Category Archives: University News

North Yorkshire, Other News, University News, York

New Study Into Interference For Trilingual Speakers

People who speak more than two languages are more likely to mistakenly use words from the language they’re least proficient in, new research has shown.

Participants were asked to name pictures in their three languages
The study, led by Dr Angela de Bruin, from the Department of Psychology at the University of York, looked at which of the other languages spoken by trilinguals ‘interfered’ when they were speaking their second language.

Dr de Bruin said: “Intuitively, you would expect these intrusions to mostly come from your most proficient language, for example the first language you grew up speaking from birth. However, our recent research shows that when having to use a less proficient second language, multilinguals actually experience more interference from another less proficient third language than from their native tongue.”

Interference
The study, conducted at the University of York and the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language, looked at two groups of trilinguals: Spanish-Basque-English trilinguals in the Basque Country and English-French-Spanish trilinguals in the UK.

Participants were asked to name pictures in their three languages in response to a cue. For example, when seeing the picture of an “apple” with the Spanish flag, they would have to say “manzana”. The participants were presented these pictures for a short period of time to make the task difficult.

The team then assessed which language interfered more when trilinguals had to use their second language. In both groups of trilinguals, participants more often accidentally used their third language than their first language, showing that this interference between non-native languages can be found across different trilingual groups.

Supressed Words
The research team also studied why this might be the case. In two other tasks, they tested how participants suppressed words in the other languages while using their second language. They found that the trilinguals suppressed words in their first language more than in their third.

Dr de Bruin says: “This could explain why these trilinguals experienced more interference from their less proficient third language: they might have suppressed that language less, leading to them accidentally using that language instead.”

Many people are able to communicate in more than one language and approximately a quarter of the European population can even speak three or more languages.

Role & Influence
The research conducted by Dr de Bruin is based on personal experience. She says: “When I tried to speak German in Germany after moving to Spain I was trying to buy a bus ticket and I noticed I almost uncontrollably switched between German and Spanish and inserted Spanish words like “por favor” without wanting to. Although my native language Dutch is very similar to German, this interference was not coming from Dutch but rather from Spanish, a language I was far less fluent in.”

She concludes: “This study shows that just knowing words in a language might not be enough to ensure fluent communication. It is also crucial to retrieve the words in the intended language at the appropriate moment and to avoid interference from the other language(s). Trilinguals might have less experience with, or might be worse at, suppressing a less proficient language and might therefore experience more interference from that language.”

“Interestingly, whilst we often focus on the role and influence of a first language, our study highlights the importance of understanding how languages that are acquired later in childhood or adolescence can influence each other. Fluent communication in those languages might not just require a certain level of knowledge in that language but also efficient control over the other languages.”

The study is published in the Journal of Memory and Language

University News

York PhD Student Wins Positive Social Impact Award

A University of York computer science PhD student has been recognised with the India UK Achievers award for her role in using science to create positive social impact.

Meghna Asthana is one of the 75 India UK Achievers award winners
Meghna Asthana, a PhD student in computer vision science, was selected as one of the 75 India UK Achievers award winners. The awards recognise and celebrate the work of 75 Indian students and alumni who have pursued a British programme of study, and marks the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.

The award is given to a current or former Indian student in the UK who has achieved excellence in their field, as well as inspired and encouraged others to achieve.

High Impact
Meghna said: “My experience at York has provided me with the opportunity to foster lasting relationships with experts in various domains of scientific research. This award is a special one for me as it signifies the strong bond between two countries I call home. I believe, winning this award has propelled me to continue collaborating on more high impact and high stakes projects, changing lives around the world for the better.”

Meghna is a researcher in the field of computer vision, an area of science that aims to further machine learning in the understanding or extraction of useful information from images. Her expertise ranges from satellite imagery for climate change and surveillance, to ocean floor videography for species detection.

Social Good
As a Data Science for Social Good Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute, Meghna has also provided her expertise to non-for-profit organisations and government bodies in areas such as clean energy, climate change and public safety, which is crucial to creating an infrastructural shift from non-renewable to renewable energy as part of the Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener by 2050.

Meghna’s portfolio consists of a myriad of government, non-profit and academic projects, with partners including the German Centre for Artificial Intelligence, UNICEF, NASA, LSE, Data Science Institute, and the Sports Innovation Challenge at Imperial College London for Disability Sports & Paralympics.

The award winners were celebrated at special event in London on Wednesday, 25 January, where the University of York was a sponsor.

Farming, Forestry & Fishing News, News, Sustainability, University News

York Part Of New Programme To Tackle Cyber Crime And Food Security

A new research programme is developing ways of extracting information from complex datasets to tackle a number of real-world issues, such as cyberattacks, greener power grids, and food security.

The programme will tackle real-world issues including ways to develop better crop yields

In 2022, cybercrime cost global businesses, consumers and governments an estimated £1 trillion. Through improved ways of pinpointing problems and making predictions, cyberattacks could be reduced, but in order to do this experts need to be able to extract useful information from network datasets that often evolve in real-time. 

Expertise
The programme, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), will harness the expertise of statisticians and probabilists across six universities to improve analysis of complex network data.

The programme will look to develop more secure, greener power grids, better detection of cyberattacks, improved mail services and better crop yields.

Similarly, there is a need for research which will quantify the complex gene interactions in plants, contributing to the urgent need to tackle global food shortages. 

Industries
By making it easier to identify problems and opportunities within datasets, government bodies and various types of industries can make more reliable plans that will put them in positions of strength in the future. 

The Network Stochastic Processes and Time Series (NeST) partnership involves six universities – York, Bath, Bristol, Imperial College London, Oxford, and the London School of Economics and Political Science – and a range of companies and government organisations.

Opportunity
Professor Marina Knight from the Department of Mathematics at University of York, one of the NeST Deputy Directors, said: “Everyone involved is tremendously excited to have the opportunity to undertake this timely research into such an important, growing area.

“We aim to build a national centre showcasing our work and harnessing the skills of a highly diverse team with backgrounds in statistics, probability and data science. Demonstrating that maths is directly relevant to real-world issues impacting everyone’s lives will be at the heart of NeST.”

Importance
Jane Nicholson, EPSRC Director for Research Base, said: “The NeST programme demonstrates the fundamental importance of the mathematical sciences to important sectors such as energy, transport and cybersecurity.

“The team’s work in establishing itself as a leader in the study and exploitation of dynamic networks, which will reflect the fact that the data which underpin these critical sectors is constantly changing, will deliver benefits for industry and key services which impact on our daily lives.”

Communication, Communication Headlines, Education News, Events, Feature Headlines, News, News Headlines, People, Sheffield, University Headlines, University News

UK’s Largest Research Streaming Platform Launched

The UK’s biggest research streaming platform has been launched by the University of Sheffield to enable anyone, anywhere to discover and explore its pioneering research.

The University of Sheffield Player, officially launched this week (Monday 30 January 2023), brings together videos, podcasts and digital exhibitions all about University of Sheffield research, which anyone, from anywhere can access at anytime – making the University’s research more accessible than ever before.

From art to artificial intelligence, climate change to cutting-edge medicine, food security to societal issues, there is something on the Player to feed every curiosity.

The unique platform offers a curated library of quality, evidence-based content that showcases the work of Sheffield’s internationally-recognised researchers – who are leaders in their fields, working to tackle many of the problems that affect us all. The Player makes this research accessible, engaging and freely available to all, in one place for the first time.

Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Director of City and Culture at the University of Sheffield, said: “Our vision at the University of Sheffield is to deliver life-enhancing research that not only transforms the lives of our graduates, but shapes the world we live in. A key part of this is sharing our research with people outside of the University – making the breakthroughs our academics achieve accessible to people throughout Sheffield, the South Yorkshire region, the rest of the UK and around the world.”

“By launching the University of Sheffield Player we are making our research more openly available than ever before. It’s bringing our research into one single place that anyone, anywhere can access and explore, which we hope will mean even more people will benefit from the discoveries our academics make every day.”

The Player has been specially designed to be easy to explore and access.

You can start by scrolling through the Homepage to discover featured items on a range of different subjects.

Or, if you are interested in a particular theme or topic, you can take a look at Channels and Categories using dropdown menus at the top of each page. There is a curated selection of videos, podcasts, exhibitions and playlists within the Player’s four Channels: Arts & Culture; Environment & Sustainability; People & Place; and Science & Technology.

To find content relating to more specific topics, you can click on one of the 20+ Category headings in the dropdown menu. The Categories cover everything from Poetry, History and Well-being, to Engineering, Nature and Sustainability.

The Player enables anyone to explore University of Sheffield festivals and playlists, through its Series list. This includes: Highlights from 2021, the Sounds of the Cosmos video series, Festival of the Mind, Off the Shelf Festival of Words and Understanding Society.

Alternatively, a search of the A-Z listings opens up a world of content from Sheffield research such as Age of Love, a light-hearted, sensitive look at sexuality in older age to Zoomshock, a dynamic animated video into the societal effects of remote working.

Professor Vanessa Toulmin, added: “The launch of the platform opens up a world of possibilities for us to further develop how we share our research and make a difference to people’s lives. At launch, the Player has over 250 videos, podcasts and exhibitions, but this is just the start – new content will be added every week and we’re looking forward to exploring how we can use it to share our research with the public.”

Professor Koen Lamberts, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: “The launch of the University of Sheffield Player marks a key milestone in how the University shares its research with the public. We have long made our research open and accessible, such as through the many different public events our academics take part in throughout each year, the expert commentary they provide to the world’s media and the outreach work they do with schools and groups in our local communities.

“Now the Player brings our public engagement activities together in one place, so that anyone can access it from anywhere at anytime. This provides a platform for our research to reach more people than ever before.”

To start exploring the Player, visit here.

Education News, Other News, University News

Supporting World Leading Research At University Of Leeds

The University of Leeds has joined a national consortium that aims to ensure the UK retains its place as a centre for world-leading research.

The UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) is a peer-led consortium that promotes robust research, training activities and the sharing of best practice.

Its activities span multiple levels, including researchers, institutions and other stakeholders such as funders and publishers. Leeds joins 29 other UKRN universities across the UK and will contribute to ongoing work to improve research quality and reproducibility across the sector.

Professor Daryl O’Connor, of Leeds’ School of Psychology, is the University’s Institutional Lead for UKRN. He said: “Joining UKRN represents another clear example of the University’s commitment to improving research quality, transparency and reproducibility.”

Professor O’Connor will work with other universities as well as Leeds colleagues including Professor Cat Davies, Dean for Research Culture, and Dr Amanda Bretman, Dean for Research Quality, spear-heading Leeds’ Research Culture and Quality strategy work.

Professor Davies said: “Joining the UKRN formalises our existing work in a wide range of open research practices. Providing a valuable network and boosting resource and engagement, our membership is an important step in the University’s path to enhancing research quality and culture.”

Leeds already has an active network of researchers engaged in promoting open research through initiatives such as ReproducibiliTea and Open Lunches, led by library colleagues including Nick Sheppard, Open Research Advisor at Leeds University Library.

Dr Eike Rinke, of Leeds’ School of Politics and International Studies, is the University’s UKRN Local Network Lead. He said: “With this move, the University demonstrates its commitment to integrity and openness as key ingredients to producing world-class research. It’s a clear recognition of the work done over the past years by the local UKRN community of academics and professional staff at Leeds.”

Professor Nick Plant, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, has worked closely with Professor O’Connor and and Dr Rinke to support the process of joining UKRN. He said: “Joining this peer-led national consortium will strengthen Leeds’ vision to support and value high quality research and will promote effective collaborative working with other partner institutions to ensure Leeds and the UK retains its place as a centre for world-leading interdisciplinary research.”

Education News, Infrastructure Headlines, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, University News

University Of Sheffield Affirms Open Research & Scholarship Culture

The University of Sheffield has affirmed its commitment to an open research and scholarship culture, by approving new policies that will ensure its research is accessible to as many people as possible, and encouraging the use and creation of open educational resources throughout its teaching programmes.

The University’s aspiration is to embrace an open research culture, which is fundamental in order for its research to be of maximum benefit to society, and to enable students to engage effectively with educational resources.

This aspiration is a vital pillar of University’s Vision and governs how the University’s distinctive and innovative research will continue to drive intellectual advances and address global challenges.

The new policies for intellectual policy, research publications and copyright, and open educational resources (OER) have now been approved by the University of Sheffield’s Senate and solidify those commitments, setting out plans for how the Vision will be implemented. They apply to results of research conducted on the University’s campus.

Professor Sue Hartley, the University of Sheffield’s Vice-President for Research, said: “This new policy is a real step change in ensuring that the excellent research we do here at the University of Sheffield can be accessed and used by anyone for the benefit of all.”

“As well as supporting authors to retain their rights and comply with funder policies, immediate and inclusive access to research outputs is of critical importance to deriving societal benefits from the findings. Open access is significant in driving innovation across all disciplines, something that is of great importance to us here at Sheffield.”

Professor Mary Vincent, the University of Sheffield’s Vice-President for Education, added: “Open educational resources play an increasingly important role in the inclusive and engaging learning environment we provide at Sheffield, and I am delighted that our new OER policy has been approved, signalling our continued commitment to open education and scholarship.”

The University of Sheffield was one of the many global institutions which prioritised the quick sharing of research data free of many of the restrictions that academic papers are usually subjected to, which can restrict who can access data, and where.

The University was one of the first UK research centres to publish fully sequenced genomes of the Covid-19 virus, by sharing its findings with the international data bank GISAID. This enabled researchers around the world to track the spread and evolution of the virus, without which scientists and health researchers globally would not have been able to effectively, and rapidly develop much-needed life-saving treatments.

The new policies are based on principles set out in national, and international research funding frameworks, which support researchers to promote their findings to the biggest audience possible for the benefit of everyone immediately upon publication of their academic papers, providing opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

As well as fostering more equitable access to research, they also support the use and creation of openly accessible educational resources, aligning Sheffield with the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG4 to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Anna Clements, Director of Library Services and University Librarian at the University of Sheffield, said: “I am delighted that the University has adopted these policies. The Library is committed to supporting the University’s digital education goals and the aim of developing an equitable and open environment for research and education. These policies mean that our researchers can be confident that those wishing to access our research results can do so irrespective of their ability to pay, and that our students have access to high quality digital resources to support their learning.”

Education News, Leeds, University Headlines, University News, West Yorkshire

Double Recognition For Leeds Trinity University Professor

Professor of Science Education at Leeds Trinity University, Leigh Hoath has been recognised for her Outstanding Contribution to Widening Participation, Diversity and Inclusion at the STEM Learning Inspiration Awards.

She was recently presented with the award by Baroness Brown at the House of Lords.

This is a further accolade for Leigh’s highly praised outreach work with the global chemical company BASF UK through their ScienceXperience project, an interactive science resource which provides school children with the chance to take part in experiments linked to the national curriculum.

The facility is designed to inspire students and support teachers to maximise their education. The award recognised the impact for primary school age children who have been able to access on site learning activities designed by Leigh. The sites are generally located in areas with some disadvantage and therefore the impact for the children in seeing real world science, their learning in action, is greater.

Leigh was also shortlisted for the Education/Academic Leader Award at the Forward Ladies Summit and Awards at the Royal Armouries in Leeds that took place in November.

Professor Leigh Hoath said: “Both of these awards are the icing on the cake! My role at Leeds Trinity involves supporting others through their own professional journey. Additional recognition beyond the University’s four walls is a wonderful experience and it adds a layer of feeling valued for the work I deliver. None of this would be possible without the support of my colleagues and peers both in and out of the University.”

Dr Duncan Martin, Deputy Dean of the Institute of Childhood and Education at Leeds Trinity University, said: “Professor Hoath richly deserves this recognition. She champions the vital importance of sustainability and climate change education through her work and research. Leigh is an outstanding ambassador for the University and we are thrilled that she continues to receive national recognition and accolades.”

Earlier this year, Professor Hoath also launched a new book, ‘Science Teaching in Secondary Schools’, which is an essential guide to secondary science teacher training and gives practical advice on developing classroom skills.

Furthermore, she chairs a working group focussed on climate change and sustainability with individuals from education, industry and the charity sector, having worked closely with Heena Dave, Curriculum Designer at Teacher Development Trust, who is an active researcher in the area. Leigh is also co-authoring a book with Leeds Trinity Senior Professional Practice Fellow Ed Podesta. ‘Professional Studies for Secondary Teaching’ will be released via Sage Publishing in March 2023.

Leeds, News, University Headlines, University News, West Yorkshire

New Pro-Vice Chancellor Of Enterprise & External Engagement

Professor Mohammed Arif has been appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor of Enterprise and External Engagement at Leeds Trinity, as the University seeks to increase its impact and contribution.

Professor Arif joins the Leeds Trinity University Executive team and will report directly to Vice-Chancellor Professor Charles Egbu. In this key role, he will be responsible for the University’s Marketing, Communications and Student Recruitment directorate; Centre for Apprenticeships, Work-Based Learning and Skills; Academic Partnerships Unit; and the Global Engagement Office.

Professor Arif is currently Dean of School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering at the University of Brighton, and is also research active in a number of areas. He will take up his new role with Leeds Trinity University in March 2023.

He has over 20 years of experience in Higher Education from roles held with several universities across the country. His previous positions include Professor of Sustainability and Process Management with the University of Salford, and Head of School – Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Wolverhampton.

Professor Arif gained his BSc Engineering (Mechanical) from Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi, India, and earned his MS and PhD in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida, USA.

Professor Arif said: “I am excited to join Leeds Trinity University, which is on a path of growth and excellence. The results of the last National Student Survey clearly indicate the dedication towards learning and teaching. The University’s plans include an increase in student numbers, a new Leeds city centre presence, development of new degree courses, internationalisation and wider engagement. I feel privileged to be part of this journey and look forward to working with the Leeds Trinity community.”

His main areas of research interest are Offsite Construction and Sustainability. Professor Arif has a strong track record of enterprise, research and engagement nationally and internationally. His engagement activities include several academic and professional communities across the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, UAE, and Qatar. Professor Arif is also a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Professor Charles Egbu, Vice-Chancellor at Leeds University said: “It gives me great pleasure to announce the appointment of our new Pro Vice-Chancellor of Enterprise and Engagement. Professor Arif brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge to drive our regional and national engagement forward. He will also provide proactive leadership and direction and be accountable for the development and delivery of major new partnerships in the public and private sectors. I look forward to working with Professor Arif in the new year.”

Leeds Trinity University has significantly invested in its leadership and academic structures to support the delivery of its Strategic Plan 2021-26. This includes attracting students from across the UK as well as internationally, strengthening the student experience, enhancing its reputation as a career-led University and improving Research and Knowledge Exchange outputs.

Leeds, News, University Headlines, University News, West Yorkshire

Graduate Secures Masters Degree After Overcoming Adversity

Leeds Trinity student Paige Walshe graduated recently with a Masters in Applied Custodial Leadership after overcoming adversity during her time at University.

Originally from Croydon, 29-year-old Paige was amongst the first cohort of students on the Unlocked Graduates programme at Leeds Trinity University, a national leadership scheme that involves a combination of classroom-based learning, as well as practical frontline work on the landings as Prison Officers.

Since joining Leeds Trinity in 2020, Paige has faced and overcome significant personal challenges, especially over the last year when she lost her dad in January, just three-and-a-half years after her mum passed away.

Paige had to juggle working full-time, commuting long distances, completing a Masters and arranging her dad’s funeral, which almost led to her leaving the programme completely.

She was supported throughout her time at Leeds Trinity University by Professor Danielle McDermott, Head of Prisons and Custody, Associate Professor Claire Vilarrubi, and Jacky Taylor, Administrator in Assessments and Ceremonies, who she credits with encouraging her to carry on.

Paige graduated with a Distinction and full-time employment in the Programme Interventions department at a Category C prison, working to reduce re-offending.

Paige said: “I owe so much to Danielle, Claire and Jacky, they have helped change my life. I now have a Masters degree and no one can take that away from me. They were kind all the way through and never lost faith in me and would always reply, sometimes late at night! I don’t have a bad word to say about Leeds Trinity University. I really felt they cared and because of them, I wanted to finish.”

“I never intended to work in prisons, but this programme has opened so many doors. I am working in a department that works to reduce re-offending and feels really meaningful. I have proven to myself that I have the intelligence and determination to succeed and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now.”

“Getting a Masters has increased my confidence so much, especially achieving a Distinction despite everything that happened. I really can’t believe I did it. I think it will act as a reminder for my future self that I am strong enough, which will help to stop any feelings of self-doubt.”

Associate Professor Claire Vilarrubi, Senior Lecturer in the School of Criminology, Investigation and Policing at Leeds Trinity University, said: “It’s been an absolute honour to support Paige for the past two years. Undertaking post-graduate studies whilst working full-time can be exceptionally demanding and challenging at the best of times, but alongside this Paige has been faced with personal loss and grief.”

“Despite this, Paige has approached her studies with an appetite for learning, tenacity and commitment. She is passionate and reflective, determined to lead innovation and change within the Criminal Justice System. She fully deserves her success and I’m excited to see what the future holds for her.”

Professor Danielle McDermott, Head of Prisons and Custody at Leeds Trinity University, said: “I am so proud of Paige’s journey since starting Leeds Trinity University, and to be graduating with a Distinction despite struggling with her own personal challenges is a testament to the type of person she is.”

“She has been a delight to teach and has been eager to learn and grow as a person throughout her time at Leeds Trinity. I am looking forward to seeing her career flourish, and she deserves all the success that will be coming her way in the future.”

Unlocked has worked in partnership with Leeds Trinity since 2020. Since the Unlocked programme was launched, over 10,000 applications have been submitted with over 600 participants placed in prisons across the UK in the last five years.

The principle at the heart of the Unlocked programme is a belief that the way to change prisons and break cycles of reoffending is through developing exceptional prison officers. The prison officer is the only professional who can build a relationship with every single prisoner – including the most vulnerable and challenging. They set the culture on the landings and have the power to create a safe and secure environment focused on rehabilitation.

Find out more about Unlocked here

News, University Headlines, University News

Leeds Beckett Graduates Share Proud Win At The Youth Music Awards

Two graduates from Leeds Beckett University’s Leeds School of Arts have expressed their pride after winning two accolades at this year’s Youth Music Awards.

Jessie Pigott (Jessie Marcella) pictured right and Kiera Bickerstaff (Ava in the Dark) pictured left have won the Music Producer Award and the Original Track Award respectively at the Youth Music Awards 2022. Jessie graduated in 2019 from the BA (Hons) Music Production course, and Kiera graduated in 2018 from the BA (Hons) Music Production and Performance course at Leeds School of Arts.

On winning the award, Jessie said: “I feel really proud to be able to represent female producers, that’s special to me, so to be recognised in that way is amazing. I am constantly grafting away behind the scenes to get to where I want to be. I’m very happy that the hard work is paying off.”

Kiera said: “I was excited to hear about our prize, especially as I didn’t expect to win! Youth Music put on a fantastic night, with lots of talented nominees. I was nominated by Whiskas, and I’d like to thank him for the opportunity.”

Sam Nicholls, or Whiskas as he is mainly known in the music industry, is a Senior Lecturer at Leeds School of Arts, and has supported both Jessie and Kiera in starting their music careers. Following their success at the Youth Music Awards, he said: “It’s been amazing to see how Kiera & Jessie have built their music careers since graduating, playing awesome shows, achieving some amazing national radio airplay, and capped off with this recognition at the Youth Music Awards.”

“The fact they have been noticed and have taken advantage of opportunities available to them, through music development organisations like Launchpad & BBC Introducing, shows us how much potential there is for them to succeed.”

Reflecting on her success with her band, Ava in the Dark, Kiera Bickerstaff said: “I worked for Launchpad with Whiskas, as an artist manager assistant. Launchpad supports the music sector in Yorkshire, providing and signposting to advice, funding and opportunities for artists, music businesses and industry professionals. And now I work for Universal Music London!”

“There was so much support at Leeds Beckett University, they did more for me than I could ever imagine. Whiskas has helped kickstart my music career. I don’t think I would have got my current job working for Universal Music London if it weren’t for my time working for Launchpad.”

Jessie Marcella has also worked closely with Sam Nicholls (Whiskas) at the start of her career and has praised his support: “I received invaluable support from all of my lecturers and learnt so much from them. My tutor in my final year at Leeds Beckett was Whiskas and he really understood my music from the beginning. I later released music on his label Analog Horizons and still work with him very closely now. The relationships you build at university are so important.”

Jessie and Kiera’s success at the Youth Music Awards further strengthens Leeds School of Arts’ contribution to the arts and culture scene in Leeds. Leeds Beckett University is a Principal Education Partner of Leeds 2023, embarking on a year-long celebration of culture that will continue to showcase the amazing work of its students, academics, and graduate communities in Leeds and the wider region.