<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10308388/?ref_=tt_ov_dr_1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fr&oslash;ydis Fossli Moe</a>, has recently been featured in the New York Times along with her short film, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33184511/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_lk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Final Chapter</a>, which follows Fr&oslash;ydis&rsquo;s journey a decade after cutting all ties with her parents due to a difficult upbringing, as she is forced to confront her past while her father lies on his deathbed.
UEA&rsquo;s Social Media and Communications Intern, Jess caught up with Fr&oslash;ydis ahead of International Women&rsquo;s Day 2025, to discuss her career since UEA, and the success of her recent films.
Q. Would you be able to introduce yourself?
My name is Fr&oslash;ydis, it is a very Norwegian name, and I&rsquo;m a film director. I studied at UEA eight years ago, so a long time ago now. I was an Erasmus student, studied International Development studies and I absolutely loved it, &mdash;so much so that I even considered completing my entire BA there. In the years since UEA, I have made award winning short films and a feature film, and today I am studying Directing Fiction at National Film and Television School.
Q. Hard question, but could you sum up what International Women&rsquo;s Day means to you?
International Women&rsquo;s Day is about raising awareness of the incredible women around the world and amplifying their stories. It&rsquo;s such an important day, and I believe it&rsquo;s crucial to recognise the challenges women face in a patriarchal society. Through my work and this film, I want to remind people why our voices matter.
I work in a very male-dominated industry. I love making films and creating art, and I&rsquo;m lucky to be surrounded by great people most of the time, but there still aren&rsquo;t enough women in the film industry. I believe that&rsquo;s largely because it&rsquo;s so male-driven, making it difficult for young women to find space in such a competitive field.
I think it's really important that we as women support one another, especially within the arts. I felt that very much when I was studying at UEA, I felt like I was part of a strong, like-minded community.
Q. Speaking of UEA, did you enjoy your time studying with us?
I felt that my time at UEA really shaped me as a human being and I probably wouldn't have become a filmmaker and director if it wasn't for my time there.
It was amazing, I wanted to make the most of it, so I was in every society possible. I had such a big fun group, that every time I went to lunch, I struggled to fit everyone around the table. We were such a tight knit group, but everyone was studying different things. It felt very vibrant and such a kind community to be a part of.
The funny thing is that while I was at UEA, I didn&rsquo;t study film. I had studied media in high school and kept making short films on the side, but I never saw myself becoming a film director. My plan was to continue with International Development&mdash;until one film I made at UEA grew too big for me to finish on my own.
Q. What film was that?
While at UEA, I made a film called&nbsp;Believe in Me, which serves as a prequel to The Final Chapter. It followed my life during my time at UEA, capturing my struggles with family issues while trying my best to be a good student and friend. I finished the film right after graduating and decided to submit it to various festivals&mdash;never expecting much.
To my surprise, it was chosen to be screened at multiple festivals, which felt surreal because I never thought anyone would relate to it. The charity Save the Children even selected it for screenings in different cities, and it ended up gaining a lot of attention. People started sharing their own personal stories with me, and I was completely unprepared for the overwhelming response.
Q. And how did that feel? For it to get so much attention?
Receiving recognition was great, but over time,&nbsp;I felt that the documentary no longer visually represented me. I transitioned into making fiction films, and the film belonged to my old life, not my new one. So, I left it untouched and didn&rsquo;t think about it for a long time.
Then my dad got ill, and I didn&rsquo;t know how to process it. I had always heard that film and art could be used to express emotions and make sense of difficult experiences. In a desperate attempt to understand my feelings, I started The Final Chapter. I wanted something to look back on, almost like a time capsule. I never imagined the film would do as well as it did.
If you compare the documentary, I made at UEA to The Final Chapter, they tell a continuous story, but they feel completely different. You can see that I&rsquo;ve grown, my perspective has changed, and my taste has evolved.
Without the film I made at UEA, I would have never been able to make this one.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s crazy to think that it all started with me just having fun, filming my adventures with friends while studying.
Q. And have you found your International Development degree has helped you with your career in film?
I think that everyone who does art should study International Development, obviously, because it is amazing. I think&nbsp;it's so important that if I'm going to try to portray or make films that different kinds of people or different stories is so important that I can understand the different perspectives. When I start a new project, I try to approach it like it was a thesis from school or something like that, because I think doing the research and actually portraying real communities is so important.
International Development is where my heart is. I want to tell stories about important issues&mdash;things that often go unspoken, the conversations people tend to avoid.
When it comes to film, I hope to see more women in the industry and greater representation,&nbsp;that&rsquo;s something I truly believe in and want to be a part of.
I think the time I was studying at the UEA was&nbsp;probably the best time of my life, the&nbsp;community is so incredible, and I hope we extend that energy for International Women&rsquo;s Day, let's listen and be there for one another, and let's celebrate.<span class="EOP SCXW209077100 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}">&nbsp;
<span class="EOP SCXW209077100 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"><a class="ui-button" href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/undergraduate/ba-global-development">Study Global Development at UEA</a>

Ahead of International Women's Day, Frøydis Fossli Moe, a UEA graduate who has gone on to make name for herself in film making, says she: “would love for there to be more women in the industry, more representation".

Graduate film maker calls for more female representation ahead of International Women’s Day

It&rsquo;s National Careers Week and we thought we&rsquo;d look back on what UEA&rsquo;s Careers Service was like in the early 2000s. We spoke to one of our Careers Advisers, Rachael Breed, who has worked in UEA&rsquo;s Careers Service since the year 2000. Rachael was the first person to do the AGCAS (Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services) qualification in 2006, receiving the John Roberts Memorial Prize.&nbsp;
What was UEA&rsquo;s Career Service like back in the year 2000? &nbsp;
The department was a lot smaller. When I first joined, there were staff that had worked at UEA&rsquo;s careers service since its early days and for many years. I&rsquo;m still in touch with one of them, John Thurman, today.&nbsp;
On my first day, we moved into a new building, currently the Student Appointment Centre, which was converted from an old squash court into the new Careers Service building. It won a prize. It was the first time the Careers Service had its own designated space on campus, so it was very exciting.&nbsp;
Since then, we&rsquo;ve also been based on the Street, where the Student Information Zone (SIZ) is now, and in the Library, where we are based now.&nbsp;
What was your role when you first started?&nbsp;
It was a new job &ndash; Employer Liaison Officer/Skills Development Adviser. I coordinated careers events and employer contacts and worked closely with the Students&rsquo; Union. We ran a &lsquo;job shop&rsquo; called &lsquo;Employability&rsquo; together (where part of Unio is now) and one of the main things I did was promote student employment to UEA departments and a wide range of employers and organisations.&nbsp;
When I first started, it was a paper-based system. The process was that a job would come through, and we&rsquo;d advertise it on a paper-based noticeboard. One of the first things I did was transform this into an online service!&nbsp;
What inspired you to become a Careers Adviser?&nbsp;
I actually had a mock interview on the PGCE course here with John Thurman, who I ended up working with when I joined. I wasn&rsquo;t really sure what to do and he really put me at ease, having so much empathy as I was trying to figure it out. That made such a big impact on me. I got the sense that he was a side-by-side, professional friend, promoting a safe space to try stuff out. I thought this is something I&rsquo;d like to do in future.&nbsp;
There&rsquo;s a programme on Radio 4, where listeners share stories, thanking people that have helped them in the past. Once, someone mentioned one of the original founding Careers Advisers here at UEA &ndash; about how they&rsquo;d helped them think about what to do in life and how much support they offered. I think it&rsquo;s wonderful you can have such an impact in this role and really help people&rsquo;s futures in this way.&nbsp;
Would you say the ethos of the service has stayed the same throughout the years?&nbsp;
Fundamentally, yes. Strategies around the service and our offer to students has developed but with one-to-one appointments, it&rsquo;s still all about non-judgement and non-directive support. Careers Advisers were and are still here to support you with working it out and getting clarity so you feel like you can do it. We want to help people widen their perspectives, explore and research their options, as well as develop their self-awareness. Most of all, we want people to feel like they can be themselves and that we care about supporting you on your individual journey. It was the same back then and it&rsquo;s the same now.&nbsp;
What inspires you most about the students you&rsquo;ve worked with over the years?&nbsp;
Being a Careers Adviser is a real privilege, and you have so much empathy for the different places that people are at when they are working out their career journey. What inspires me is when I see people taking their first brave steps and developing their confidence. The courage that people have to try things out and go for interviews, make changes and work towards their dreams &ndash; it&rsquo;s a privilege that people are happy to open up about their thoughts on this kind of thing to you and that, as an Adviser, you can help with those possibilities. &nbsp;
What&rsquo;s the one thing you&rsquo;d like to say now to all those students you&rsquo;ve seen in the past?&nbsp;
I hope they feel that they work in careers, jobs or areas that touch upon the things that are important to them. &nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re a recent graduate and would like careers advice, guidance or support, you still have access to all of our services via <a href="https://mycareercentral.uea.ac.uk/s/gradcentral?utm_source=community_blog&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=national_careers_week&amp;utm_content=grad_central" target="_blank" title="Grad Central" rel="noopener">Grad Central</a>. &nbsp;
We&rsquo;re also looking to expand our pool of alumni mentors, particularly those who work in psychology and mental health roles, or in roles related to international development. If you&rsquo;d like to help a current student become more career confident and share your insights about working in your field, find out more about<a href="https://employers.mycareercentral.uea.ac.uk/content/become+a+mentor?utm_source=community_blog&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=national_careers_week&amp;utm_content=mentors" target="_blank" title="mentors" rel="noopener"> becoming a mentor</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

It’s National Careers Week and we thought we’d look back on what UEA’s Careers Service was like in the early 2000s. We spoke to one of our Careers Advisers, Rachael Breed, who has worked in UEA’s Careers Service since the year 2000.

Looking back at the Careers Service in 2000

<h2>Natalia Makohon, an MA Broadcast and Digital Journalism student at UEA, is a Chevening Scholar from Ukraine. She shares the positive stories of other Scholar students at the University who, alongside their studies, spend time volunteering in the wider Norfolk community:&nbsp;</h2>
14 Chevening Scholars from around the world joined the University of East Anglia (UEA) this year, selected from almost 70,000 applicants and representing the top 2% of the best candidates.&nbsp;
Beyond academics, these Scholars actively engage with the Norfolk community, contributing through volunteering, part-time work, and cultural exchange.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.chevening.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chevening</a> is the UK Government&rsquo;s international awards scheme. For more than 40 years, they have supported exceptional individuals to make a positive global impact.
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/2959x2178/ef4b23bec4/chevening-scholar-1-credit-natalia-makohon.jpg" border="0" alt="International scholars at UEA volunteer with Girlguiding and Oxfam, supporting gender equality and tackling poverty">Image: International scholars at UEA volunteer with Girlguiding and Oxfam, supporting gender equality and tackling poverty (credit: Natalia Makohon)
<h4>Kulasinee Pipattanasookmongkol</h4>
Kulasinee Pipattanasookmongkol, a Chevening scholar from Thailand, is studying Global Development at the University, which ranks in the top 20 worldwide in this field.
She started volunteering with Girlguiding in Norwich at the beginning of the semester. This organization is the UK&rsquo;s largest youth organisation dedicated completely to girls, between the ages of four and eighteen.
Kulasinee thinks it is essential to educate young girls about gender equality: "They will grow up to be strong, independent women who can live their lives better than the past generation.
"I am also different here. I am an Asian here, and I hope the girls will learn about the difference between me and them. I hope they think it's normal to have friends who are different from them.
"For me, it's very nice to see that people here value gender equality. In Thailand, people will think that gender equality is not a serious topic, and the girl's community is not that necessary.&nbsp;
&ldquo;So, I feel I'm in the right place because I value the same thing with them. I feel more confident.&rdquo;
<h4>Nsa Uwakmfon</h4>
While Kulasinee focused on empowering young girls, Nsa Uwakmfon, another Chevening Scholar from Nigeria, concentrated on tackling poverty and &ldquo;serving humanity&rdquo;.
Nsa works part-time as a retail assistant at Oxfam, a non-profit organisation: &ldquo;Any time I'm working and I see people walk in to buy things&hellip; there's this fulfilment I have that the money is going back to people who do not have, the less privileged, that this money is going back to helping the community.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s this joy I have &ndash; giving my time to serve humanity &ndash; and there&rsquo;s a sense of community and a sense of fulfilment.&rdquo;
Nsa also noted the flexibility of the UK working culture, contrasting it with Nigeria:
"I've built new friendship, new family, new relationships, and it's really amazing. I think they put humanity first, and I feel it's amazing to see. Possibly I could implement it in my own organisation when I get back.&rdquo;
<h4>The importance of international scholars&nbsp;</h4>
A key condition of this programme, fully funded by the UK government, is students returning home for two years to apply their knowledge and experience.
Craig Smitherman, Head of International Recruitment at UEA, highlighted the importance of international scholars:&nbsp;&ldquo;The value that they bring, both to the University and that they take away, is unmatched compared to many other schemes or programmes where students come [to study in the UK].&nbsp;
"What is really strong and really great that we see, is the whole diversity of different [Chevening] students coming [to UEA], both in terms of the subjects they&rsquo;re coming to study and also certainly the places they&rsquo;re coming from.&nbsp;
&ldquo;They are really well spread across the globe.&rdquo;
This year, UEA hosts students from countries such as Morocco, Indonesia, Ukraine, Thailand, Turkey, Nigeria, and more.
According to <a href="https://www.hepi.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Full-Report-Benefits-and-costs-of-international-students.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI)</a>, international students in the 2021/22 academic year contributed &pound;41.9 billion to the UK economy, with their spending supporting jobs and services in local communities.&nbsp;

Natalia Makohon, an MA Broadcast and Digital Journalism student at UEA, is a Chevening Scholar from Ukraine. She shares the positive stories of other Scholar students who, alongside their studies, spend time volunteering in the wider Norfolk community.

Gaining knowledge, giving back – meet the global talents studying at UEA

<h4>Moustafa Kamal came to UEA from Egypt as a Chevening Scholar in 2015 to study for a Master of Laws in International Commercial and Business Law. Before this, Moustafa had already established himself as a judge in Egypt. He has gone on to lead important law and judiciary projects for the National Institute of Governance and Sustainable Development (NIGSD) and continues to act as a judge.</h4>
<h4>Moustafa tells us more about why he came to UEA and his career.</h4>
How did you discover UEA?
I had decided to apply for a Chevening scholarship to study in the UK. I wanted to develop my learning and live abroad. Most of my Chevening contemporaries were applying to universities in London, but I actually wanted to avoid it! I wanted to live somewhere I could enjoy a green campus space and discover a broader sense of the English life.
My research told me that not only did UEA have a top-rated law school, but its campus was beautiful. So, I decided to come to UEA.
And how did you get to the point of studying at UEA?
I first graduated from the School of Law (English Department) in Alexandria University, studying English and American legal systems.
Once I graduated, I was recruited as a teaching assistant. Then I managed to go through the national competition for appointing public prosecutors, and I was focussed on building my career. Later on, I was appointed a judge and was involved with building training schemes for other judges, and we had decided that it would be a good idea to have judges with more knowledge of foreign law operations.
I also wanted to spend some time abroad and experience other ways of living. I looked to study at an English-speaking university and came across UEA. I was very proud to be accepted into the Chevening scheme at first attempt!
 <img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/1529x900/d88e8ed91c/moustafa-kamal-at-uea.png" border="0" alt="Picture of Moustafa Kamal standing in the frost outside UEA accommodation block" width="400" height="235">Moustafa outside UEA Accommodation block 
Did Norwich and UEA meet your expectations?
It exceeded them! I learned so many things in addition to studying and there were so many opportunities sent to students via e-mail, and I was able to take part in several internships, fellowships, summer schools and other programmes. These experiences were very helpful for me.
And so what happened after your degree at UEA?
Many of my colleagues on Chevening scholarships decided to go into the private sector. However, I felt that my government had supported my travels and wanted to stay in the public sector. I aimed to help my fellow legal professionals with the knowledge I had learned at UEA.&nbsp;
I transferred to the investment circuit working with other judges on investment and commercial law disputes, particularly in matters to do with foreign investment. I knew I was coming back to do this and I picked modules that would help me in my job.
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/933x798/9c5c5748e0/moustafa-kamal-as-chevening-scholar.png" border="0" alt="Picture of Moustafa Kamal holding Chevening Scholar flag" width="400" height="342">Moustafa as Chevening Scholar
And how did you find the degree helping your career?
I loved those courses on oil and gas law, litigation, investment arbitration, and commercial arbitration were all taught by professionals in their fields. I&rsquo;m also a practicing professional and I learned very practical insights. In fact, my professors would sometimes even use Egyptian law as case studies!&nbsp;
My tutors were also very receptive to personal approaches, and they gave me lots of advice and support.
How has your career developed further after UEA?
I appreciate continuous learning, so I need to keep engaged in academic research and professional learning all the time. So, after UEA, I joined the American University in Cairo to study an LL.M. in international and comparative law. I then joined ESLSCA (Ecole Sup&eacute;rieure Libre des Sciences Commerciales Appliqu&eacute;es) campus in Egypt to study an MBA (Government and Public Sector Specialization). Currently I am doing my PhD in governance and anti-corruption, focusing on business and human rights issues. I do believe that I'm trying to work for the greater good and that's not easy. People are divided and want to hear different things. &nbsp;
I am currently leading a project on reforming the judiciary and its efficiency. We want to be able to deliver prompt and effective justice and increase access. It is very difficult but a very important project.
Moustafa Kamal studied a <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/postgraduate/llm-international-commercial-and-business-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Master of Laws in International Commercial and Business Law at UEA</a>.

Moustafa Kamal, Master of Laws graduate, tells us all about how coming to UEA as a Chevening Scholar elevated his career as a judge in Egypt, and he reflects on his experiences in Norwich.

Moustafa Kamal: UEA graduate and Egyptian Judge

In a heartwarming reunion, eight alumni from the University of East Anglia (UEA) gathered to celebrate decades of enduring friendship. All members of the group began their UEA journey in 1987 and graduated in 1990. Travelling from different corners of the globe, the group included Sultan from Oman, Mairo from Nigeria, Aris from Greece, Maro and Madeleine from Cyprus, Ricardo from Peru, Peter from Seychelles, and Robin from Bermuda.
The reunion commenced with a special dinner hosted by Aris and his wife in honour of Aris&rsquo;s birthday. This memorable evening was followed the next day by a delightful lunch at Robin&rsquo;s family home in Maidenhead, where the group shared laughter and reminisced about their cherished university days.
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/1600x1200/365fb6769c/4684d49c-de65-4baf-8025-70952e1afb06.JPG" border="0" alt="Stopping for lunch at the Student Union" width="500" height="375">Stopping for lunch at the Student Union 
The highlight of the reunion was a nostalgic trip to Norwich. The train ride from London to Norwich on a Sunday afternoon, evoked memories of their student years, when the same route had been a familiar part of their lives. Upon arriving in Norwich, the group checked into the historic Maids Head Hotel, which served as their home for the next two nights. Some took an evening stroll to explore the magnificent Norwich Cathedral and the city&rsquo;s charming, cobbled streets, while the day concluded with an official reunion dinner. Set to the backdrop of 1980s and 1990s music, the dinner became even more memorable with a surprise screening of a video from 1989 and 1990. The footage vividly captured moments from their UEA days, including the excitement of completing their final exams and the lively celebrations that followed, culminating in their last gala dinner and dance at the then Nelson Hotel.
The next day, the group visited the UEA campus, where they were warmly welcomed by university officials and treated to an extensive tour. The tour highlighted the many transformations over the years, including the state-of-the-art sports complex and the remarkable increase in student numbers, now more than double what they had experienced in their time.&nbsp;
While the modern developments impressed them, it was the shared stories and laughter during a group dinner back at the hotel that truly rekindled the spirit of their university days. For some, the memories extended to late-night dances at the University&rsquo;s iconic LCR, bringing back the youthful energy of their student years.&nbsp; <img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/1600x1200/25d39bde9c/117d9a58-92ff-486f-b632-333ca2b6bfb2.JPG" border="0" alt="Group of alumni in Earlham Hall" width="500" height="375">Visiting Earlham Hall where many of the group studied 
This reunion was a powerful testament to the enduring bonds formed at UEA &mdash; bonds built in classrooms, on the steps of the Square, and through countless shared experiences. 34 years later, the friendship among Sultan, Peter, Ricardo, Robin, Aris, Mairo, Maro, and Madeleine remains as vibrant as ever, serving as a living legacy of their time at the University of East Anglia.

Eight University of East Anglia alumni from all over the world return to campus in Norwich and reflect on their friendship and shared history.

UEA Alumni reunion: Celebrating 34 years of lifelong friendship

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UEA Study Abroad offers students a chance to explore the globe, from a semester to a full year, with over 200 partnerships worldwide. We spoke to three students who ventured abroad to three different continents to tell us how travel broadened their minds and why for them &lsquo;just do it&rsquo; was an approach they never regretted. &nbsp;
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/70ac0d5767/oliver-photos-4.png" border="0">
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Oliver Garrod - Australia&nbsp;
During my time in Australia studying International Business Management, I stayed around Perth, and I explored Western Australia with my friends, travelling for camping trips outside of the city to discover the unique wildlife in Australia. &nbsp;
I travelled to an island called Rottnest Island, it's the only place in the world with quokkas, the happiest animal in the world. My friends and I took another daytrip to an island called Penguin Island, named so due to the inhabitants being small blue penguins. Unfortunately, I didn't see any penguins, but I did see a jellyfish and got stung by it (nothing too serious, luckily!)&nbsp;
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/167b4d8773/oliver-photos-2.png" border="0">
I also had the opportunity to travel to Bali in Indonesia, which was a quicker plane ride than flying to Sydney. We did a lot of exploring of the island to discover Indonesian culture.&nbsp;
What I most liked about Perth was how diverse and so different it is from the UK. The first thing I noticed when I arrived was how red the dirt was and how arid the climate was. The whole city is right on the coast and the beaches were easily accessible. I was at the beach almost every other day after classes with my friends, and every evening we were there we would always watch the sunset, which was so beautiful.&nbsp;
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/6bb4f63144/oliver-photos.png" border="0">
While I was over there my absolute favourite place that I visited was a place called Point Peron, just south of Perth&rsquo;s centre. It overlooked the sea and every Saturday I'd drive down there with friends to have a coffee and a cupcake at this small van that would be there, and they were amazing!&nbsp;
Studying abroad was a decision I was very nervous about doing, and going so far away from home for the first time ever was daunting, but once I got there and made friends it became so much easier as we were all in the same boat as exchange students. This experience taught me to be resilient and rely on myself as my family was so far away, and it was up to me to make the most of my time out there and explore as much as I could.&nbsp;
If anyone is unsure about going abroad for a semester or a year, I would say to absolutely do it. It's an opportunity of a lifetime and it's a chance to make friends for life, travel to somewhere new and grow as an individual. You come back as a changed person, it teaches you a new way of life and you learn to adapt to a new place that is right out of your comfort zone. Absolutely do it! &nbsp;
I applied for the Turing Scheme, which gave me a monthly payment that really helped with rent and expenses, meaning I was able to do more. You can also claim back money for flights, health insurance and visa expenses through the Turing Scheme or Student Finance.&nbsp;
The advice that I would give to outgoing students is that when you arrive at your universities, attend all the welcome events and socials, as these are your perfect opportunities to meet people who don't know anyone and are in your shoes too. And if they invite you out to any events or activities, just say YES! &nbsp;
<a class="ui-button" href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/undergraduate/ba-international-business-management">Study International Business Management</a>
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/f8fa02685c/raymond-photos-5.png" border="0">
Raymond Hickey &ndash; Arizona&nbsp;
I did a year abroad at the University of Arizona in my second year of study here at UEA, and I would say to anyone considering a year abroad to just do it. It was an incredible experience. I grew up watching so many TV shows and movies about college life in America, so to actually be able to live it was amazing. &nbsp;
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/4f8b40f723/raymond-photos-3.png" border="0">
As a psychology student, I was able to study modules that I may not have been able to study at UEA, and I spent some time learning Korean alongside my studies, which was really cool to do. It also gave me the opportunity to learn how to really budget and be completely independent. I had to sort out an American bank account, and get used to converting pounds to dollars. &nbsp;
I think I came away with a lot of personal growth. I figured out what I wanted out of life, I was able to see a different country and it made me realise how big the world is. It really changed my perspective on a few things, I want to explore more and experience new things. &nbsp;
I think my favourite thing was the weather. Arizona is the sunniest state in the US, and it has such an amazing landscape. It was amazing being able to wake up each day and just seeing mountains from my dorm room, it was just really beautiful. &nbsp;
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/a42aeacfde/raymond-photos-1.png" border="0">
I was able to apply for the Turing Scheme, and that gave me enough money a month to support me with my rent and meal plan, as well as just general spending money, which meant I was able to take part in a lot of activities. I did so much exploring, I was able to go on hikes, go skiing, experience real US sports like basketball and American football. &nbsp;
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/73d9698f1c/raymond-photos-4.png" border="0">
The UEA Study Abroad team supported me with all of it. They sorted out so much for me, all I really had to do was fill in my personal details, and they told me how much I would get, which was so easy and useful for me. The whole scheme was just so beneficial. &nbsp;
It&rsquo;s such a great experience and you will not regret it. If you&rsquo;re thinking about doing it, just go ahead and do it!&nbsp;
<a class="ui-button" href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/undergraduate/bsc-psychology">Study Psychology</a>
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/cf7d264039/mide-photos-3.png" border="0">
Mide Bolarin &ndash; Singapore &nbsp;
I stayed on the&nbsp;Nanyang Technological University (NTU) campus while I studied Psychology in Singapore. The campus accommodation was quite nice, and it was a shared room on a level for just girls. The campus accommodation was so cute and it had a very nice community feel, a kind of collegiate system. There are around 23 halls on campus and each one is its little community, there are even interhall events!&nbsp;
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/e34a3662af/mide-photos.png" border="0">
My favourite part of the experience was being able to meet people from all around the world. I now have so many friends across the globe, and it is just so lovely to know that I can travel to any country and am likely to know someone there. Because of this, I was able to also get really good recommendations for travelling and was able to experience a more local perspective of the countries I visited in South East Asia. &nbsp;
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/9d40cfd94d/mide-photos-1.png" border="0">
I was able to learn so much about myself and cultural exchange, and I became more independent and confident in myself. Learning how to travel and organise yourself when crossing country borders, maintaining good health, and having the courage to explore a new country by yourself were all skills I had to develop, and they have really changed me for the better. I now feel so much braver about attempting things, I'm not as scared to do things independently, especially in a new country that is unfamiliar to me. &nbsp;
I would recommend living in a country that truly interests you, whether that&rsquo;s a country you don't know much about, or one you know everything about, and just want to experience. For me, I had a gut feeling that Singapore was going to bring me many opportunities that weren&rsquo;t necessarily available to me, and I was right! I found the culture and the geographical location so rewarding and it helped me with the things I wanted to achieve. I would also recommend just trying new and random things on a year abroad. Just do it, because the memories and the people you meet from going out of your comfort zone are ones to last you a lifetime!&nbsp;
<a href="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/17d22e0f1d/mide-photos-2.png"><img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/17d22e0f1d/mide-photos-2.png" border="0"></a>
The Study Abroad team at UEA were so helpful to me! The team were so easy to contact, despite the eight-hour time difference, which was very comforting at the start of the year. They were also very willing to liaise with NTU if I needed anything, which I really appreciated. &nbsp;
I would say studying abroad is such a wonderful opportunity! It is so life-changing and allows you to really learn more about yourself on a deeper level. It definitely is a challenge, but a rewarding one, and an experience that you will be able to keep with you for a lifetime!
<a class="ui-button" href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/undergraduate/bsc-psychology">Study Psychology</a>
If you're interested in studying abroad, you can read through the&nbsp;UEA brochure <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/f/185167/x/a68d902a64/2_uea_study-abroad_outgoing_digital.pdf">here</a> or <a href="mailto:studyabroad@uea.ac.uk">get in touch</a> with the Study Abroad team.
See Raymond talk through his year at the University of Arizona below:
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UEA Study Abroad offers students a chance to explore the globe, with over 200 partnerships worldwide. From a semester to a full year, opportunities are readily available and give students the ability to enhance their time at university.

Study Abroad: a passport to success

<h2>Meet Beth Gibson-Hill &ndash; an inspiring young mum, midwifery student, and TikTok star all in one.</h2>
Beth, who is currently in her first year of studying <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/undergraduate/bsc-midwifery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">midwifery at UEA</a>, began sharing her life as a young mum on TikTok two years ago, inspiring followers with her honest content about balancing parenting and student life. Her account, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@maevesmummy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maeve&rsquo;s Mummy</a>, now has nearly 57,000 followers.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I actually first started filming when I was pregnant,&rdquo; says Beth. &ldquo;I filmed my experience in hospital, and it just went from there. I loved sharing every experience I had because I was quite a young mum, and I&rsquo;d just moved into my council house as well. So that was like my niche.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I think people like following my journey because it&rsquo;s not one that&rsquo;s really represented in the media. I feel like I show the reality of motherhood; it&rsquo;s not always sunshine and rainbows! But overall, it is positive. I still can't believe that people actually want to follow me!&rdquo;&nbsp;
On raising her two-year-old daughter while studying at university, Beth said: &ldquo;Parenting and being a university student is tough, especially as we're going through the &lsquo;terrible twos&rsquo; right now. Things get thrown everywhere and it's a bit of a challenge, but it's just the most rewarding thing ever. Coming home as she's waiting at the door for me is so nice. I feel so proud to be her mum.&rdquo;&nbsp;
It was at Beth&rsquo;s first hospital appointment, at eight weeks pregnant, that she was inspired to study for a new career: &ldquo;A student midwife from UEA was there and she was so lovely and kind to me. At the time, no one else knew I was pregnant, and I didn&rsquo;t have a clue what I was going to do; it was really scary. But after that appointment, I knew that I wanted to study midwifery and I set that as my main focus. &nbsp;
&ldquo;I went on to do an access course, and then I had an interview. At the time it was like a dream and now it's a reality &ndash; I can barely believe it&rsquo;s been a year since I had my interview!&nbsp;
&ldquo;From day one, everyone at UEA has been so lovely &ndash; all the lecturers, everyone in my cohort, and I just feel like this is where I belong. Starting university as a mature student at 25, I was a bit worried that I wouldn't fit in and would be the odd one out as everyone else would be out partying, but that hasn't been the case. I made friends with other mums on the course really quickly too, everyone is so kind and we support each other.&rdquo;&nbsp;
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/4284x4785/88defbbdf7/beth-gibson-hill.jpg" border="0" alt="">
So far, Beth is enjoying the hands-on aspects of the course: &ldquo;I just love learning everything about midwifery. I love the clinical skills days because we get really involved; even simple things like practising on a model and then doing it on a real person is amazing. And going out on placement has solidified that I definitely want to do this as my career.&rdquo;&nbsp;
When she finishes the course and becomes a qualified midwife, Beth is looking forward to teaching new students and the possibility of overseas travel: &ldquo;I think working alongside other students will be an incredible experience because I&rsquo;ll have been through it all myself. And midwifery could literally take me anywhere. Who knows? I could go to Australia, do the exact same job, and share my experience out there.&rdquo;&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDHzif0tV44/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Join Beth as she tours the Edith Cavell Building, a state-of-the-art training facility for student midwives, nurses and paramedics at UEA</a>.&nbsp;
<a class="ui-button" href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/undergraduate/bsc-midwifery">Study Midwifery</a>

Beth Gibson-Hill is a mother, first-year student and TikTok influencer all rolled into one. She explains how she balances studying, social media and parenting, and how an encounter with a UEA student midwife inspired her to take up midwifery herself.

The TikTok star sharing her journey into motherhood and midwifery

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In June 2021, Kacey Jones was looking forward to starting her BSc Paramedic Science at UEA that September, but following a car crash in Nottingham that left her with a broken back and a bleed on the brain, this looked extremely unlikely. Following spinal&nbsp;surgery a week after the crash to fuse three of her vertebrae, it wasn&rsquo;t even guaranteed that Kacey would be able to walk again, let alone enroll at UEA that same year. After months of bed rest and treatment, and despite only learning to walk again two weeks before the start of her course, Kacey&rsquo;s determination and self-confessed &ldquo;stubbornness&rdquo; helped to ensure her studies began as planned. In 2024,&nbsp;Kacey was involved in another car crash, thankfully this one was much less serious, but it did bring up feelings of trauma from 2021 that she had worked hard to address throughout the subsequent years. Since the end of September 2024, Kacey, who lives in Costessey in Norfolk, has been on an intensive training course. As of 6 November, with her training complete, Kacey has been out on the road, putting her degree into practice within the region. We spoke to her before she finished her training to catch up about her experiences at UEA, how she&nbsp;overcame her difficulties, and what she hopes for her future. Did you always want to be a paramedic? What influenced your desire to pursue this career? I always wanted a career in healthcare. I wanted to be able to make a difference and help individuals for the better. Pursuing paramedicine became apparent to me when realising I didn&rsquo;t like working in offices or wards and seeing the same thing day in day out. Being a paramedic meant I could go to any environment and never know what each day brings.
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/99d0b682f0/kacey-jones-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="720" height="350">
What was the course like at UEA? Were there any particular highlights? The course was really difficult. I faced a lot of challenges over the way, especially with occupational health, due to mobility issues. My highlight would be doing placements and getting to go to Canada. It must have been tough with some of the course scenarios perhaps touching on things that were sensitive for you? How did you deal with this? The first time I watched a road traffic collision video I had a panic attack and really struggled. Through CBT and lots of therapy I overcame flashbacks and issues. I managed to get involved in scenarios and multiple times have been a &lsquo;patient&rsquo; in a car crash while other students practiced getting me out. How is the training going? Did your degree help to prepare you? Training has been supported well through East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) staff. I feel nervous about starting as a newly qualified paramedic as I haven&rsquo;t seen a patient since the end of March. But my degree has prepared me well for knowing the hospitals and some of the staff. <img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/720x350/fe7af6160c/kacey-jones-3.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="720" height="350"> What does the future hold for you? Do you think you&rsquo;d like to remain on the frontline as a paramedic? I have always known I want to travel as a paramedic. I want to volunteer or go abroad as a paramedic working in underdeveloped countries. Any opportunities I will take. Norfolk will always be my home, but I will come back and forth. Do you have any advice for anyone thinking of becoming a Paramedic? Take it at your own pace and don&rsquo;t think about others&rsquo; progress. I did re-sits every year and had a lot of challenges, but if you want it enough you will make it happen. I would say my advice is doing prior jobs in healthcare, such as being a care assistant, as that helped me with foundations of patient care and soft skills like communication. I would say make sure you have a work life balance to help yourself mentally. You will see some traumatic stuff and if you only have work you will burn out and not function well. Lastly, utilise the University - they have great practice labs etc. which keep up your clinical skills. The staff are very knowledgeable and open to suggestions.<span class="EOP SCXW63121658 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:-450,&quot;335559731&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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Kacey Jones, who once described herself as the “world’s unluckiest student” after two car-crashes,  in the lead-up to starting university and during her studies, has begun her career as a frontline paramedic after graduating from UEA in August 2024.

Kacey’s journey from patient to paramedic

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Harrison Sherwell, a first-year medical student is keen to inspire the next generation with his journey to becoming a doctor at UEA, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour aged 10 - with the care he received motivating him to look after others.<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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We caught up with Harrison to talk about his experiences, his studies and his goals for the future.&nbsp;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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Harrison said, &ldquo;I guess I want to share my experience because I wanted to show children going through similar health issues like me that their goals can be achieved, and that their health issues don&rsquo;t have to stop them from doing that.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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&ldquo;I wouldn't say there was a particular moment that made me decide to study medicine, I think just the whole journey that I've been through - from consultants &nbsp;being really nice, the way they'd show empathy, they make you feel more at ease and that they were with you on the journey. I felt like I could add something to that if I did it, because I've got my own experiences, and from that I feel like I can use that to help out other children.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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&ldquo;I took quite an interest in the medical facilities and care. That initially started my interest in science, and there was just the empathy that I felt for children going through the same situation as me, so studying medicine felt like it was perfect for me.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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&nbsp;Harrison decided to join UEA because of how personal his interview felt, saying, &ldquo;When I first went to the interviews, I thought Leeds was potentially the one I wanted. But my other three interviews were mainly about grades and just basic interview questions and who can answer them the best. UEA&rsquo;s interview process more tailored around the person and what they wanted out of me, and that made me think that this is probably the best choice for me.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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&nbsp;&ldquo;I'm just looking forward to placements and interacting with people, being able to share that empathy and make people feel better about what they're going through to show that we&rsquo;re not alone.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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Harrison is coming to the end of his first-term at UEA, settling into living on campus and his course, he said, &ldquo;I'm kind of more just trying to get used to all the cooking and washing, I've got a good flat. They're all friendly, they're nice to get on with. I was quite nervous, obviously, that I'm maybe not socially as confident as most people, because I was quite ill when I was younger, it knocked my social confidence, but they&rsquo;ve been really nice.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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In terms of how his course is going, Harrison has joined a &lsquo;buddy-system&rsquo;, saying: &ldquo;I'm in MedSoc, and with MedSoc you get med &lsquo;parents', and they can help you through your journey because they're a year ahead of you. You do a pub quiz where you meet your &lsquo;parent&rsquo;, so you get to know them that way, and I've also added mine on social media, so they&rsquo;re there whenever I need them.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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Harrison&rsquo;s main message to share is &ldquo;Don't let an illness hold you back. Use it as inspiration. I have the mentality that I&rsquo;ve been through a much harder experience than a lot of people, and that I can use that to push through, knowing I can do better to get to where I aspire to be.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW143382813 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}">&nbsp;
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Harrison Sherwell, a first-year medical student is keen to inspire the next generation with his journey to becoming a doctor at UEA, after surviving a brain tumour aged 10.

The first-year Med student aiming to inspire tomorrow’s doctors

Alex&nbsp;Florance, a fifth-year medical student at UEA, has raised over &pound;1500 for Papyrus UK, a charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and promotion of positive wellbeing in young people. &nbsp;
In 2024, Alex completed a 750-mile cycle ride across Spain over the course of 9.5 days, covering 100 miles a day with 2 rest days.&nbsp;
We caught up with Alex as he started on the fifth year of his studies. &nbsp;
Q. Why did you decide to do your cycle ride?&nbsp;
A. I chose to cycle for various reasons, partly as an escape for my mental health, partly because I was falling out of love with medicine a little bit, and I thought I needed to make the most of the time that I had. I love cycling and I knew I wanted to go to Spain, cycling a journey that was between 700-900 miles. &nbsp;
Q. And it was for charity?&nbsp;
A. It was for Papyrus, a mental health charity, which at the time, was poignant for me. I thought, you know, I've taken a year out because I want to get my get my get my head straight, and Papyrus links really well with that. It particularly supports young people and suicide prevention and their mental wellbeing, with a focus on awareness.&nbsp;
Another reason I chose it was because of the Three Dads Walking, which is quite a personal cause to me. The Three Dads Walking is a cause formed by three dads who lost their daughters to suicide, and now they work to raise money for suicide prevention and raising awareness. When I was a kid, I used to do a lot of competitive swimming, which I still do, but one of the girls which I swam with back then was Emily Owen. When she died a few years later, it was an enormous shock to the community, and her dad, Tim, has been truly inspirational, he&rsquo;s the most incredible man ever and such an inspiring guy. He&rsquo;s doing such an incredible job at raising awareness of young suicide and suicide prevention, and I thought that it would be great to do that as well, and great to help support that charity too. &nbsp;
Q. Have you had any great support on your journey?&nbsp;
A. I had some nice support from Tim Owen, who sent me some lovely messages of support. The people I've met on my course at UEA have been really supportive too, especially through the sort of little mini cycling community at UEA. One of the things I struggled with was the routes, which were quite difficult. Often the maps and the actual road surface didn&rsquo;t quite match up, so it was even more difficult because the roads on the map were different from the actual roads, and sometimes I just needed an experienced cyclist just to say you've got this, or you're doing good. So, I called a few people who I'd met at university and got a nice little bit of encouragement, a nice bit of advice, which was lovely. I also had some amazing support from my fianc&eacute;e, Beth, who encouraged me to do this and was always levelheaded when I called her up from the middle of nowhere multiple times a day!&nbsp;
Q. What was an unexpected outcome of your cycling?&nbsp;
A. I'm very much of the mindset of taking time out is the best is the best way to go when you feel like you need it.&nbsp; because you don't really grow as a person when you're in the moment, &nbsp;when you're swept up in the whirlwind of whatever course you're doing, and it's a case of you just survive and do &nbsp;your coursework, and whatever other extra curriculum and stuff you want to do. But I think existing as an adult in the real world is very different, and it&rsquo;s not until you are out of the university bubble that you see that. I think learning that has a lot of value in it. I also absolutely fell in love with Spain and Spanish people. Everywhere I went I was greeted with warmth, and the Spanish lifestyle gave me such a different perspective on life.&nbsp;
Q. What was your favourite part of travelling?&nbsp;
A. There is a couple that spring to mind, so I was exhausted when I got to Salamanca and then walked out into the main square, and there were so many people around, and it just was the most amazing atmosphere. I sat and found a restaurant just off the main square and I had a conversation with one of the waiters while I was eating, and fumbled my way through my journey and what I had been up to. I tried to explain the fact that I needed to have 3 meals because I was hungry from just cycling 200km. It was a fantastic interaction, and the waiter was so warm and patient despite my dismal attempts to speak Spanish. It really made me feel welcomed. &nbsp;
The other was the ride into Salamanca itself. It had been an utterly incredible, if very hilly, day of cycling. The route had been stunning, over 1100m elevation at times, the scenery was beautiful, and there was a gorgeous long undulating but slightly downhill ride into Salamanca. As I rolled into the city with the sun setting, I remember feeling an overwhelming emotion of joy and relief.&nbsp;
Q. Are you glad to be studying again?&nbsp;
I am really glad to be back studying again. Although I&rsquo;m very glad I took a year out, the people at UEA are so warm and welcoming, and I&rsquo;ve been longing to use my brain for something for a while! I&rsquo;m now on placement, and although it&rsquo;s a very stark contrast from what I&rsquo;ve been doing for the past year (working in a bike shop). It&rsquo;s brilliant fun and I&rsquo;m very excited at the prospect of working as a doctor this time next year. I feel as though my time out and experiences this year have helped me become more well-rounded and resilient.&nbsp;
If the topics raised in Alex&rsquo;s story have affected you in anyway, please see the following links for access to wellbeing services and support: &nbsp;
<a href="https://www.papyrus-uk.org/">Papyrus</a> &ndash; the charity Alex has raised money for, supporting young people and suicide prevention.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.papyrus-uk.org/papyrus-HOPELINE247/">HOPELINE247</a>- Papyrus&rsquo;s helpline, available on their website or call 0800 068 414. &nbsp;
<a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/uea-life/student-support">UEA Student Support</a>- for UEA&rsquo;s students, for support and wellbeing advice whenever you need them. &nbsp;
<a href="https://www.norfolkandwaveneymind.org.uk/">Norfolk and Waveney Mind - Home-</a> a local charity focused on wellbeing and support to vulnerable people.

Alex Florance, a fifth-year medical student at UEA, has raised over £1500 for Papyrus UK, a charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide in young people, thanks to a 750-mile cycle across Spain.

Med student’s charity-fueled year of recuperation

Megan&nbsp;Harwood-Baynes graduated in 2017 with a BA in American Literature with Creative Writing. She is now a Social Affairs &amp; Health Reporter at Sky News. In this interview, she tells us all about how experience at&nbsp;UEA set her up for a career in journalism, and why she is <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/page/running-for-the-matthewathon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">running the marathon</a> in memory of her father.
<h2>What have you been up to since you graduated?</h2>
After graduation, I moved to the Isle of Wight to study a journalism apprenticeship. After two years learning from some of the best reporters and editors, I made the big move back to the mainland and worked on the social media team at PA (formerly known as the Press Association).
I was one of the first in the newsroom assigned to write about "this new illness coming out of Wuhan", which was something I would continue to cover in depth for several years. This heightened my interest in writing about health inequality.
Recent work has included covering the trade of illicit abortion pills on social media and being one of the only reporters in courtroom seven at the trial of Lucy Letby.
<h2>What was your ambition for your career when you started at UEA? Did you have a specific career path in mind?</h2>
I have wanted to be a journalist from about the age of 15. My dad encouraged me to pursue writing as a career (my first choice was actually a lawyer, but we both agreed I couldn't base a career off the fact I enjoyed arguing with people...) and he encouraged me to apply to UEA, which has the best creative writing course in the country.
<h2>Tell us about your experiences studying at UEA.</h2>
My dad graduated from UEA about 30 years before me, and Norwich was always a special place to him. When I started to show an interest in writing, he encouraged me to think about applying for Creative Writing.
He drove me to a UEA Open Day (about an eight-hour round trip for us) and I fell in love with the University; stepping onto the campus felt like coming home. He was delighted when I was accepted onto the course and even more excited when I moved into his former digs, Norfolk Terrace. He used to tease me that it was more fun in his day because they could climb out onto the roof to sunbathe (the closest I got to that was rescuing a drunk student who had climbed out someone else's window...).
I loved living on campus so much that, after my year abroad, I moved back into it. It made it easier to run Concrete, the student newspaper (I spent about 90% of my fourth year in Union House - if I wasn't in the media office, I was behind the Unio bar making coffee).
<img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/1200x909/4a7adc7c99/megan-harwood-baynes-and-father.jpg" border="0" alt="Megan Harwood-Baynes and her Father celebrating graduation" width="500" height="379">Image: Megan Harwood-Baynes and her father celebrating graduation
<h2>How did your year abroad help with your career?</h2>
It certainly made me more employable, but perhaps not in the ways you would expect. Because it was a pass-fail year, I was able to be a bit more relaxed about the academics, so went out and got an internship at a local magazine (I sort of forced them to let me do it, and kind of just kept turning up at their offices every week until they would let me write things). I ended up covering some amazing stories about the local community which helped me get my first journalism job after graduation.
<h2>What personal or professional achievement are you most proud of?</h2>
I was named NCTJ Apprentice of the Year in 2018. This meant a lot to me because it was also the year my dad died, so to be able to achieve so much in my career while also dealing with that was huge for me. I just wish he had been around to see me pick up the award (the ceremony was two months after he died).
<h2>What were your experiences of Norwich as a city?</h2>
Living in the Golden Triangle was brilliant. I love the centre of the city - there was always new food to eat, new bars to try, new things to see. If journalism wasn't so London-centric, I would move back in a heartbeat.
<h2>Is there any advice you would give to current students wishing to follow a similar career path to you?</h2>
Join Concrete! Write as much as you can for them, and then find as much work experience as you can - don't take no for an answer.
The number of job rejections I have had in my career must be more than 50 or so now, but keep going, you'll get there. (And if you can, get a job on a local paper and work your way up).
<h2>What is next for you?</h2>
The London Marathon!
I am running the marathon to raise money for the hospice who looked after my dad - something I would never have even contemplated as a student. But I have always loved a challenge.

UEA graduate Megan Harwood-Baynes is Social Affairs & Health Reporter at Sky News. In this interview, she tells us all about how her experience at UEA set her up for a career in journalism, and why she is running the marathon in honour of her father.

Megan Harwood-Baynes's multi-generational UEA story

<h6>Left-to-Right for above group photo:&nbsp;Michael Marriott (CHE 72), Andy Dunkerley (CHE 73),&nbsp;Martin Howard (CHE 72),&nbsp;Debbie Hays (n&eacute;e McCloughlin) (EUR 73),&nbsp;Hilary Talbot (n&eacute;e Smith) (EAS 72),&nbsp;Teresa Marriott (n&eacute;e Collins) (EUR 73),&nbsp;Nigel Davis (CHE 72),&nbsp;Andy Oliver (CHE 72),&nbsp;Jane Oliver (n&eacute;e Palfrey) (BIO 72),&nbsp;Rob Thorpe (MAP 72),&nbsp;Pete James (CHE 72),&nbsp;Richard Skegg (CHE 72),&nbsp;Stuart Cottam (MAP 72),&nbsp;Les Thelwall (CHE 72), Geoff Stuttard (CHE 72),&nbsp;Terry Clough (MAP 72),&nbsp;Ed Bennet (MAP 72),&nbsp;Lilian Hodgson (n&eacute;e De Souza) (CHE 72),&nbsp;Ian Chapman (MAP 72),&nbsp;Gary Hays (CHE 72)&nbsp; </h6>
<h4>We are delighted to share more from two groups of alumni from the 1970s.</h4>
Firstly, the group pictured above is a collective of alumni from the 1972/73 intake of students. Leslie Thelwall of the group would like to share the following message:
"In August 2024, 23 UEA alumni (20 in the photo) largely from the 1972/73 intake came together for a reunion in Norwich. It was not our first as we have been meeting in Norwich for several years. It&rsquo;s over 50 years since we first met and are still going strong! If you know any of us and would like to make contact and/or be part of the 2025 reunion, please get in touch via the Alumni team. We would love to hear from you. Thanks, Leslie Thelwall (CHE 72)" 
<h4>The second group featured represent students who studied in our School of Environmental Sciences starting in 1978.&nbsp; <img src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/185167/1536x2048/af2b068a3e/env78-bunch_2024.jpg" border="0" alt="Group of UEA ENV alumni on field trip" width="300" height="400"></h4>
<h6>Left-to-right: Stefan Bort, Nick Allen, Petra Brown, Graham Bunn, Robert Brown </h6>
One of the group, Petra Brown (nee THOMAS), had the following to share about their recent meetings:
"Although our lives and careers have taken many different paths (from earth observation, data management, GIS, law, teaching, Information technology, to name but a few), the glue that continues to stick us together is our love for all things &ldquo;ENV-Y&rdquo;! A group of ENV78 alumni met in northern Spain, not far from the location of countless geology and soil science field trips, to enjoy the spectacular natural environment of <a href="https://www.turismoasturias.es/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asturias </a>&ndash; Spain&rsquo;s green paradise in the lesser-known part of the country. A province full of mountains, rivers, forests, wild coastal landscapes and great cuisine! Since graduating in 1981, our ENV studies have become so much more relevant and significant, now commonly reported in mainstream media. Our ENV lecturers prepared us well to observe, appreciate and interpret the world around us and the impact that we have as human beings. Moreover, taking careful note of the creatures in the air and on land, diversity of plants and forest life, geology and surface processes shaping the earth, and changes in our climate &ndash; a topic prominent in global governmental discussions, although not prominent enough. An amusing debate was had on interlocking spurs that no-one could clarify! We were privileged to spend three days together, catching up on many missing years which had been absorbed by the busy-ness of life. Only now with many of us on the cusp of retirement and still with loads of energy (!), do we have time to revisit activities from those ENV days &ndash; so many field trips, rendering so many unforgettable memories! For three days, we immersed ourselves in Asturian rural life. We hiked in mountain scenery dominated by limestone, marvelling at formations such as blow holes (&lsquo;bufones&rsquo;) by the sea, tilted bedding planes and intrusions, waterfalls and underground caverns. We visited an underground coal mining museum, offering deeper insight into a bygone era when coal mining was prevalent in Asturias. Today, much like in Great Britain&mdash;where coal once formed the backbone of industry and shaped the cultural landscape&mdash;mining has nearly disappeared. And to top it all off, we can't overlook the excellent Asturian cuisine, along with its renowned local cheeses and wines that had to be experienced. The pioneering School of Environmental Sciences at UEA equipped us with a solid foundation of scientific knowledge which is crucial to tackle the mounting environmental challenges of our time, and continues to do so for others who follow. If anyone from ENV78 - or those from shared courses - wishes to make contact, please get in touch via the Alumni Office. We&rsquo;d love to hear from you!"
&nbsp;
If you would like to contact either group please first email <a href="mailto:@alumni@uea.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">alumni@uea.ac.uk</a>

We are pleased to share reports from two different groups of 1970s alumni on how they are still keeping in touch. Both groups explain more about their reunions and invite fellow 1970s alumni to join them.

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