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All Things Considered

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Religion & Ethics

Religious affairs programme, tackling thorny issues in a thought-provoking manner

Religious affairs programme, tackling the thornier issues of the day in a thought-provoking manner

All Things Considered: Students

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Students

BBC Radio Wales - All Things Considered, Students

Mary Stallard finds out how university life has changed for staff and students this term.

Covid restrictions have transformed university life; students now live in bubbles and learn online. We hear how faith can offer solid footing when everything else has changed.

University is normally seen as a time to explore new horizons, friendships and career paths, but this term it looks entirely different due to the Corona Virus. Now students live and study in small bubbles and the majority of their learning is done virtually. Opportunities for social interaction are limited, and clubs and societies have gone online. It’s a dramatic shift, and Mary Stallard finds out how staff and students are adapting to this new way of life.

We hear from three students; Olaitan Olawander, a master’s student and member of the Islamic Society at Bangor University, Kristy Howard, a medical student and Catholic from Swansea University, and Georgia Day, President of the Student Christian Movement, Cardiff Chapter. We go behind the scenes of campus life to hear what their life is really like, and find out how their faith has offered solid footing when everything around them has changed. 
 
Staff have risen to the enormous challenge of moving their teaching online, and Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones from Cardiff University explains the daily challenges he faces, and how a quiet faith has been a resource. We ask NUS Wales President Becky Ricketts whether students should still be paying nine thousand pounds a year for such a radically different experience.
 
There is a network of dedicated student chaplains across Wales supporting young people who are living away from home. We meet Nathan Jarvis, Church in Wales Chaplain at Bangor University. He runs a food bank and this term he’s seen an increase in poverty in the student population. Chaplain Delyth Liddell has set up an innovative venture at Cardiff University to support student mental health. She’s also got plans to support students who aren’t able to go home for Christmas.

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