Cardiff and Vale College has held a special graduation ceremony to celebrate the achievements of its Higher Education students.
Every year, thousands of learners come to CAVC to gain the skills and qualifications they need to progress in their chosen career paths. Many of them take the College’s unique range of career-focused degree or degree-level courses to immerse themselves in subjects they feel passionate about to gain the skills and qualifications to help them change or progress their future careers.
One such learner graduating this year was Shadi Elzein, who graduated with a BEng in Aircraft Engineering. He heard about the course while on a Level 3 Aircraft Maintenance course at the College.
“What really stood out was the chance to continue with the B license modules while working toward a degree,” Shadi said. “It felt like the perfect next step to build on what I’d already started and get closer to my goal of working in aviation.”
Studying at CAVC had its advantages for Shadi.
“Honestly, the best part was the bond between tutors and students,” he explained. “The classes were small, which made it feel more personal almost like a little family. You weren’t just a number; people knew your name, your strengths, and they genuinely wanted to help you grow.
“The course helped me in so many ways. My hand skills improved a lot, and I became much more confident working with aircraft systems. It gave me a deeper understanding of how things work in real world aviation, and that’s been a huge boost as I look ahead to my career.”
Shadi is now looking to apply his hands-on knowledge and work on his B License modules in the industry. He recommends this Higher Education experience offered by Cardiff and Vale College.
“If you’re thinking about studying a Higher Education course at CAVC, I’d say go for it,” he said. “The support is amazing, the learning is hands-on, and you’ll be surrounded by people who genuinely care about your progress. Just stay focused, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to push yourself, it’s worth it.”
Seren Norman came to the College to study the Post Graduate Certificate (PgCE) in Post Compulsory Education and Training (PcET).
“When searching for the right course, Cardiff and Vale College stood out for their clear commitment to developing confident, reflective, highly skilled and employable educators,” Seren said. “It was evident the College prioritised creating supportive learning environments, led by enthusiastic and experienced lecturers who were eager to help.”
One highlight of the course for Seren was her placement.
“Getting to apply theory and meaningfully reflect on my practice has encouraged me to push beyond my comfort zone,” Seren said. “This was an incredibly rewarding experience, where I have seen a marked increase in my confidence.
“The emphasis on collaboration and sharing best practice amongst peers has helped me consider various perspectives, think critically and adopt new strategies to further inclusivity. Combined with detailed and constructive feedback from lecturers, I felt supported to achieve every step along the way.
“The course has been instrumental in preparing me for the next steps in my career, supporting both my professional and personal growth. I have gained a wealth of knowledge on pedagogy, planning, reflective practice, literacies for learning and inclusive practices, all of which I actively embed in my daily practice as a Psychology Lecturer.
“Subsequently, I feel equipped with the confidence and tools to manage a variety of classroom environments. The unwavering support I received from my tutors has instilled a firm belief in myself that I can succeed, which has opened opportunities for further development.”
Seren will now continue to work as a Psychology Lecturer, and will use the knowledge she has gained to refine her teaching methods.
“Studying a Higher Education course at Cardiff and Vale College is a fantastic opportunity to learn from highly skilled individuals within an inclusive and supportive environment,” she said. “Though it might seem scary at first, and you may face challenges on the way, everyone at Cardiff and Vale College is there to help you succeed.”
CAVC Principal Sharon James-Evans said: “Seeing our students graduate with Higher Education qualifications they wanted to achieve together with the skills they have picked up along the way makes me and my all of my colleagues at the College extremely proud. Many of them have returned to education after a period of time away and that challenge in itself cannot be underestimated – it shows how much dedication and commitment it takes to achieve and they have done that.
“Our graduates are leaving us talented and educated people and I have no doubt that they will go on to achieve their goals. I look forward to hearing all of their success stories over the coming years.”
CAVC offers a wide range of Higher Education courses, working in close partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University, University of South Wales, University of West London, Kingston University and University of Wales Trinity St David. To find out more visit https://cavc.ac.uk/en/he