THE UNIVERSITY of Wales Trinity Saint David’s School of Applied Computing successfully hosted Skills Synergy 2025 at Swansea Arena, in collaboration with Cisco Networking Academy and WorldSkills UK.
This landmark event set a new precedent in Wales, being the first of its kind to introduce Skills Competition Taster sessions, offering students a unique opportunity to experience a real competition environment, understand its importance, and recognise how these experiences can shape their technical expertise and career development.
Skills Synergy 2025 provided a comprehensive platform catering to a diverse audience, including academics, school students, further education (FE) students, and university students.
The event featured:
- Skills Competition Taster Sessions – Giving students hands-on exposure to competition environments in Web Development, Networking, and Cybersecurity, guided by WorldSkills UK Training Managers Suresh Kamachisundaram, Val Adamescu and Nitheesh Kaliyamurthy.
- Subject-Specific Taster Sessions – Focused on Computing, Games, Animation & VFX, enabling students to explore cutting-edge technologies and industry demands.
- Employer Interactions & Industry Engagement – Connecting students directly with leading industry professionals to gain insights into current and emerging career opportunities.
- Annual Teacher Conference – Bringing together educators to discuss curricula, best practices, and the role of AI in academia.
With over 168+ registrations for 120 available seats, the event witnessed a strong turnout of over 75+ engaged participants. More than 50 students actively took part in the Skills Competition Taster, gaining valuable insights into the WorldSkills UK competition framework and the benefits of participating in competitive learning environments.
Debra Williams, Pro Vice-Chancellor of UWTSD welcomed all participants, reinforcing the university’s commitment to bridging the gap between education and industry. The event was privileged to host Chris Reeves, Vice President (EMEA) and Elizabeth Barr, the Head of Cisco Networking Academy for UKI-Nordics, and Tom Collins, Senior Developer from DVLA, providing insights into industry trends and career pathways.
This event not only provided students, educators, and industry professionals with invaluable experiences but also paved the way for future collaborations, competitions, and innovations in digital skills education.
A key highlight was the panel discussion on “Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education: Transforming Classrooms to Careers.” This session featured experts from both industry and academia, including Andrew Smith-Senior Lecturer Open University, Joanne Ralph-Cyber First, Rebena Sanghera – High Performance Coach, WorldSkills UK sparking meaningful conversations on AI’s evolving role in education. A particularly proud moment was seeing one of our Final year student Daniel James, participate as a panelist, offering a student’s perspective on AI’s impact on learning and careers.
Kapilan Radhakrishnan, UWTSD’s Applied Computing Academic Director said: “The School of Applied Computing at UWTSD pioneers as the Centre of Excellence in Training for Network and System Administration Skills, Cybersecurity in the UK over the recent years.
“The university’s continued support for skills competitions has previously led to winning a Medallion of Excellence in WorldSkills Competitions, Lyon 2024 – a testament to the impact of hands-on, competitive learning approaches.”
