening degree programmes.

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

Swyddog Gweithredol Cysylltiadau â’r Wasg a’r Cyfryngau

Executive Press and Media Relations Officer

Cyfathrebu Corfforaethol a Chysylltiadau Cyhoeddus

Corporate Communications and PR

Mobile: 07384 467071

Email: Rebecca.Davies@uwtsd.ac.uk