Turn On Your Future @ UWTSD's School of Applied Computing & Electronics

Posts tagged ‘Technology’

Industry Speaker: Phil Rees, CEO of SHIPMAX Ltd

Our students were recently joined by Phil Rees, CEO of SHIPMAX Ltd, for an ‘Industry Guest Lecture’ that focused on AI, e-commerce, innovation and what really matters in the world of industry.

Phil Rees is the founder and CEO of SHIPMAX Ltd, a Swansea-based, AI‑native logistics consultancy, helping e‑commerce brands expand internationally while reducing the cost, complexity, and risk of going global.

Framed around the idea of “building innovation that ships”, Phil began by reminding students that the process they have just been through in their University ‘Innovation & Project Management’ module, included important steps: ideation, design, build, and ship, is not an academic exercise. It’s the same arc used by real Tech & SaaS companies and digital consultancies.

Phil’s session challenged students to think about the qualities he & employers looks for. The takeaway was simple but powerful:

The frameworks you’re using now are not practice for the job: They are the job.

What actually makes an innovation project stand out? At the heart of the lecture were four pillars Phil uses when judging innovation projects, the same criteria used by founders, investors, and employers:

  1. A real problem, for a real user: Evidence of even a handful of genuine user conversations beats pages of assumptions. Winning projects show how user insight actively shape design decisions.
  2. Credible execution: Not just can it work, but can it survive? Students were encouraged to reflect on scalability, support, and  importantly: what they deliberately chose not to build.
  3. Commercial or strategic logic: Every project needs a clear ‘so what?’. Who pays? Who adopts it? Why does it matter now? And why is it credible?
  4. Clear differentiation: In a world where software can be built faster than ever, the key question is no longer can you build it? but what makes this hard to copy?

A real-world pivot from SHIPMAX:
One of the most valuable moments came when Phil shared a SHIPMAX ‘war story’, a SaaS idea he was close to funding, before pulling the plug.

As AI‑driven development tools rapidly lowered the cost of building software, the competitive ‘moat’ or distance has disappeared. Rather than pushing ahead with a product that could be copied in a weekend, Phil chose not to build that time, quickly pivoting resources and expertise into new projects that would yield sustainable and strategic growth for his company.

While staying at the cutting edge and adopting the latest tech developments has greatly benefited the expansion of Phil’s company, his experience and expertise creates a self-trust that brings an agility and discernment to focus his time and energy where it matters most. = A recipe for Success.

Phil also highlighted patterns he sees repeatedly in student and early‑stage projects:

  • Feature creep instead of focus
  • Claims of user demand without evidence
  • No clear distribution or discovery strategy
  • Strong work undermined by weak storytelling

His advice? Treat the narrative as part of the product. Innovation isn’t just what you built, it’s how you explain why you built it.

AI, data, and the new baseline for graduates:
Drawing on insights from a recent AI conference at MIT, Phil warned against chasing models and tools without first getting the foundations right.

Clean, well‑structured data, he argued, is becoming a genuine competitive advantage. At SHIPMAX, AI is already used to compress hours of research into minutes, not by magic, but through disciplined data handling and clear workflows.

For students entering the tech industry in 2026, the message was clear:

  • “Can you build it?” is now table stakes (the minimum requirements)
  • Judgement beats raw technical ability
  • Data quality compounds over time

Phil closed with a challenge to students shortlisted for the Best Innovation Project 2026, sponsored by SHIPMAX:

“If your project lands on my desk, I’ll read every word. Make it worth my reading time.”

Phil’s talk was open and authentic, confidence‑building, less about perfection, more about honesty, refreshingly aligned with how modern digital work really gets done and very valuable to our students.

The Academic team at UWTSD’s School of Applied Computing would like to thank Phil for taking the time to speak with our students and for sharing his valuable experience, industry knowledge and insights 👏. Diolch yn fawr iawn 😊. Thank you Phil, we look forward to future collaborations 👍

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Industry talks: Cybersecurity & Governance

Today’s blog looks back at two recent industry talks organised by our colleague Professor (Associate) Carlene Campbell, who organised two talks to allow our students to gain a deeper understanding of the contemporary challenges in Cybersecurity, data governance, and regulatory compliance. Exploring how modern cyberattacks operate and how organisations can prevent and respond to them.

Both sessions emphasised practical examples, case studies, and interactive discussion to help our students better understand the real nature of the topics in industry and their future professional responsibilities.

Talk 1: From Code to Industry: Data Security, Governance and Compliance in the Real World

Delivered by Dr Odayne Haughton, Lecturer in Information Science at the School of Computing & Creative Technologies (University of West England)

This talk introduced students to the practical realities of managing data securely and responsibly within modern organisations. Rather than viewing security incidents solely as technical failures, the session highlighted how many major data breaches are rooted in weak governance structures, unclear accountability, and poor compliance practices.

Key themes and topics:

  • The three pillars of data responsibility: clear differentiation between data security, data governance, and regulatory compliance, and why none of these can operate effectively in isolation.
  • Breaches as governance failures: analysis of real‑world incidents such as Equifax and Uber to demonstrate how cultural, procedural, and oversight issues often underpin technical compromise.
  • Regulatory and standards landscape: introduction to GDPR and UK GDPR, ISO/IEC 27001 and 27701, and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, with a focus on what these mean in day‑to‑day professional practice.
  • Ethical implications: discussion of how poor compliance can result in misuse of personal data, bias, and long‑term damage to public trust.
  • Security by design and compliance by default: embedding governance into the software development lifecycle using logging, encryption, audit trails, access control, MFA, and management of third‑party risk.

Interactive Activity:

A group‑based scenario formed a central part of the session. Students worked through a simulated cloud‑services breach, taking on roles such as Data Protection Officer, Security Lead, Developer, and Product Owner. The exercise required them to identify governance failures, compliance violations, and immediate remediation steps, reinforcing the need for cross‑functional collaboration.

Key takeaway:

Students left the session with the understanding that data breaches are rarely caused by code alone. Effective data protection depends on governance structures, organisational culture, and shared responsibility across technical and non‑technical roles, and failures in these areas can have lasting legal, financial, and reputational consequences.

“The Guest Lecture introduced students to the practical realities of managing data security, governance, and regulatory compliance in modern computing environments. With a strong focus on real-world breaches, emerging global standards, and compliance requirements. The session bridged the gap between academic learning and professional responsibilities in industry.” – Carlene Campbell (Professor (Associate) at UWTSD’s School of Applied Computing.

Talk 2: Cybersecurity Awareness in the Modern Era
– Understanding how modern Cyber attacks happen and how we stop them

Delivered by Vignesh Balasubramanian (Director and co-founder of Sentronyx Technologies Pvt. Ltd) and Amit Shrivastav (A Cybersecurity professional & Senior Security Analyst at Sentronyx Technologies)

The second talk focused on helping students understand how and why modern cyberattacks occur, and how organisations attempt to defend against them. Framed within the realities of cloud adoption, hybrid working, and AI‑enabled tooling, the session positioned cybersecurity as both a technical and human challenge.

Key themes and topics:

  • Why cyberattacks happen: exploration of attacker motivations including financial gain, disruption, revenge, and curiosity, and how these motivations shape attack strategies.
  • Modern business infrastructure: overview of contemporary environments including cloud platforms, identity systems, endpoints, and collaboration tools, alongside the role of human behaviour in security outcomes.
  • Evolution of authentication: progression from passwords to MFA, biometrics, and adaptive authentication, and the parallel evolution of attacker techniques such as phishing kits, token theft, session hijacking, and MFA bypass.
  • Applied attack case study: detailed examination of Microsoft 365 MFA bypass frameworks, providing real‑world examples of account takeover and the global implications for organisations.
  • Defence in depth: discussion of countermeasures including secure authentication design, user awareness, zero‑trust principles, and detection strategies.
  • Offensive and defensive collaboration: the role of red and blue teams, and how leadership decisions shape an organisation’s overall security posture.

Interactive discussion:

The session included open Q&A and practical discussion, allowing students to explore topics such as phishing detection, threat simulation, and attack surface analysis in a real‑world context.

Key takeaway:

Students gained a clearer picture of cybersecurity as an ongoing contest between attackers and defenders, where technology alone is insufficient. Awareness, collaboration, and informed leadership are essential to building resilient organisations in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

“This guest lecture used a number of live demonstrations to help students understand how and why modern cyberattacks occur, how attackers evolve to bypass defenses, and how ethical hacking contributes to stronger cybersecurity. It explored real-world attack techniques, and the critical role of offensive and defensive security activities in building resilient organizations.” – Carlene Campbell (Professor (Associate) at UWTSD’s School of Applied Computing.

Final Remarks:

Both talks strengthened our students exposure to real‑world practice, offered a complementary view of modern digital risk, from governance and regulatory responsibility to the tactics used in real‑world cyberattacks. By grounding theory in industry practice and interactive learning, the sessions reinforced the importance cybersecurity and data protection as imperative organisation‑wide concerns.

For more information about our Computing & CyberSecurity courses please click here: Computing | University of Wales Trinity Saint David

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Visit to MIT AI Conference 2026

Fig.: Kieran Brown

One of our final year students ‘Kieran Brown’ pictured above, recently visited the MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) Conference 2026 in Boston Massachusetts, held from 12–16 April 2026.

The Conference brought together industry leaders, researchers, and innovators to engage with cutting‑edge developments emerging from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The conference also served as a forum for collaboration between academia and industry, supporting the translation of the latest research into practical, real‑world applications.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a world‑leading private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded in 1861 with a mission to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, engineering, and other fields to address global challenges. Renowned for its emphasis on hands‑on learning, innovation, and interdisciplinary research, MIT has made significant contributions across areas such as artificial intelligence, engineering, economics, climate science, and entrepreneurship, and maintains close partnerships with industry, government, and international institutions.

MIT Motto: Mens et Manus (Latin for: “Mind and Hand”)

Kieran provides a wonderful overview of the trip below:

“From April 12th–16th, I had the opportunity to attend the MIT Industrial Liaison Program Conference 2026 in Boston, an experience part-funded by the Welsh Government in collaboration with my current internship company, SHIPMAX.

The programme connects businesses with MIT’s world-leading research, startup ecosystem, and innovation networks, giving companies insight into emerging technologies and future industry challenges. During the conference, MIT graduates, alumni, lecturers, and industry professionals shared valuable insights into the startups they have founded and the transformative role of AI within their businesses.

Through a series of talks and lectures (some of which are outlined below), we explored emerging trends in artificial intelligence and gained exposure to practical tools and recommendations shaping the future of the field.

The experience connected Welsh businesses with world-leading innovation and gave me a broader perspective on how AI can be applied in industry. As a result, I am now applying the knowledge and insights gained at MIT within my role at SHIPMAX, and I am pleased to have secured a full-time position with the company, which I will begin upon completion of my Applied Computing degree in June 2026.”

Fig.: Phil Rees (CEO of SHIPMAX Ltd.) & Kieran Brown (UWTSD Final Year student)

Nice to see that Kieran was also able to enjoy the sites and have some fun too (below:)

Screenshot

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AI insights from UWTSD’s Tim Bashford

UWTSD’s Associate Professor Dr. Tim Bashford, research Lead at the Wales Institute of Digital Information (WIDI), is a prominent voice in artificial intelligence approaches across public services, healthcare, and education. With his background spanning digital innovation, applied research, and skills development, Tim’s work bridges the gap between policy, practice, and emerging technology.

Tim recently contributed to a podcast for Business News Wales, expanding on themes from his guest column ‘AI Readiness Depends on Scale, Not Sector‘. Below is a summary of the ideas underpinning the discussion.

AI Readiness: A Question of Scale and Maturity:
Tim highlight’s the narrative that the public sector lags behind the private sector in AI adoption simply doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Instead, the real divide lies between: Large, digitally mature, well‑resourced organisations, and Everyone else, particularly smaller organisations with limited capability. This insight reframes the conversation: readiness for AI is not determined by sector, but by institutional scale, digital maturity, and capacity to invest. Contrary to popular belief, Wales’ public services demonstrate:

  • More mature governance structures for AI
  • Better‑established support frameworks
  • Growing cross‑sector collaboration, particularly through partnerships with WIDI and the Welsh NHS.

However, legacy systems and uneven digital capability remain ongoing challenges. While some large Fintech and Medtech companies are rapidly advancing, many SMEs are no more AI‑ready than the least mature public organisations. They often struggle with:

  • Skills shortages
  • Investment barriers
  • Limited digital foundations
  • Unclear adoption pathways

Tim argues that this ‘long tail’ of SME under‑preparedness is one of the biggest obstacles to Wales’ overall digital readiness. Tim goes on to emphasise that universities are not just “homes of the complex algorithmic work”, that their most significant contribution may actually be:

  • Skills development
  • Upskilling the workforce
  • Helping organisations adopt AI safely and confidently
  • Supporting responsible innovation across Wales

This positions institutions like WIDI and UWTSD as central pillars of Wales AI ecosystem.

To hear Tim expand on these themes, explore practical implications for organisations, and discuss how Wales can build AI capability across sectors, listen to the podcast here: Public Sector Social Value Podcast Guide.

To explore more about Tim’s work and background please visit:
* UWTSD News (AI Edu. Conference 2025): https://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/news/uwtsd-host-welsh-collective-ai-education-conference-2025
* ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tim-Bashford

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Project Profile: Farley Staines

Name: Farley Staines

Course: BSc (Hons) Computing (Data and Information Systems)

Project title: A comparative analysis of driving performance and styles across simulators and real-world scenarios

Brief overview: The project focused on creating a telemetry program that can display and overlap data from both the car simulator and real-life cars.

Key term: Telemetry is the automated, remote collection and wireless transmission of data from sensors to a central system for monitoring, analysis, and optimization. It is widely used across aerospace, IT, healthcare, and manufacturing to track metrics like temperature, speed, or system performance, enabling real-time decision-making. [r: ibm.com]

The project was written in Python and contains multiple user interfaces for different functionality. It supports both real-world and simulator data sources from Motec and ViGrade formats. It imports this data as a CSV and converts it into an SQLite database.

Key term: Motec (MoTeC) and VI-grade (ViGrade) represent two different, often complementary, sides of automotive simulation and data analysis, specializing in data logging and virtual testing.
 * MoTeC is a world leader in motorsport data acquisition (loggers, ECUs, dash displays). Their data format is designed to record vehicle performance data in real-time. MoTeC creates proprietary “log files” (usually with .ld or .ldx extensions) generated by their i2 (Interpreted) Data Analysis software.
 * VI-grade is a leading company specializing in driving simulators and virtual testing solutions for the transportation industry. VI-grade provides software for offline simulation (predicting performance) and real-time simulators (driver-in-the-loop). Their formats are designed for high-performance vehicle modelling (handling, ride, NVH), enabling engineers to simulate cars and race tracks before building a physical prototype.

The project’s program features include displaying data on various types of graphs (click below to enlarge), identifying and visualising specific laps from the data, being able to group similar data together and plotting them onto the same graph, and supporting multiple databases being loaded at the same time.

Project Conclusion: Based on the feedback received, the strengths include effectively managing multiple sources of data, custom grouping capabilities, improved workflow, all packaged in a single file.

After graduation: After graduation I aim to move into a motorsports career as a Data Engineer.

Key term: A ‘Data Engineer’ builds and maintains a data infrastructure including the pipelines, databases, and processing computer systems, that converts raw data into actionable information. A Data Engineer ensures the data is accessible, clean, and secure, utilizing tools such as SQL, Python, and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) to aid decision-making.

A top tip/advice for students: Manage your work by doing little bits at a time and not leaving it right to the end.

For further information about Computing courses at UWTSD, please click-here.

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Industry Lecture: Hoowla (LegalTech Company)

Many thanks to Adam Curtis (CEO of Hoowla) & Edd Turtle (Senior Software Developer at Hoowla) for recently visiting UWTSD’s School of Applied Computing to share industry insights, emerging trends and many top enterprising tips. The talk was thoroughly enjoyed by staff and students alike.

Fig.: Hoowla

Hoowla is a Legal Technology (LegalTech) Company based in Swansea, UK. And provides case management software for Solicitors, Conveyancers & HR.

Adam Curtis (CEO of Hoowla)

Adam shared the story behind Hoowla, showing how a real software business grows from an initial idea into a profitable, scalable company. Adam highlighted that students often focus on finding the perfect idea, but experience shows that execution matters far more. Adam went on to emphasise that the most important step is to begin. Most progress comes from breaking work into smaller tasks, documenting processes, and being comfortable with mistakes along the way. Entrepreneurship and software development are learning processes, not linear paths.

Adam concluded with practical advice drawn from experience: start with a real problem, price products based on usage rather than people, invest in building a good team and accept that sales is always critical, even in technical businesses. Ultimately, he encouraged students to enjoy the journey of building something meaningful, recognising that while outcomes matter, most of the value comes from what you learn and build along the way.

“We’re proud to be based in Swansea while supporting businesses across the UK. Engaging with students is something we genuinely value, as it provides a real-world perspective on building and running a software business after graduation. We’re also passionate about supporting the local employment landscape, and we regularly recruit graduates from UWTSD who bring fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and a strong drive to learn and grow within the business.”
– Adam Curtis

Fig.: Edd Turtle (Senior Software Developer at Hoowla)

Edd focused on the realities of turning software ideas into working, real‑world products. A central message was that developers must always consider who the software is for, where it runs (web, embedded devices, client vs server), how quickly it needs to respond, and how it will be deployed and supported.

Edd went on to discuss technology choices and stressed that ‘Proven tools’ such as relational databases, established backend languages, and stable front‑end frameworks save time and money and reduce risk. He highlighted popular programming languages (drawing on TIOBE rankings) and showed how trends change, reinforcing the idea that fundamentals matter more than chasing the latest tools.

A significant part of the presentation explored modern development practices, including rapid prototyping and the growing role of AI in software development. Edd noted that a substantial portion of code is now AI‑generated, which changes how developers work but does not remove the need for understanding, testing, and responsibility. He also outlined the typical structure of a web application, introducing concepts from the Twelve‑Factor App approach and emphasising scalable infrastructure that can start small but grow over time.

Finally, Edd highlighted the importance of teamwork and community in professional software development. Practices such as pair programming, code reviews, and automation (for testing, security, deployment, and documentation) are crucial for quality and maintainability. He encouraged students to seek support through online communities and local software groups, and ended with a coding puzzle to reinforce careful reading, logical thinking, and attention to detail, core skills for any developer.

“It was a real pleasure meeting the students and talking about what we do. Their curiosity, questions, and new ideas make these sessions incredibly motivating and reinforce why sharing real experiences matters.” – Edd Turtle

The Academic staff at UWTSD’s School of Applied Computing would like to thank Adam & Edd for taking the time to speak with our students and share their valuable experience, industry knowledge and insights. 👏🙂 Diolch yn fawr iawn.

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Industry Lecture: Innovation & Project Management

Geraint Williams (Director of Mission Control – left above) & David Jones (Principal Consultant – right above)

Many thanks to our industry partners from Fujitsu ‘David Jones‘ (Principal Consultant) and Geraint Williams (Director of Mission Control) for visiting the University again to speak with our students and share their valuable knowledge, skills, experience and insights.

Their industry guest Lecture titled ‘Innovation & Project Management‘, brought together decades of industry expertise, offering students a rare and valuable inside look into how innovation really happens within major organisations, and how modern project management brings ideas and solutions to life.

Drawing from Drucker, the UK Government, OECD, and their own experience, they showed that innovation is fundamentally about:

  • Doing something new that creates value
  • Improving outcomes, efficiency, effectiveness, and quality
  • Turning ideas into implemented change that benefits people and society

Innovation succeeds when it is: Novel, Implemented (not just imagined), Value-creating and Adaptable to changing needs.

They outlined different types of innovation and what drives Successful innovation. And that a sustainable innovation culture rests on four pillars:

  1. Leadership that champions experimentation
  2. Workforce empowerment and diverse skills
  3. Processes that are agile and user‑centred
  4. Partnerships across academia, industry, and civil society [

The second half of the session unpacked real-world project delivery, comparing traditional and modern Agile Project Management approaches.

Both speakers gave insights from major industry projects. They emphasised that innovation means nothing unless it can be delivered, and delivery fails without the ability to innovate. Students gained industry insights and a powerful, industry‑tested message: Technology, Solutions & Big ideas matter. Bold leadership matters. But People and the Social element are vital for success: Collaboration is what turns ideas into real positive impact and results.

Geraint Williams “Thoroughly enjoyed speaking with the students and sharing industry insights on driving successful innovation, along with the pros and cons of different project management methodologies.”

David Jones “It was a great opportunity to come back to UWTSD and bring some insights from working in a wide variety of roles through my career. Focusing on Innovation and Project Management, I was able to share real‑world perspectives on how organisations navigate change, deliver value, and harness creative thinking to solve complex challenges.”

We would like to thank both David & Geraint for taking the time to come back to the University again to share their valuable experience and expertise. And look forward to further collaboration in the future. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

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New Appointment: Elliott Atkins – Professor of Practice in Applied Computing

Celebrating a New Appointment:
Elliott Atkins joins UWTSD as Professor of Practice in Applied Computing

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Elliott Atkins as a new Professor of Practice within the Applied Computing Academic Discipline at the University. This distinguished role recognises Elliott’s exceptional professional achievements and industry expertise he brings to our university community.

Speaking after his appointment, Elliott said “I’m delighted to have been appointed as a Professor of Practice at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. I’m really looking forward to sharing real-world insights and experience with students, early-career academics and staff, as well as contributing to curriculum development across the Applied Computing, Cyber Security, and Digital Forensics programmes.”

With a career spanning nearly three decades at the forefront of global cyber security, incident response, and national digital resilience, Elliott’s appointment strengthens and will further enhance real‑world industry learning experiences for our students.

A Leader in National Cyber Security:
Elliott is an internationally recognised leader in the field of cyber security. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has held several high-profile positions central to the UK’s national cyber resilience, including:

  • Managing Director of Exercise3: an NCSC‑assured provider of realistic cyber incident exercises, founded by Elliott in 2014 to prepare organisations for complex cyber crises using highly accurate scenario‑based training.
  • Head of the UK Government’s Computer Emergency Response Team (GovCertUK) at GCHQ, leading 24×7 national incident response operations.
  • Head of Cyber Intelligence at QinetiQ, contributing to defence and national security innovation.
  • Head of Incident Response at Nominet, the UK’s top‑level domain registry, overseeing the protection of critical national internet infrastructure.
Fig.: Exercise3

Elliott’s influence also extends internationally, as he serves as the UK liaison member of FIRST, the global forum for incident response teams, helping shape standards and collaboration across more than 800 CSIRTs worldwide.

Royal Appointment: CISO to the Royal Household:
A unique highlight in Elliott’s career is his appointment by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal Household’s first Chief Information Security Officer in 2021. This role was created as part of a heightened national effort to strengthen the monarchy’s cyber security posture against increasingly sophisticated threats. His appointment was a key step in safeguarding sensitive digital assets across the Royal Household.

Honours, Fellowships, and Industry Recognition:
Elliott is a Fellow of the British Computer Society, a recognition of his sustained contribution to the advancement of cyber security practice.

Fig.: British Computer Society

He also has a long record of community and charitable leadership. Outside the digital realm, Elliott is passionate about aviation heritage and serves as Chair of Trustees of the Panavia Tornado Preservation Group, a charity dedicated to preserving the iconic Tornado aircraft and inspiring future generations of engineers and aviators.

Fig.: Tornado GR.1P at South Wales Aviation Museum

Elliott’s commitment to developing cyber resilience and technical capability aligns strongly with UWTSD’s mission to prepare graduates for critical roles in an increasingly digital world.

A Transformative Contribution to UWTSD:
As a Professor of Practice, Elliott will play a significant role in enhancing the Applied Computing provision at the university. He brings world‑leading expertise and will help support our programmes in cyber security, digital forensics, and incident response. This is an extraordinary opportunity for students, staff, and partners alike to engage with one of the UK’s most experienced practitioner‑leaders in cyber security.

With gratitude, we warmly welcome Elliott to the university and look forward to the contribution he will bring to our community.

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Two inspiring UWTSD journeys

Today’s blog post features 2 inspiring UWTSD journeys, that show the power of creative and technical education in supporting and transforming peoples lives & futures.

Mia Harries is turning her passion for computer games into a creative career, growing in confidence and industry readiness through hands‑on learning, professional networking, and her long‑standing involvement with Yr Egin.

Meanwhile, Adam Moore has reshaped his career through UWTSD’s Digital Degree Apprenticeship in Computing, progressing from NHS data analyst to an emerging researcher developing AI tools that support clinical decision‑making. Together, their stories showcase how UWTSD empowers learners of all backgrounds to thrive, whether in the world of game design or Computer Science & groundbreaking healthcare innovation.

Mia Harries
> BA Computer Game Design

Mia Harries is turning a passion into a Creative Career. Mia’s time on UWTSD’s BA Computer Game Design course has helped her grow in confidence, creativity, and professional readiness.

Supported by a practical, industry‑focused learning environment, her wide-ranging course experience, combined with meaningful industry contact and her long-standing involvement with Yr Egin – where she has led workshops, built technical skills, and expanded her professional network, has shaped her into a confident emerging game designer. 🎮🎨

Mia now looks ahead to securing a role in a Welsh games studio while continuing freelance work, grateful for the skills, friendships, and guidance that have prepared her for the industry.

To read the full article, please click here:
* https://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/news/mia-harries-turns-passion-creative-career

To learn more about the University’s Computer Games Design Degree please click here.

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Adam Moore
> Digital Degree Apprenticeship

Adam Moore, a Data Scientist from Narberth, credits the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Digital Degree Apprenticeship in Computing (Data and Information Systems) with transforming his career and opening the door to advanced work in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and healthcare. While working at Hywel Dda University Health Board, Adam discovered a strong affinity for maths and data, and with encouragement from colleagues, he enrolled in the apprenticeship. This opportunity allowed him to study while working full‑time, supporting his family, and progressing professionally.

Throughout the four‑year programme, Adam successfully balanced academic study with full‑time employment, during which he got married, welcomed two children, and earned three promotions. The apprenticeship equipped him with the skills and confidence to excel in postgraduate study. Now undertaking doctoral research in AI and healthcare, he aims to contribute to innovations that enhance patient care and shape the future of digital health services.

Adam is a strong advocate for UWTSD’s apprenticeship route, praising it’s accessibility and the exceptional support offered by the university. UWTSD leaders emphasise how his journey reflects the programme’s impact across Wales, while colleagues at Hywel Dda describe him as a highly valued staff member whose AI work is already making a meaningful difference in clinical decision‑making.

“I want to play an active role in using AI to revolutionise healthcare and improve patient outcomes,” he said. “The apprenticeship was the foundation that made all of this possible.”

Adam continues to advocate for UWTSD’s Degree Apprenticeship route and encourages others to take advantage of the opportunity.

“It’s an incredible pathway for anyone looking to progress in their career,” he said. “It’s open to professionals of all ages who want to develop their skills and the support from the UWTSD team is exceptional.”

To read the full article, please click here:
* UWTSD Degree Apprenticeship Launches Pembrokeshire Data Scientist on Groundbreaking AI Career Path

To learn more about the University’s Degree Apprenticeships please click here:
* UWTSD Degree Apprenticeship programmes in Computing  

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Trip to Yr Egin Carmarthen

Our staff and students recently enjoyed an engaging and inspiring trip to Yr Egin in Carmarthen.

Yr Egin is a creative and digital hub located on the UWTSD Carmarthen campus, home to the Welsh‑language broadcaster S4C and a wide community of media, arts, and digital businesses. Designed to inspire creativity and nurture new talent, the centre provides state‑of‑the‑art production facilities, hot‑desking spaces, an auditorium, and a programme of cultural and industry events. Since opening in 2018, it has developed into a vibrant venue that supports collaboration between students, professionals, and local creatives while contributing significantly to the regional economy and strengthening the Welsh language through its cultural output.

Exploring Creativity and Careers: UWTSD Computing Visit to Yr Egin, Carmarthen

Recently, UWTSD Computing staff and students travelled to Yr Egin, the vibrant creative and digital centre based on the Carmarthen campus. Home to S4C, production companies, freelancers, and a growing community of digital talent, Yr Egin proved the perfect place for students to gain behind‑the‑scenes insights into animation, media production, education technology, and the realities of working in the creative industries. The day combined inspiring talks from industry professionals, a guided tour of S4C’s facilities, and an opportunity to see how creative ideas evolve from early sketches to polished on‑screen productions.

Twt Productions: Getting Started in the Creative Industries

The first speaker of the day was Siwan Jobbins from Twt Productions, who offered practical guidance for students hoping to break into animation and media. Siwan emphasised the importance of keeping things simple when pitching ideas: if you can’t summarise your concept in one clear sentence, it’s not ready yet. She also stressed how crucial strong visuals and a realistic budget are when presenting a project.

Students were given a useful roundup of upcoming festivals, networking events, and industry platforms—from the Cardiff Animation Festival to tender portals such as S4C Production Tenders, BBC Education Commissioning, and Sell2Wales. For graduates, Siwan encouraged maintaining momentum: keep learning, keep applying, and keep refining your skills. Early in your career, she explained, you may need to give up some rights to get your name out there, but as you gain experience you’ll have more influence and ownership over your work.

Cloth Cat: Craft, Creativity and Career Longevity

Next, the group heard from Jon Rennie of Cloth Cat Animation, whose talk blended humour, honesty, and invaluable advice. Jon reinforced the importance of LinkedIn and social media for building visibility in the industry. He encouraged students to develop original showreels—avoiding overused film clips—and to pay attention to how other animators solve problems under tight budgets. Sometimes, he noted, creativity is about making smart compromises, such as omitting footprints in a snowy scene when deadlines are tight.

Jon urged students to constantly update their skills, be adaptable, and above all be reliable: in animation, meeting deadlines is just as important as artistic flair.

He also shared insights from his project “The Ghost of Midwinter / Ysbryd yr Oerfel,” a bilingual S4C Christmas animation produced in just six months. Students watched how a short sequence developed across four stages: from storyboards, to character animation, to effects, and finally to fully rendered backgrounds. It was a clear, fascinating demonstration of the full animation pipeline.

Inside S4C: Touring the Creative Spaces of Yr Egin

The tour of Yr Egin gave students a glimpse into live studios, editing suites, and the collaborative workspaces used by media professionals. The group met Steffan Rhys Williams, a music producer and composer who has contributed to S4C for more than 20 years. Steffan discussed the realities of composing for television, explaining how he sometimes outsources parts of the process so he can focus on creative direction.

Students also visited the hot‑desking area, which UWTSD graduates can use for six months after completing their studies—a valuable opportunity to network, start freelance work, or collaborate with the industry professionals based in the building.

Antur Amser: Blending Animation, Gaming and Education

The final speaker, Osian Evans, shared insights from Antur Amser, an ambitious educational entertainment project that follows a group of children from the year 2174 who travel back to different eras in Earth’s history. The characters act as a creative gateway into subjects such as science, history, and geography, blending classroom learning with storytelling and interactive media.

Osian explained the iterative design process behind the characters and emphasised the importance of giving animators precise instructions—highlighted by the time a “robot with anti‑gravity technology” accidentally ended up flapping wings because directions were unclear.

He also discussed the balance between gaming and learning, and how using existing platforms like YouTube and Roblox helps reach young audiences more effectively than trying to build entirely new ecosystems. Where possible, the team uses pre‑built assets, reserving bespoke modelling for niche cases—an essential strategy for meeting deadlines and budgets.

Where AI Fits In: Not a Replacement, but a Team Member

Osian also spoke about the role of AI‑assisted animation, emphasising that AI complements human creativity rather than replacing it. While AI can accelerate early drafts, improve workflow capacity, and support low‑budget productions like vodcasts, it is not suitable for areas like scripting. Instead, he described AI as a “first draft collaborator”: useful for rough animation tests before the real artistry begins. Tools such as HeyGen are now commonly used for rapid prototyping, helping creators gather feedback earlier and refine their ideas faster.

A Day of Inspiration and Industry Insight

The visit to Yr Egin offered our Computing students a rich, realistic look at the creative industries—highlighting both the opportunities available and the hard work and adaptability required to thrive in them. From pitching and production pipelines to character design and the role of AI, the day showcased the many pathways open to students interested in animation, digital creativity, and media technology.

Most importantly, the trip demonstrated just how connected UWTSD students are to Wales’ creative sector. Yr Egin isn’t just a building—it’s a collaborative hub where ideas grow, careers begin, and the next generation of digital storytellers can find their place.

We would like thank all the staff and industry experts from Yr Egin who made the day so enjoyable and inspiring for us all. Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi.

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