Innovations in rural healthcare Healthcare services in rural areas of Wales are set to receive a huge boost as the University of Wales Trinity Saint David establishes a centre of excellence to guide policy and training in the field. Wales Institute of Rural Healthcare bring a wide variety of educational institutions, local authorities and voluntary bodies together to create a framework that meets the needs of employers and rural communities. “The University’s location in the countryside of South West Wales provides an excellent
opportunity to develop new areas of academic and vocational excellence, in order to respond to the needs in the region and to create employment,” said Dr Sue Davies, Head of the School of Social Justice and Inclusion. A key part of the Centre’s work will be research into the best ways of working in rural areas whilst analysing present methods. There will be a special emphasis on the additional difficulties faced by health and social care workers in rural areas. The Institute will add to the work
undertaken by the School of Social Justice and Inclusion and School of Sport, Health and outdoor Education where special courses focus on collaboration across disciplines. The University has also been working with the Hywel Dda NHS Board on a project to train rural workers who can offer a wider range of care services. “We are responding to employers’ needs,” said Dr Davies. “We are helping to create a workforce for the future, particularly in the rural areas.”
Hundreds go for Gold Ceremonies celebrating academic success at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David do not only take place during the summer. In December, approximately 450 sixth form students received their results after having completed unique courses preparing them for study at university level. The students were among the latest to take advantage of the University’s Going for Gold Scheme and there are hundreds more in the process of following courses this year. In addition to getting a glimpse of the kind of study they would follow at university, students also receive a certificate and a Level 4 qualification. According to the scheme’s director, Vaughan Salisbury, it is a valuable qualification on a CV and the University encourages students to mention the
scheme while making their UCAS applications. Nearly 30 schools and colleges are taking part – mostly based in West Wales, but with some as far as the Rhondda and Neath Port Talbot. Hundreds of pupils each year attend the University of Wales Trinity Saint David on a residency to study courses on a wide range of topics such as study skills, curriculum based studies that contribute to the Welsh Baccalaureate as well as other courses related to the A-level curriculum. The Going for Gold Scheme is able to take
advantage of many more specialist departments accross the University – a course in the Chinese language and Philosophy. In addition, Dr Mererid Hopwood from the Associate Faculty is collaborating with Dr Errietta Bissa and Dr Magdalena Ohrman from the School of Classics, to develop an exciting new course. The new module entitled ‘From Homer to Harry Potter’ will offer the opportunity to study some of the main trends in ancient and modern European culture, philosophy and literature. The response to the courses has been excellent, says Vaughan Salisbury, and they offer additional subjects and value to the schools. “Hopefully this experience will inspire more young people from all backgrounds to continue their studies at university,” he said.
Inspiring children Young children will be inspired with a wide range of entertaining tasks outside the classroom, thanks to materials being developed at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. This is the latest success for the University as it helps Wales to pioneer in the field of play-based learning, for children between three and seven years old. Canolfan Peniarth, the University’s Educational Resource Centre has won a Welsh Assembly
Government contract to create books, CD Roms, a handbook for adults, posters and challenge cards for the Exploring the Environment. The goal is to help children learn about the environment by developing skills that include scrutinising and comparing, exploring, listening, asking and answering questions, making decisions and solving problems. The challenge cards will provide the children with practical tasks, for example how to recycle empty
plastic barrels and use them to grow cherry tomatoes and strawberries. Much of the emphasis within the Foundation Phase is on being out in the fresh air and the new materials will give children the opportunity to work by themselves or with others. The resources are being produced in English and Welsh and will contain 16 informative reading books. The CD Rom will make it possible to project pictures from the books onto interactive whiteboards in the classroom.
Gwydion Wynne, the Centre’s Director, said “The project aims to produce materials to support learning and teaching on Knowledge and Understanding of the World – a meaningful and relevant curriculum that focuses on exploration and discovery in the open air.” “We hope that the material will add value to children’s experiences of discovering and exploring their environment for themselves outside the traditional classroom walls.”