A UNIVERSITY VIEW
CHILDREN, teachers and parents from all parts of Wales and beyond head to Llandovery this week for the annual Urdd Eisteddfod.
Cardiff University’s tent will host a series of engagement activities covering a range of topics including the benefits of blue green algae, the latest techniques used by astronomers and insights into the Merched Beca riots.
There will also be a chance to learn about what it’s like to be a student at Cardiff University – with hands-on activities in journalism and a session on the science behind a career in healthcare. We’re also proud to be sponsoring the festival’s Crowning ceremony.
In addition to our engagement activities during the week, I’m proud to say that our students have played a key role in directing a spotlight on antiracism as part of the Urdd’s annual Peace and Goodwill Message.
The Urdd’s 2023 anti-racism message calls on people to “encourage kindness, teach acceptance, and to call out racist remarks and prejudices”.
As a university, we recognise that we’re on our own journey towards achieving race equality and, while we still have some way to go, we’re committed to becoming an anti-racist institution and to supporting race equality across Wales.
One of the ways we hope to achieve this aim is by reaching out to a broader cross-section of our diverse and multi-cultural capital city.
Visitors to Cardiff will be struck by the imposing statue of Betty Campbell in Central Square. As well as pioneering multi-cultural education and diversity, she also helped found Black History Month.
A giant mural of this traiblaizing citizen, funded by Cardiff University, is proudly displayed on the front of Mount Stuart Primary School where Betty Campbell was headteacher from 1965 until 1999.
Another project we’ve joined is the Citizens Cymru/Wales Community Jobs Compact. This is designed to improve the diversity of our staff recruitment and enable staff to progress and develop.
We’ve also helped launch Cardiff Parent Power in Grangetown, Cardiff. Working with the Brilliant Club, we’re creating a parent community empowered to make changes to support their children’s future and ensure they have an equal chance in education and their future careers.