<h2>Meet Beth Gibson-Hill &ndash; an inspiring young mum, midwifery student, and TikTok star all in one.</h2>
Beth, who is currently in her first year of studying <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/undergraduate/bsc-midwifery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">midwifery at UEA</a>, began sharing her life as a young mum on TikTok two years ago, inspiring followers with her honest content about balancing parenting and student life. Her account, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@maevesmummy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maeve&rsquo;s Mummy</a>, now has nearly 57,000 followers.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I actually first started filming when I was pregnant,&rdquo; says Beth. &ldquo;I filmed my experience in hospital, and it just went from there. I loved sharing every experience I had because I was quite a young mum, and I&rsquo;d just moved into my council house as well. So that was like my niche.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I think people like following my journey because it&rsquo;s not one that&rsquo;s really represented in the media. I feel like I show the reality of motherhood; it&rsquo;s not always sunshine and rainbows! But overall, it is positive. I still can't believe that people actually want to follow me!&rdquo;&nbsp;
On raising her two-year-old daughter while studying at university, Beth said: &ldquo;Parenting and being a university student is tough, especially as we're going through the &lsquo;terrible twos&rsquo; right now. Things get thrown everywhere and it's a bit of a challenge, but it's just the most rewarding thing ever. Coming home as she's waiting at the door for me is so nice. I feel so proud to be her mum.&rdquo;&nbsp;
It was at Beth&rsquo;s first hospital appointment, at eight weeks pregnant, that she was inspired to study for a new career: &ldquo;A student midwife from UEA was there and she was so lovely and kind to me. At the time, no one else knew I was pregnant, and I didn&rsquo;t have a clue what I was going to do; it was really scary. But after that appointment, I knew that I wanted to study midwifery and I set that as my main focus. &nbsp;
&ldquo;I went on to do an access course, and then I had an interview. At the time it was like a dream and now it's a reality &ndash; I can barely believe it&rsquo;s been a year since I had my interview!&nbsp;
&ldquo;From day one, everyone at UEA has been so lovely &ndash; all the lecturers, everyone in my cohort, and I just feel like this is where I belong. Starting university as a mature student at 25, I was a bit worried that I wouldn't fit in and would be the odd one out as everyone else would be out partying, but that hasn't been the case. I made friends with other mums on the course really quickly too, everyone is so kind and we support each other.&rdquo;&nbsp;
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/4284x4785/88defbbdf7/beth-gibson-hill.jpg" border="0" alt="">
So far, Beth is enjoying the hands-on aspects of the course: &ldquo;I just love learning everything about midwifery. I love the clinical skills days because we get really involved; even simple things like practising on a model and then doing it on a real person is amazing. And going out on placement has solidified that I definitely want to do this as my career.&rdquo;&nbsp;
When she finishes the course and becomes a qualified midwife, Beth is looking forward to teaching new students and the possibility of overseas travel: &ldquo;I think working alongside other students will be an incredible experience because I&rsquo;ll have been through it all myself. And midwifery could literally take me anywhere. Who knows? I could go to Australia, do the exact same job, and share my experience out there.&rdquo;&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDHzif0tV44/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Join Beth as she tours the Edith Cavell Building, a state-of-the-art training facility for student midwives, nurses and paramedics at UEA</a>.&nbsp;
<a class="ui-button" href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/undergraduate/bsc-midwifery">Study Midwifery</a>

Beth Gibson-Hill is a mother, first-year student and TikTok influencer all rolled into one. She explains how she balances studying, social media and parenting, and how an encounter with a UEA student midwife inspired her to take up midwifery herself.

The TikTok star sharing her journey into motherhood and midwifery

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In June 2021, Kacey Jones was looking forward to starting her BSc Paramedic Science at UEA that September, but following a car crash in Nottingham that left her with a broken back and a bleed on the brain, this looked extremely unlikely. Following spinal&nbsp;surgery a week after the crash to fuse three of her vertebrae, it wasn&rsquo;t even guaranteed that Kacey would be able to walk again, let alone enroll at UEA that same year. After months of bed rest and treatment, and despite only learning to walk again two weeks before the start of her course, Kacey&rsquo;s determination and self-confessed &ldquo;stubbornness&rdquo; helped to ensure her studies began as planned. In 2024,&nbsp;Kacey was involved in another car crash, thankfully this one was much less serious, but it did bring up feelings of trauma from 2021 that she had worked hard to address throughout the subsequent years. Since the end of September 2024, Kacey, who lives in Costessey in Norfolk, has been on an intensive training course. As of 6 November, with her training complete, Kacey has been out on the road, putting her degree into practice within the region. We spoke to her before she finished her training to catch up about her experiences at UEA, how she&nbsp;overcame her difficulties, and what she hopes for her future. Did you always want to be a paramedic? What influenced your desire to pursue this career? I always wanted a career in healthcare. I wanted to be able to make a difference and help individuals for the better. Pursuing paramedicine became apparent to me when realising I didn&rsquo;t like working in offices or wards and seeing the same thing day in day out. Being a paramedic meant I could go to any environment and never know what each day brings.
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What was the course like at UEA? Were there any particular highlights? The course was really difficult. I faced a lot of challenges over the way, especially with occupational health, due to mobility issues. My highlight would be doing placements and getting to go to Canada. It must have been tough with some of the course scenarios perhaps touching on things that were sensitive for you? How did you deal with this? The first time I watched a road traffic collision video I had a panic attack and really struggled. Through CBT and lots of therapy I overcame flashbacks and issues. I managed to get involved in scenarios and multiple times have been a &lsquo;patient&rsquo; in a car crash while other students practiced getting me out. How is the training going? Did your degree help to prepare you? Training has been supported well through East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) staff. I feel nervous about starting as a newly qualified paramedic as I haven&rsquo;t seen a patient since the end of March. But my degree has prepared me well for knowing the hospitals and some of the staff. <img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/fe7af6160c/kacey-jones-3.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="720" height="350"> What does the future hold for you? Do you think you&rsquo;d like to remain on the frontline as a paramedic? I have always known I want to travel as a paramedic. I want to volunteer or go abroad as a paramedic working in underdeveloped countries. Any opportunities I will take. Norfolk will always be my home, but I will come back and forth. Do you have any advice for anyone thinking of becoming a Paramedic? Take it at your own pace and don&rsquo;t think about others&rsquo; progress. I did re-sits every year and had a lot of challenges, but if you want it enough you will make it happen. I would say my advice is doing prior jobs in healthcare, such as being a care assistant, as that helped me with foundations of patient care and soft skills like communication. I would say make sure you have a work life balance to help yourself mentally. You will see some traumatic stuff and if you only have work you will burn out and not function well. Lastly, utilise the University - they have great practice labs etc. which keep up your clinical skills. The staff are very knowledgeable and open to suggestions.<span class="EOP SCXW63121658 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:-450,&quot;335559731&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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Kacey Jones, who once described herself as the “world’s unluckiest student” after two car-crashes,  in the lead-up to starting university and during her studies, has begun her career as a frontline paramedic after graduating from UEA in August 2024.

Kacey’s journey from patient to paramedic

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Harrison Sherwell, a first-year medical student is keen to inspire the next generation with his journey to becoming a doctor at UEA, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour aged 10 - with the care he received motivating him to look after others.<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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We caught up with Harrison to talk about his experiences, his studies and his goals for the future.&nbsp;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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Harrison said, &ldquo;I guess I want to share my experience because I wanted to show children going through similar health issues like me that their goals can be achieved, and that their health issues don&rsquo;t have to stop them from doing that.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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&ldquo;I wouldn't say there was a particular moment that made me decide to study medicine, I think just the whole journey that I've been through - from consultants &nbsp;being really nice, the way they'd show empathy, they make you feel more at ease and that they were with you on the journey. I felt like I could add something to that if I did it, because I've got my own experiences, and from that I feel like I can use that to help out other children.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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&ldquo;I took quite an interest in the medical facilities and care. That initially started my interest in science, and there was just the empathy that I felt for children going through the same situation as me, so studying medicine felt like it was perfect for me.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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&nbsp;Harrison decided to join UEA because of how personal his interview felt, saying, &ldquo;When I first went to the interviews, I thought Leeds was potentially the one I wanted. But my other three interviews were mainly about grades and just basic interview questions and who can answer them the best. UEA&rsquo;s interview process more tailored around the person and what they wanted out of me, and that made me think that this is probably the best choice for me.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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&nbsp;&ldquo;I'm just looking forward to placements and interacting with people, being able to share that empathy and make people feel better about what they're going through to show that we&rsquo;re not alone.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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Harrison is coming to the end of his first-term at UEA, settling into living on campus and his course, he said, &ldquo;I'm kind of more just trying to get used to all the cooking and washing, I've got a good flat. They're all friendly, they're nice to get on with. I was quite nervous, obviously, that I'm maybe not socially as confident as most people, because I was quite ill when I was younger, it knocked my social confidence, but they&rsquo;ve been really nice.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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In terms of how his course is going, Harrison has joined a &lsquo;buddy-system&rsquo;, saying: &ldquo;I'm in MedSoc, and with MedSoc you get med &lsquo;parents', and they can help you through your journey because they're a year ahead of you. You do a pub quiz where you meet your &lsquo;parent&rsquo;, so you get to know them that way, and I've also added mine on social media, so they&rsquo;re there whenever I need them.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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Harrison&rsquo;s main message to share is &ldquo;Don't let an illness hold you back. Use it as inspiration. I have the mentality that I&rsquo;ve been through a much harder experience than a lot of people, and that I can use that to push through, knowing I can do better to get to where I aspire to be.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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Harrison Sherwell, a first-year medical student is keen to inspire the next generation with his journey to becoming a doctor at UEA, after surviving a brain tumour aged 10.

The first-year Med student aiming to inspire tomorrow’s doctors

Alex&nbsp;Florance, a fifth-year medical student at UEA, has raised over &pound;1500 for Papyrus UK, a charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and promotion of positive wellbeing in young people. &nbsp;
In 2024, Alex completed a 750-mile cycle ride across Spain over the course of 9.5 days, covering 100 miles a day with 2 rest days.&nbsp;
We caught up with Alex as he started on the fifth year of his studies. &nbsp;
Q. Why did you decide to do your cycle ride?&nbsp;
A. I chose to cycle for various reasons, partly as an escape for my mental health, partly because I was falling out of love with medicine a little bit, and I thought I needed to make the most of the time that I had. I love cycling and I knew I wanted to go to Spain, cycling a journey that was between 700-900 miles. &nbsp;
Q. And it was for charity?&nbsp;
A. It was for Papyrus, a mental health charity, which at the time, was poignant for me. I thought, you know, I've taken a year out because I want to get my get my get my head straight, and Papyrus links really well with that. It particularly supports young people and suicide prevention and their mental wellbeing, with a focus on awareness.&nbsp;
Another reason I chose it was because of the Three Dads Walking, which is quite a personal cause to me. The Three Dads Walking is a cause formed by three dads who lost their daughters to suicide, and now they work to raise money for suicide prevention and raising awareness. When I was a kid, I used to do a lot of competitive swimming, which I still do, but one of the girls which I swam with back then was Emily Owen. When she died a few years later, it was an enormous shock to the community, and her dad, Tim, has been truly inspirational, he&rsquo;s the most incredible man ever and such an inspiring guy. He&rsquo;s doing such an incredible job at raising awareness of young suicide and suicide prevention, and I thought that it would be great to do that as well, and great to help support that charity too. &nbsp;
Q. Have you had any great support on your journey?&nbsp;
A. I had some nice support from Tim Owen, who sent me some lovely messages of support. The people I've met on my course at UEA have been really supportive too, especially through the sort of little mini cycling community at UEA. One of the things I struggled with was the routes, which were quite difficult. Often the maps and the actual road surface didn&rsquo;t quite match up, so it was even more difficult because the roads on the map were different from the actual roads, and sometimes I just needed an experienced cyclist just to say you've got this, or you're doing good. So, I called a few people who I'd met at university and got a nice little bit of encouragement, a nice bit of advice, which was lovely. I also had some amazing support from my fianc&eacute;e, Beth, who encouraged me to do this and was always levelheaded when I called her up from the middle of nowhere multiple times a day!&nbsp;
Q. What was an unexpected outcome of your cycling?&nbsp;
A. I'm very much of the mindset of taking time out is the best is the best way to go when you feel like you need it.&nbsp; because you don't really grow as a person when you're in the moment, &nbsp;when you're swept up in the whirlwind of whatever course you're doing, and it's a case of you just survive and do &nbsp;your coursework, and whatever other extra curriculum and stuff you want to do. But I think existing as an adult in the real world is very different, and it&rsquo;s not until you are out of the university bubble that you see that. I think learning that has a lot of value in it. I also absolutely fell in love with Spain and Spanish people. Everywhere I went I was greeted with warmth, and the Spanish lifestyle gave me such a different perspective on life.&nbsp;
Q. What was your favourite part of travelling?&nbsp;
A. There is a couple that spring to mind, so I was exhausted when I got to Salamanca and then walked out into the main square, and there were so many people around, and it just was the most amazing atmosphere. I sat and found a restaurant just off the main square and I had a conversation with one of the waiters while I was eating, and fumbled my way through my journey and what I had been up to. I tried to explain the fact that I needed to have 3 meals because I was hungry from just cycling 200km. It was a fantastic interaction, and the waiter was so warm and patient despite my dismal attempts to speak Spanish. It really made me feel welcomed. &nbsp;
The other was the ride into Salamanca itself. It had been an utterly incredible, if very hilly, day of cycling. The route had been stunning, over 1100m elevation at times, the scenery was beautiful, and there was a gorgeous long undulating but slightly downhill ride into Salamanca. As I rolled into the city with the sun setting, I remember feeling an overwhelming emotion of joy and relief.&nbsp;
Q. Are you glad to be studying again?&nbsp;
I am really glad to be back studying again. Although I&rsquo;m very glad I took a year out, the people at UEA are so warm and welcoming, and I&rsquo;ve been longing to use my brain for something for a while! I&rsquo;m now on placement, and although it&rsquo;s a very stark contrast from what I&rsquo;ve been doing for the past year (working in a bike shop). It&rsquo;s brilliant fun and I&rsquo;m very excited at the prospect of working as a doctor this time next year. I feel as though my time out and experiences this year have helped me become more well-rounded and resilient.&nbsp;
If the topics raised in Alex&rsquo;s story have affected you in anyway, please see the following links for access to wellbeing services and support: &nbsp;
<a href="https://www.papyrus-uk.org/">Papyrus</a> &ndash; the charity Alex has raised money for, supporting young people and suicide prevention.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.papyrus-uk.org/papyrus-HOPELINE247/">HOPELINE247</a>- Papyrus&rsquo;s helpline, available on their website or call 0800 068 414. &nbsp;
<a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/uea-life/student-support">UEA Student Support</a>- for UEA&rsquo;s students, for support and wellbeing advice whenever you need them. &nbsp;
<a href="https://www.norfolkandwaveneymind.org.uk/">Norfolk and Waveney Mind - Home-</a> a local charity focused on wellbeing and support to vulnerable people.

Alex Florance, a fifth-year medical student at UEA, has raised over £1500 for Papyrus UK, a charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide in young people, thanks to a 750-mile cycle across Spain.

Med student’s charity-fueled year of recuperation

Megan&nbsp;Harwood-Baynes graduated in 2017 with a BA in American Literature with Creative Writing. She is now a Social Affairs &amp; Health Reporter at Sky News. In this interview, she tells us all about how experience at&nbsp;UEA set her up for a career in journalism, and why she is <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/page/running-for-the-matthewathon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">running the marathon</a> in memory of her father.
<h2>What have you been up to since you graduated?</h2>
After graduation, I moved to the Isle of Wight to study a journalism apprenticeship. After two years learning from some of the best reporters and editors, I made the big move back to the mainland and worked on the social media team at PA (formerly known as the Press Association).
I was one of the first in the newsroom assigned to write about "this new illness coming out of Wuhan", which was something I would continue to cover in depth for several years. This heightened my interest in writing about health inequality.
Recent work has included covering the trade of illicit abortion pills on social media and being one of the only reporters in courtroom seven at the trial of Lucy Letby.
<h2>What was your ambition for your career when you started at UEA? Did you have a specific career path in mind?</h2>
I have wanted to be a journalist from about the age of 15. My dad encouraged me to pursue writing as a career (my first choice was actually a lawyer, but we both agreed I couldn't base a career off the fact I enjoyed arguing with people...) and he encouraged me to apply to UEA, which has the best creative writing course in the country.
<h2>Tell us about your experiences studying at UEA.</h2>
My dad graduated from UEA about 30 years before me, and Norwich was always a special place to him. When I started to show an interest in writing, he encouraged me to think about applying for Creative Writing.
He drove me to a UEA Open Day (about an eight-hour round trip for us) and I fell in love with the University; stepping onto the campus felt like coming home. He was delighted when I was accepted onto the course and even more excited when I moved into his former digs, Norfolk Terrace. He used to tease me that it was more fun in his day because they could climb out onto the roof to sunbathe (the closest I got to that was rescuing a drunk student who had climbed out someone else's window...).
I loved living on campus so much that, after my year abroad, I moved back into it. It made it easier to run Concrete, the student newspaper (I spent about 90% of my fourth year in Union House - if I wasn't in the media office, I was behind the Unio bar making coffee).
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/1200x909/4a7adc7c99/megan-harwood-baynes-and-father.jpg" border="0" alt="Megan Harwood-Baynes and her Father celebrating graduation" width="500" height="379">Image: Megan Harwood-Baynes and her father celebrating graduation
<h2>How did your year abroad help with your career?</h2>
It certainly made me more employable, but perhaps not in the ways you would expect. Because it was a pass-fail year, I was able to be a bit more relaxed about the academics, so went out and got an internship at a local magazine (I sort of forced them to let me do it, and kind of just kept turning up at their offices every week until they would let me write things). I ended up covering some amazing stories about the local community which helped me get my first journalism job after graduation.
<h2>What personal or professional achievement are you most proud of?</h2>
I was named NCTJ Apprentice of the Year in 2018. This meant a lot to me because it was also the year my dad died, so to be able to achieve so much in my career while also dealing with that was huge for me. I just wish he had been around to see me pick up the award (the ceremony was two months after he died).
<h2>What were your experiences of Norwich as a city?</h2>
Living in the Golden Triangle was brilliant. I love the centre of the city - there was always new food to eat, new bars to try, new things to see. If journalism wasn't so London-centric, I would move back in a heartbeat.
<h2>Is there any advice you would give to current students wishing to follow a similar career path to you?</h2>
Join Concrete! Write as much as you can for them, and then find as much work experience as you can - don't take no for an answer.
The number of job rejections I have had in my career must be more than 50 or so now, but keep going, you'll get there. (And if you can, get a job on a local paper and work your way up).
<h2>What is next for you?</h2>
The London Marathon!
I am running the marathon to raise money for the hospice who looked after my dad - something I would never have even contemplated as a student. But I have always loved a challenge.

UEA graduate Megan Harwood-Baynes is Social Affairs & Health Reporter at Sky News. In this interview, she tells us all about how her experience at UEA set her up for a career in journalism, and why she is running the marathon in honour of her father.

Megan Harwood-Baynes's multi-generational UEA story

<h6>Left-to-Right for above group photo:&nbsp;Michael Marriott (CHE 72), Andy Dunkerley (CHE 73),&nbsp;Martin Howard (CHE 72),&nbsp;Debbie Hays (n&eacute;e McCloughlin) (EUR 73),&nbsp;Hilary Talbot (n&eacute;e Smith) (EAS 72),&nbsp;Teresa Marriott (n&eacute;e Collins) (EUR 73),&nbsp;Nigel Davis (CHE 72),&nbsp;Andy Oliver (CHE 72),&nbsp;Jane Oliver (n&eacute;e Palfrey) (BIO 72),&nbsp;Rob Thorpe (MAP 72),&nbsp;Pete James (CHE 72),&nbsp;Richard Skegg (CHE 72),&nbsp;Stuart Cottam (MAP 72),&nbsp;Les Thelwall (CHE 72), Geoff Stuttard (CHE 72),&nbsp;Terry Clough (MAP 72),&nbsp;Ed Bennet (MAP 72),&nbsp;Lilian Hodgson (n&eacute;e De Souza) (CHE 72),&nbsp;Ian Chapman (MAP 72),&nbsp;Gary Hays (CHE 72)&nbsp; </h6>
<h4>We are delighted to share more from two groups of alumni from the 1970s.</h4>
Firstly, the group pictured above is a collective of alumni from the 1972/73 intake of students. Leslie Thelwall of the group would like to share the following message:
"In August 2024, 23 UEA alumni (20 in the photo) largely from the 1972/73 intake came together for a reunion in Norwich. It was not our first as we have been meeting in Norwich for several years. It&rsquo;s over 50 years since we first met and are still going strong! If you know any of us and would like to make contact and/or be part of the 2025 reunion, please get in touch via the Alumni team. We would love to hear from you. Thanks, Leslie Thelwall (CHE 72)" 
<h4>The second group featured represent students who studied in our School of Environmental Sciences starting in 1978.&nbsp; <img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/1536x2048/af2b068a3e/env78-bunch_2024.jpg" border="0" alt="Group of UEA ENV alumni on field trip" width="300" height="400"></h4>
<h6>Left-to-right: Stefan Bort, Nick Allen, Petra Brown, Graham Bunn, Robert Brown </h6>
One of the group, Petra Brown (nee THOMAS), had the following to share about their recent meetings:
"Although our lives and careers have taken many different paths (from earth observation, data management, GIS, law, teaching, Information technology, to name but a few), the glue that continues to stick us together is our love for all things &ldquo;ENV-Y&rdquo;! A group of ENV78 alumni met in northern Spain, not far from the location of countless geology and soil science field trips, to enjoy the spectacular natural environment of <a href="https://www.turismoasturias.es/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asturias </a>&ndash; Spain&rsquo;s green paradise in the lesser-known part of the country. A province full of mountains, rivers, forests, wild coastal landscapes and great cuisine! Since graduating in 1981, our ENV studies have become so much more relevant and significant, now commonly reported in mainstream media. Our ENV lecturers prepared us well to observe, appreciate and interpret the world around us and the impact that we have as human beings. Moreover, taking careful note of the creatures in the air and on land, diversity of plants and forest life, geology and surface processes shaping the earth, and changes in our climate &ndash; a topic prominent in global governmental discussions, although not prominent enough. An amusing debate was had on interlocking spurs that no-one could clarify! We were privileged to spend three days together, catching up on many missing years which had been absorbed by the busy-ness of life. Only now with many of us on the cusp of retirement and still with loads of energy (!), do we have time to revisit activities from those ENV days &ndash; so many field trips, rendering so many unforgettable memories! For three days, we immersed ourselves in Asturian rural life. We hiked in mountain scenery dominated by limestone, marvelling at formations such as blow holes (&lsquo;bufones&rsquo;) by the sea, tilted bedding planes and intrusions, waterfalls and underground caverns. We visited an underground coal mining museum, offering deeper insight into a bygone era when coal mining was prevalent in Asturias. Today, much like in Great Britain&mdash;where coal once formed the backbone of industry and shaped the cultural landscape&mdash;mining has nearly disappeared. And to top it all off, we can't overlook the excellent Asturian cuisine, along with its renowned local cheeses and wines that had to be experienced. The pioneering School of Environmental Sciences at UEA equipped us with a solid foundation of scientific knowledge which is crucial to tackle the mounting environmental challenges of our time, and continues to do so for others who follow. If anyone from ENV78 - or those from shared courses - wishes to make contact, please get in touch via the Alumni Office. We&rsquo;d love to hear from you!"
&nbsp;
If you would like to contact either group please first email <a href="mailto:@alumni@uea.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">alumni@uea.ac.uk</a>

We are pleased to share reports from two different groups of 1970s alumni on how they are still keeping in touch. Both groups explain more about their reunions and invite fellow 1970s alumni to join them.

1970s Alumni reunions in focus

With spooky season in full swing, who better to speak to than one of our recent UEA graduates currently starring in a new zombie horror series?
Buket K&ouml;m&uuml;r, who graduated with a degree in Film Studies with English Literature in 2020, currently features in Ben Wheatley's Generation Z, a new six-part series on&nbsp;Channel 4, alongside Johnny Vegas, Sue Johnston and Robert Lindsay.
Since graduating, Buket has had a number of different acting roles. We caught up with her to find out all about her time studying at UEA, her decision for coming to Norwich, and the best parts of her job. Any budding Bukets should read on for some helpful advice for following her footsteps into acting!
<h2>Do you have any fond memories of living and studying in Norwich?</h2>
&ldquo;I was really lucky to meet my two best friends at&nbsp;UEA because we were all on the same course. Getting to live with them and hang out together on and off campus was such a special time. We&rsquo;d go from watching a 1920s film together in a lecture to clubbing at the LCR that same day &ndash; it was great!&rdquo;
<h2>You grew up in North London &ndash; what made you choose&nbsp;UEA and move to Norwich?</h2>
&ldquo;It sounds really simple but I remember visiting the University on an open day and feeling really comfortable walking around. I could actually imagine myself there as a student which I hadn&rsquo;t felt when visiting other schools. Plus it was one of the only universities that offered a joint honours course in film and English literature, which were my favourite A-level subjects.
&ldquo;I knew I wanted to be an actor, but I also knew I wanted to learn more about the industry I was getting into from a different perspective. During the week, I&rsquo;d learn about film and writing on my course and then on weekends, I&rsquo;d travel back to London for acting classes. A lot of my student loan went on train tickets!&rdquo;
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/960x622/5209fb8816/buketwheatley.jpg?cv=1730453357300" border="0" alt="" width="838" height="543">Image: Buket on the set of Generation Z with director Ben Wheatley
<h2>What is the best part of your job?</h2>
&ldquo;I&rsquo;d say it&rsquo;s the variety &ndash; getting to play and collaborate with so many incredible people to create something together. With Generation Z, the show had so many themes and stories to explore outside of it being a zombie show, so every day we got to work on something different which was really fun and rewarding.&rdquo;
<h2>What advice would you give to a current or prospective student who wants to follow in your footsteps and get into acting?&nbsp;</h2>
&ldquo;I feel like I&rsquo;m still figuring out the industry and the best mindset to have around it myself, but the one thing I&rsquo;d say is to prioritise learning. To watch films and plays, to go to acting classes, to read great books in order to always find something to discover and be inspired by.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a lot of aspects to this job but as long as you find what it is that drives you, you&rsquo;ll enjoy the journey no matter what.&rdquo;
For more news on&nbsp;Buket, and to keep up with her continued success, visit her <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8858945/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IMDB page</a>.&nbsp;All six episodes of Generation Z are available on catch up <a href="https://www.channel4.com/programmes/generation-z" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on Channel 4</a>.
<a class="ui-button" href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/undergraduate/ba-film-studies-and-english-literature" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Study Film Studies and English Literature at UEA</a>

Buket Kömür, who graduated from UEA with a degree in Film Studies with English Literature, currently stars in Generation Z, a new six-part series on Channel 4. She talked to us about her time studying in Norwich, and the best things about being an actor.

From campus to Channel 4: Buket Kömür’s journey to the TV screen

UEA Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International, Prof Steven McGuire, has visited China to develop the University's relationship and collaboration in arts and humanities with other Chinese institutions. Here, he keeps a daily record of his trip, and some of the exciting opportunities developing for&nbsp;UEA in Asia.
&nbsp;
We are at the Communications University of China, Nanjing (CUCN) to build on what is already a strong relationship with UEA in the arts and humanities. I was joined in the UEA delegation by Tom Roebuck, Karen Blackney, Tim Hubbard and Jeremy Qian. We met Prof Emma Chen, Ms Betty Shang, Ms Yifei Yang and Ms Elsa Shen.&nbsp;
UEA and CUCN are now working on a proposal for a joint institute to be housed on the Nanjing campus. The institute plans to offer a range of undergraduate courses across media, film, communication, and creative arts, with the potential for exciting trans-disciplinary collaborations across the university.&nbsp;
In addition, both institutions see the collaboration as a way of enriching the research environment at both universities, building on the success of&nbsp;CreativeUEA; joint funding applications, and publications firmly are on the agenda.  &nbsp;
CUCN is also keen to welcome our home undergraduates as visiting students. Interest in the creative industries is growing in countries like China, so we hope this collaboration grows strongly over the coming years. 
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Several of us travelled to&nbsp;Wenzhou - a medium-sized Chinese city of 10 million people - located south of Shanghai. Our China office has been working hard on concluding a novel, collaborative programme with Wenzhou Business College, a young university focused on the professions and now home to some 20,000 students.
The&nbsp;Wenzhou delegation was led by the Vice-Chancellor, Tang Ruo, and the Dean of International Faculty, Professor Cao Jiang. The session included a large number of students who plan to enrol on the UEA-Wenzhou partnership.
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x405/fcd5566ed9/wenzhou.jpg?cv=1730112298949" border="0" alt="" width="720" height="405">
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A day of meetings in Shanghai that perfectly illustrated the importance of UEA's broad subject offer. The morning was given over to a visit to the Shanghai International Fashion Education Centre (SIFEC). Located in a bustling neighbourhood in central Shanghai, SIFEC has developed exceptionally strong links with the significant arts, fashion and creative sector in the city. &nbsp;
SIFEC and UEA plan to work together to develop students' knowledge of business and management, notably marketing and branding through Norwich Business School. We also discussed ways that our complementary strengths across arts and media could be used in new projects. &nbsp;
The afternoon was an opportunity to visit Renji Hospital, a major medical school associated with Shanghai Jiao'Tong University. Renji is a vast and impressive operation, which utilises digital technologies to facilitate delivery of its services - everything from prescriptions to surgery - at scale and remotely. We talked about opportunities for collaboration on nursing education and on continuing professional development for their clinicians.

UEA Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International, Prof Steven McGuire, has visited China to develop the University's relationship in arts and humanities with other Chinese institutions, and explore new opportunities. Read updates of his trip via his diary.

Diary of a China visit

Earlier this month, a team of UEA students competed in a charity race across Norfolk, armed only with a map and a compass for their two-day adventure.

Race Across Norfolk

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Two businesses spun-out from research at UEA&nbsp;have won awards during 2024&rsquo;s Cambridge Tech Week, seeing off some of the most innovative early-stage&nbsp;companies in the country.&nbsp;
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Cambridge Tech Week, which ran from 9-13 September,&nbsp;brought together world-leading experts, innovators and investors to share insights and explore future collaborations. This year&rsquo;s event was the biggest so far, with more than 5,000 attendees (a 400% increase on last year) and over 500 companies represented across the week. &nbsp; &nbsp;
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One of the highlights of the programme was the Innovation Alley exhibition space, supported by UEA, which showcased 50 of the brightest early-stage companies, alongside larger tech firms. Two awards were on offer for delegates, with both the &lsquo;Start-up&rsquo; and &lsquo;People&rsquo;s Choice&rsquo; titles being given to companies with strong links to UEA. <span class="EOP SCXW189679007 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp; <img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/89c369f272/innovation-alley.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="720" height="350"> Image: Innovation Alley
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Julie Schofield, Associate Director Business Partnerships at UEA, said: &nbsp; &nbsp; &ldquo;UEA&rsquo;s success and prominence at Cambridge Tech Week highlights our commitment to innovation and in supporting the pioneering work of academics and students across the world-leading Norwich Research Park. It was a fantastic opportunity to make new connections and showcase the innovative thinking and groundbreaking tech being nurtured at UEA. &nbsp; &nbsp; &ldquo;I was particularly thrilled to see Cellexcel and Virilitas scooping both prizes at the Innovation Alley awards &ndash; this alone shines a light on how high the calibre of expertise UEA has to offer is. I look forward to strengthening the relationship with Cambridge Wireless and to fostering new relationships made, and continuing to promote UEA across the East, England and beyond."<span class="EOP SCXW189679007 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}">&nbsp;
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Virilitas: Leading the change in men&rsquo;s reproductive health&nbsp; Winner: People&rsquo;s Choice Award
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&nbsp;<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/34ad2857a9/virilitas-receving-the-people-s-choice-award.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="720" height="350"> Image: Daniel Marcu receiving the People's Choice Award Dr Daniel Marcu, Co-founder and Managing Director at Virilitas and Senior Research Scientist at UEA, said: &ldquo;One in six couples face infertility, with diagnosis often taking over 3 years. Our technology bridges this gap, empowering men and couples on their reproductive journey. Winning the People&rsquo;s Choice and Founders Live Awards at Cambridge Tech Week is a profound honour, showing strong support for our mission and demand for our innovative solutions. We are thrilled to drive innovation and change in male fertility.&rdquo;&nbsp;
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&nbsp; <iframe class="'tinymce-iframe'" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AanWSNZ5e6I?si=2vSmjtCCShAESCGy" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe><span class="EOP SCXW120836064 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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<a href="https://virilitaslabs.com/">Discover more about Virilitas. <span class="EOP SCXW120836064 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;</a>
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Cellexcel: Innovative technology for water resistant materials &nbsp; Winner: Start-up of the Year&nbsp; &nbsp; <img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/883c5ab879/cellexcel-and-virilitas.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="720" height="350"> Image: Cellexcel and Virilitas with their Cambridge Tech Week awards.&nbsp; Steven Curtis, Chief Operating Officer at Cellexcel Ltd, said: &nbsp; &nbsp; &ldquo;2024 has been an amazing year for Cellexcel. The recognition from Cambridge Tech Week judges reflects the traction we have gained helping companies adopt biomaterials in their products. We could not have accelerated our technology development so quickly without the help and support from UEA and Norwich Research Park and we look forward to being part of that community for many years.&rdquo;&nbsp; <iframe class="'tinymce-iframe'" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XUT26GPojSM?si=YXDSP_FnMybyZJJI" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe> <a href="https://www.cellexcel.co.uk/">Discover more about Cellexcel.</a> 
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Two businesses created as spin-outs at UEA have won awards during 2024’s Cambridge Tech Week, seeing off some of the most innovative early-stage companies in the country.

UEA spin-out businesses win big at Cambridge Tech Week

This week, the new international students have arrived on campus, ready to start their journey at UEA.
Their Welcome Week started with being greeted at Heathrow Airport in a &lsquo;Love Actually&rsquo;-esque welcome, to a variety of fun activities around Norwich and on campus.
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Steven McGuire, Pro-Vice Chancellor for International at UEA, recently sat down with The Free Press Journal to discuss the attraction of UK universities to international students and the welcoming atmosphere UEA provides, being &lsquo;a home away from home&rsquo;.
Speaking&nbsp;about why international students choose to come to university, he said: &ldquo;The UK educational landscape is highly international. British universities have become much more welcoming and better equipped to support international students over the past two decades. There is a strong focus on&nbsp;employability, with many programs incorporating work-experience or industry projects.&rdquo;
Durga Bagchi, who is from&nbsp;Kolkata,&nbsp;India and studying a Master's in Economics, said: "I chose England because of the offer of a one-year Master's course, and it's pretty affordable compared to other countries. UEA stood out to me in particular because the city is safe and has such a rich culture, and I'm excited to study my Master's here!"
Prof McGuire also spoke about how&nbsp;UEA has handled recent social unrest for international students: &ldquo;The UK has a long history of being a safe and welcoming destination for international students. At the UEA, we prioritise student safety and well-being. In the event of any unrest, we would work closely with local authorities and provide additional support to our international student community to ensure their safety and address any concerns.
&ldquo;The UK government has shown commitment to attracting international students, as evidenced by the graduate route visa. However, the landscape is competitive, and we're always working to enhance our offerings to remain an attractive destination for international students. At the UEA, we advocate for it by ensuring our students are well-informed about this visa by highlighting its benefits in our communications with prospective students.&rdquo;
At UEA, much of this week has been spent organising events to help new students explore the city, socialise with each other, and engage in activities that help the students ease into life on campus.
Shashidar R. Kolur has chosen to study Molecular Medicine at UEA, making the move from Bangalore in India. He said: "UEA was my first choice to study my course as the entire curriculum stood out to me, and I'm so excited to get the opportunity to study at&nbsp;UEA. I have always wanted to be a part of the research conducted at UEA, and hope to achieve this in my time here."
Prof McGuire continues: &ldquo;All international students face one common problem: that is of acclimatisation. At UEA, we have support systems in place, including dedicated course directors for large international cohorts, student academic advisors, and welfare support. We encourage all students to join clubs and get involved in university life to build a support network.
&ldquo;We are always looking to improve our support, so we welcome feedback from students from different regions to address any specific needs they might have.&rdquo;
&nbsp;

This week, the new international students have arrived on campus, ready to start their journey at UEA.

International students arrive on campus!

Jade Cuttle, a UEA Creative Writing Master’s graduate has been named one of this year's BBC New Generation Thinkers, thanks to her work in nature poetry.

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