Research Resource For School Pupils

Researchers from across the University are sharing their work with Welsh students by contributing Individual Project Proposals to the Welsh Joint Education Committee’s (WJEC) new national research online data bank. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The data bank is one of several initiatives the University is engaged in that is supporting the introduction of the new Welsh Baccalaureate qualification. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This unique resource aims to help, inspire and enthuse students when selecting their own research questions for the Individual Project Challenge within the qualification. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To date the University has contributed 29 Individual Project Proposals (IPP) to the WJEC’s data bank. The IPP are providing students with an opportunity to link with the University‘s contemporary fields of research and academics whose work may potentially inspire their future degree choice. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Topics submitted so far include the Japanese response to natural disasters, health and wellbeing in schools, and media coverage of Muslims. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dr Michael Munnik, Lecturer at the Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK in the School of History, Archaeology and Religion said: “The project is a great way for Cardiff to support students in the Welsh Baccalaureate programme, and perhaps of course it can also lead to interest in the courses we offer.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The co-ordination and administration of the project is being undertaken by the University’s Schools Partnership Project, and is managed in conjunction with the WJEC. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Caroline Morgan, Welsh Baccalaureate Framework Manager at WJEC said: “It’s great to be able to provide Welsh students with an opportunity to engage with contemporary research that is happening at Cardiff University. We have been overwhelmed by the flurry of Individual Project Proposals that we received following the launch event with researchers from across the University.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

After the success of the initial launch of the project at the University event earlier this year, the School’s Partnership project and together with the WJEC will be holding a further session on November 7th2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The session is open to for University staff interested in contributing research topics for use in the Welsh Baccalaureate Individual Project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​