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

Posts tagged ‘University’

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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Graduate profile: Dale Warner

Graduate profile for Dale Warner, a Solutions Engineer at Cisco.

"Exposure to new and challenging events is critical. Everyone is winging it; no one can know it all."

"Creativity requires play, and play can be messy. Embrace the cluttered desk!"

"My days can range from face-to-face customer meetings across the UK, building high level plans/designs/BoMs from my home office, or turning my time to study so I can stay on-top of the latest technology trends."

Q. Name: Dale Warner

Q. What was your university course: BSc (Hons) Computer Networks

Q. Job title and role? Solutions Engineer at the Central Government Team at Cisco

Q. Briefly describe the organization you work for? Cisco are the market leader when it comes to networking. They also provide cutting edge technologies and services across a wide range of areas; Security, collaboration, observability, to name a few.

Q. Which skills learned at university are helpful to you in your job? While at university the most important skill I learned was how to concisely present a complex idea or solution. Being able to do so allows me to talk and explain new products and ideas to customers, cutting out all the unnecessary fluff.

Q. A typical day and how would you describe it? Like any engineer, two days are very rarely the same. But I talk with customers about their technical issues and look to provide Cisco solutions to bridge the gap. This requires me having a board understanding of a range of technologies and where/how Cisco products can be used. My days can range from face-to-face customer meetings across the UK, building high level plans/designs/BoMs from my home office, or turning my time to study so I can stay on-top of the latest technology trends.

Q. What aspects of your job do you enjoy most? I enjoy meeting customers, understanding their needs, and proposing suitable solutions. This, alongside learning on the latest technologies and having a future vision of the technology industry.

Q. Advise for students who would like to start a Career? It’s okay not to have an end goal, so long as you know what you want to do next. When your end destination isn’t set you can put all your effort into achieving your next goal. Exposure to new and challenging events is critical. Everyone is winging it; no one can know it all.

Q. A quote that you like / live by / inspires you?
My favorite quote is a quip from Albert Einstein “if a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” I’d like to add – creativity requires play, and play can be messy. Embrace the cluttered desk!


Thank you for your profile Dale, it will help to inspire current and future students.
We are most grateful. We hope to see you at future alumni events.
Well done and Congratulates on your success Dale.
Da iawn a llongyfarchiadau Dale

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University Guide: UWTSD Computing #1 in Wales

We’re thrilled to announce that in the Guardian University Guide 2026, our courses have ranked 1st in Wales & 9th in the UK for Animation & Games Design and 1st in Wales & 11th in the UK for Computer Science and Information Systems. 🎉🎊

This achievement reflects our dedication to delivering hands-on, real-world industry relevant learning experiences, with exceptional student support. Our highly qualified, industry-experienced staff work hard to ensure students are prepared for a successful future with the practical knowledge & employability skills they need to excel.

A huge thank you to our students, staff, and supportive community for making this recognition possible. 🙏👍

For information about our courses, please click-here.

Student profile: Hamza Qasim

Name: Hamza Qasim

What University course are you doing? MA Masters in Animation at UWTSD.
This follows my completion of a BA in Computer Games Design at UWTSD, where I spent 3 fulfilling years building my foundation in digital arts and game development.

What truly inspires me about animation and the broader field of digital arts is the unlimited creative potential it offers. I have a genuine passion for games, animation, VFX, and CGI, particularly the captivating effects seen in Marvel movies. The ability to bring ideas to life through digital mediums and create immersive experiences that can transport viewers into different worlds is incredibly motivating.

Video below: BA Game Design animation by Hamza Qasim

Beyond the creative aspects, I’m inspired by how this field connects to my other interests, especially automotive design. The intersection of technical precision and artistic vision in CGI, particularly in automotive visualisation, represents the perfect blend of my passions. What makes this journey even more inspiring is the supportive environment at UWTSD, where I feel encouraged to explore emerging technologies and push the boundaries of what’s possible in animation and interactive media.

Video below: Portfolio from BA Games Design Yr.3 by Hamza Qasim

Throughout my Masters program, I’ve been developing a diverse range of technical and creative skills. On the technical side, I’ve advanced my proficiency in 3D modelling, animation, texturing, and rendering using various versions of Blender (4.0, 4.2, and 4.4). I’ve also expanded into video editing and composition using Wondershare Filmora 13, along with comprehensive sound design capabilities.

Video below: Cans by Hamza Qasim

Video below: Koi by Hamza Qasim

Recently, I’ve ventured into VR development using Unreal Engine 5.5, where I’ve learned to create custom blueprints for asset switching, material switching, and targeted interactions. One of my proudest achievements has been developing a real-time sun movement system that enhances environmental immersion in VR experiences.

Video below: Material Switching & Sun Movement by Hamza Qasim

Beyond technical skills, I’ve been developing crucial soft skills through modules like Leadership, Management and Ethics. This module, though different from animation, has taught me about various leadership styles, management approaches, and proper research methodologies, skills that are invaluable for any creative professional.

Favourite Technology: My current favourite tool is definitely Blender. While we also learn Maya at University, I’ve found that the modelling and animation skills transfer seamlessly to Blender, and it offers several advantages that make it exceptional for independent learning and creative work. What I love most about Blender is its comprehensive nature, I can model, sculpt, texture, animate, composite, and render all within a single application.

The fact that it’s completely free removes financial barriers to learning, and the extensive community support through YouTube tutorials and forums means that virtually any problem I encounter has likely been solved by someone else. The accessibility and community aspect of Blender have been game-changing for my learning process. While Maya still has some advantages, particularly for UV unwrapping, the plugins available for Blender help bridge most gaps, making it an incredibly versatile tool for independent artists and students.

Video below: Liminal Spaces using Advanced Techniques by Hamza Qasim

After you Graduate?
My career aspiration is to work as a CGI Artist at an automotive company, with Mercedes-Benz being my preferred destination. This goal is informed by my previous experience working there before enrolling at UWTSD, which gave me valuable insight into the industry and confirmed my passion for automotive visualisation.

Video below: Car in motion by Hamza Qasim

The automotive industry’s increasing reliance on high-quality CGI for marketing, design visualisation, and virtual showrooms aligns perfectly with my skills in 3D modelling, animation, and rendering. My experience with both traditional animation techniques and emerging technologies like VR positions me well for the evolving demands of automotive CGI, where immersive experiences are becoming increasingly important.

Video below: Cloth Reveal by Hamza Qasim

Advice for students?
My most important advice is simple but crucial: do something that you truly enjoy. Don’t choose a course based on others’ expectations or perceived prestige, choose it for yourself and your genuine interests.

I love what I study because it encompasses everything I’m passionate about: games, animation, VFX, CGI, and automotive design. This genuine enthusiasm makes the work feel less like a chore and more like an exciting challenge. When you’re passionate about your subject, you naturally strive for excellence and find yourself more resilient when facing difficulties.

Fig.: Digital Arts image

Another key lesson I’ve learned is about perfectionism and deadlines. As an artist, I’ll always strive for perfection, but I’ve come to understand that sometimes you need to aim for the best work possible within tight deadlines rather than perfect work that never gets completed. It’s better to submit a strong, complete project than to miss deadlines chasing an impossible ideal of perfection. The balance between ambition and pragmatism is essential for success in any creative field.

Experience at UWTSD?
My experience at UWTSD has been absolutely transformative and couldn’t have been better. The support system here is extraordinary, from Richard Morgan in the Games Design department, who has been my rock throughout my three-year BA journey, to lecturers like Nabeel Masih, Adam Head, Philip Organ, and James Williams, who have consistently encouraged my growth and exploration of emerging technologies. The university’s holistic approach to student support extends beyond academics. The well-being department has been incredibly supportive during challenging times with my mental health, and the entire campus environment, from reception and canteen staff to lecturers, creates an atmosphere that feels genuinely supportive and nurturing.

I’ve had numerous opportunities for leadership and community involvement, serving as Student Representative for both my BA and MA courses and participating in the UWTSD Esports Committee, where we organised events and created lasting memories. The university even pushed me toward pursuing my Masters degree when I wasn’t initially planning to continue, a decision that has proven invaluable. The collaborative environment has allowed me to form lasting friendships with both staff and students, and I’ve been able to contribute through graphic design work for various university projects. If I could change anything about my university experience, it would be nothing, every aspect has been beneficial and has contributed to my growth as both a person and a professional.

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For further information about Computer Games & Animation courses at UWTSD, please click here.

Project profile: James Frew

Fig.: James Frew

Name: James Frew

Course: BSc (Hons) Software Engineering

Project Title: An affordable device for monitoring noise levels in home studio environments to warn users of duration-based hearing damage.

Purpose: As a drummer and someone who regularly practises in home studio environments, I quickly became aware of how easily you can be exposed to loud sounds for long periods. Many people only think about hearing damage in terms of volume, but in fact, long durations of noises that aren’t excessively loud can be just as dangerous. I wanted to build a simple and affordable device that could help raise awareness of this overlooked danger and help people protect their hearing.

Fig.: Design

Implementation: The system consists of a small microphone and microcontroller, both housed in a compact 3D-printed case. The device connects to a desktop application built in Python. It monitors the noise in the room in real time, calculates how long it’s safe to be in that environment based on the current sound levels, and sends a warning when the average noise levels since starting the application reach a point where it becomes dangerous to continue listening.

Fig.: Case implementation

The GUI displays current noise levels, the average levels since starting, the time remaining before risk becomes high, and how long the app has been running. The system was built for under £20 and was tested with real users, receiving very positive feedback for its usability and clarity.

Fig.: Application

Conclusion:
The final product was a reliable, accurate tool that helped users understand their sound environment better. It successfully raised awareness of long-term hearing risks and provided clear, real-time feedback. The project met all its core goals and achieved an excellent System Usability Scale (SUS) score of 89.5. It also received valuable suggestions from users, which could shape future improvements, such as wearable versions and mobile app integration.

Next steps: I’m hoping to move into a role that allows me to work with people and ideally in music or creative environments. I’m particularly interested in opportunities that combine practical problem-solving with collaboration. My degree in Software Engineering has given me a strong foundation in project planning, technical thinking, and building things that work in the real world – skills that will be useful in many industries, not just computing.

Advice for students: Your time and energy are limited, so it’s important to prioritise your studies and project work, especially in your final year. Balancing other commitments is part of life, but giving focused attention to your degree when it counts will really pay off. Also, don’t be afraid to use the tools available to you – make use of AI, but without breaching academic standards. Do use it to help guide research and explore ideas related to your studies, don’t use it as a copy-and-paste tool to blindly research information. AI isn’t going to go away, so it’s important you learn how to use it to assist your studies as early as possible in your degree. Good luck with your studies!

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For further information about Computing & Computer Science courses at UWTSD, please click here.

Project profile: Kelly Casey

Name: Kelly Casey

Course: BSc (Hons) Software Engineering

Project Title: Women in STEM Study Buddy – A Mobile Application for Academic Networking

Logo
Fig.: FemSTEMConnect

Project introduction:
The motivation behind this project was to address the under-representation and isolation that many women in STEM fields experience during their academic journey. I wanted to create a platform that would allow female students to connect, support one another, and collaborate through shared academic interests. The project reflects both my technical interests and my desire to contribute to inclusion and equity in higher education.

Overview of the Practical implementation:
The application was developed in Android Development Studio using the Kotlin programming language, with Firebase Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform providing services for authentication, data storage, and real-time messaging.

Kotlin, Android Studio and Firebase image
Fig.: Kotlin | Android Studio | Firebase

Key features include:

  • Email link login (no passwords required)
  • Personalised academic profiles
  • Study partner matching using course and location filters
  • A Messaging system for real-time communication.
Fig: Coding

The project was tested on both emulator and physical Android devices for performance and usability.

Here are some screenshots from the final app up and working

Fig.: Navigation screen
Messaging inbox
Fig.: Messaging inbox
Fig.: Home screen & News feed

Conclusion: The final product successfully met the core functional goals. Users can register, create a profile, search for study partners, and communicate within the app. Although some features like the community forum were postponed, the application is stable, secure, and ready for future expansion. It represents a strong foundation for a peer-support platform specifically tailored to women in STEM.

What Career and job role are you hoping to move Into after Graduation? I’m planning to progress onto a Master’s degree and then move into a software engineering role, ideally within a company focused on education technology or socially impactful work.

Top Tips for Students interested in completing a University Degree: Don’t procrastinate. Choose a project that is manageable not just exciting. It’s better to complete something simple and solid than to get stuck in something too complex to finish on your own. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

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

Graduate profile: Myles Anderson

Fig.: Graduate – Myles Anderson

Q. Name: Myles Alexander Anderson

Q. University course: BSc (Hons) Business Computing at UWTSD

Q. Job title and role: BT Group (EE/BT) Team Lead

Additional Occupation: Redevelopment Business Director

Q. The organisation you work for?

The BT and EE group is the UK’s largest residential Internet Service Provider, in addition to being the UK’s largest mobile phone network provider.

cc-fig.: BT EE

Additionally, I am the director of my own company, focusing on the redevelopment of properties and converting them into environmentally conscious, sustainable student lets. (Known officially as HMOs, Houses of Multiple Occupation.) 


Fig.: Pre-renovation

Fig.: Post-renovation

Q. Which skills learned at University are helpful to you in your job?

As part of my undergraduate degree, I undertook modules such as ‘Managing People and Change’ and ‘Usability Engineering’. These modules provided me with real-world insight into how to lead and manage teams of individuals in my professional career. Additionally, usability engineering directly aided me in developing contemporary business plans and product/marketing strategies.

Q. What aspects of your job do you enjoy most?

Money.. Jokes aside, there is something incredibly satisfying in helping others achieve heights they once thought impossible. Turning low-confidence, underperforming team members into smiling, highly productive employees helps both the individual and the wider business achieve the goals and targets set before them.

The same satisfaction is directly correlated to the real-estate projects, as turning unloved, dilapidated properties into homes for multiple students allows me not only to see a project develop from its infancy until its final stage, but it also provides high-quality, lower-cost accommodation for individuals who are trying to achieve more for themselves. 

Q. What opportunities has University opened up and supported you in pursuing?

Upon my graduation, the university kindly offered me the opportunity to pursue further study, such as PHD Doctoral support, and whilst at this stage I have not taken up this offer, the fact that this is available for high-achieving graduates illustrates how UWTSD is willing to invest and support in home-grown talent.

In addition, the network I built during my time at the university has proved invaluable, with friends who have become Mortgage Brokers (aided in real estate) and Openreach Engineers (Helped in my BT teams roll-out of FTTP in South Wales).

cc-fig.: BT Towers in Swansea (Wales) & London (England)

Q. Do you have any advice for students who would like to start a Career?

Do not be afraid to take risks. Through personal travel, I have visited nations where ‘real’ abject poverty is unavoidable. This reality check gave me a major perspective shift on the country we call home. 

We are incredibly lucky to live in a country with such a strong safety net, so if you’re ambitious and have a business idea you really want to try, plan it out properly and then give it a go! Worst case scenario, you’re back where you started. Best case? Skies the limit.

Fig.: Myles Anderson – 12,000ft above Sea-level in Taiwan.

Q. A Quote that sums up your time at the University?

“Do. Or do not. There is no try.” – Yoda

cc-fig: Yoda
(Legendary Jedi Master)

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For more information about Computing courses at UWTSD click-here.

Skills Synergy 2025

The School of Applied Computing at University of Wales Trinity Saint David are thrilled to announce the annual ‘Skills Synergy 2025‘ event hosted at Swansea Arena.

A dynamic day of learning, and competition for students and networking for Teachers. The student events are designed to inspire, challenge, and showcase skills in Web Technologies, Cybersecurity, and Network Systems Administration, tailored for Year 12, Year 13, and Further Education students.

Student Team Competitions:

A taster competition event to give an experience to the participants about the competitions and competition environment.

Students who are interested in one or more than one of the below domains are welcome to register. Students will get a taste of the competition with a briefing about competitions followed by a small competitive activity.

Schools/FE’s can register their students who are interested to get a taste on competitions like Web Technologies, Cybersecurity, and Network Systems Administration.

Limited Registrations. First come First Serve. Register immediately.

Taster Sessions for School Students:

Explore Computing (Cybersecurity, Digital Forensics, Software, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science), Electronics, and Games Design, Development, Animation, VFX in engaging hands-on sessions.

Cisco Instructors Conference:

A parallel session for Head Teachers, Teachers, Lecturers and Cisco Networking Academy Instructors to share best practices, network, and collaborate.

Event Details:
Date: 26th March 2025
Time: 09:30 AM – 02.00 PM.
Venue: Swansea Arena

For further information and inquiries, please contact Nitheesh Kaliyamurthy via email: n.kaliyamurthy@uwtsd.ac.uk

For further information about Computing & Computer Science courses at UWTSD Swansea, please click here.

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Guest Lecture: Network Automation and CI/CD

Guest Lecturer:
Nagaraj Ravinuthala

This week, Nagaraj Ravinuthala, a DevOps trainer at HCL Technologies Limited and a specialised trainer for WorldSkills UK Squad on Infrastructure Automation, delivered a Guest Lecture on Network Automation and CI/CD to our students.

The lecture began with basic yet powerful concepts of deployment and CI/CD, connecting the dots between writing code, integrating APIs, and automating the process of pushing updates live. The session emphasized simplicity and clarity, presenting CI/CD as a pipeline that automates code testing, integration, and deployment to production environments.

“Think of CI/CD as a conveyor belt for your code,” explained Nagaraj. “You write it, test it, and deploy it—all in a streamlined process that ensures faster delivery and better reliability, which are essential in modern network automation workflows.”

Students were introduced to tools and techniques aligned with Cisco’s CCNA DevNet, providing a glimpse into industry-standard practices. To make deployment relatable, the lecturer drew parallels with the earlier lectures on Python and API during their Network Programmability Module where the students integrated the OpenWeather API creating and running a Python script, and explaining that deployment involves taking code that works locally and making it accessible to users.

The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, where students enthusiastically asked about real-world applications of network automation and the career paths that mastery in CI/CD can unlock.

This guest lecture was an eye-opening experience for students, sparking curiosity and laying the foundation for further exploration in network automation. It was a step toward preparing them for the evolving demands of the industry.

We would like to thank Nagaraj Ravinuthala for taking time to speak and share valuable industry knowledge with our students.

For further information about our courses, please click-here.

University Guide: UWTSD Computing #1 in Wales

Guardian University Guide: #1 in Wales and #20 in UK

We’re thrilled to announce that in the Guardian University Guide 2025, our Computing courses have ranked #1 in Wales 🏆 and #20 in the UK for Computer Science and Information Systems subject area.

This achievement reflects the dedication we bring to delivering hands-on, real-world learning experiences, alongside exceptional support that guides our students every step of the way. Our highly qualified, industry-experienced staff work tirelessly to ensure students are prepared for a future in tech with the practical skills and knowledge they need to excel.

A huge thank you to our outstanding students, dedicated staff, and supportive community for making this recognition possible.

Together, we’re shaping the future of tech in Wales and beyond! 🌍💻

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

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