I am a student in Cardiff Metropolitan University who is presently completing the third and final year of a BSC Housing Studies Degree. The degree provides teaching in all aspects of housing related topics that include, regeneration and sustainability, housing business, housing theory and practice, and various other topics throughout the 3-year degree. This has resulted in regeneration being the area of employment that I would like to undertake once graduated. The present Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in Universities, organisations, employees and students adapting to online learning, via teams, whilst working from home in an unprecedented and uncertain time. The online learning has resulted in a unique opportunity for a mutual virtual placement being agreed too and implemented between Cardiff Metropolitan University and Newydd Housing Association.
The Newydd team have provided me with the warmest of welcomes and have made me feel like part of the team, who have worked very hard to ensure I receive the best possible placement experience, that would not have been possible to experience if not for Newydd accepting me for placement within their organisation. Newydd has provided me with options to choose from that will provide a problem-solving setting to utilise the skills obtained through my degree. This will include research being undertaken that will help me achieve my placement module.
The virtual placement experience has provided positives and negatives with IT issues being experienced, and Microsoft Teams not working correctly at first, however, once these problems were solved with the introduction of a new PC, this resolved these issues. The positives are no commuting and traveling to other area’s for placement, making it possible to experience other areas and topics within the organisation that include digital inclusion, retrofitting, and community benefits that would otherwise be limited. The ability to meet online has made it possible to make new connections within the housing sector that would not have been possible if not for virtual placement and social media.
Anthony Morgans 3rd year BSC Housing studies student
