Student Magazine

An inside look at student life at Cardiff Metropolitan University

D O W NA T T H ED E P O T We speak to the 24 year-old Cardiff Met graduate who founded Cardiff’s most successful street-food venue

Meet the Cardiff Met Bloggers Sharing their stories about university life

Getting to Grips with Glastonbury Two Events Management students tell us what it’s like to work at the famous festival

President Stefan and Vice President Bradley explain the benefits of getting to know your Students’ Union

CONTENTS 1 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

WELCOME TO YOUR #CARDIFFMETMAG

MEET THE CARDIFF MET BLOGGERS Sharing their stories about university life LEAVING HOME First year student Gethin Stedman shares his experience of moving into halls, and building a life at Cardiff Met MY #CARDIFFMET Second year Ceramics student Charlotte Manser gives us the lowdown on her typical day at Cardiff Met HOW TO BE A NO FEAR FRESHER Third year English and Drama student Grace Henley shares her top tips for a fearless freshers’ week THE STUDENT INTERVIEW We grab five minutes with women’s football team captain, Emily Allen WORK EXPERIENCE Events Management students tell us what it was like getting to grips with Glastonbury THE GRADUATE INTERVIEW Meet Nick Saunders, the 24-yearold Marketing graduate who created Cardiff’s coolest street food venue, The DEPOT THE STUDENT UNION Read about the hard work that goes into representing the students of Cardiff Met

#CardiffMet Magazine 2016

WELCOME TO #CARDIFFMETMAG

Making the decision to apply for university isn’t just about choosing the most appropriate course. You’ll also need to decide where you want to spend the next few years of your life. This could mean a move to a new city, and even a new country.

At Cardiff Met, we want your time with us in the Welsh capital to be an experience you’ll never forget. Inside this first edition of #CardiffMetMag, we speak to the students and graduates who have all taken the plunge, and chosen to study with us.

From the Events Management students talking about their work experience at Glastonbury, to the captain of the women’s football team sharing her passion for the game, and even the Marketing graduate who has created Cardiff’s trendiest street-food hang out; #CardiffMetMag aims to show you what student life in and around our city is really like.

You can also check out more stories straight from our students on the Cardiff Met Student Blogs website and follow them on Twitter at @CardiffMetblogs.

Let us know your thoughts and share your own Cardiff Met experiences by tweeting us or sharing a snap on Instagram, using #CardiffMet and #CardiffMetMag.

cardiffmet.ac.uk/studentblogs

#CardiffMet Magazine 2016

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MEET SOME O F O U RS T U D E N T BLOGGERS! From the Sport & PE student who has helpfully explained exactly what ‘BUCS Wednesday’ is, to the English student who has his study planning down to a fine art, our student bloggers have been busy documenting what life at Cardiff Met is like for each of them - be that studying, socialising or just chilling out with flatmates.

Get to know a few of the bloggers below, and head over to cardiffmet.ac.uk/studentblogs to read their latest posts, see their own photos, and get tips and guidance on what to expect from student life in Cardiff.

Sport & PE

Playing sport (especially football) and eating!

BUCS Wednesdays, playing sport at Uni

English & Creative Writing

Surfing, cooking and spending time with friends

All about the surf society, and tips for being a more organised student

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Biomedical Science

Watching ďŹ lms and TV box-sets, Athletics

Being a student ambassador and trips to the Brecon Beacons

Environmental Health

Reading thrillers, playing piano and baking

Her experience of moving from learning in Welsh to English

Business & Management Studies

Volunteering with the Sea Cadets, spending time with friends

How to spend your free time in Cardi

You can also follow the Cardiff Met Bloggers on Twitter @CardiffMetBlogs

#CardiffMet Magazine 2016

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L E A V I N GH 22-year-old first year Education Studies student Gethin Stedman went travelling in Asia before starting at Cardiff Met. Here he tells us what life is like living in student halls on our Cyncoed campus, and how he has settled in since moving out of his parents’ home in Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire.

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Hi Gethin, thanks for letting us come and snoop around your room! Tell us how it felt moving out for the first time and coming to halls?

I was excited and anxious at the same time. It was diďŹƒcult, because I am a very family orientated person.

But having had the experience of travelling around South East Asia, this helped with the realisation I wouldn't see my parents for a couple of months at a time, and with embracing my independence.

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Why did you want to live in university accommodation?

I had come up to an Open Day, and I knew wanted to live the 'Uni lifestyle' as well as meeting new people, which I felt living in halls could oer.

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OME 1

What are your flatmates like? Was it easy to make friends and get to know other people in halls?

My flatmates are very friendly people, very outgoing and helpful - especially with the cooking, which is good because I am terrible! I found it very easy to make friends.

If you go into the experience with an open mind and be the "Yes man" you’ll be fine. Join everything and go to everything...but don't forget those essays!

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What is it like living in halls what do you like about it, and what do you dislike, if anything?

I like the independence and standing on my own two feet this experience makes you grow up and teaches you life skills.

I dislike a messy flat - I am a proper clean freak and forever cleaning!

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What are your essential can’t-livewithout items for living in halls?

My laptop, and my comfy pillow!

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What advice would you give to someone applying to Uni now, who might be feeling nervous about moving in to halls?

Don't be nervous at all. It’s a barrel of laughs and you'll love every single bit of it.

#CardiffMet Magazine 2016

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MY #CARDIFFMET Second year Ceramics student Charlotte Manser gives us the lowdown on her typical day at Cardiff Met.

Cycling through the park down the River Taff i s always s o m e t h i n g I l o o k f o r w a r d to.”

“8am and my radio begins to play; today I need to be at uni at 10am which is like most days. I pop down stairs to get some breakfast and some of my housemates are up and heading off whilst some looking a little worse for wear after last night’s partying!

I live in Cathays now which is near the centre of Cardiff and is the student area so there are always people around you

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know, and you can never go on a night out without seeing several people you know from your course or halls in first year. My house is about a 50-minute walk to uni or a 25minute bus ride, but I find the best mode of transport is a bike. Cycling through the park down the River Taff is always something I look forward to, as it is half an hour of relaxing and admiring the view, whilst your legs do all the work!

Today I have a lecture for an hour but other than that I am free to work in the studios on my project; the Ceramic studios are always busy and the atmosphere is great. It is like a family! After my lecture I went downstairs to the potter’s wheels to throw some bowls. The first years where having a throwing class from Duncan but they are always willing to find space for you to work and anyways I wanted to catch up with them to see how their social went the other night!

After throwing some clay and eating lunch, my friend and I then went to the library to do some artist research for our project. The library has an amazing collection of journals and for ceramics there is a special room with books that are over 100 years old, and even interviews a past student did with Grayson Perry on tape! It is just fascinating sometimes to look through all of this stuff even if you are not going to use it in your project. If I’m not in the library, I might head into town for some vintage shopping instead.

I then had to head back home for lacrosse training. So I cycled back down the River Taff in the beaming sunlight (which is unusual as we live in Wales). Quickly got home and got changed then got the bus to Cyncoed Campus.

We have a match tomorrow so we were doing some Attack v Defence drills that were fun, but tiring. They were also talking about the social tomorrow; apparently we are dressing up as cave men - should be interesting!

After walking from the bus home I was just thinking about what to have for dinner when I walked through my front door and my housemate had made a roast and asked if I wanted some, which was a nice surprise! So to top off a fun and productive day my housemates and I had a nice roast dinner together. Perfect.”

To read more from Charlotte go to cardiffmet.ac.uk/studentblogs

#CardiffMet Magazine 2016

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Third year English and Drama student Grace Henley shares her top tips for a fearless freshers’ week.

“So, you have made it through the UCAS application process. You have passed your A-levels while devouring an impressive amount of chocolate. You have begun to discover clubbing and all that comes with it; the joy, the expense and the potent body odour. You have packed hundreds of miscellaneous items into every inch of your parents’ car. You have achieved of all this, hopefully only suffering a few mini breakdowns along the way. Well done.

Now, it is time for your next challenge: Freshers' Week; an introvert's worst nightmare and the egotist's dream.

Whatever part of the personality spectrum you place yourself, don’t panic.”

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Embrace an ‘open door’ policy

It is a bit scary stepping into your halls of residence for the very first time. After all, this is where you are going to live, for a whole year, with people you have never met before. Tell your new flatmates you intend to have an ‘open door policy’ and encourage them to come in and say hi - this suggests you are warm, friendly and outgoing - all before you’ve had a chance to have a proper chat!

Share your philosophy with those around you as soon as possible, and watch it work its magic.

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Bite the bullet

gin! e b t h g i n Let the

Flatma te Xmas

Rugby!!

Drop your boxes and send your parents away, it is time for you to approach your new cohabitants. An open door policy is a good start but it works both ways. Remember, your new flatmates are probably more scared of you then you are of them. Put on a smile and say HELLO - one word - that's all it is!

The quicker you run through the introductions the quicker you can get to know all of your flatmates who are (9 times out of 10) pretty great people.

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Battle of the Come on Card Unis iff Met!!

HOW TO BE AN O F E A R FRESHER 3

Dive in

When the parties begin and pre-drinks start, get involved. Shuffle the cards, offer to pour some drinks or make a playlist, (stick to the charts, you can reveal your guilty pleasures later). Make it your mission to introduce yourself to everyone in the room, from the early-birds to the latecomers.

Put on a smile and say HELLO! One word that's all it is!”

Further down the line, join a club or society. There are so many to choose from and they’re not all competitive and testosterone-fuelled. The more people you meet, the bigger your pool of potential mates. Just remember, everyone’s in the same boat.

Going to university is about so much more than just getting a degree. It is a way of life that is unparalleled. You will laugh like you wouldn't believe. You will surprise yourself with what you know. You will discover so many sides of yourself.

You will make friends for life. These few weeks can change everything. My final bit of advice is to have fun and stay safe. If I could do it again I would!

To read more from Grace go to cardiffmet.ac.uk/studentblogs

#CardiffMet Magazine 2016

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On a drizzly Cardiff afternoon the middle of winter, we headed up to the Cardiff School of Sport to catch up with 4th year Strength and Conditioning student, Emily Allen.

The petite 23-year-old is captain of the Cardiff Met Ladies football team, who have an impressive track record of success on behalf of the University in the BUCS Southern Premier, as well as at elite level in the Welsh Women's Premier League.

How long have you been playing football?

Where do you train and how often?

I’ve been playing football ever since I could walk! My dad is a massive football fan and helped coach the local team and so I joined my first team when I was four.

We train at the University on the Cyncoed campus. We are very lucky to have a quality 3G pitch, on which we have two sessions on a week. We also have two gym-based, early morning sessions each week in the athlete gym in NIAC which has fantastic facilities.

Football is different from any sport because anyone can play no matter who, where or when; all you need is a football and a couple of jumpers for goalposts. It is a fast paced, skilful game with lots of passion and a strong team ethic.

What is the social side of the sport like?

The social side of football is definitely one of the main reasons people enjoy it so much. Being in a team is almost like being a family, and my best friends are all girls that I have played football with for several years now.

How do you spend your ‘down time’?

My downtime is usually spent relaxing at home with my partner in crime and fellow teammate Sophie Scherschel, or going to the cinema/shopping/pub with my friends.

Football takes up a lot of time and it is a massive commitment so when I do get to relax it is much needed.

What qualities do you need to become captain of the women’s football team?

Being a captain of any sports team requires a good work ethic and leadership skills. I think being motivated and trying to lead by example is important in the University team because it is vital to maintain a positive and professional environment.

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How do you manage the balance between academia and elite sport?

Why did you decide to come to Cardiff Met?

The coaching staff at the club are extremely helpful when it comes to academic work; if you are struggling they will always try to help you out. The tutors and lecturers are also very understanding with regards to sporting commitments.

I decided to come to Cardiff Met because of the reputation it had within my former club Bristol Academy. I wanted to continue playing at a good level of football whist having my studies on my doorstep, which Cardiff Met offers.

What do you hope to do after completing your studies?

Describe a typical day for you, from waking up to going to bed.

A typical day would involve waking up at 7am to be at focus (gym based) sessions for 8am which lasts an hour.

After training I would usually get some breakfast with my team mates in the SU and then head to the library with a large coffee to get some of my coursework done.

Depending on the day I have a three hour lecture and then football training on the pitch from 5-6.30pm. After training I crash on the sofa with snacks and Netflix and try to do as little moving as possible!

How could other students get involved in women’s football?

After completing my course I hope to get into Strength and Conditioning and become an accredited coach at a good institution or club.

What has been your greatest achievement since you have been at Cardiff Met? I would say my greatest achievement would be scoring twice in the Champions League qualifying tournaments with Cardiff Met. The standard in Europe is very high and competing at that level is very different to Welsh football so scoring two goals was a good achievement!

The club are always looking for new talent and players to strengthen the squad - students can get in touch with the coach to arrange a trial or speak to one of us players directly, as we like to think we are very approachable!

Being in a team is almost like being a family.”

#CardiffMet Magazine 2016

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GETTING TO GRIPS WITH GLASTONBURY At Cardiff Met, we place ‘real world’ relevance at the heart of your university experience. Our BA Events Management lecturer is also the Senior Production Manager at Glastonbury festival, so we caught up with two undergraduates, Carys and Kelsey, who spent their summer working alongside him at the UK’s favourite festival.

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You did four weeks of work experience at Glastonbury 2015 and witnessed the event take shape from the very start - what was that like and what did you learn?

“When we came here, there was nothing it was just empty. Then, to see everyone come in and set themselves up was pretty amazing!”

“I worked on the third largest stage, West Holts. I learned how to rig the stage with the lights, learned about trusses, and the different kind of attachment techniques - which you’ve got to get right!”

What was the most inspiring part of the experience?

“Going onstage and looking out at the crowd and watching the artists, knowing that I was part of that and setting it up was amazing, and something I’ll always remember. You meet all of these different people, and know that maybe one day if you keep in contact with them, you can work for them.”

“Putting theory in to practice; you learn so much on the job and you just have to use your initiative; it opens your mind, makes you think big.”

A f t e r G l a s t o n b u r y , h o w d o y ou feel about the last three years, and about a career in Events Management in general?

“It doesn’t feel like work! I absolutely love it. You get so much out of it - seeing everyone; the atmosphere, the crowd, the people you work with is just amazing.”

“If our lecturer can do it; he’s running the show (Glastonbury) pretty much - it’s quite inspiring, and you just don’t know what it could lead to. All of us students agree; we’ve had so many experiences, learned so much along the way and come out on top, smiling!”

“This was a fantastic opportunity to get involved with the production - either in admin support, production support, or working alongside the bands. All of the roles were vital; without them, we just couldn’t do it.”

Neil Marcus,

Senior Production Manager, Glastonbury Lecturer, BA Events Management

#CardiffMet Magazine 2016

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D O W NA T T H ED E P O T What do you get when you cross a 24,000 sq. ft. derelict warehouse with a heap of entrepreneurial spirit? For 24-year-old Cardiff Met graduate Nick Saunders, the answer was DEPOT - Cardiff’s most exciting new pop up events venue.

Nick, who hails from Liverpool but has family connections with Cardiff, moved to Wales’ capital city to study Marketing Management.

He graduated from Cardiff Met in 2013 with a 2:1 and landed a job working for AstraZeneca as a Pharmaceutical Rep, but in his spare time, he had plans to do something a just little bit different…

“Back in Liverpool where I’m from, there’s a venue I love called Camp and Furnace. It’s essentially a warehouse that’s been transformed into a permanent festival of food, drink, art and music,” explained Nick.

“I tried to find somewhere like that in Cardiff when I moved here for university - but there was nothing similar. Eventually, I decided that I’d just have to create it myself, so once I’d graduated, I started looking for an empty warehouse or industrial unit that I could transform.”

That’s when Nick found the derelict warehouse on Dumballs Road, half way between Cardiff city centre and Cardiff bay.

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“I’d spent the last four years of my spare time at Uni organising successful clubs nights featuring artists like Duke Dumont; I figured transforming this empty warehouse would be my next challenge. To be honest, I didn’t really anticipate just quite how much work it would be!

it’s a huge amount of work but I get to draw on the skills I picked up in my degree all the time. It hasn’t always been easy, but I am really proud of what’s been achieved. The great thing about the DEPOT is that it is always changing for me that’s the most exciting part.”

“I agreed to rent it, but there were lots of repairs and regulatory things that needed addressing, like making sure that we had proper fire escapes and stuff. It took four whole days just to paint the floors grey, but we got there in the end.”

To keep up with DEPOT - and be the first to hear about their next event, follow them on social media at Facebook.com/DepotCardiff, Twitter.com/DepotCardiff and Instagram.com/depotcardiff.

Since opening the doors to the DEPOT in October 2014, Nick’s versatile venue has played host to events ranging from street food feasts featuring local pop-up traders, Welsh rugby screening events, and even Wales’s first independent beer festival working with award-winning Welsh brewery, Tiny Rebel. During the summer, the DEPOT brand left the four walls of the warehouse, to become a pop-up bar and street food feast at the five-star Celtic Manor hotel.

“I now have a small team around me and we do almost all of our PR, marketing and event management ourselves -

It’s a huge amount of work but I get to draw on the skills I picked up in my degree all the time.”

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THE STUDENT VOICE Stefan Kelly and Bradley Woolridge - President and Vice President of the Students’ Union (SU) respectively - tell us about the hard work that goes into representing the students of Cardiff Met.

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How did you both end up working for the University?

In the third year of my undergraduate degree, I started working behind the SU Bar at Centro on the Cyncoed campus. Things snowballed from there, and I got more involved with a wide range of different projects within the SU, like the marketing and promotion for the Student Led Teaching Fellowships (SLTF) award, and with events both on campus and in town with our affiliated nights at local clubs. After that I was approached to be a student ambassador for the University - which involved working on Open Days and at Freshers’ week.

After that, I was encouraged by friends and staff to run in the SU elections for the position of SU Vice President, which I was lucky enough to win. I then stood in the elections again last year for the role of President of the SU, and that’s where I am now.

I am currently completing my MSc in Sport Psychology and had been working in the SU bar, Centro, for about six months, so I decided to run for the post of Vice President (VP). After a campaigning week, and three days of elections, I was elected as the VP of the SU for the forthcoming academic year 2015-2016.

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What does your day-to-day role entail - how are both of your roles different?

The main purpose of the VP is representation of Cardiff Met students. For me to do this, we recruit a cohort of student representatives to help me gain feedback from students across the University. Issues/ concerns that arise and are feasible I then take to the University in an attempt to resolve issues or make positive changes. Day-to-day I will be in contact with our student representatives gathering feedback - my job is to help create a positive student experience.

My day-to-day role is quite varied - the nature of student life means there are always different things going on and at times you never know what is going to come through the door! The overarching focus of my role is to help make sure that the student voice is heard and listened to by the senior management of the University.

Both the Vice President and myself sit on the Board of Governors, which demonstrates how important it is to Cardiff Met that its students are represented. I also help deal with external engagement for the Students’ Union, which consists of going to different promotional events, conferences and interviews. As SU President, you literally become the face of the SU for the year that you are there.

The Students’ Union (SU) at Cardiff Met works hard to put Student representation at the heart of everything they do. Through an extensive network of student representatives, they help to ensure that every person who studies with us feels supported and their voice is being heard.

From homesickness to course structure and worries about money, the SU team at Cardiff Met are here to help, and to ensure that you have the best student experience possible.

Aside from this, I will also chair meetings within the SU with our Board of Trustees as well as the Finance and Services Committee. This aspect of the role helps to ensure that the SU is running profitably whilst also sticking to our commitment to students.

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What has been your best experience since you’ve been doing this job?

My best experience so far was when we visited one of our partner institutions in Varna, Bulgaria meeting the students and staff and sharing our experiences of studying in Bulgaria and Cardiff. They are re-establishing their own student council after a two-year absence, so it was good to share ideas on the ways they can support their students.

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Have you had any tough moments?

As VP, there are some difficult moments that you have to deal with. For me, the hardest part is seeing students that are struggling to cope with their university life. This could be for financial, academic or social reasons - students who are finding it difficult and may need our help. Although these are the most difficult moments, they can also be the most rewarding if we are able to help the student with their issues, and get them back on the right track.

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If you had one piece of advice to offer new students, what would it be?

Get involved with the SU as early as possible. Being involved with the SU really does open up a lot of doors for you and it can give you invaluable experiences that becomes just as important as your degree for future employment.

Getting the balance right between your studies and social life is essential to ensure you gain a good degree as well as enjoying your time as a student.

If you work hard, can manage your time well, and prioritise the right things, you’ll be on for a fantastic time here at Cardiff Met.

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What is your favourite thing about Cardiff Met?

The number of opportunities that arise from being a student here. Some students go on overseas exchanges to USA, some get placements within a chosen field of expertise; others represent the University in their chosen sport. There is something for everyone; you just have to be willing to persevere.

My favourite thing about Cardiff Met is probably the people. The vast majority of students and staff are all extremely friendly and always willing to help you with any problems you may have - this is probably the main reason why I have stayed at Cardiff Met for so long!

#CardiffMet Magazine 2016

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