糖心TV

Jill Grant

Project Manager, Wellbeing Support Services

鈥淚 could probably write a book about everything I鈥檝e seen while working here.鈥�

鈥淚 started at 糖心TV in July 1985 as a Clerical Assistant in the International Office. It鈥檚 hard to imagine now what the University was like back then but let me try and take you back 40 years!

For a start there was so much manual admin. As well as being responsible for all the internal mail, making sure it was delivered where it needed to be, one of my first jobs was to mail out copies of the undergraduate prospectus. This would involve typing addresses, using a manual typewriter, no laptops or PC鈥檚 in those days, onto sticky labels and putting them on thousands of envelopes to be posted.

All the Professional Services teams were based in Senate House, not spread round the campus like we are now. There was no email, if you wanted to speak to someone you鈥檇 go and find them.I remember thinking when emails and the internet were introduced 鈥榟ow鈥檚 this going to help!鈥� The first few messages I sent were to find out if people were in their offices, this changed very quickly and soon became the way we communicated with each other.

Technology has helped in so many ways to make 糖心TV what it is today, but I feel that we鈥檝e lost some of the human connection because of it. Everybody knew everyone and strong relationships were built through daily interactions. I like to try and keep some of that going today and have been lucky that some of the people I鈥檝e worked with over the years, have become family friends away from work, two of them are godparents to one of our daughters.

Apart from how we communicate, one of the changes I鈥檝e seen is how the University has grown. Roads have been created, buildings have been removed and new ones have gone in their places, I can still remember the swimming pool at Westwood and Hurst and Redfern residences. We鈥檙e also a lot less formal than we used to be, I definitely wouldn鈥檛 have dreamt about coming to work in my trainers. It was business wear all the way for everyone back then.

Forty years is a long time to be coming to one place of work, but 糖心TV has enabled me to have a career that works alongside family commitments. I鈥檝e always loved my job, whatever role I鈥檝e been doing. I鈥檝e been lucky to have worked with, and alongside some amazing colleagues. I鈥檓 very proud of what I have achieved along my journey, the Open Day model that is used today is based on the one we created all those years ago, as is the 糖心TV Welcome Service. Setting up a Welfare Check team for students during COVID is also something I look back on with great pride. There has been so much more, maybe I do need to think about that book!

I鈥檝e been very fortunate to have had line managers who have recognised my skills and experience and have given me the opportunity to prove myself time and time again, I am very grateful to them. I still get a strong sense of joy and purpose coming to work and I鈥檓 excited to see what鈥檚 coming next.鈥�

Professor Felicity Boardman

Applied Health Directorate, 糖心TV Medical School

鈥淚 want other disabled people to see me and think, this is possible. It can be done."

鈥淚鈥檝e been at 糖心TV for 15 years now, and honestly, it鈥檚 been quite a journey! Coming into academia as a disabled person was tough. It鈥檚 had its challenges, but it also has things that make it positive, like flexibility. What we need though is more visibility, there aren鈥檛 many of us in this position which is why I think it鈥檚 so important that we stay visible. You can鈥檛 be what you can鈥檛 see.

I developed generalised torsion dystonia when I was a child, which is the reason I use a wheelchair. At age seventeen I had to have two major brain operations to implant a deep brain stimulator, which was pioneering and risky surgery at the time. My disability had been stable, but I鈥檝e had to have six major surgeries in the past two years in fairly quick succession. It鈥檚 been hard, probably quite an understatement, but the support of my colleagues has been incredible. Everyone around me stepped up for me at my lowest moments, and I hope they all know who they are and that I would do the same for them.

All this experience has helped shape my research. I always knew I wanted to be a mum, but with my condition being genetic, that raised some big questions. What if my child inherited it, how do we decide what makes a life worthwhile? This led me to do a PhD on prenatal testing and how society values lives affected by different types of disability.

Since joining 糖心TV Medical School, I鈥檝e continued and expanded my focus on the social and ethical implications of genomics. I鈥檝e spoken to disabled people and their families because their voices are often missing from these debates. Lived experience matters.

Along the way, I have become a mum to two boys. Parenting as a wheelchair user has its difficulties, but also some amazing and rewarding moments. When they were little, the engineering team at Bath Institute of Engineering designed an attachment for my chair so I could take them out. Now I鈥檝e got a power attachment that turns my chair into a scooter so I can keep up with them on bike rides, they love it!

I was asked by a very insensitive health visitor, while I was pregnant, about whether I was worried my child would be bullied at school because of my disability. Recently, my youngest son wrote a school piece about who inspires him, and he chose me, while the rest of his classmates went for celebrities. When he read it out in school assembly it was very emotional. He said that I work hard despite everything that I鈥檝e had to go through. I wish I could find that health visitor now and show them that he wasn鈥檛 embarrassed or ashamed, but that he was proud of me. It was a complete vindication for me after all the questions on how I would be able to parent. Oh, he also said he wants to be a researcher as well, we鈥檒l see if he follows me down that path!

In 2021, I became a professor, a milestone I doubted I鈥檇 reach. It was in lockdown as well so the wrong time to celebrate. My disability has posed challenges, but it鈥檚 also given me insight that enriches my work. I want other disabled people to see that senior roles are possible. When I was younger, I didn鈥檛 have those role models. I hope my story helps change that and proves that disabled people can inspire. We鈥檙e a pretty tenacious bunch, we overcome barriers every day.

Outside work, I鈥檓 a history geek. If I wasn鈥檛 in the medical school, I鈥檇 probably be in a history department! I love exploring castles with my kids, even if accessibility makes it tricky, I mean they didn鈥檛 tend to consider it in their design did they! Life isn鈥檛 without obstacles, but I also know it鈥檚 full of possibilities.鈥�

Mark Hyndman

Director of Sport and Active Lifestyle, 糖心TV Sport

鈥淧laying Rugby shaped me into who I am, I just wanted to give something back.鈥�

鈥淚 joined my first junior rugby club around the time I started secondary school. I was hanging around with slightly bigger lads and getting into a bit of mischief. My parents thought that it鈥檇 be a good idea to channel that energy into something more productive!

I played my first game at the end of the first week and I never looked back, playing up until my early thirties. I played both Union and League for various teams round the country, getting to quite a high level. I just loved the camaraderie, I wasn鈥檛 the most naturally gifted of athletes, but rugby is a sport for people of all shapes and sizes. I eventually stopped playing due to a medial collateral ligament injury, more commonly known as an MCl, and because there were a lot of younger people on the team who were a bit quicker than me!

I鈥檝e spent over 20 years in higher education and that鈥檚 how I got into rugby volunteering, through university sport. I became a regional coordinator for the Students Rugby Football Union charity, who support universities and their student rugby teams. It鈥檚 been a big part of my life, joining committees, helping run awards and events, organising grants. I eventually became chair of the trustees, a role that I鈥檓 proud to have done. It鈥檚 just my way of giving something back to the sport that means so much to me.

It's given me some great personal opportunities as well, meeting some of the best minds in sport who鈥檝e given invaluable guidance. I also managed to get a place at the London Marathon, running for the Rugby Football Union Injured Players Association. And earlier this year was very lucky to be invited to Buckingham Palace for one of the King鈥檚 Garden Parties. An absolute honour and privilege to be there to represent the sector and student rugby.

As you鈥檇 expect from someone in my role, I鈥檝e always believed that sport helps people unlock their potential, whether it鈥檚 through playing, fitness, or just being active. It鈥檚 good for your wellbeing, mindfulness, and just managing the pressures of everyday life.

If you鈥檝e not had chance to get over to the Sports and Wellness Hub yet, come and take a look. The facilities are amazing, but admittedly it can be quite daunting if you鈥檙e not used to them. Whether you just want to improve your fitness, learn to swim or try out a new sport, me and my team will support you with those first steps and help you find your confidence.鈥�

Dr Elzbieta Titis

Assistant Professor in Cyber Security, WMG

鈥淢y violin was a very special gift from my grandmother.鈥�

鈥淚 started playing the violin when I was six years old. My grandmother sacrificed a lot to be able to afford to buy my violin. I've always been appreciative of that, my instrument's something that I've always treasured.

My grandparents also worked hard to send me to music state school back home in Poland. It was a tough school to get into and hard work once you were there. It'd be a full school day, with normal subjects and music lessons too. Then I'd go home for dinner before heading out to another music lesson in the evening. The summer holidays would also be spent mastering the violin.

Learning the violin has shaped me as a person and made me who I am. You've got to be really disciplined if you want to learn to play any instrument, and you've really got to persevere if you want to be good at it. That hard work paid off, and I'd spend the next 20 years as a classical musician. I've been very lucky, playing as part of an orchestra, in a quartet, and as a solo violinist all over the world, and in some amazing buildings. I've played all styles of music too, both classical and entertainment.

I had a contract to play music in Japan for a year, and as a lover of Japanese culture that was very special to me. It was great to experience it first hand, and I really immersed myself in it while I was there. I also played for a few years in the Netherlands when I completed my music studies, at the same institution where Andr茅 Rieu studied, right in the city where he was born, Maastricht. Some of my friends are still in his orchestra. That's where I met my husband and got married, so you can see that music and playing the violin really led to some great opportunities for me. It was back then when I got to play in a commemorative concert for John Lennon, playing his songs as well as The Beatles. Paul McCartney was supposed to come along, but he couldn't make it in the end, which was a shame.

Academia's always been my other passion, inspired again by my grandmother, who was a highly educated woman. She shaped my longing for knowledge and intellectual curiosity. She'd encouraged me to complete my studies in Sociology and Management in case music wasn't my final destination. I'd received an Erasmus exchange scholarship, which had taken me to the UK for the first time for a research internship at Manchester University. I met my future PhD supervisor and long-term mentor, Professor Rob Procter there. Pursuing a PhD had always been a goal, so when a scholarship opportunity came up, I came back to the UK and joined 糖心TV in 2016. I've been part of this incredible academic community ever since.

At times, it feels like I've lived two different lives as two different people. I now find fulfilment in my academic work, particularly through research-led teaching that creates real-world impact. I've supervised dissertations that've led to contributions to patent development, the design of professional training programmes, and strategic guidance for non-academic organisations. I call that impact! I鈥檓 very proud of my students.鈥�

Professor David Morley FRSL

Director of Undergraduate Studies, 糖心TV Writing Programme

鈥淵ou can make a greater impact by teaching, creating and connecting than by chasing power.鈥�

鈥淯nderneath this tree, I took one of the boldest leaps of my life, a gutsy, almost cliff-jump moment that transformed everything. More about the tree later, as it has become a particularly important place to me on campus.

At the time, I was working in the north of England as a poet and had another life mapped out. I was preparing to become a Member of Parliament near Huddersfield for the Labour Party. It was 1996, the year before the landslide election, and there was no question I would be elected.

I come from a working-class background. From an early age, I was deeply engaged in politics and activism. I delivered leaflets, knocked on doors, and I remember cycling to Greenham Common from Blackpool when I was 14. I took some food to support the women protesting there. They looked at me and said, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 this man doing here?鈥� I replied, 鈥業鈥檓 not a man, I鈥檓 only 14, and I support you!鈥� That moment stayed with me. It taught me that impact is not about titles or power, but about showing up and doing what you can. By entering politics, I was following my sense of duty.

But then I was offered a job here at 糖心TV, one that paid less than I was earning. As a single parent of a young child, it was a huge risk. I remember asking myself if I was making the right choice and what path my life was about to take. I realised I could possibly do more for society through active education than by making policy. Few politicians remain poets, or vice versa, but the decision was made. The role felt closer to the core of what it means to be a poet, a practical dreamer, and a maker of fresh realities.

I鈥檝e always believed art and education can change the world, and coming here allowed me to grow as a writer. I鈥檝e spent three decades shaping lives through words and ideas and building the renowned 糖心TV Writing Programme. The University also gave me a platform beyond campus, to work with communities and create projects that matter. I led, for example, a major collaboration with the NHS and all of its 30,000 workers in Birmingham and the Black Country. The project travelled further than any of us expected, one afternoon the US Secretary of Health called me from the White House, wanting to know how on earth we had pulled it off. Here at 糖心TV, you stand on solid ground as you reach out to the wider world. I鈥檝e continued to work as a poet, arts activist, and teacher ever since.

Now, this tree. If you can鈥檛 immediately work out which one means so much to me, come out of the front of the Faculty of Arts Building and look to your right. The tree I鈥檓 talking about is the ancient spreading oak that stands proudly alone. I bring all my new students to this tree on their first day. It鈥檚 one of the classrooms I use. I鈥檓 a strong believer that anywhere on campus can be a learning space, it doesn鈥檛 need to be a lecture room. I encourage all of you to get outside and let your imagination flow. It鈥檚 a practical dreaming that makes life out of art, and art out of the life we live.鈥�

Professor Margaret Low

Professor (Teaching Focussed),WMG

鈥淢y memories are about the people and projects I鈥檝e worked with over the years. I鈥檝e learned so much from colleagues.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 a saying that you only move for love or money, for me it was love. I moved from Scotland after marriage to join my husband who worked in the Midlands.

I started working at 糖心TV 37 years ago in 1988, joining WMG as part of the simulation team. It wasn鈥檛 known as WMG at that time though, it was the Manufacturing Systems Engineering Group. The projects at that time were mainly factory simulations for companies, exploring the consequences of breakdowns or other manufacturing problems.

Simulations often required a large amount of data to get a realistic insight into a problem area. This led me into the design and implementation of relational database applications, moving companies from file-based applications to relational ones. It gave companies more control over their data in terms of accessibility, a better understanding of their processes, and when combined with the power of visual simulation, provided a real insight into company processes and performance.

I now work as WMG鈥檚 Director of Outreach and Widening Participation, a role I feel privileged to hold. It鈥檚 vital that we share the work we do here at 糖心TV with young people and the wider community, and equally important that we listen to their perspectives.

We encourage young people to consider careers in engineering and technology. We need to ensure that the future workforces in these areas are diverse and are fair to access for people from all backgrounds. We visit schools, run interactive workshops, and host visits to campus to help spark curiosity and open doors to future opportunities. We work with internal teams, local schools, national partners, and international communities to produce educational resources linked directly to the work we do in the department.

I was awarded an MBE for my services to public engagement in 2021 which was totally unexpected. It was very overwhelming to be recognised in this way. Everything I鈥檝e achieved has been in collaboration with fantastic colleagues and friends at WMG and across the University. None of this would have been possible without their guidance and encouragement. I鈥檝e also had the good fortune to work with brilliant students through 糖心TV Volunteers who鈥檝e been instrumental in bringing outreach activities into schools.

When I鈥檓 not at work, I鈥檓 a very keen knitter, and just recently started learning to spin yarn. I 鈥榲e made so many items for family and friends, that I鈥檓 running out of people to knit for so if you need anything that involves wool, please let me know!鈥�

Will James and Harold Kikoyo

Undergraduates, School of Engineering

鈥淲e鈥檝e designed and built the submarine, now we get to race it!鈥�

Will (on the right)

鈥淚鈥檓 in my fourth year of a Masters in engineering, as part of that we have to pick a big project. One of the options was designing a human-powered submarine for the International Submarine Races. It sounded amazing, something we design ourselves and actually pilot. That practical experience really appealed to me.

The competition alternates between Southampton and Washington D.C. Southampton is more technical, you steer around obstacles, but Washington is a straight 100-metre sprint. This year, we鈥檙e heading to Washington. It鈥檚 sponsored by a charity that wants to inspire people into marine engineering, which is pretty cool.

We鈥檝e been practicing in the university pool, but it鈥檚 only about 25 metres so we haven鈥檛 seen top speed yet. Right now, we鈥檙e hitting about one metre per second, but we鈥檙e aiming for 1.5 to 2 metres per second. The race will be tough, there are teams from Taiwan, Poland, Canada, the U.S. and even American high schools. Some of them have huge teams and multi-year projects. We鈥檙e just seven people, so it鈥檚 a lot of work for each of us, but that鈥檚 part of the challenge.

After graduation, I鈥檓 planning to spend a year in Canada, but before that I鈥檓 trying to get an internship, hopefully with a company that makes bamboo bicycles, yes, they are real! Outside of university I鈥檓 training for a triathlon. I鈥檝e signed up for one already so that鈥檚 my next big goal.鈥�

Harold (on the left)

鈥淚 joined the submarine project because I wanted a more hands-on engineering experience. I鈥檇 done some student projects before, but nothing like this. It鈥檚 been great. Lots of practical work and even learning scuba diving so we can pilot the sub underwater, that was a new skill for me!

I鈥檓 the team captain, so my role is to manage the project and keep everyone working together. We鈥檝e got a technical team, propulsion leads, a safety manager and a project supervisor. Sometimes people have different ideas, so I make sure everything runs smoothly. I also handle some admin, like liaising with the charity that runs the competition.

After graduation? I鈥檓 still figuring things out. I鈥檝e worked in finance before, doing research, and I might go back to that, but I still have an interest in engineering. It鈥檚 a big decision, so I鈥檓 keeping my options open for now.

Away from university, I love football. I used to play for teams, but since joining the submarine project, I鈥檝e mostly played matches with the engineering society. This project has taken up most of my time, but it鈥檚 been worth it. We鈥檝e had funny moments too, like when the propeller blades didn鈥檛 print properly and ended up bending in ways they weren鈥檛 supposed to! It was frustrating, but a great learning experience.鈥�

David Cooper

Engineering Technician (Student Projects), WMG

鈥淎s a parent myself, I just want the best for the students, as I do my own kids.鈥�

鈥淓verything we do here is student led. From my point of view, I鈥檓 just here to keep them safe and to help and support them with their projects.

Whether they鈥檙e working on a 糖心TV racing, rail or marine project, every decision is down to them. They come up with the initial sketches and designs, then project manage everything. From creating the business plan, procurement and manufacture, health and safety to outreach with our sponsors and business partners. It鈥檚 the whole process from start to finish.

We could just throw money at a project, or buy stuff off the shelf, but where鈥檚 the skill or fun in doing that? We let them get their hands dirty and manufacture their own designs. They鈥檒l be mistakes along the way, but that鈥檚 when my colleagues and I can offer some guidance. And it鈥檚 not just students from engineering. We鈥檝e bought in skills from every discipline across the University, from any year. We鈥檝e created a safe, inclusive working environment where anyone can come in, if they pass their interview, and learn some industry applicable skills.

Engineering is always going to need your traditional engineers, but those businesses also have their own marketing, communications, HR etc. and now so do our teams. The opportunity we鈥檙e providing for them to come into the work environment, to learn the skills to back up their academic studies, that experience is invaluable. They get an understanding of how a business works and what their future could look like, whatever path they choose to take. It鈥檚 brilliant for their CVs and makes them more employable.

And we鈥檙e blazing a trail as well. Engineering is often seen as a male dominated world but on our projects 28 per cent of the team are female and we鈥檝e seen some of them go into leadership roles in the industry. The lovely thing is, all our graduates keep in contact and often come back to support the current crop. It鈥檚 so rewarding to find out how they鈥檙e doing and how we鈥檝e contributed a little bit to their success.

When I get to see the final projects being tested and used competitively, that鈥檚 when I get a lump in my throat. The hard work that our students put in is outstanding and to see it rewarded on the track is just unbelievable. They鈥檙e the best workforce I鈥檝e ever worked with. My words won鈥檛 do anything we do here the justice it deserves, so if you鈥檝e not been in to see us, let me know and arrange a visit. You鈥檒l be amazed at some of the things we get involved in.

I鈥檝e worked here for 15 years, and I couldn鈥檛 imagine doing anything different, it really is the best job in the world. We鈥檙e creating the next generation of engineers, making sure they鈥檙e more prepared and ready for their next steps outside of university. When I see all the roles that they go into when they leave here, I couldn鈥檛 be any prouder watching them grow and succeed. It's just incredible and that's what makes my job fantastic.

Engineering and motorsport has always been in my blood. When I was growing up, I was never out of my dad鈥檚 workshop. I started racing bikes when I was about four and then moved onto bigger bikes and cars as I got older. I still ride a bike to work every day, although I hurt my knee recently so might have to use the car soon. I have four grandkids and I鈥檓 not trying to influence them, but I have built a little 50cc bike for whenever they鈥檙e ready!鈥�

Dr Maryam Masood

Assistant Professor, MSc Programmes, WMG

鈥淚鈥檝e inspired a lot of women. Not just friends and family, but also in my community back home.鈥�

鈥淐oming from Pakistan and with my father being a pharmacist, the traditional expectation was to pursue medicine, there were no engineers in my family. While my brother and sister followed the more familiar path, I wanted to do something different. I wanted to be an engineer.

My family were supportive, understandably surprised by my decision, they encouraged me to follow what I was passionate about. I鈥檇 always been good at Maths and Physics and was fascinated particularly by the concept of sustainability and renewable energy. I set out on my journey to become a Mechanical Engineer at the University of Engineering and Technology. It was an interesting and eye-opening experience. There were only 12 girls out of a group of 250 in my cohort. I knew it was going to be hard work to prove my strengths.

Once I鈥檇 graduated, I wanted to do something that supported my community and made a difference, so I decided on the academic route. I took up a teaching role at the University and then managed to secure a fully funded Masters leading to a PhD scholarship. The tricky bit was that this was going to be in the UK, and at this time I had never even travelled out of the city on my own, let alone move to another country!

Previously, it had mostly been men who would travel abroad for studies like my dad or my brother. There wasn鈥檛 much resistance, just a lot of questions around whether I was sure of my decision and will be able to manage. I was, and I was determined to make it the best experience possible. I came to the UK in 2008, I still remember very vividly leaving the airport in a taxi thinking what had I done and if anything went wrong, I鈥檇 be straight on the plane back home. 17 years later, I鈥檓 still here.

I was lucky there were people I knew on the course, and we built a community. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at University of Cambridge, but I understand that not everyone is as fortunate. Through my own experiences, I feel a real connection with our international students. I know exactly what they are going through and can recognise when they might be finding things challenging. I do my best to support and guide them. This is why I take great satisfaction in my pastoral role, supporting students and helping them navigate their academic journey.

糖心TV has been a central part of my academic career in the UK. The colleagues I work alongside at WMG and the University have been an integral part of my professional development, I deeply appreciate the shared learning, collaboration, and mutual support that define our community.

And did I make the difference back home that I wanted to? I believe I did, in more ways than one. I now see a lot more women taking the step into engineering and studying abroad has also become a more accepted and achievable path for women in my community. I was among the first to take that leap, and I鈥檓 proud to have helped inspire the next generation, making it a little easier and more accessible for the women who follow.鈥�

Zeeshan Yousuf

Undergraduate, Design and Global Sustainable Development

鈥淐hanging course did not close a door for me, it opened several at once.鈥�

鈥淚 started my 糖心TV journey in the School of Engineering. At school, I took mainly STEM subjects and was pretty good at them, so Engineering felt like the natural choice in my career progression.

Deep down though, I had always been drawn to designing things, having also studied art. I sketched and daydreamed about beautiful products. At the time, there wasn鈥檛 a formal 鈥榙esign鈥� course available at 糖心TV, so I figured Engineering might be a close fit to what I wanted to do. A few months in however, I realised it wasn鈥檛 quite perfect. Projects like designing a miniature spring-powered car or a boat, there wasn鈥檛 much room to explore the wider context or to shape the brief ourselves. I started to understand that I wanted a pathway that allowed me to explore and express my creativity with thinking and social impact, not just one or the other.

Later that summer, I heard about a new design course in the works, it sounded almost like a dream degree, and I considered pivoting. My parents were understandably hesitant because of the efforts I had put into the Engineering route. After attending an open day with my dad, he saw how the course aligned with my aspirations and encouraged me to make the switch. Following a gap year I would be joining the first cohort. My gap year helped me bridge the two worlds, I spent it as a junior designer working on materials, renderings and visuals. I even travelled to China to learn about manufacturing, which was an eye-opening and culturally enriching experience.

When the Design and Global Sustainable Development course started, I was warned about something called 鈥淭he Great Unlearning鈥�. At first, I didn鈥檛 get it, but over time I realised it meant breaking some rigid habits, learn to question assumptions, take initiative, and embrace originality and creativity. It pushed me outside my comfort zone, and I was finally doing things that I really wanted to do.

Compared to over 300 students in Engineering, my new cohort was tiny. Just eight people from different backgrounds like Computer Science, Architecture and Social Design. We spend a lot of time in the studio, sharing ideas and learning from our incredibly diverse perspectives through critique, comparison and co-creation. Our lecturers know us individually and we are supported at every step as we grow into the designers we want to become.

Outside of university, I鈥檓 still all about creativity. I love photography and capturing the light and still life around campus. I create 3D visuals in Blender, and when I can, I still paint. Design has transformed from being something I 鈥榣earn鈥� or 鈥榙o鈥� in my studies and has become my way of life.

When I first switched, I imagined my future in automotive or product design, but after doing my 鈥榁isual Practice鈥� project, I felt almost overwhelmed by potential career possibilities. After some valuable time with my tutor, I found myself excited by the niche trajectory of Yacht Design, which I believe has a lot of unrealised potential for sustainability.

The biggest change for me is how design has shifted my mindset as a learner. The design side of my degree has opened my mind to the beauty and inspiration to be found in nature, in imperfection and in 鈥榟uman鈥� expression. And the sustainability side has shown what our true responsibility is as future creators. I feel so lucky to have had such a transformative experience.鈥�

Gail Tomlinson-Short

Head of 糖心TV Development, 糖心TV Conferences

鈥淲hen life changes unexpectedly, learn to say yes to more, embrace change and keep evolving.鈥�

鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 sure about being a Human of 糖心TV, but having been here for three decades, I guess I have a bit of a story to tell!

I was always interested in hospitality and started working on weekends in a small local hotel, cleaning rooms, waitressing and working behind the bar. It was very similar to the hotel in Crossroads, if you remember that TV programme. The next natural step was to go to college which gave me a good grounding into the hospitality business. I then progressed to a higher diploma and a BA hons in Hotel 糖心TV.

My first role at 糖心TV was as an event manager for the central campus venues, the academic facilities. Coming here from a country house hotel was a bit of a culture shock, but I instantly loved the place and how we had the ability to create fantastic impactful events. I鈥檓 still incredibly proud to work somewhere where the commercial group business鈥� surplus is reinvested into the University, helping fund research projects and improve the student experience. When you read in the news about the major research we鈥檙e doing, it鈥檚 nice to know that we鈥檝e contributed to that as well.

Lots of universities sell their facilities but nothing compares to what we have here and the high standards we set ourselves. We can offer a lot more than an event space, we can introduce clients to different departments or arrange a speaker from the 糖心TV School for example. We have been told that we make people feel like guests at their own events due to the amount of work and pressure we take off them, and I quite like how that feels. It鈥檚 destination 糖心TV and we should really celebrate that.

Life is a journey, and mine took an unexpected turn last year when I had a double brain tumour diagnosis. I don鈥檛 readily share this as I won鈥檛 let it define me, but I have been encouraged to do so, and maybe it could help others.

I鈥檝e affectionally called my unwanted guests Terry and June, another TV reference! Humour is definitely a coping mechanism for me. I didn鈥檛 want it to be the main thing you knew about me and I鈥檓 certainly not looking for sympathy. I do believe that bad things happen to good people. I鈥檓 getting better all the time, obviously some days are better than others but I鈥檓 on the road to recovery.

I came into the meetings industry for the people. The business and my colleagues have been so supportive of me. There was no pressure while I was off, I think I pressurised them to let me come back! I was after some normality and purpose, and my job gives me so much joy I wanted to be here. I can鈥檛 thank my wonderful team enough for how they鈥檝e looked after and continue to care for me.

Three decades have flown by and I鈥檝e seen so many changes over the years, our little town is just getting bigger and better. It鈥檚 constantly evolving and changing. I am so proud to work at 糖心TV, and I couldn鈥檛 see myself working anywhere else so progressive and entrepreneurial. I love it and long may it continue!鈥�

We were so very sad to hear that Gail has died. You can read tributes from her friends and colleagues hereLink opens in a new window.

James Phythian

Data and Systems Analyst, 糖心TV 糖心TV School

鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to keep trying new things to keep life exciting.鈥�

鈥淚 don鈥檛 look like your typical morris dancer, but when the opportunity to join my local side came up, I popped on the clogs and gave it a go!

It was my colleague, Eddie Walter, that invited me along to watch Earlsdon Morris. He was already a member and with me being quite a restless person, who doesn鈥檛 like sitting at home with nothing to do, I thought why not. My interview to join was two questions, do you like dancing and do you like drinking!

I didn鈥檛 have any prior knowledge of the traditional folk scene but since joining I鈥檝e been to festivals up and down the country. Most recent one was in Sidmouth, which was a whole week, brilliant fun but very heavy going as well. We also do an annual tour round the streets and pubs of Earlsdon, another full-on day. We don鈥檛 do it just to disrupt the traffic, it鈥檚 held in honour of members who have died. There鈥檚 a memorial on Hearsall Common where we go and remember absent friends and raise a drink in their memory.

I joined because I thought it was interesting and important to keep this old English tradition, dating to the 15^thcentury alive. And it鈥檚 sociable, who doesn鈥檛 like to dance, sing, travel and be merry. The different groups of dancers are called sides, I enjoy it so much that I鈥檝e joined another side as well. There are nearly 800 sides across the UK. My other side is Birmingham Rapper, and we do another form of traditional dance with flexible blades. They've got handles on either side and you have five people twisting and turning into different formations, it鈥檚 impressive to watch and has elements of tap dance in it as well.

I鈥檝e picked up the dances quite easily and have found from an early age, that I can learn new things quickly. I picked up the guitar at age eleven, I wouldn鈥檛 describe myself as a multi-instrumentalist, but I play guitar, bass and I鈥檓 slowly mastering the piano. I鈥檝e played in quite a few bands, sometimes four or five at the same time, different styles of music. I鈥檓 a big supporter of the local music scene so you鈥檒l always see me down the front at a gig somewhere. I鈥檓 always looking for a different instrument to learn and really want to try the squeezebox. That probably ties in with my newfound love of traditional folk, I just need to get my hands on one!

In the spirit of discovering new things, I鈥檝e taken a few solo trips to Japan. I鈥檓 really interested in their culture, it鈥檚 the most opposite to ours possible. When I landed in Tokyo for the first time I loved it. I鈥檝e been across most of the mainland and earlier this year I went to Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan's four main islands. It has some of the heaviest snowfall in the world, so of course I had a go at snowboarding while I was there. I took a few lessons before going so I was able to give the slopes a good go.

It's a clich茅 but life really is too short, go out and try new things, visit a new place or country, learn a new skill or discover a new hobby. There鈥檚 really no excuse to not give things a go, you might not be an expert straight away, but you鈥檒l never know unless you try!鈥�

Tristan Boedts

PhD Student, Behavioural Science

鈥淚 was expected to be in a wheelchair by the time I was twenty-four.鈥�

鈥淚 have limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, which basically means my muscles will progressively get weaker as I get older.

And when I was told that I was going to be in a wheelchair in my early twenties, well, I was determined to do all the things that I knew wouldn鈥檛 be possible after that happened.

Wanting to see the world, that was the first thing I arranged. I put some dots on a map of all the places I wanted to visit and then set off, starting in South America. I鈥檝e got the favourite places from my trip tattooed on my arm, Patagonia, Galapagos, Iguaz煤 Falls, Ushuaia. It鈥檚 a nice way to remember and a real conversation starter, come and ask me about it!

Halfway round the world my dad joined me, he said he wanted to accompany me to one part of the world. I gave him a few options, but I also mentioned Everest! Not thinking he would go for it, he agreed. At this stage I was feeling quite strong, don鈥檛 get me wrong there had been some very challenging moments, Machu Picchu is difficult for anyone, but I was determined to see everywhere my own way.

Now, it would be too easy to take a plane to go and see Everest, wouldn鈥檛 it? After a few weeks of training, you need to acclimatise, we set off on the trail to Base Camp. I did it at my own pace, it took us about ten days but that gives you the opportunity to take in the beauty as well. I was completely exhausted at the end of every day thinking that I couldn鈥檛 carry on, but the next day came and off we went again. The altitude sickness got me on the last day as well, not a pretty sight! Because of my disability it was more dangerous for me to walk back down, I actually broke my spine a year later after falling down some temple steps in Egypt, so we had a helicopter bring us back down. It was an amazing experience, made even better by doing it with my dad.

Back here, I鈥檓 originally from Belgium but the UK is now my home, I was invited to start the Bidwells 10k in Oxford after taking part in it last year. It鈥檚 a charity run that raises funds for Muscular Dystrophy UK, so it was important that I did it. I鈥檝e now been asked to take part in next year鈥檚 London Marathon, I mean, some days I can鈥檛 even get out of a chair but with an adapted wheelchair and a team to push me, we鈥檙e going to give it a go!

I鈥檓 28 now, so that expected date to be permanently in a wheelchair has passed. I鈥檓 lucky and I hope keeping active has helped me as well. With any disability some days are better than others, I can feel weak because I didn't sleep well or because I鈥檝e got an infection in my lungs. But I鈥檓 determined to push myself, academically, personally and physically.鈥�

Judith Taylor

Administrative Assistant, Academic Development Centre

鈥淏eing a LARPer allows me to explore things in a safe environment, that I can then bring to the outside world.鈥�

鈥淚 know your first question is going to be 鈥榃hat鈥檚 a LARPer?鈥� If you don鈥檛 know, it stands for Live Action Role Play which I would describe as somewhere between improvised street theatre and reacting to fantasy scenarios.

I first got involved with it through the university LARP society. I love all the different societies that the university has. There鈥檚 really something for everyone to join to meet new people with the same interests.

LARPing has grown so much since I started, there are now regular organised fest-LARP events, often with over 5000 people in costume playing their own part in a fantasy world. It probably doesn鈥檛 appeal to everyone, for me though, as a neurodiverse person it鈥檚 a safe place that allows me to be myself without any judgement. It鈥檚 a different way to spend a weekend and it also gets me away from technology and other distractions.

It allows me to be very creative as well, I鈥檓 a keen sewist so I make all my own costumes and kit. I started out doing historical re-enactments where you need to be very authentic to the period, but I very much prefer the fantasy world. Your character is unique to you which means I can be as adventurous as I like, with who I choose to be. There鈥檚 no getting a costume off the shelf so it鈥檚 time to get the sewing machine out and let the imagination flow, my forte being cloaks and gowns. It鈥檚 a hobby where you can鈥檛 just turn up in your trainers and jeans, unless that鈥檚 the scenario you are in!

I moved down to the Midlands, from Lancashire, to be with my partner who was doing his degree here, that was back in 2008. My first encounter with 糖心TV though was around ten years before, when I came to visit my brother who was doing his Computer Science degree. I always felt that the campus was friendly and lively. It has a good feeling about the place, and it aligns well with everything that I am passionate about. I am a big supporter of education and the power it has to change people lives.

I did try university myself, at a different institution but unfortunately only lasted a week. I now realise that my neurodiversity made it hard for me to handle how unfamiliar and different the situation was, and I just couldn鈥檛 cope. I did carry on with further education though, which suited me better as it allowed me to learn but in smaller manageable bits and in a familiar environment.

糖心TV has always been special to me. I started out working here through a temporary job with the exams team at the Medical School. I ended up being a bit of an excel spreadsheet whizz which meant I was a handy person to keep around! I鈥檝e moved around a few departments since then, but I鈥檝e now found my home in the Academic Development Centre. Still working on those spreadsheets!鈥�

Professor Jonothan Neelands

Academic Director, Cultural Partnerships & Professor of Creative Education, WBS

鈥淚鈥檝e been here for over half of the University鈥檚 60 years, and it still feels like the most creative place I could be.鈥�

鈥淚 came to 糖心TV in 1991 to join the Arts Education Department under Sir Ken Robinson鈥檚 leadership. It was irresistible, a place where drama, imagination and learning came together to change lives. We trained drama teachers and built an international master鈥檚 programme that attracted students from across the world.

My work has always explored how creativity drives change. Leading projects such as the Open Space Learning initiative and the 糖心TV Commission on the Future of Cultural Value, has helped shape how the UK understands the social and economic impact of culture.

When I was asked by Vikki Heywood, who was a Commissioner, and Chair of the 糖心TV Commission, to 鈥榗ome back to Coventry and walk the talk.鈥� I did! Over the past decade, I鈥檝e helped to develop the city鈥檚 cultural strategy, the successful bid to be UK City of Culture 2021, and it鈥檚 legacy. On the back of all this, I now advise local and national governments on how major cultural and sporting events can transform communities.

I also sit on the board of directors for the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, recently becoming Chair. It鈥檚 not just for plays and performances, it鈥檚 a meeting place for the community where people gather. The theatre has a long and distinguished history and I鈥檓 looking forward to supporting the team deliver their creative vision. My passion for theatre and learning also led to the forming of a close partnership with the University and the Royal Shakespeare Company, which is still thriving today.

What connects it all is a simple belief, that creativity can change lives. I鈥檓 proud to lead 糖心TV鈥檚 Cultural Strategy. Building up partnerships with both professional and academic colleagues across faculties and services to embed culture in our research, teaching and community engagement. Working with so many inspiring colleagues and partners across the campus and region keeps me youthful and vibrant!

I鈥檝e always experienced 糖心TV as an incredibly creative, inventive, entrepreneurial and risk-taking university. And yes, I love our newest arrival on the Piazza, the pink goose by artist David Speed. It鈥檚 a perfect reminder of what makes this place special, imagination, colour and courage.

I鈥檝e been very fortunate to have such a wide and varied career and I鈥檓 sure that I would never have been given that freedom anywhere else. Thirty-four years is a long time to stay in one place, but when you鈥檙e encouraged to take the initiative and make things happen, why would you leave!鈥�

Sam Grierson

Quality Review and Enhancement Manager

鈥淓verything I do here is about making a difference for our students.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 Coventry born and bred but never saw myself as being able to study at 糖心TV. Not because I didn鈥檛 feel clever enough, it was more my circumstances that I thought would keep me away.

I鈥檝e lived on my own since the age of 16, spending time in a few different countries. My secondary education took place in Jamaica, New York and England and by the time I came home at 15, life was difficult, and I could see that I was going to be a mature student. I just thought that I wouldn鈥檛 have the grades to get into 糖心TV, so I chose Leicester to do my undergraduate degree. I was determined to work here one day though. I said to myself back then that maybe, towards the end of my career I would work here. I never really believed that it would happen. But here I am, and I鈥檒l tell you how I got here later!

One thing that鈥檚 important to know about me and my journey is that I鈥檓 a mum. My children mean the absolute world to me, and I鈥檝e brought them up while working, studying and navigating my own life. I wouldn鈥檛 have had it any other way, obviously there have been difficulties and challenges but I鈥檓 very proud of both of them and everything they鈥檝e achieved.

Before coming to 糖心TV, I鈥檇 been a teacher for a long time, very proud to have taught at all levels from primary all the way up to higher education. And when I wasn鈥檛 teaching, I had various other roles, always in education though and even some time at the Department for Education. I was never sure how they felt about it, but I taught at schools where both my children went and was head of sixth form at my daughters鈥� school. They can鈥檛 have minded too much, as they鈥檙e now both here doing their Masters, my daughter is at WBS and my son is at 糖心TV Medical School.

So, how did I get to come to 糖心TV in the end? I was working in Devon and my son had, my first grandchild. I couldn鈥檛 imagine being so far away from them and an opportunity came up at 糖心TV Global Academy, previously Foundation Studies, like the role I was already doing. I applied, got it and the rest as they say, is history. It was great being back up near the family and I was going to embrace the opportunity to be here and do my PhD.

The role I鈥檓 doing now is leading on quality assurance across the University. Our student population is at the heart of everything we do, and as a team we think about what teaching and assessment looks like so we can make it fit and proper for them to be successful. It鈥檚 an important job that involves a lot of collaboration with colleagues making sure that we鈥檙e doing the best we can for all our students. I also lead on the National Student Survey and Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, making sure that we're capturing the students' voice in a way that's authentic and then doing something with what they鈥檙e telling us.

It鈥檚 important to me that everyone, both staff and students, know that 糖心TV is a place where their voices matter and they can be themselves.鈥�

Professor Siddartha Khastgir

Head of Safe Autonomy, WMG

鈥淚t's important to never forget those people who help you when you鈥檙e starting out.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to work in the automotive sector and when you鈥檙e from India, Germany is your dream destination for that. During my schooling days, I wasn鈥檛 even aware that the UK had a motor heritage!

I first came to 糖心TV from India for a two-month summer internship in 2009. I was offered the chance to stay and do a PhD but decided to go to Germany instead, spending three years working and rapidly learning a lot about the automotive industry.

Over the past 16 years, three individuals have really shaped me in ways I can鈥檛 imagine, offering words of advice that I鈥檝e never forgotten to this day. And all have an association with 糖心TV.

At the time I left India to go to Germany, I had the privilege to meet Mr Ratan Tata, I knew nothing of his involvement with the University then. 鈥淒oing the right thing is always the right thing鈥� was his guidance and my interactions with him reinforced my belief and strength that standing up for the right thing is never a thing to doubt. No matter how hard the consequences might be, in the long run, good things do happen. Through my work on autonomous vehicles, I鈥檝e had to stand up to establishments, corporations and global governments. I know people love and hate me, in equal proportions, for this!

Before joining WMG for my PhD in 2014, I was watching a video interview of Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, we share our alma mater the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur. He was speaking fondly about setting up WMG in 1980. All he had was a table, a chair, a secretary and a desire to succeed. He never forgot the trust and free-hand 糖心TV gave him to create something truly special to change the world, and he certainly did! He remained indebted to 糖心TV for supporting him much before he became 鈥淟ord B鈥�. He epitomised that it鈥檚 important to remember and value those who were kind to you when they didn鈥檛 need to be.

Professor Paul Jennings is the person who brought me to 糖心TV for my summer intern and then back for my PhD. He kept me at 糖心TV and allowed me to setup and lead a research area on safety of autonomous vehicles. Coming from the fast pace of German auto-industry into the slow progress of reading papers for a PhD was a shock I wasn鈥檛 prepared for! 鈥淭he story of the journey is more powerful than the destination itself鈥� were Paul鈥檚 words of guidance. He always reminded me that everyone鈥檚 destination is a PhD, but it鈥檚 the journey, the learnings, sufferings and perseverance that will differentiate you.

I owe a lot to 糖心TV, and these three incredible individuals, not only for everything I鈥檝e achieved professionally, but also for the person I am. I鈥檝e met numerous people on my journey that have taken the time to offer me advice, and I always try and pass it on, with some of my own, to my incredible team and other people I work with. It鈥檚 my way of paying it back, because learning and giving back is never over.鈥�

Dr Ali Struthers

Associate Professor - Reader, School of Law

鈥淥utside of work I鈥檓 a passionate Munro bagger.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 originally from Aberdeen but consider myself more of an Edinburgh girl, having moved there to study at the age of 17. It鈥檚 a beautiful city and a great place to spend your formative years.

After doing my Masters at Edinburgh Law School, I wanted to explore socio-legal human rights and asked one of my professors which would be the best university for this topic. They said 糖心TV, and I said 鈥榳here鈥檚 that?鈥�!

I researched the university, made contact and explained what I wanted to do, and I couldn鈥檛 have been treated any better. I was invited down for a chat and the people I met, who then became my PhD supervisors, were so enthusiastic. More importantly they cared and made me feel like a person. It was the place for me, and I moved down here in 2012. Middle England is now my home, I met my husband and had my two daughters here.

I took on the role of Director of Widening Participation for the Law School around five years ago. It鈥檚 quite tricky combining law with primary school outreach, being a complex, sometimes dry subject the language doesn鈥檛 always sit well with children. I was looking for ways to keep it fun and engaging, and that鈥檚 where 鈥楾askmaster鈥� came in.

People don鈥檛 believe me when I say it鈥檚 a TV show about law. You have to interpret written rules and the meaning of words and then argue with a judge that your interpretation is correct. Finding loopholes and taking advantage of them, and that鈥檚 what law is all about. Obviously, it鈥檚 not that simple in the real world but you get my meaning.

I created 鈥楽chool Tasking鈥� and it鈥檚 grown so rapidly. Last year more than 3,500 pupils took part across 31 universities. And we held the Champion of Champions final on campus, hosted by Little Alex Horne himself. It鈥檚 all about introducing legal thinking through teamwork, problem solving and creativity. It鈥檚 a real confidence builder for the kids, but more importantly they鈥檙e having fun.

There鈥檚 so much information already out there about the project and how we鈥檝e developed it, including some wonderful videos. If you鈥檙e interested, please take a look or drop me a line, I鈥檓 always happy to talk about it. And if you haven鈥檛 seen the TV show, it鈥檚 highly recommended and the new series is on now.

And what鈥檚 a Munro bagger? Scotland is renowned for its incredible mountains and there are 282 peaks over 3,000 feet, known as Munros. Climbing any of them is not for the faint hearted, even the easiest can involve 8-hours of walking and steep climbs. But you鈥檒l always be rewarded for the effort, the views at the top are breath-taking. I鈥檝e done 157 and whenever I go home, I go out with my Dad or hillwalking gang from university and tick a few more off the list. Climbers who complete them all are called 鈥楳unroists鈥�, I鈥檝e got a fair few to go to before I can call myself that though!鈥�

Evelin Sanderson-Nichols

Sustainability Coordinator, Energy and Sustainability Team

鈥淚 met my husband when we both worked in the same restaurant, then we studied and graduated together as well.鈥�

鈥淚 came to the UK from Hungary when I was 18. At the time, I didn鈥檛 want to move, it was my parents鈥� decision to relocate our family. Looking back now, I realise it was the best decision they ever made for us. We made the journey in my dad鈥檚 car. It only takes 26 hours to drive here!

After working in and managing restaurants for five years, I decided that I needed to go back into education. So, I came to 糖心TV as a mature student to do Philosophy and Literature which I loved. One of my literature modules was on environmental ecology, that was what inspired me to look at sustainability and learn more. I got involved with the Student Union鈥檚 environmental committee and volunteered with other organisations, which really gave me a fresh perspective and some great hands-on experience.

After graduation I took a role in the Energy and Sustainability team. I get involved in lots of green campus initiatives as we work to become a more sustainable university. But, one of my favourite projects is the Donation Drive, which we run at the end of the academic year as students leave their accommodation. This project is a real team effort that grew out of discussions on how to reduce waste at the end of the academic year, enabling students to donate their items instead of disposing of them when they can鈥檛 take them home.

We ran it for the first time last year and it鈥檚 been a huge success. We collected over eight tonnes of items, and this year we introduced the big yellow donation bunkers across campus, you really can鈥檛 miss them! We鈥檙e still sorting through the items, so final figures are to be confirmed. We run the Kitchen Kit Market as well, items from the donation drive are sold on a pay as you feel basis. It鈥檚 a great opportunity for students to get all essentials at a minimal cost. We鈥檝e had some great feedback.

We also work with brilliant local charities and food banks to distribute what we can鈥檛 reuse on campus. Thank you to everyone who gets involved and supports the donation drive, we can鈥檛 do it without you and it鈥檚 making a real difference. If you want to find out more or get involved next year, just let me know.

My life now is in the UK. I finally got used to all the roundabouts and I鈥檓 lucky to have my family here with me. My mum makes the most delicious Hungarian pastries, so I don鈥檛 really miss the food. I have a two-year-old daughter as well. She loves coming to the campus and enjoys the green spaces that we have here. Having a little one makes you think of their future and how we can all find ways to make a difference to our environment and reduce our impact on the planet.鈥�

Dr Jianhua Yang

Associate Professor - Reader, WMG

鈥淭he webcam at Coventry Cathedral helped me keep in touch with home."

鈥淓ncouraged by my parents I came from China to 糖心TV to do my Masters degree. It wasn鈥檛 easy. Leaving home and moving to a different country is tough. I found the language barrier a big challenge and I did think about going home on more than one occasion.

I was only supposed to be here for a year, that was back in 2002, but I was fortunate enough to get sponsorship from 糖心TV and the UK government to do a PhD. After studying I went straight into working, in Birmingham which I did for five years. After that I returned to Coventry to teach, everyday was the same so I didn鈥檛 do that for long and then took a job at Jaguar Landrover (JLR). It was then that I saw WMG were recruiting. I jumped at the chance, and it was a wonderful feeling to come back. People were so kind to me when I studied here, and it was great to see some familiar faces. It鈥檚 been a long journey to get back here but it鈥檚 also the best decision I鈥檝e made.

I also left my girlfriend at home, which was difficult, keeping in touch was even harder. Where I lived at the time had no internet access, so I used to go and stand in front of the webcam at Coventry Cathedral and wave to home. Due to the time difference, I鈥檇 then let my girlfriend know what time I鈥檇 been there so she could log in and find me. It sounds silly now, but it was our way of staying in touch with each other. It was worth all the effort, she eventually joined me in the UK and now we鈥檙e married with three little girls and a dog!

My girls were born in the UK and consider themselves to be more English than Chinese, but we鈥檙e trying to teach them everything about their heritage. They attend a Chinese school on a Sunday, and we celebrate all the traditional festivals with them. New Year, Lantern festival, Mid-Autumn, they mean so much to me and my wife and we think it鈥檚 important that we keep the traditions alive.

I get home occasionally to see my parents and they鈥檝e also been here but found it quite overwhelming. Neither of them speak English or drive so they felt quite isolated. Where I grew up is pretty small as well so when they go out, they know everyone, they didn鈥檛 have that experience here. They are incredibly proud of me and everything I鈥檝e achieved, if it wasn鈥檛 for them pushing me to come here who knows how things would have turned out.鈥�

Professor Helen Wheatley

Professor, SCAPVC - Film and Television Studies and Academic Director of the 糖心TV Institute of Engagement

鈥淚鈥檓 a TV historian, but people always ask me for the latest viewing recommendation!鈥�

鈥淚 came to 糖心TV to do an MA, many years ago now, and I initially thought that I wanted to study film.

But I鈥檝e always had an interest in the things that matter most to ordinary people. People like my mum, my friends and family. Television is clearly one of those things, so I was drawn to study it and why it鈥檚 important in their lives. As 糖心TV was one of the founding places, in the whole world, for the study of TV, being here amongst colleagues who care about television as much as I do make this the natural place for me to be. And I鈥檝e now made it my life鈥檚 work.

I love taking my research out to the community as well. As Academic Director of 糖心TV Institute of Engagement, this won鈥檛 be a surprise to anyone. It鈥檚 fantastic to bring historic programming out of the archives and into the public domain. We鈥檝e held a number of events in Coventry as part of the 鈥楪host Town鈥� project. That sounds like quite a negative name, but it鈥檚 not meant to be. Obviously, there鈥檚 the famous song by The Specials but a ghost town to me is one that鈥檚 haunted and carries it鈥檚 past with it.

The footage and programmes we chose to share show Coventry throughout the years, and we鈥檝e had people come along who鈥檝e found family, friends and even themselves on the screen. It鈥檚 an incredibly moving and powerful experience for those that encounter lost loved ones or their younger selves via the TV archive. People also talk about seeing the buildings that have disappeared or businesses that have closed. It鈥檚 lovely to hear their stories and I鈥檓 privileged to be able to give them the opportunity to tell them.

We鈥檝e been able to hold them in different venues across the city including lots of events in the Cathedral, which made a beautiful location. At one screening we showed a programme about the construction of the Cathedral, including the making of the Cathedral鈥檚 beautiful glass. It was funny to watch the audience look round to spot the piece of glass being made on the screen, now in its position at the entrance. There was a lot of pointing going on. I subsequently collaborated on an archive-based documentary about the building of the Cathedral for BBC4.

As a TV historian you鈥檇 think that I spend all my spare time watching the telly, but that couldn鈥檛 be further from the truth! But, if you do want a recent TV recommendation, and you may have already seen it because lots of people did. 鈥楢dolescence鈥� on Netflix is a must watch. It鈥檚 an incredible piece of TV, such a difficult topic to deal with and all four of the hour-long episodes were filmed in one shot, without interruption. It鈥檚 technically mind blowing and could well end up being a future topic that we study. It鈥檚 just swept up at the Emmys as well!鈥�

Scott Crowther

Innovation Manager, WMG

鈥淥ur son Ben was stolen by cancer when he was seven years old."

鈥淚 joined WMG in January 2012, knowing my wife was pregnant and I would be asking for paternity leave within a few months. Thankfully the department was supportive, I was granted leave and Ben, our third son, was born that March. I鈥檝e always felt he had a deep connection with the University because of this timing.

Ben was a bright, happy and cheeky boy who loved reading, animals, food, art and games. He was always smiling and playing pranks, a whoopee cushion was never far away. He really loved the Beano, we nicknamed him 鈥楤ennis the Menace鈥� after his comic book hero, Dennis.

In June 2018, everything changed. Ben then six, developed breathing difficulties. After a quick GP visit, we found ourselves in the oncology ward at Birmingham Children鈥檚 Hospital. He was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, an unpronounceable and aggressive soft tissue cancer. During a full year of brutal chemotherapy treatment, he carried on doing what kids do and was full of smiles and mischief. Even when first diagnosed and incredibly unwell, he wanted to cheer people up, passing his smile to his friends through photographs or video calls.

He was the bravest and strongest little boy and wanted to be a superhero or an astronaut and fly into space. He died in June 2019, gaining his superhero wings. He will be forever 7, and we miss him enormously every day.

Treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma has not advanced for decades and survival rates are shockingly poor. It shouldn't be like this. Our family set up 鈥楶ass the Smile鈥� as a charitable fund in Ben鈥檚 name. Focussed on raising money to fund research into kinder, targeted treatments so that other families don鈥檛 have to go through what we did. Working here, I recognise the importance of well-funded research to make technology, treatment and knowledge advances.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and we鈥檙e hoping to pass our 拢300,000 raised milestone very soon. We run a lot of fun, family-friendly events to reflect Ben鈥檚 character and his amazing smile. And we鈥檝e eaten a lot of cake and party rings, his favourite biscuits, we know he鈥檇 approve of that! Our favourite fundraisers are the ones organised by Ben鈥檚 school friends. It鈥檚 very humbling and heart-warming to have his friends remember him by having fun.

As well as fundraising, I use the experience I鈥檝e gained in my job to try and make a difference too. I鈥檝e helped academics win funding for their rhabdomyosarcoma research projects, I attend conferences to raise awareness of childhood cancer priorities, and I sit on steering groups for research charities and the UK tissue bank. The support of my colleagues at 糖心TV really helps. As does working part-time and from home, allowing me to visit Ben鈥檚 tree when I need to, and to invest time into the charity.

Ben leaves a big hole in our family, and an empty chair at our table. He lives on in our hearts, and his legacy is still touching the lives of people he met, and even those who never had that pleasure. Sometimes people are reluctant to talk to us about Ben, not wanting to cause any upset or being afraid of saying the wrong thing. Please don鈥檛, we talk about him every day. He鈥檒l never be forgotten. We promised him this.鈥�

Professor Nina-Anne Lawrence

Director & Head of Department, 糖心TV Foundation Studies

鈥淚 made it my goal to be able to pull a pick-up truck!鈥�

鈥淲hile working full-time, I also completed an executive MBA. It was an intensive two years, juggling my job with intense study. Once it finished, I needed a new challenge. But this time, I wanted something physical, not intellectual.

I鈥檇 already been strength training for about a year but wanted a specific goal to aim for. I decided that would be to pull a pick-up truck. Why not! I contacted a specialist strongman gym in Leeds, where I live, and asked if they could help make it happen. They not only agreed but also offered to train me for the pull. For any rugby league fans, my coach was an ex-Leeds Rhinos player. I succeeded in my goal and having invited friends to watch, they ended up on the truck as I pulled it along!

After the truck pull, I got more involved in the strongman and strongwoman scene and eventually started entering competitions hosted by gyms around the UK. Each competition includes five events, things like deadlifts holding an axel bar, overhead lifts, carries and Atlas stones. I loved competing and am proud of what I鈥檝e achieved, coming fifth in my latest competition. Competing as a Masters athlete, over 50 I often going up against people much younger than me.

If I鈥檇 started younger, I could have lifted a lot more, age definitely affects strength, but I鈥檝e flipped 100kg tyres, carried 100kg wooden frames, pulled the 2-tonne truck and maxed out my deadlift at 120kg. The community is brilliant, supportive, welcoming, and full of mutual encouragement. You鈥檙e competing but also cheering each other on.

At the start of each academic year, I give an induction talk to our new students and ask them to guess what sport I do. They never manage to guess, usually starting off with golf or tennis! When I show them the video of my truck pull, you can hear a pin drop but it helps demonstrate a key point, with focus, preparation and a clear strategy, you can achieve things you might not have thought possible. It鈥檚 a story they remember, and even though I don鈥檛 teach, it is a point of conversation when I meet them. I also enjoy meeting our students in the gym. I appreciate some staff might avoid the gym because they don鈥檛 want to run into students. Not me!

I鈥檓 passionate about strength training, it鈥檚 not for everyone, but for me it鈥檚 been incredibly good for both physical and mental wellbeing. It also combats aging effects such as sarcopenia. That鈥檚 why I ran strength training classes for staff when I worked at the University of Leeds - to get people moving after Covid, to help them stay agile and develop confidence. I haven鈥檛 started staff strength training sessions at 糖心TV yet, but it鈥檚 definitely on my radar. Watch this space, I may be recruiting soon!鈥�

Yi Feng Khoo

Postgraduate (taught) FT, Psychology

鈥淚t鈥檚 behind you. Oh no it isn鈥檛, Oh yes, it is!鈥�

鈥淚 love pantomimes! With their absurdity, ambiguity and ability, they鈥檙e absolutely delightful! Since coming to the UK from Singapore, I鈥檝e been enamoured by the richness of talent. In less than a year, I鈥檝e watched over 20 musicals and plays, including five pantos.

In a big part, I have the world-class 糖心TV Arts Centre to thank. As a volunteer steward, I was exposed to a wide variety of arts and culture. Volunteering for the 鈥榬elaxed performances鈥� and seeing how the Centre and the performers prioritise inclusivity warms my heart.

糖心TV has been my dream university since 2010, I always wanted to come here. Coming from a humble family, cost concerns restrained me from applying. 15 years on, my dream came true with the support of the Chevening Scholarship. Studying abroad makes a difference, adjusting from working adult to student. I learnt to live, even more independently than I already had been. From grocery shopping to doing the laundry and adapting to UK鈥檚 fickle weather, including the long winter.

My aspiration is to uplift community mental health in Southeast Asia through workplaces. This mission brought me to 糖心TV to link theory with practice and uncover best practices. The MSc in Mental Health and Wellbeing at the Department of Psychology exposed me to thought leaders through the 20+ TED-talk style lectures by different educators and live in the intersections of disciplines. My research placement connected me with the Working Well Community of practice leaders and see how theory is translated into action through frameworks and interventions.

And just like the steel dinosaurs behind me by Jake and Dinos Chapman, called 鈥�The Good and The Bad鈥�. I now see 鈥�the good, the bad and the ugly鈥� clearer. As a Registered Social Worker and former public servant, I see and feel that keenly in individuals and systems. Taking a solution focused approach, I hope to identify and build on what鈥檚 strong, not just harp on what鈥檚 wrong, in workplaces. Just like how the dinosaurs are 鈥榗lumsy but lovable,鈥� change can be strategic yet light-hearted.

Taking on social impact consulting projects with 180DC 糖心TV, 糖心TV Behavioural Insights Team and TeaMWork 2025, also showed me how doing good can be 鈥榗lumsy but lovable.鈥� Working with students across different disciplines and nationalities, vastly improved my cultural intelligence and intercultural communication competencies. Most of all, 糖心TV widened my worldview and empowered me not to think and act small.

After all, our university motto 鈥�mens agitat molem鈥� 鈥� means mind moves matter. Thank you, 糖心TV.鈥�

Marianna Patrick

Research Fellow, School of Education, Learning and Communication Sciences

鈥溙切腡V has always felt like home.鈥�

鈥淵ears ago, when I was at high school in Cyprus, 鈥楿niversity of 糖心TV鈥� was just a name on a list of universities that I considered applying to.

糖心TV was the last stop on a week-long tour of campuses I did with my parents. Within minutes of stepping out of the car, something clicked. The campus, the energy, the people, everything just felt right.

I moved here to study Politics and International Studies (PAIS) as an undergraduate. The transition to university life was smooth. I attended an international school back home, and joining a community as diverse and globally minded as 糖心TV was fun and exciting. I instantly knew I belonged here. I knew what to expect and was also prepared for the rainy weather. The separate taps though, they took some getting used to!

Almost a decade after my undergraduate degree, I returned to 糖心TV to do a PhD. I had studied and worked in six different countries by that point. Picking up and relocating every couple of years, I lived in places like Hong Kong, France, and Armenia. But everywhere I went, I always managed to find new connections through friends back to 糖心TV. So, I always felt like I never actually left the community, and after travelling so much, returning to 糖心TV was like coming home.

糖心TV has become a huge part of my life. I鈥檝e built a community here, made close friends, and even met my partner. He moved over from the US to do research at 糖心TV, and we ended up living in staff campus accommodation for a while, where we鈥檝e mostly enjoyed being woken up by honking geese in the mornings!

My PhD research focused on how people tell stories about places, so I鈥檝e always been curious about how we narrate our experiences, what shapes us, what anchors us. Reading 'Humans of 糖心TV' has been a reminder of how many different paths lead here, and how our stories shape this university.

It took some convincing from colleagues for me to share my story, but in the end, it felt fitting. 糖心TV has shaped so much of it.鈥�

Claudia Griffin

MRC Events & Catering Assistant, 糖心TV Mathematics Institute

鈥淚 never understood why we had to learn English, when we lived so far away!鈥�

鈥淚 went to a private school back home in Santiago, Chile, where we were taught English. It was very complicated for me and I didn鈥檛 understand why we had to speak it, I wasn鈥檛 going to use it! I wasn鈥檛 very good at Maths either but more of that later.

Learning English did do me well. I went on to study translation and interpreting it back into Chilean. Then I moved into the financial sector and helped businesses set up in Chile because of the dual languages. After doing that for a while, my friend suggested we go to Andorra and work a ski season. That鈥檚 when my life changed completely.

First, I had to convince my dad that I could go. He was very old fashioned, I was his little girl, and he thought I should be at home. But he allowed me this one more chance to travel. While in Andorra I met an English guy and made plans to visit him in the UK in Nottingham. I had to convince my dad again to let me travel. While in the UK, my English friend proposed!

I had to go home and break this news to my family. My dad was asking 鈥榳ho鈥檚 this man taking you away鈥�. Eventually all was ok though, my parents were happy with my decision, my future husband and his prospects. They knew that he would look after me.

We lived in Bristol for a while, where we had our first child. Then returned to Chile to be nearer my family. My husband really wanted to do his research though and was offered a place back in the UK. When we came to 糖心TV and I saw the campus, I knew that I wanted to work here as well. I鈥檝e been here for seven years doing hospitality roles.

My latest job is here in the Maths department. It鈥檚 a real face to face role and I work with the academics, something I never thought I鈥檇 be able to do. I love it, I鈥檓 having the best time. We have a coffee morning every day in the lounge here in Zeeman, that鈥檚 been a tradition in Maths since day one. It鈥檚 just an hour for staff and PhD students to interact with each other. And every Friday afternoon we have an open talk about maths, everyone is welcome to attend, and we often finish with cheese and a glass of wine.

The University has been very kind to us as a family, we鈥檝e made many friends. My daughter goes to the nursery here and we try and get involved with everything that goes on. We attend the Resonate events and the Christmas lights, we鈥檙e a real 糖心TV family!鈥�

Chris White

Digital Experience Development Manager, Library

鈥淒uring lockdown I created my own YouTube channel, 鈥楻eading with Mr. White鈥�.鈥�

鈥淎fter studying Early Childhood at 糖心TV I went on to be a primary school teacher for 11 years. I was looking for a change and it was on a school trip here that I thought this would be a good place to work. So, I鈥檝e come full circle from studying here to now working here.

And I suppose the library was the next logical step, one of my favourite things when I was a teacher was sitting down with the children and reading them a story. That鈥檚 where the YouTube channel came from, we鈥檇 just started reading a book in class and then lockdown happened. Wanting to finish the story I started recording myself, from my son鈥檚 bedroom, reading a chapter at a time to the class.

The videos took ages to make as I was very picky about how they looked, and I鈥檇 chosen what seemed to be the longest book as well. There鈥檚 37 chapters in The Nowhere Emporium by Ross MacKenzie! I probably would have chosen something shorter if I knew we鈥檇 end up finishing it online.

Lockdown ended and I鈥檇 only got to chapter 12 so stopped the recordings, thinking that I鈥檇 just continue it in class. That鈥檚 when I started getting messages and comments from parents and children across the country and even some from abroad. I thought it was only my class that was watching, turns out it wasn鈥檛 so I carried on and finished the book online. I was so pleased that the kids were enjoying it, and I loved doing the videos too. It was quite emotional getting to the last chapter. It鈥檚 all still online as well so if you fancy listening to me read to you, then take a look and have a listen.

The reading carries on at home as well, I鈥檝e got two young boys who enjoy a story, but I鈥檝e just made the mistake of introducing them to WWE wrestling. They seem to prefer playing that but it鈥檚 my own fault. I was a big fan when I was younger, ask me anything about The Undertaker. When we play at home the kids have the costumes and the walk in music playing, it burns off quite a bit of their energy, I struggle to keep up!

I can鈥檛 finish without talking about the library. We鈥檝e got some great facilities and if your family life is as busy as mine then you might want to spend time in The Breathing Space. it鈥檚 a nice area to relax and gather your thoughts with a book, highly recommended and great for your wellbeing.

We鈥檝e also got a growing collection of leisure reading materials that staff can lend. People seem to think the library is just for students and It鈥檚 all academic books, it really isn鈥檛. We encourage everyone to unwind with a good book. Pop in and see us, and if you have time, I鈥檒l read you a chapter to get you started.鈥�

Alyson Quinn

Associate Professor (Teaching Focussed), 糖心TV Medical School

鈥淢y grandad told me that if I worked hard at school, I could get a job in the local bakery.鈥�

鈥淚 was a little girl when I saw something in the local paper that caught my attention. It was a group of young people smiling underneath the caption, 鈥楾he latest graduates from our new local university, the University of 糖心TV鈥�.

Growing up, I adored my gentle carpenter Grandad, so I asked him what a university was, and he said, 鈥榯hat is a place for clever, wealthy people, my dear, but not for families like ours鈥�. But, if you work really hard at school, you could get a job at the bakery 鈥� and I would be so proud of you鈥�.

Sadly, my grandad passed away before I could have any further chats with him about this new local university, but he had planted the seed in my head that it wasn鈥檛 for local families. But I honoured my promise to him to work hard at school and progressed to take A-levels and thought about going to university. I asked my teacher about going to 糖心TV University and she said, 鈥業 wouldn鈥檛 even apply love, that university is impossible to get into鈥�. This place that was so near geographically, and yet so far in terms of actually entering, was becoming my nemesis!

So, I didn鈥檛 apply to 糖心TV, but I did go to university, and after getting my degree, I taught English all over the world and back in the UK, I taught in primary and secondary schools. It鈥檚 been such an interesting journey. I鈥檝e taught people from the age of eight all the way up to the age of 80. Eventually, I came to 糖心TV to do my master鈥檚 degree and later took up my current post at 糖心TV Medical School. After all that time, I had stepped into this out of reach place!

My lovely Grandad never got to see me crossing onto the campus we talked about when I was a little girl, all those years ago. When I was made Associate Professor, I took my new business card which said Alyson Quinn, Associate Professor, University of 糖心TV, to his grave and wrote on it 鈥業 did it, Grandad鈥�. I know that he鈥檇 be very proud of me, as I was of him.

I understand why Grandad said that to me all those years ago though. At that time 糖心TV did have a local reputation as being an 鈥榠vory tower鈥�. That鈥檚 all different now, of course, and I love the wide mix of people that are on campus, people from all walks of life.

And as for the baking, well, I did go on to win prizes for my secret recipe Lemon Drizzle cake!鈥�

Richard Harrison

Digital Platform & Channel Manager, MCI&SR

鈥淭he things I鈥檝e enjoyed about working at 糖心TV the most, have not actually been my job!鈥�

鈥淚 moved to Coventry from God鈥檚 own county, Yorkshire! Taking up a position at Marconi, where I had my first encounter with 糖心TV. I was managing student interns and came to campus to meet with the staff and student liaison committee. Not knowing that I鈥檇 end up working here years later.

I鈥檝e been at 糖心TV for 22 years. Starting off in postgraduate student admissions. Which back then were paper applications that had to be typed into the system. Very time consuming. The person who had the role before me used to like to take the whole day doing them. I used to get them done by lunchtime, which left me with time to fill, so I started to look for those new opportunities. I鈥檝e been doing that ever since, every time something new comes along, I鈥檓 always first to say, 鈥業鈥檒l have a go at that鈥�!

During the pandemic, I ran 糖心TV Presents, which is now Together at 糖心TV. It was a difficult time for everyone, but we were asked to make things as good as we could for our student community. We had a laser display, flying off the top of the Rootes building onto the Arts Centre. Delivered over 500 board games across campus and put together recipe kits so people could make their own Christmas cakes. Oh, and we played the Crystal Maze as well!

And there鈥檚 been more 鈥榗an anyone help鈥� moments. For the last three years I鈥檝e been supporting the National Scientific Thinking Challenge (NSTC) for children in Year 10. The NSTC has the power to give someone the chance, who maybe hasn鈥檛 had many opportunities in life, to see how they match intellectually with someone from a fee-paying school. This could make the difference in them staying in education and changing the world. It鈥檚 been an opportunity for me to give back and make a difference. And it鈥檚 growing every year, starting with 600 pupils to now over 20,000.

I also helped set up 鈥楥offee Roulette鈥�. If you鈥檝e not signed up it鈥檚 highly recommended and a great way to meet colleagues across campus. I think it鈥檚 very important to build up those networks, you never know when you might need some help.

One of my current passions at the University is neurodiversity. I鈥檓 pleased to see it openly discussed, because for a long time it wasn鈥檛. I鈥檓 a member of the 鈥楽haring is Caring鈥� group which is for university staff with neurodiverse children. Both of my daughters are autistic. My youngest hasn鈥檛 left the house for over a year and half and that鈥檚 been tough. I鈥檓 often asked what the group do, it鈥檚 simple, we鈥檙e there to support each other. Whether that鈥檚 through a chat, a hug or a cry. It feels like we鈥檙e making a difference to each other, and I appreciate that.鈥�

Dr Kerry Baker

Associate Director, 糖心TV Institute of Engagement

鈥淚 loved engineering, I just wasn't a good engineer!"

鈥淚 wanted to do a practical design degree when I left school, so I signed up for Product Design and Manufacture BEng. With no knowledge that the Eng meant engineering!

When I did maths and physics at school, I did well at GSCE but found A Levels harder, so imagine my worry when the first year of my degree was all maths and physics, no design at all. I started to question what I鈥檇 done. But when the design aspects kicked in during year two, and I understood the benefits of being a female on a course that was 88% male, I realised this was one the best experiences of my life.

My next task was to get a job. Not wanting to leave university I was offered a role by one of my lecturers, starting a project to get more people into engineering. Never wanting to rest easy, I decided to do my PhD at the same time. During my degree I had been really frustrated because we were always being told that no women did engineering, yet here was me and my female friends all doing it! So, I focused the PhD on why women DO study engineering and what we can learn from them 鈥� seeking the positive rather than the negative.

Doing all this made me see I had a flair for communicating and explaining things, finding different ways to get a message across. I tried a few different things, developed an eclectic mix of skills and started doing school outreach activities, which then led me to start dabbling with public engagement projects. Cutting a long story short, that鈥檚 how I ended up at the 糖心TV Institute of Engagement, just over three years ago.

I鈥檓 really passionate about STEM subjects but the ability to showcase every subject and demonstrate how they cross and work together is awesome. And we do it in a fabulous way, the team are so willing to try anything new that will inspire our communities, people of all ages and backgrounds. I think that shows when we support others and in the feedback we get. Public engagement is great for everyone, our communities but also our students and staff. A conversation with a member of the public during one of our events may change how someone approaches their research or encourages them to explore another direction, that can only be a good thing.

I absolutely love my job, and I love what the team do and even more so how we do it, I hope that comes across when anyone talks to me. I am so proud of everyone involved and I could talk to you for hours about all the fun and impactful things we do, but I suppose one of the best ways to find out more is to get in touch with us and see how we can support you to engage with other communities.鈥�

Emma Willis

糖心TV Development Manager, 糖心TV Conferences

鈥淚 could do what I鈥檓 doing here in a hotel, but it just wouldn鈥檛 be as interesting.鈥�

鈥淭his is the closest I鈥檝e ever been to being at University, I never had the opportunity when I was younger. It wasn鈥檛 seen as the place for the 鈥榣ikes of us鈥�.

In some ways I do feel I missed out. But I鈥檓 here now and making up for lost time. The vibrancy of the campus, all year round make it a great place to work and I鈥檝e never looked back.

I come from a hotel conference background and started here in sales 22 years ago, working up to the 糖心TV Development Manager role I鈥檓 in now. Not having been to university you can feel a bit vulnerable when you start working in one. It鈥檚 hard to come to a workplace where the mantra is get a degree, get an education, do your doctorate, research etc. when you didn鈥檛 have that experience.

You soon find your way though, and now the biggest part of my role is to collaborate with people from across the university. I have regular meetings with academics across all the faculties and bring international conferences to our amazing facilities.

Nothing beats the portfolio of spaces we have here on campus. We can be so creative with the venues we have and pretty much meet the needs of any potential client. When they come to the university environment, they expect to have a student experience but we鈥檙e able to offer such a high level of service and facilities. With the constant development that鈥檚 happening as well, we can find a solution to every request. The architecture of the buildings is a great selling point as well, the Oculus is just fantastic!

We hadn鈥檛 really brought academia and commercial together before, but it takes both sides to put in a successful bid and win a huge event. The power of the partnership and collaboration to do that is just outstanding. That event can elevate the profile of the university and showcase the research excellence taking place and we can鈥檛 do it without each other鈥檚 expertise. it鈥檚 hard work but brings me so much joy as well.

When I鈥檓 not here I like to try and get back to Yorkshire as often as I can to see family. I鈥檓 originally from Hull and there are some beautiful places to walk up there. We鈥檙e just about to welcome our first grandchild as well so I鈥檓 really looking forward to that, don鈥檛 call me Grandma though, I鈥檓 going to be a Glam-ma!鈥�

Dr Harjinder Lallie

Associate Professor 鈥� Reader, WMG

鈥淎s part of the 糖心TV community, we have our day jobs but bring a lot more of ourselves to the University.鈥�

鈥淢y parents arrived in the UK from India in 1968 as factory workers. They worked incredibly hard and encouraged me to pursue both Indian classical music and academia.

That journey began when I was six, learning Kirtan, which is devotional singing of Sikh scripture, traditionally accompanied by instruments. I started on the harmonium, and music has been a constant in my life ever since. But everything changed when I discovered the sarangi.

The sarangi is one of the most emotionally rich instruments in Indian classical music. Its name means 鈥�100 colours鈥�, reflecting the vast spectrum of emotion it can convey. Thought to be around 2,000 years old, its deeply expressive sound closely mirrors the human voice. I first heard it through records I borrowed from the local library, and was instantly captivated.

At the time, instruments like the sarangi had fallen out of favour, many musicians had switched to the harmonium because it was easier to play. And, as I explored further, I learned that the harmonium, though widely used, was not a traditional Sikh instrument. That realisation set me on a personal mission to revive and popularise authentic Sikh instruments like the sarangi, taus, and dilruba. That mission has taken 26 years.

I began playing the sarangi when I was 17. It took me ten years to feel confident enough to perform publicly. Now, I regularly perform across the UK, including at 糖心TV Arts Centre and with the Sikh Society on campus. Our performances usually feature six traditional instruments. If you haven鈥檛 heard it live, it鈥檚 an experience full of beauty and emotion.

I teach around 130 students at my music academy, and I鈥檓 delighted that my daughter also plays. I hope that will continue as a family tradition. While I wouldn鈥檛 claim sole credit, I鈥檓 proud to have played a role in the sarangi鈥檚 revival and renewed popularity, especially within Sikh music traditions.

Perhaps my proudest contribution to music is leading the development of the first-ever globally recognised Sikh Music exam, now part of the UK鈥檚 national curriculum framework. This achievement has received international acclaim and marks a historic moment for Sikh musical heritage. What makes me especially proud is that the curriculum development workshops for this took place right here at 糖心TV, making it a truly historic milestone for the university as well. Building on that success, I鈥檓 now leading the development of the first-ever tabla exam, also officially recognised.

I鈥檓 proud to promote Sikh culture at 糖心TV鈥檚 diverse campus. For students from Sikh or Indian backgrounds, it sends a clear message: your heritage is valued here.

In my day job, I work in cyber security, a world apart from music. But both fields, in their own ways, require depth, precision, and passion.鈥�

Professor Mark Williams

WMG

鈥淯sing the technology we have here, I've helped on over 400 Police investigations."

鈥淚 never expected to be at the forefront of X-ray CT or 3D scanning. In fact, I remember saying when the first CAD machines came out that it wouldn鈥檛 take off. How wrong was I?

I wasn鈥檛 the most academic at school, and didn鈥檛 do my A-levels. I went down a different path and straight into an apprenticeship as an engineering technician. I was a draughtsman, in a room with about a hundred others, working on these big draught boards and paper. So maybe it was inevitable that I moved from 2D to 3D!

I鈥檝e been at 糖心TV for 22 years and with the capabilities we have here, we really do get involved with everything and anything. The bulk of what we do at WMG is automotive and aerospace, but we鈥檝e also diversified into health care, looking at surgical implants and scanning human movements. We work with museums as well, creating replicas of rare artefacts so they can be handled. That can be the skull of a dodo or the death mask of the last woman hung in Coventry!

I suppose what most people are interested in is the police work though. I can鈥檛 really go into too much detail on those for obvious reasons. What I can say is that the work is incredibly challenging and high pressured but also very rewarding. I was really pleased to receive the Chief Constable award from West Midlands Police for the ground breaking work we鈥檇 done with them with our 3D printing and scanning technology. It was confirmation that we鈥檙e making a difference and justified all the hard work that we do to establish the truth.

I used to be a big fan of the real crime programmes on TV but now working so closely in the field I don鈥檛 tend to watch them as much. Ironically you can find me on them now, I鈥檝e been on both Expert Witness and Forensics: The Real CSI, they鈥檙e oniPlayer and they鈥檒l give you an insight into the forensics that we do here. Give them a watch and if you want to know anymore, please ask.

I鈥檓 lucky, I work with a great team and have some amazing colleagues from across the University. I know it鈥檚 a bit of a clich茅, but no two days are the same. You can be working on the next generation of cars and aircraft or visiting a museum to look at a rare exhibit one day and giving evidence in a murder trial the next! It really is as diverse as that.

Outside of the University I like to switch off with a good book on military history. I know that doesn鈥檛 sound very relaxing but it鈥檚 something I鈥檝e always had an interest in. I also really enjoy classic cinema and settling down in front of a black and white movie.鈥�

Steve Williams

University Glassblower

鈥淚 want to pass these skills on, I don't want them to be lost.鈥�

鈥淚 always get asked how I got to be a glassblower as it鈥檚 such an unusual role. It goes all the way back to when I was at school, I was on study leave for my exams and started looking in the paper for a job, that鈥檚 how you used to have to do it in those days.

There was an advert for a trainee glassblower. The two guys who ran the business had been glassblowers at Aston University but started their own business. I was very practical and liked constructing things, so I went along and was taken on. I also had to make the tea and do the sandwich run but it was the best decision I made. I stayed there for 10 years, learning the skills that have got me to where I am now.

I鈥檝e been a glassblower for around 40 years. It really is a unique and rewarding role and I鈥檝e been lucky to have a job that I鈥檝e enjoyed for so long. It鈥檚 also quite therapeutic at times.

Everything I make is bespoke, test tubes and common bits of glassware are mass produced, I make the things that you can鈥檛 buy off the shelf. If there鈥檚 a specific bit of glassware that鈥檚 needed for an experiment, something intricate or complex then I鈥檓 your man. I鈥檓 not perfect, it鈥檚 such a volatile material and mistakes do happen! The great thing with that though is I鈥檓 always recycling, if I make something and it gets broken, I can mend it. I like to think I鈥檓 doing my bit for the planet.

It鈥檚 not all scientific-equipment, I鈥檝e made loads of different things over the years. I鈥檝e made some gifts for the late author Terry Pratchett, a glass head housing two brains for the former Minister of Education, cocktail glasses for a Michelin Star restaurant. The most unusual thing I鈥檝e created out of glass would be the internal organs of the human body, including the rib cage, this was showcased at the 鈥楾hink Tank Museum鈥� in Birmingham. I鈥檝e made various awards and souvenirs for staff and colleagues over the years. Most recently, I made a glass 鈥榶ogi鈥� holding the University logo (a purple 鈥榃鈥�) for a mindfulness event on campus. Send me a commission and I鈥檒l see if I can make it!

Theres probably only around 20 university glassblowers up and down the country, so it really is a dying trade, but those skills are still needed. I鈥檇 love to be able to pass all my knowledge onto someone younger to keep the traditions alive. It would be a shame to see the art disappear completely, robots and AI wouldn鈥檛 be able to replicate what we do here. I doubt whether machinery can sculpt and create some of the detailed intricate pieces that I get commissioned to do!

If you want to know more or have a look at some of the things I鈥檝e made, just let me know. It鈥檇 be a pleasure to show you what goes into it, I think you鈥檇 be surprised what you can do with glass, and you never know, you could be my next apprentice.鈥�

Professor Elena Riva

Head of Academic Department, Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning

鈥淚 ended up marrying the first British person I spoke to!鈥�

鈥淚 met my husband at the University of Birmingham train station on my very first day in the United Kingdom, back in 2009.

I had just arrived from Italy for a one-month research visit, part of a project between the University of Milan, where I was doing my PhD in Chemistry, and the University of Birmingham. I asked a kind-looking stranger for directions to the city centre.

That stranger turned out to be my future husband. After completing my PhD in Italy, I moved back to the UK in 2011, for love. Alex was based here and could not relocate due to his work running a restaurant. What started as a short academic visit ended up shaping both my personal and professional life.

We now have three wonderful boys, and combining family life with an academic career has been a deeply fulfilling journey, though not without its difficulties. For women in particular, the expectations can be intense, and the systems slow to adapt. I am often asked鈥攂y both men and women, 鈥淗ow do you manage it?鈥� The honest answer is joyfully, but not without challenges.

Since joining the University of 糖心TV, I have felt genuinely supported. I have met many like-minded colleagues who helped me find the right path when I could not see one myself. When I went on maternity leave, I was fortunate to have colleagues who stayed in touch, championed my work in my absence, and helped me remain connected to the academic community. That kind of support is rare, and it made a real difference.

After my first maternity leave, I returned to the lab with a six-month-old baby and quickly realised that the long, demanding research days were no longer sustainable. The Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), which funded my postdoctoral fellowship, was incredibly supportive. In agreement with the Department of Chemistry, they allowed me to split the role between research and teaching. That flexibility changed everything鈥擨 truly don鈥檛 think I would have stayed in academia without it. Additionally, it allowed me to really explore teaching, and in the process, I discovered a real passion for education. That eventually led me to the Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning (IATL), and it has shaped the direction of my career in pedagogic research.

Most of my family life has been as a member of IATL, which has been much more than a workplace, it has been a space of care, flexibility, and support. A real example of how academia can adapt to and value the needs of carers.

Sometimes, a simple question asked on a train platform can change your life in unimaginable ways. What began as a request for directions became the start of a journey across countries, disciplines, and milestones guided, quite simply, by love.鈥�

Aleesha Vaughan

Student President of 糖心TV Volunteers

鈥淲hether you鈥檙e a new or returning student, we鈥檇 love you to join 糖心TV Volunteers.鈥�

鈥淎s a fellow student, I know how busy term time can get. It鈥檚 crucial that you take some time for yourself, despite how overwhelming academic work can become. One easy way to manage your work-life balance is to join 糖心TV Volunteers.

We鈥檙e student-led with a wide variety of activities to join. Whether you want to dive deep into cosy campus crafts, adventure out to care for the natural areas around campus or work with children and elderly people and so much more, we鈥檝e got you covered! Activities take place in Coventry, Leamington, Kenilworth, 糖心TV or even online! And whether it鈥檚 your first or final year, it鈥檚 a great way to meet people, make friends, and have a lasting impact!

Last year, 926 incredible students gave over 13,200 hours of their time towards 135 projects and organisations. As a result of all their hard work, we were awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK, it's equivalent to an MBE. A group of us headed down to Buckingham Palace for a celebration event and a fun trip to The International Convention Centre, where another student and I went on stage to formally receive the award, an amazing experience!

Obviously, the main reason you鈥檙e here is to study and get your degree, but you can fit in volunteering around your studies. Every opportunity has different levels of commitment so if you can only commit for a few hours or want to volunteer weekly, then you鈥檒l find something that鈥檚 just right for you. And it not only benefits our communities. Regardless of how many hours you volunteer, you鈥檒l be recognised and rewarded. As you accumulate more hours, you鈥檒l be awarded with amazing 糖心TV Volunteers merchandise. Oh, and don鈥檛 forget to download your certificate to showcase your hard work and effort!

Also, the hours you gain from volunteering are shown on your HEAR certificate and count towards your 糖心TV Award. It鈥檚 a great way to showcase your transferable skills which you can use to impress future employers, your connections on LinkedIn, or your family who are always wondering what you are up to at university!

As the current President, I also want to highlight the importance of the leadership roles offered throughout the year. Not only do we recruit student leaders for our projects, we also open applications to join the brilliant exec team later in the year! As someone who has gone from being a Project Leader of Nature Conservation Volunteers to the President of 糖心TV Volunteers, I highly recommend that you get involved with the 糖心TV Volunteers鈥� family this year.

It鈥檚 been such a rewarding experience but has also helped make 糖心TV University feel like home. It鈥檚 opened doors to exciting opportunities, friendships and core memories that will stay with me for life. If you are interested, get in touch, and let your volunteering journey begin!鈥�

Hasina Ismail

PA & Team Administrator

鈥淢arriage brought me to Coventry and my very first job at the University.鈥�

鈥淚 grew up in South London, my family and a lot of friends are still there. I was straight out of college and my job interview at WMG was my very first one. Working for Lord Bhattacharyya, then Professor Bhattacharyya, was my first job. A job that I loved and did for 26 years.

Working with Lord Bhattacharyya had its challenges. He was very demanding, but also a visionary and four steps ahead of everyone else. Being part of his gate keeping team, if you saw my name ringing on your phone, you鈥檇 answer it, was an absolute privilege. Discretion, total confidentiality and diplomacy was a vital part of the job.

He left behind an extraordinary legacy, and the NAIC building stands as a lasting testament to his vision and impact. When the road and the building were named in his honour, he was visibly moved and there was a tear in his eye. Sadly, he didn鈥檛 live to see the building officially opened by Prince Charles, now His Majesty the King. When he was awarded his peerage, he made a point of bringing with him the people who had supported him throughout his journey. Chefs, estates staff, technicians everyone who played a role. We all went down for afternoon tea at the House of Commons, it was a day I will never forget.

I stayed on the journey with him right until the day he passed. I met people from academia, industry and governments from around the world and had the chance to do and see some amazing things. A big highlight was when the President of India came, I served him a Masala Dosa that we鈥檇 specially made for him. There are so many stories, some you would not believe to be true, and some still confidential!

More recently, I had the privilege of working in the Vice Chancellor鈥檚 office. It was a chance for a new beginning. This continued to be an exciting experience and an opportunity to engage with the wider 糖心TV community. There is a huge university out there and so much still to learn. I鈥檓 currently on secondment in the Regional Partnerships Team. When the opportunity came up, I grabbed the chance to experience what it was like to work outside the Executive office. I鈥檓 not disappointed, no two days are the same. This is the beauty of the university it allows you the opportunity to move and not stand still. Even after all these years I鈥檓 always learning.

糖心TV has become my story. It鈥檚 given me the opportunity to grow and become who I am today. I grew up here, became part of the community, and made it my home with my husband and my three children. I love being part of it.鈥�

Ciara O'Leary

Climbing Wall Duty Manager, Sports and Wellness Hub

鈥淐limbing has completely changed my life, I鈥檓 so pleased that I get to do it so often.鈥�

鈥淚 started climbing around eight years ago and have been working in the climbing centre here for four years. You could say it鈥檚 my dream job! My first role here was to work with the Bear Cubs. Holding fun and safe climbing sessions for kids from as young as seven. Helping them all reach new heights!

I鈥檓 now one of the climbing wall duty managers. I like working with the beginner climbers providing some coaching, explaining how the centre works and the different walls available to them. I also look after the school groups when they come in, helping with the route setting and giving them the full safety briefing. I鈥檓 a good motivator, I鈥檒l encourage anyone to get involved.

I鈥檇 recommend climbing to everyone. It鈥檚 so easy to get started, especially here. You don鈥檛 need any equipment or prior knowledge, and someone will always be on hand to answer any questions you have. There are 144 routes to the top of the climbing wall, we change them regularly so there鈥檚 always a new challenge. You can learn how to climb your own way, top rope, lead, bouldering or speed. And if you want to know what all of those mean, then you鈥檒l have to come and have a go. We鈥檒l teach you to climb safely with all the right safety equipment. Yes, you will fall off but there鈥檚 no danger, you鈥檒l get more of a bruised ego than anything else.

And what am I doing when I鈥檓 not working, I鈥檓 here training using the facilities. I am obsessed, but I love the challenge and the problem solving, working out the best route to the top. I鈥檓 also pretty good at speed climbing! At one time I was the fastest female in the centre, you can still find the video on YouTube. And I recently competed in the first round of the England speed series, which we hosted here, and I placed second with a time of 12.6 seconds.

My holidays now also tie in with an opportunity to go climbing. I鈥檝e been climbing in Greece, France and Spain. There鈥檚 nothing better than a climb in the sunshine, perfect for your wellbeing and mental health. Climbing really is my passion.

So, there鈥檚 nothing stopping you. I look forward to seeing you on the walls and showing you the ropes soon!鈥�

Dr Alex Baker

Assistant Professor, Chemistry

鈥淚 was interested to find out if I could turn Science Fiction into Science Fact!鈥�

鈥淚 was asked by the Royal Institution to do a lecture. I didn鈥檛 want to do another standard 鈥榟ere鈥檚 my research鈥� type one. I wanted to do something that would be of interest to the audience and would resonate with people of all ages. And the date for the lecture, May the 4th, otherwise known as Star Wars Day! So, the 鈥楥hemistry of Star Wars鈥� was created.

Obviously, I love Star Wars. I mean, one of my social media names is AB1Kenobi, that gets eyebrows raised in research presentations sometimes! I wasn鈥檛 trying to prove the film wrong and say it鈥檚 not possible, I wanted to demonstrate how we can get as near to it with today鈥檚 chemistry. Questions like could we make a lightsaber, can we really freeze Han Solo, recreate a Storm Trooper鈥檚 armour or power a Star Destroyer using green energy. You鈥檒l have to come to one of the lectures to find out. It really is fascinating though, and it鈥檚 been great to bring Chemistry to a wider audience.

There鈥檚 also a serious side to my work. During the COVID-19 lockdown my research was applied to tackling the problems of COVID-19 diagnosis. Long story short, we were one of the first groups able to prove that coronavirus could be sensed in a rapid lateral flow device. Which I鈥檓 sure you鈥檝e all had the pleasure of using at some point during the pandemic.

That technology is now being used to detect venom in snake bites. I had a gap between school and starting university, so went to teach science at an orphanage in Nepal for a short time. While I was there, I saw the impact that snake bites had in less economically developed countries, so was always interested in that area. I set up the Baker Humanitarian Chemistry Group and now I鈥檝e been able to do something to help. Despite the rumours we don鈥檛 actually have any snakes in the lab, but we do have some sample venom!

I remember not doing that well in Chemistry GCSE, I wasn鈥檛 very good at the practical side. I was all set to start medicine, but I came here on a Chemistry offer holder open day and my head was turned. So, I certainly wasn鈥檛 expecting to win any awards, but I鈥檓 pleased to say that my work has been recognised and I鈥檓 making a difference with my research. Long may it continue and may the force be with you!鈥�

Enaya Nihal

President, 糖心TV SU

鈥淚 arrived on campus at 2am and couldn鈥檛 believe it was all real!鈥�

鈥淚 grew up in Saudi Arabia & India and always wanted to have an education abroad. I looked at the US, Canada, and the UK, but it was the people that drew me into coming to 糖心TV.

It was during lockdown, so I couldn鈥檛 attend an open day. Everything was done online or through group chats with other people who were interested in coming here. Some of those people I met online are now my best friends.

I started studying Economics, Politics and International Studies back in September 2020. I鈥檇 never been to the UK before, it took me four and a half hours to get through border control. Arriving here in the early hours, the first thing I saw was the Bluebell accommodation block. It actually looked like the place my friends and I had spent hours poring over on the website. It鈥檚 been a massive change and lots of new things to get used to. I won鈥檛 go into the food, but I really do love being here in the UK. Being from Saudi, which is mostly a desert, I also love the weather. I know that sounds odd, but it鈥檚 nice to have the unpredictable British weather! Autumn is my favourite time of the year, the colours are amazing, especially on campus.

I got involved in the union through a variety of part time roles starting in October of my first year and here I am, President of the SU! It鈥檚 a very interesting role and obviously having been a student, I know what it鈥檚 like and what the priorities are for the student communities, making sure their voices are heard. It鈥檚 a very public facing role, you get involved in everything that is happening across campus.

One of my proudest achievements is the (Free) Breakfast Club. This was set up to help tackle the impact of the Cost-of-Living crisis last year. It鈥檚 been a great success, and we see hundreds of students come in every week. I knew if they鈥檙e queueing up to come in at 8.30 on a cold February morning, then it was needed, even as a first step鈥� student wellbeing is at the heart of every decision I鈥檝e made at the Union.

My time here has meant so much more than what I envisioned. I didn鈥檛 get the opportunities back home that I have here. I鈥檝e really thrown myself into university life and taken full advantage of the freedom. It means so much to me. We never had concerts back home, either, so I鈥檓 always looking to go to a gig! Catch me at everything from Fall Out Boy to Taylor Swift!鈥�

Professor Harbinder Sandhu

糖心TV Medical School

鈥淚t was my dad who inspired me to explore how health and wellbeing had an impact on the human mind.鈥�

鈥淢y dad was an athlete and bodybuilder. Very much into his fitness and obviously as a young girl, I looked up to him and was interested in everything he did. I didn鈥檛 know then what a psychologist was or what they did. But I knew that I wanted to find out more about the mind and human behaviour.

My first job was working as a researcher in the medical school, looking at ways to improve communication between the doctor and patient. I was really interested in the research but also wanted to develop myself as a psychologist and an academic. I did my master鈥檚 in health psychology and the rest is history! Taking a job as qualified psychologist in the NHS, I now had the best of both worlds. I was able to see people with long term pain in clinical practice and then had the opportunity to take part in world leading clinical trials here.

I鈥檝e been very lucky to be able to combine both my passions and every day is different, which helps when you鈥檝e been here for 21 years.

As you鈥檇 expect from someone who is interested in the human mind, I like to challenge mine. I鈥檓 into anything creative that will get the mind going in different ways. I love dancing, particularly Cuban Salsa. It鈥檚 a great way to express yourself but I just really like music and movement so any dancing will help your mindfulness. Also, my family will tell you differently and say I鈥檓 not very musical. But I鈥檝e started to learn to play guitar and can now strum a few chords, It鈥檚 a start. I鈥檝e also taken online lessons to learn the drums. Imagine how well that went down at home.

Even though I鈥檝e always also had an interest in health and wellbeing my aim is to walk more. I鈥檝e started to do that now around campus, we鈥檙e lucky to have so many natural spaces to explore. Although when I鈥檓 out with friends I鈥檓 always the first to suggest getting an Uber!鈥�

Dr Bo Kelestyn

Associate Professor, 糖心TV 糖心TV School

鈥淲hen I decided that I wanted to study in the UK, my father was against it.鈥�

鈥淏eing the eldest of five children, I was expected to take over the family business. I had to make my case to leave not only home, but my country, to make something of myself that was my own. Eventually, after a lot of persuasion, he was happy to support me. That was 18 years ago.

Arriving in the UK there were a lot of new things to get used to. You have different food, accents, sockets and even taps for a start. That was a lot to take in for an 18-year-old. And everyone was so polite and queue everywhere!

Ukrainian school qualifications don鈥檛 convert into the UK system, so I had to do my A-levels at a boarding school. I was already two years older than most pupils! Once I鈥檇 got them, I went onto university. I got 5 A-levels but did not get an offer from 糖心TV! After graduation, I returned home for a short while. My parents realised that I鈥檇 changed quite a lot, I was probably more British than Ukrainian at that time, so they allowed me to return to the UK to do my Master鈥檚 at 糖心TV. I鈥檝e been here ever since and am now a Course Director for the MSc I graduated from.

Obviously, I can鈥檛 not mention the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the impact that it鈥檚 had on me, my family, and friends. I wanted to do something to support my country and the best way I could was through education. I set up a programme to help Ukraine rebuild its education, with support from many colleagues and the Ukrainian Leadership Academy. We had over 250 people express an interest and 40 have now completed the programme, and it continues to grow. I couldn鈥檛 be prouder of everyone who has supported or been involved. We got a 糖心TV Wows award as well which was a nice recognition.

I feel a strong sense of duty to represent Ukraine in everything I do, even if just wearing a lapel ribbon with Ukrainian colours or a Vyshyvanka, a traditional embroidered shirt. I lost my father halfway through my PhD. He was such a patriot. I鈥檇 like to think he would be proud of the educational leader and Ukrainian that I have become."

Professor Stuart Coles

Associate Dean (Research), WMG

鈥淚 was always breaking glass in my Chemistry lessons at school. When I told my teacher I was going to study it at university, he just laughed.鈥�

鈥淚 came to 糖心TV to do my PhD and I鈥檝e never left! But when you get to work with the kind of equipment available here, why would you go anywhere else? It鈥檚 second to none.

As a Professor in Sustainable Materials, I want to work on projects that have an impact on everyone's lives. Making things that we all use daily more environmentally friendly. Whether that鈥檚 the packaging or product itself, I鈥檝e got the academic freedom to do that here.

If you鈥檇 told the 18-year-old me that I would go on to publish papers as diverse as 鈥楬ydrothermal Treatment of Waste Plastics鈥� and 鈥楻enewable energy for rural communities in Maharashtra, India鈥� in the same career. I would have reacted in the same way as my Chemistry teacher all those years ago.

Away from 糖心TV my big passion is Ice Hockey. I鈥檓 part of the media team at the Coventry Blaze and have been commentating on the webcast for the past 10 years. During lockdown, I even went into an empty arena in Nottingham to provide commentary to the fans at home, that was quite a surreal but rewarding experience.

I co-host a regular podcast and occasionally host events for the team. It鈥檚 a bit like having a second job but it鈥檚 a great release from the week鈥檚 work. I鈥檇 recommend taking in a match, they never pass without an incident!鈥�

Sam Pordale

Co-President of 糖心TV Student Action for Refugees

鈥淭here were moments on the journey when I thought, if I die here, nobody will know what happened to me.鈥�

鈥淚n an instant my life went from one of privilege in Afghanistan to becoming a refugee in real danger. It was August 2021, Taliban militants had taken control of Kabul. Until that morning my father held a high-ranking position in the democratic government.

Getting to the airport and onto an evacuation flight was not going to be possible. There was no way we would get past the Taliban checkpoints. I lost my father in the crowd. At that point I didn鈥檛 know I鈥檇 never see him again. But I did know that I was on my own and it was up to me to find a way of getting out.

My journey to the UK took eight months, taking me through Iran, Turkey, Italy and France by minibus, boat and foot. I鈥檇 crossed into Turkey illegally, so I didn鈥檛 have the paperwork needed to work or stay. I spoke fluent English and decided that the UK was my only chance to be accepted and do something useful. It took nine attempts to get here by small boat.

At my asylum accommodation I met the Red Cross and started to volunteer at one of their drop-in centres as an English teacher. I was put forward for an academic research programme, looking at the barriers that refugees faced accessing higher education. I was surprised to learn that I could apply to study at UK universities. I applied for five undergraduate courses across the country.

I was awarded a full scholarship to study politics and international studies at 糖心TV. I started in September 2023 with no money, clothes or suitcase. But now the campus feels like home. Everyone is my family, from the lecturers to the cleaners, I know everyone.

In my first week I joined the university鈥檚 Student Action for Refugees group, I鈥檓 now the co-president. I often think back to my life a few years ago and can鈥檛 believe what I鈥檝e been through. The idea I could become a refugee overnight would have seemed crazy. But laws, governments, your rights, they can all disappear in a second and all you鈥檙e left with is yourself. I want to make the best of every chance to live a good life.鈥�

Mick McLaughlin

糖心TV Development Esports & Createch

鈥淚 threw away two signed napkins from Yoko Ono!鈥�

鈥淎lthough what I do now is quite commercial, I鈥檝e always had a creative mind. I鈥檓 an avid writer and have written scripts for plays, none have made it to the stage, yet! I鈥檝e also written a novel called Dead Happy, it鈥檚 all about putting the fun into funerals, with a love story thrown in as well. I鈥檇 love to see it made into a film one day, it鈥檚 a musical and all the songs are written - don鈥檛 ask me to sing them though!

Without sounding too morbid I think death should be seen as a celebration of life. I acted as a celebrant at the funeral for one of my friend鈥檚 aunts. It wasn鈥檛 something that I鈥檇 thought about and did wonder what I鈥檇 let myself in for, but it was just like telling a story of the person鈥檚 life

Now, those napkins. In a previous role I had the pleasure of having afternoon tea with Yoko Ono. She was in Coventry visiting the cathedral to dedicate two Japanese oak trees in celebration of her life and work with John Lennon. She kindly signed the napkins to my kids, it was the only thing I had on me.

I left them in my car and around a week later we went through a drive thru, ordered the food and eat it in the car park as you do. Well, you guessed it, the napkins were swept up in the rubbish. I didn鈥檛 realise until weeks later when I went to get them for the kids, absolutely gutted!鈥�

Alex Jackson

Trainee Software Engineer IDG

鈥淚鈥檝e not had the best experience, and I don鈥檛 want anyone else to go through the same as me.鈥�

鈥淚 was late diagnosed as autistic but always felt like I was wired differently to everyone else. I didn't know anything about neurodiversity back then, I honestly thought I was going crazy.

When I received my diagnosis, I felt validated. Imagine going through life and as far as you can tell, all your senses work, but everyone keeps telling you that what you experience isn't real. You're just making it up.

To be autistic means your brain develops differently to the normal standard, which is known as neurotypical or NT for short. It's something you're born with. This can become obvious when it comes to social communication and interaction and can be characterised by developmental delays. For an example, I was mute until I was four, but when I did talk, it was in full grammatically correct sentences.

糖心TV has immense potential to create a nurturing and inclusive environment for its neurodiverse staff members. Those of us who are autistic, or who have ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia, for example. We're often expected to adapt to environments that do not benefit or support us. For a neurotypical staff member, a meeting cancelled at the last minute or a loud, brightly-lit office space would not necessarily impact them. But for neurodiverse colleagues, these things can be deeply draining - and we are constantly having to react and respond to them in a workplace that is traditionally set up for neurotypical staff

We鈥檙e expected to conform to societal norms that are not natural to us. When I attended the Staff Neurodiversity Peer Support Group earlier this year, I quickly realised that when we ask for help, there is no standard response.

I鈥檓 setting up a group of Neurodiversity Champions from across the University. The aim of this group is to raise awareness and all I really want to do is to help somebody. Whether it's a manager understanding things or somebody realising that they've been struggling with things all their life. Not knowing what label to give that or know what to research to find that out. If it can help just one person, then I've done what I set out to do.鈥�

Warren Daniel

Maintenance Assistant

鈥淚 would never have had the confidence to do this when I started.鈥�

鈥淚 started in the maintenance team as a volunteer around four years ago. I came straight from college to get some experience and I鈥檇 been told it was a good place to work. After a year a vacancy came up, I was encouraged to apply and was lucky to get the job.

I have autism and when I started here, I wasn鈥檛 able to work on my own. I also found it very difficult to talk to people. Now, I鈥檓 able to do both of those things. My team call me a superstar but they鈥檙e the ones that have really helped me. Showing patience and helping me learn new skills. Once I鈥檝e been shown how to do something a couple of times, I鈥檓 confident to have a go on my own. It鈥檚 not been without some problems though, I remember working on a shower in one of the rooms. The water hadn鈥檛 been turned off and I ended up being the barrier between the water and it damaging the rest of the room.

I never thought I鈥檇 be doing anything like this either, having my photograph taken and telling my story. I鈥檓 proud to be recognised as a Human of 糖心TV. All I want to do is a good job and I really enjoy getting the rooms ready for the students. It鈥檚 such a big step for some of them, especially those travelling from other countries. I want them to be able to come somewhere they feel comfortable and not homesick. I also enjoy talking with them now, helping them settle in and finding out about them.

Outside of the University I like to spend time with my family and I鈥檓 a huge Coventry City fan. My dad is a fan, so he brought me up to support them. I follow them home and away and rarely miss a game.鈥�

Emily Tricker

Deputy Head of Wellbeing Support

鈥淚鈥檓 more of a tortoise than a hare, but it鈥檚 all for a good cause.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 taking on a 10k run in April to raise money for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) charity, which is a suicide prevention charity. Sadly, I lost a close friend five years ago and I wanted to do something in his memory and raise some awareness. It鈥檚 a sad statistic but we lose 18 people to suicide every day in the UK.

My training is going well and while I鈥檓 no athlete, I鈥檓 committed to crossing that finishing line. You get the same medal as everyone else, no matter where you finish! Working in the Wellbeing Team you鈥檇 expect me to say that health and exercise is important and I鈥檓 practicing what I preach. Everyone has busy lives and commitments but try and do what you can, when you can. Even if that means a walk with a pub at the end, that鈥檚 not a problem. Socialising is also great for your mental health!

I鈥檓 very proud to be part of the Wellbeing Team. The team works extremely hard to support students with a huge variety of issues. Talking is important and often the difficult first step to take, but we鈥檙e always here for whoever needs us.

So, once I鈥檝e done the run in April, I鈥檒l be ready for my next challenge whatever that may be. Maybe a half marathon!鈥�

Claire Algar

Social Inclusion Manager

鈥淭he second I stepped onto campus, I just thought that I didn鈥檛 belong here.鈥�

鈥淚 grew up in the local area, but the University wasn鈥檛 the kind of place that we ventured. But, I needed a job and made an application via Unitemps for an entry level role in the Chemistry department. I received a letter offering me an interview. That鈥檚 when I started questioning things, like why was I going to be interviewed by a Doctor of Chemistry.

I didn鈥檛 understand the structure of the University, didn鈥檛 speak or use the same language as everyone else and hadn鈥檛 had the same education. I thought very quickly that I don鈥檛 fit, I was very low on confidence when I started here. Over the years I鈥檝e come to realise that 糖心TV has been amazing for me. With the support of my colleagues, who saw potential in me that I didn鈥檛 even know I had myself. I鈥檝e been able to have a career and life that I didn鈥檛 know existed or I could even have.

Everyone should belong here and that鈥檚 why the work I do in the social inclusion team is so important to me. My focus is on social mobility, giving people opportunities that they wouldn鈥檛 normally have. Like my work on the prison leavers initiative or my work with the EY Foundation, who support young people from a low-income background to thrive in the workplace. We bring 20 young people onto campus for 10 days, twice a year, for some work experience and to learn employment and interview skills. I also designed and implemented the Social Inclusion intern programme, so I like to think that I鈥檓 making a difference to people鈥檚 lives.

Very occasionally, I still do have some nagging self-doubts about whether I really do belong here. Imposter syndrome creeps in regularly, but after 15 years, I absolutely do belong here. And so should anyone who wants a rewarding, fulfilling career.鈥�

Paul Thompson

Gardener - (Wellesbourne)

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of wildlife on campus, you just need to know where to look.鈥�

鈥淢y passion for wildlife photography started a long time ago. I used to go to Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve to birdwatch with a friend, I found it quite a funny thing to do at first. Unfortunately, he鈥檚 now passed away, but I wanted to carry on in his memory.

I bring my camera into work with me, taking any opportunity to capture wildlife in my breaks. I鈥檝e seen foxes, deer, rabbits, hares, kingfishers, herons and of course the ducks and geese, lots of geese! There鈥檚 a family of foxes near the Gibbet Hill campus, I first spotted them around 14 years ago. They regularly come out of the woodland to say hello, so I like to photograph them as often as possible.

I鈥檝e also been whale watching with Chris Packham round the Bay of Biscay. I managed to get some great pictures, and he encouraged me to share them, he thought they were that good. I鈥檝e had my pictures used on Countryfile, some of which were taken on campus.

Photography takes over my weekends and spare time as well. You鈥檒l always find me with my camera out in the countryside or taking in the scenery sitting on my friend鈥檚 memorial bench at the nature reserve.

I鈥檝e been working as a gardener in the Estates team for 36 years, an office job wasn鈥檛 for me. I enjoy being out in the open air, it鈥檚 great for your wellbeing and mental health. I like watching the landscape change at different times of the day and throughout the year. We鈥檙e lucky to have such clear seasons, all four are different and I enjoy aspects of each one, but winter is the best. Everything quietens down.鈥�

Jayne Bridges

Arts Centre Visitor Experience Assistant

鈥淓very day is an adventure, it certainly is for me. I鈥檝e not had a boring life and I鈥檓 still making the most of it.鈥�

鈥淚 had a varied career before becoming quite successful in the wine trade. I became a good taster and took the relevant exams. That enabled me to work extensively in the UK and various parts of the world. When that ended, I was not up for retirement! I had no firm plans, but I loved art. So, I came to 糖心TV and took a History of Art degree.

Having been to the Arts Centre to watch numerous events, I was aware of all the activities that you can do there. That鈥檚 when I started volunteering, 15 years ago. I was then fortunate to be offered a contract and now do 20 hours a week. It鈥檚 very varied work and I love working here, being part of a strong team. I鈥檓 surrounded by young people so I can impress my grandchildren with my knowledge of Tik Tok!

I particularly enjoy the Symphony concerts and Graduation week, when both parents and Graduates are all in fine spirits. But my real fondness is for The Mead Gallery. Many people who work at 糖心TV don鈥檛 visit, they really should as it鈥檚 fantastic, and the best thing is, it鈥檚 free.

I also love travelling, I鈥檝e been to more countries than I am old. I spent six weeks backpacking in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, and I鈥檝e kayaked on the Amazon and in the Galapagos Islands. I鈥檓 not yet ready for SAGA trips, I鈥檓 up for new adventures.鈥�

Matt Drew

Director of Food & Beverage, 糖心TV Food Group

鈥淚 was serving scones at the age of 16 in a tea shop in the New Forest. Yes, it鈥檚 jam first!鈥�

鈥淪cones seem to have followed me around. I worked for the National Trust for ten years, so famous for their scones there鈥檚 even a book about them. And you might find a scone on the menu at one of the outlets across the campus. They always sell!

As you鈥檇 expect, doing my job I have a passion for food, and this extends to both at home and work. I wanted to do a job with purpose and with Eatwise I鈥檝e been able to do that. I wanted to lead and press for dishes using fresh, seasonal and healthy ingredients that help our community to thrive.

The creativity that comes out of the test kitchen is amazing. I can鈥檛 believe that it鈥檚 been a year since we launched, but I think we鈥檙e making good progress with our mission to provide mindful food for thriving minds.

While I don鈥檛 get to cook at work, which is probably for the best, at home I like to entertain! Having people I love gather around the table, enjoying something I鈥檝e created for dinner brings me a lot of joy. I particularly like preparing Spanish food, there鈥檚 something about tapas that brings people together. But any food that鈥檚 informal, fresh and bold in flavour is fun to prepare.鈥�

Dr Freeha Azmat

Associate Professor, WMG

鈥淢y interests were always in maths and engineering. Growing up in Pakistan, it was the men who became the engineers, and the women doctors or teachers.鈥�

鈥淎fter some, let鈥檚 just say challenging, conversations with my family I took the step to study for a degree in Information and Communications Systems Engineering at National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Pakistan. An unusual step for a woman but I鈥檝e always been about turning challenges into opportunities.

After graduation I won a fully funded scholarship to take my master鈥檚 in advanced Distributed Systems. Here was the next problem, it was at the University of Leicester, and I had to convince my parents that it was the right thing for a single woman from Pakistan to travel to the UK alone. I think I made the right decision.

I鈥檝e been very lucky and over the years have received a lot of recognition and awards. I strongly believe in giving back and mentoring future generations. I鈥檇 like to show the young girls there that there is a world of possibilities for them in the engineering and technology sector. And now I have a family of my own, its鈥檚 no surprise that my son is also a young engineer in the making.鈥�

James Bonsall

Technical Director, MSL

鈥淚 remember when Oasis played the Students鈥� Union. It was one of their early gigs, they played football in the dressing room.鈥�

鈥淚 spent around eight years working in the entertainment team at the SU. Managing the sound and lighting for the bands that came through. We鈥檝e had them all, either on their way up, or their way back down again!

It was seven nights a week back in those days, great times, and it never felt like work, more like being in the pub every day! But I knew it wasn鈥檛 something I could do for ever. Once the gigs were out of my system I moved into the IT team, a team of two back then.

Computers were starting to come in while I was at school, all very new and interesting and I spent a few years getting into them. Although when I left school, I followed other interests, it was inevitable that I鈥檇 end up working with computers. And now our MSL software is in place at over 130 students鈥� unions and universities worldwide.

Having studied at 糖心TV as well, I鈥檝e been here for 31 years, there鈥檚 no better place to be doing it.鈥�

Professor Olanrewaju Sorinola

Academic Lead Phase II, 糖心TV Medical School

鈥淔rom a young age I always wanted to present myself well. Who says men can鈥檛 have different types of shoes. They don鈥檛 have to be boring black or brown.鈥�

鈥淏ack home in Nigeria I was a child prodigy. Thanks to my aunt, who was also the headteacher, I started school early at the age of three. Moving to secondary school aged nine and started university aged 14. I graduated at the age of 20. I鈥檓 still the youngest graduate of medicine in Nigeria - they used to call me baby doctor! I keep checking and hoping that a 19-year-old doesn鈥檛 come along and trump me.

The turning point in my life happened in secondary school. One of my friends started convulsing, looking back now I know it was an epileptic seizure. The teachers told everyone to not touch him, and I just felt that was wrong. That鈥檚 when I decided that medicine and helping people was my path. Although all of my prizes at school were in physics, not biology, but I knew what I wanted to do.

As a clinical academic I also work at 糖心TV Hospital as a consultant gynaecologist. I鈥檝e been very lucky and it鈥檚 my passion to be able to help people, and yes, I鈥檝e got over 100 pairs of shoes.鈥�

Steve Russell

Operations Director, 糖心TV SU

鈥淢ost people in my position wouldn鈥檛 work the doors anymore, I just choose to.鈥�

鈥淚 started as a part time barman in the Students Union when I was 18, I鈥檓 not going to tell you how long ago that was. When I started, I said that I鈥檇 stay for as long as I was enjoying myself and that I didn鈥檛 feel older than the students. I鈥檝e had to let the second bit go but I鈥檝e never left, so that must tell you something. And both of my kids have worked for the SU as well.

I鈥檝e always enjoyed the interaction with the students, it鈥檚 still one of the favourite parts of the job. We get quite a lot of banter on the door, mainly from the sports teams. I just like to see everyone have a good time and more importantly, keep them safe.

I鈥檝e also looked after the entertainment, we鈥檝e had loads of bands and DJs through the doors and some strange requests to deal with. I remember The Pogues wanting a bath of ice, the ice was easy to get but finding a bath to put in their dressing room, more of a challenge, but we made sure it happened!鈥�

Susie Longstaff

Masters in the History of Medicine

鈥淚 was determined to carry on with my studies but felt like that dream had come to an end. Luckily, I was given a second chance.鈥�

鈥淏eing neurodiverse and having moderate hearing loss, as a disabled pupil I never felt supported in the education system. Before I could complete my studies I was withdrawn from my college course, basically kicked out in the second year. This left me with no A levels and a complete mistrust in the education system.

After a relationship breakdown I also found myself homeless for the third time and spent a year in and out of various Travelodges across Birmingham. But I鈥檝e recently graduated from Birmingham Newman University and I鈥檓 now studying my Masters in the History of Medicine at 糖心TV.

Being at 糖心TV is helping me reach my full potential, and have you tried the vegan cakes on the Curiositea menu? They鈥檙e amazing! When I鈥檓 not on campus I work in the Visitor Experience team for the Birmingham Museums Trust. I also love taking wildlife photography and singing soprano in my local choir.鈥�