Sunderland Talks

Between accommodation costs and making the most of student life, budgeting for university can seem like a minefield. Is it best to get a job or budget your money to make it last? For our latest episode, we're joined by current students who share their experiences and advise on what they'd do different if they were a student now.

Former Apprentice finalist and motivational speaker Adam Corbally joins us on campus to discuss his appearance on the hit BBC programme, his own business ventures, and his upcoming collaboration with the University’s Digital Incubator to help host Innovate Create: The Social Challenge – a two-day event aimed at students and graduates with a passion for enterprise.

We asked, and you delivered! This week, Callum and Jack are talking Student Icks submitted by you via Social Media. From the perfectly normal to the downright niche. Whether it's jogger shorts and flip-flops in winter, to if it's acceptable to whip out a pencil case in lectures, we cover it all.

Moving in Weekend is here! Leaving home and starting a new journey can seem daunting, but we're here to support you every step of the way.  In this episode, we hear from students George, Irish and Nana on their experiences of moving to Sunderland and away from home for the first time and what advice they have for everyone this weekend. 

Mature students make up a large percentage of our intake, so whether you’re 21 or 55, there’s never been a better time to make a change and go after what you really want. If you're over 21 when you commence your studies, UCAS considers you to be mature student age. At Sunderland, we know age is just a number and we'll be with you every step of the way with whatever support you may need. Find out more about joining the university as a Mature student with Jamie and Chloe in this latest episode.

As a University of Sunderland student, you may be studying with us on campus; at one of our partner institutions; in your workplace or online. Whatever your mode of study, the Library is here to support you and help you do your best.

Being a student at University can come with its fair share of struggles, but what about when you also have a family to support? Current students Natasha and Kayleigh join us for this episode to discuss how they juggle family life alongside university and share their advice for prospective students who may be in a similar position.

He's back! Radio 1 Presenter, I'm a Celeb runner-up and University of Sunderland graduate Jordan North returns to the North East to discuss his journey so far and recent Honorary Fellowship.

Clearing provides the perfect opportunity for you to explore your options and get another chance to apply for the course you really want to study. Join Megan from our Admissions team and current student Nathaniel to find everything you need to know about applying through Clearing.

Current students Josh and Nana share their insight on all things Postgraduate study and their reasons for choosing Sunderland to continue their education journey.

University of Sunderland graduate and BBC The Apprentice star Reece Donnelly returns to campus to discuss all things business, growing up in Glasgow, and getting that call from the producers!

A discussion with some current students and our Wellbeing team about all things Mental Health and some tips for Freshers on what you can do if you feel like you might need a bit of help when you start here at the University of Sunderland.

Ready to enhance your employability? The Sunderland Futures team offers a range of services and support for current students and graduates to help you stand out from the crowd. Whether you're a current student looking for part-time work, seeking a graduate career, or looking to start a business, the Futures team are in place to help you realise your potential. https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/futures/

Team Sunderland sits within Student Journey and offers a range of sporting opportunities for students at the University of Sunderland and beyond. We have over 30 sports teams that compete both nationally and locally, our US Active programme encourages participation in sports, and we offer an Elite Athlete Scheme that supports our high-performing athletes as well as much more.

Get to know your SU from the inside! We're joined by Student Development Officer Cass, President of Activities George and Equality and Diversity Officer Irish to discuss all things Student Union- from where to get support, the opportunities available, and a mini exclusive on what exciting events they have planned for our lucky students this year!

Starting university can be daunting, especially when it comes to making friends. In the latest episode of our podcast, we're joined by some current students who share their top tips on how to make some great connections and help alleviate any worries students may be having this time of year.

This International Paramedics Day we chat to Paramedic Science lecturer, Ian Braithwaite and final year students Jess and Rebecca to discuss their experiences of studying at Sunderland, their journey so far, and reasons for choosing Sunderland.

It's Pride Month and for this episode, we're joined by University Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager Justine Gillespie alongside University staff and students from the LGBTQI+ community. We discuss the importance of Pride and the issues LGBTQ+ people still face. If you are an applicant joining us in September or are a current student who just wants to know more about how the LGBTQI+ community is represented at Sunderland stay tuned to find out everything you need to know.

Professor Monika Foster, Head of the School of Business and Management, joins us to talk about her career, leadership, female role models in business and the impact technology has had on our work/life balance. Listen now to gain a fascinating insight into Monika's background and thoughts on leadership in modern times.

Current students join us for this episode to share their insight into studying at Postgraduate level. Sam, Lola and Norzafirah cover everything from their reasons for choosing Sunderland, to how they balance their studies alongside working part-time. For more information about our Postgraduate offering, please click below: https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/next-step/

In this episode, we talk to Psychology Team Leader and Senior Lecturer, Dr. Helen Driscoll about dark personality traits including the dark triad of personalities. We discuss the different characteristics between psychopaths and sociopaths and how a person might develop and exhibit this behaviour.

Rebecca from Zoe’s Places & Rachel from Sodexo join us for our latest podcast episode to discuss their experiences studying for the PG Cert Leadership & Change course as part of the ESF fully funded programme. If you are interested in developing your skills and becoming a better leader, stay tuned to find out more about accessing the project, the paperwork involved, and what support is available. We'll also touch on the other courses we have available that are fully funded.

The University of Sunderland is proud to announce a new course designed to stimulate the Menopause at work conversation to all Known to many as Miss Menopause, Sharon MacArthur has been commissioned by the University to deliver a series of Masterclasses aimed at workplaces to promote the conversation around the Menopause. Whether you’re a manager or an employee having experience with this, this course is a factual and fun way of bringing this subject to the forefront in business. This podcast gives you some insight into what to expect from the course! If you want to find out more about the course, dates, and the ESF funded programme as a whole email esf@sunderland.ac.uk

Access our ESF Fully Funded BRAND NEW Early Childhood Practice (early childhood graduate practitioner competencies) course with The University of Sunderland. Dr. Lindey Cookson, Gayle Blackburn, and Helen Haygarth join us to chat about the benefits of studying this FULLY FUNDED short course.  This podcast also details more information about the course and gives great insight into the type of employees who would benefit from doing it!

Hear from final-year journalism students, Holly, Lucy, Sorina and Megan, as they share with us their experiences of studying at Sunderland through letters to their 2019 selves. All four students have key roles at Fashion North, one of our student publications. This episode is not to be missed if you want to hear real-life experiences from current students.

Join Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Manager Justine Gillespie for a special episode on Ramadan! Justine is joined by Shah Amin and Jolel Miah, Co-Chairs of the BAME network, and current student Anisa Nawaz, President of the Islamic Society to discuss Ramadan and how we as an institution support staff and students who are observing. Please click here to find out more about our prayer facilities: https://sj.sunderland.ac.uk/wellbeing/chaplaincy/prayer-facilities/

Access our ESF Fully Funded Infant Mental Health course with The University of Sunderland. In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Lindey Cookson & Matthew Evans to discuss the benefits of studying this 10-week short course. Stay tuned to find out everything you need to know and gain insight into the type of employees who would benefit from doing it!

For this special #IWD2022 episode, we’re joined by Angela Smith, Professor of Language and Culture, to discuss the Rebel Women of Sunderland Project and delve into the life of one rebel woman in particular: Eileen O’Shaughnessy. Stay tuned to learn about Eileen’s connection to Sunderland, her marriage to George Orwell, and how she influenced some of his most famous works.

Whether it's an on-campus event or online, if you are considering studying at the University of Sunderland, open days are a great opportunity to find out everything you need to know. Stay tuned to discover all the exciting things you can expect at a University of Sunderland event and all the reasons you need to attend one. https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/open-days/

For this special LGBTQI+ History Month episode, we’re joined by University Equality Diversity and Inclusion Manager Justine Gillespie and University staff and students from the LGBTQI+ community to discuss its importance, how LGBTQI+ history is not taught enough in the current curriculum, and their own personal heroes/historical figures. If you are a member of staff or a current student and are interested in learning more about how we as a university support students from the LGBTQ+ community please click here: https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/about/about-the-university/equality-diversity-inclusion/ Our website also provides information on what we are doing to create a culture of diversity and inclusivity across our campuses

This Valentine’s Day we discuss the concept of love with psychology lecturers Dr. Helen Driscoll and Mark Ord. As evolutionary psychologists, Helen and Mark talk us through how humans have evolved to build relationships and explain the laws of attraction from a biological and psychological point of view. Content warning: Some words mentioned in the podcast during the reference of research may be found offensive by some listeners. Discretion is advised

Victoria Trachy, Head of Vocational Skills at ScreenSkills, joins us to talk about what ScreenSkills does, how they work with universities and how you can start your career in the screen industries. This episode is a great listen if you’re interested in the screen industries – that's film, TV, Visual Effects, Animation and Games.

Victoria Trachy, Head of Vocational Skills at ScreenSkills, joins us to talk about what ScreenSkills does, how they work with universities and how you can start your career in the screen industries. This episode is a great listen if you’re interested in the screen industries – that's film, TV, Visual Effects, Animation and Games.

Access ESF Fully Funded Short Leadership courses with The University of Sunderland. This podcast details the suite of short courses available to business in the NE as part of the ESF Project. Ian Carr, Senior lecturer gives his overview of what to expect from these courses and how to choose the correct leadership course for you!

Access ESF Fully Funded Short Leadership courses with The University of Sunderland. This podcast details the suite of short courses available to business in the NE as part of the ESF Project. Ian Carr, Senior lecturer gives his overview of what to expect from these courses and how to choose the correct leadership course for you!

In honour of Movember, we’re joined by Psychology academics Dr Rebecca Owens and Dr Helen Driscoll to discuss all things men! We’ll be digging deep into stereotypes, toxic masculinity, inclusion and the role society plays in depicting gender roles, and the impact this has on our mental health and wellbeing.

In honour of Movember, we’re joined by Psychology academics Dr Rebecca Owens and Dr Helen Driscoll to discuss all things men! We’ll be digging deep into stereotypes, toxic masculinity, inclusion and the role society plays in depicting gender roles, and the impact this has on our mental health and wellbeing.

In this episode, we're joined by University staff from our Widening Access and Participation and Student Recruitment team to discuss how we as an institution support inequalities in access and success in higher education. We also have some current students joining us who will share their insight on their student experience.

Emma Robinson, Accreditation Manager at the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), joins us to talk about the benefits of studying an NCTJ-accredited course. If you’re interested in studying and fast-tracking your career in journalism, then this is the episode for you!

In this episode, we're joined by University staff from our Widening Access and Participation and Student Recruitment team to discuss how we as an institution support inequalities in access and success in higher education. We also have some current students joining us who will share their insight on their student experience.

Emma Robinson, Accreditation Manager at the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), joins us to talk about the benefits of studying an NCTJ-accredited course. If you’re interested in studying and fast-tracking your career in journalism, then this is the episode for you!

In this episode, we’re joined by Academic Dean of Technology, John Murray. We discuss human/robot interaction, artificial intelligence, and future applications and uses of technology. If you’re interested in learning more about the future of technology, this is the episode for you!

In this episode, we’re joined by Academic Dean of Technology, John Murray. We discuss human/robot interaction, artificial intelligence, and future applications and uses of technology. If you’re interested in learning more about the future of technology, this is the episode for you!

Starting university can be daunting, especially when it comes to making friends. In this episode, we're joined by some current students of ours who share their top tips on how to make some great connections and help alleviate any worries students may be having this time of year.

Starting university can be daunting, especially when it comes to making friends. In this episode, we're joined by some current students of ours who share their top tips on how to make some great connections and help alleviate any worries students may be having this time of year.

At the University of Sunderland, the Disability Support Team (DST) provide information, support, and guidance to students with disabilities, mental health difficulties, specific learning differences (such as Dyslexia), Autism Spectrum conditions and long-term medical conditions. The team offer this support to current students and applicants so if you would like more information on how the team may be able to help you, stay tuned to find out everything you need to know from Head of Disability Services Ben Hodgson and Disability Support Adviser Lucy Lax.

At the University of Sunderland, the Disability Support Team (DST) provide information, support, and guidance to students with disabilities, mental health difficulties, specific learning differences (such as Dyslexia), Autism Spectrum conditions and long-term medical conditions. The team offer this support to current students and applicants so if you would like more information on how the team may be able to help you, stay tuned to find out everything you need to know from Head of Disability Services Ben Hodgson and Disability Support Adviser Lucy Lax.

According to the NHS website, Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high. There are 2 main types of diabetes and we are here today to discuss those two types in a little more detail, identify the symptoms, the causes and cover what it is like to live with diabetes. We'll also be covering the support available here at the University for staff and students living with the condition.

According to the NHS website, Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high. There are 2 main types of diabetes and we are here today to discuss those two types in a little more detail, identify the symptoms, the causes and cover what it is like to live with diabetes. We'll also be covering the support available here at the University for staff and students living with the condition.

Are you a new or recent graduate fro the University of Sunderland? You probably think that's it from us once you've graduated. But that's not the case – our Sunderland Futures team have got your back with three years of careers support! We call that Graduate Launchpad In this episode, the team discuss what kinds of support you can access when you register for Graduate Launchpad, they answer your questions, and offer tips and expert insights into the jobs market and more. You can register for Graduate Launchpad at https://sunderland.targetconnect.net/unauthorisedGraduate/register.html Learn more at https://sunderland.ac.uk/futures Follow Sunderland Futures on social: Instagram - https://instagram.com/uosfutures Twitter - https://twitter.com/uosfutures LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/uosfutures/ Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/GCUOS

To honour the last week of Pride Month, University Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager Justine Gillespie is joined by University staff and students from the LGBTQI+ community to discuss the importance of Pride and also cover what support is in place at the university. If you are an applicant joining us in September or are a current student who just wants to know more about how the LGBTQI+ community is represented at Sunderland stay tuned to find out everything you need to know.