University of South Wales has a Bright Future, Says US Ambassador

CARDIFF, Wales, November 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Matthew Barzun returns to class in his first official visit to Wales

Ambassador Matthew Barzun, United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, has relived his days as a student in his first official visit to Wales's capital city.  The Ambassador met students from across the world on his visit to the University of South Wales's Cardiff campus on November 6, 2014.  He participated in an ideas-mapping session with creative industries students, gave an impromptu lecture to the students on engaging and motivating people, shared some of the cutting-edge digital animation work produced in the University's MediaLab, and joined visual effects students working in their industry-standard digital studios.

Ambassador Barzun, whose predecessors as US envoy to the UK include five subsequent presidents of the United States, was visiting Wales for the first time since his appointment by President Obama.  The visit to the University was part of the Ambassador's official visit programme, which also included National Assembly for Wales and a meeting with the First Minister, Rt. Hon Carwyn Jones AM.

Ambassador Barzun said: "It is a stimulating insight to see the sheer wealth of talent on display, and I am impressed with how the University is harnessing this creativity with superb facilities and teaching to make an impact on the future of our high-tech industries.  From what I have seen today, the University of South Wales and its students have a bright future.  The links between Britain and the United States are many and long-standing, not least in higher education, so it gives me great pleasure to see for myself how the University of South Wales is a worthy ambassador both for Wales and for Britain's universities."

Vice Chancellor, Professor Julie Lydon, said: "We are delighted to welcome the Ambassador to our campus in his first visit to Wales's capital city.  His background in the digital economy gives him special insight into the work we do to prepare our students for the modern world of work.  This visit was an opportunity to discuss the University of South Wales's strong reputation on the world stage, including our work with major international companies such as General Electric and BA."

For further information

Alexandra Harden
Media Relations Manager
University of South Wales
Alexandra.harden@southwales.ac.uk
TEL 0845-5-760-603 / +44(0)1443-483362 / +44(0)7736-660-538
@unisouthwales