New sports facilities, industrial action, exams support and graduation 2023 dates

Read a message from Claire Morgan, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education and Student Experience sent to undergraduate and postgraduate taught students on 18 January.

Dear student,

Happy new year, and welcome back. I hope you enjoyed a relaxing and enjoyable Christmas break.

New training and playing facilities open

Just before the holidays I was delighted to be involved in opening our redeveloped Llanrumney sports fields site. The site has been greatly improved in response to feedback from you, our students, and will now provide you with access to some of the best sports facilities in the UK.

I’m a passionate advocate for student sport and recognise how important it is to so many of you. The investment in these facilities means more students will be able to benefit from sport, which we know can help improve mental health, boost academic achievement, and increase employability prospects.

Industrial action

At the end of last year, the University and College Union (UCU) voted in favour of industrial action, and although a marking and assessment boycott is no longer planned, they have told us they will be taking strike action on Wednesday 1 February 2023. We are waiting for UCU to confirm when the other strike days recently announced in the media will take place.

I appreciate that this may cause you concern, but please be assured that we are continuing to do everything we can to minimise the impact of this ongoing industrial action. The intranet has lots of useful information, and you can find further support from Student Connect.

Preparing for and sitting your exams

We have a range of resources to assist you in revising effectively, managing any exam anxiety you may have, finding a quiet study space, increasing your motivation and much more. Please do take advantage of the support available to help you throughout the exam period and talk to either your personal tutor or Student Connect if you’re worried about your exams.

You can also take a break from studying in our ‘revise and relax’ room, from 16 to 25 January in room 1.26 of the Centre for Student Life.

Graduation 2023

2023 graduation dates have been confirmed, with ceremonies taking place between Monday 17 and Friday 21 July. If you are graduating this year, be sure to mark these dates in your diaries. Our graduation webpages will be updated as further details become available.

Good luck in your exams and assessments, and I’ll write to you again shortly.

Best wishes,

Claire Morgan
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education and Student Experience