Aberystwyth has marked a milestone in local healthcare training as the first cohort of nursing students to study at Aberystwyth University graduated this summer. The group, who began their studies when the university’s Healthcare Education Centre opened in September 2022, represent the initial intake to be fully trained at the town-based facility opposite Bronglais Hospital.
A new local route into nursing
The Healthcare Education Centre, a project costing £1.7 million and supported by £500,000 from the Welsh Government, was designed to provide high-quality clinical practice rooms and teaching spaces aimed at preparing students for careers across the NHS and wider healthcare sector. Almost 40 students completed degrees this year, taking courses in both adult nursing and mental health nursing.
University leaders and staff joined partner organisations to congratulate the graduates at a special reception following the ceremony. The programme, which began taking students in late 2022, has expanded rapidly: records show 239 students were enrolled on healthcare programmes at the university during the current academic year. The courses also offer students the option to complete up to half of their studies through the medium of Welsh.
Voices from the university
“It is so heartening to see our students at this wonderful moment in their lives – many congratulations to them all,”
The words of Amanda Jones, Head of Healthcare Education at Aberystwyth University, underlined the pride felt by staff who have helped establish the local training pathway. She described being honoured to teach the first ever cohort of nurses in Aberystwyth and wished the graduates every success.
“This is a very special day – I’m so delighted to see the nursing students graduate,”
Vice-Chancellor Professor Jon Timmis said the achievement underlined the university’s commitment to training the next generation of nurses for the NHS and the healthcare sector, and to supporting community wellbeing through education and skills development.
Local implications and context
For Aberystwyth and the surrounding region, the establishment of on-site nursing education carries practical benefits. Training close to Bronglais Hospital helps link classroom learning with clinical placements nearby, creating clearer routes from study to local employment. The availability of Welsh-medium study options is also significant in a county where maintaining and growing opportunities in the language are a local priority.
- Facility: Healthcare Education Centre opened September 2022
- Cost: £1.7 million (including £500,000 Welsh Government funding)
- Graduates: Almost 40 in first cohort
- Current enrolment: 239 students in the current academic year
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Centre opening | September 2022 |
| Project cost | £1.7 million |
| Welsh Government support | £500,000 |
| Graduates this year | Almost 40 |
| Students enrolled (this year) | 239 |
The university says the development is central to its agenda to change lives, grow knowledge and build communities. For local health services, a steady flow of locally trained nurses could ease recruitment pressures and help retain skilled staff in Ceredigion and neighbouring areas.
For the new graduates, the ceremony marked the end of an intensive period of academic and clinical training and the beginning of professional practice. Many will aim to take posts within the NHS in Wales, while others may pursue roles across the healthcare system. The presence of an on-site training centre in Aberystwyth will make such transitions more visible and accessible to local employers and patients alike.
As the university prepares for future cohorts, the first graduation serves as a tangible sign that investment in local education infrastructure can yield immediate benefits for students and the communities they will go on to serve.
