A Cardiff Metropolitan University collaboration is helping people living with cystic fibrosis share their experiences and communicate more openly with healthcare professionals through the power of storytelling and illustration.

To mark World Cystic Fibrosis Day on 8 September, Cardiff Met is highlighting the impact of CF Stories: In Your Own Words, a project using real patient stories to improve healthcare.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited genetic condition that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. Although advances in treatment have transformed outcomes for many people with the condition, managing it remains a complex and lifelong challenge.

The initiative was led by Anna Suschitzky, who was awarded a fellowship through Story Arcs, an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)-funded programme led by Bath Spa University to work with Cardiff Met colleagues and the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board on co-creating a collection of digital stories centred on the experiences of people living with cystic fibrosis.

The main aim was to support communication between people living with the cystic fibrosis and their clinical teams. Through a series of online workshops, participants were given the opportunity to tell their stories in their own words, creating resources that offer valuable insight into the realities of living with the condition.

As part of the collaboration, CSAD illustration graduates Polly Allburn and Hope Martlew-Cousins worked closely with participants to create original illustrations that accompanied a number of the stories.

Anna Suschitzky, Story Fellow and project lead, said:

“At the heart of this project was a simple idea: that people living with cystic fibrosis know their own bodies best. By creating a safe space for them to tell their stories in their own words, we were able to develop resources that can help strengthen understanding and communication between patients and their doctors.”

The project has also created new research opportunities; funding has been secured through the AHRC-funded Lles Consortium, led by Swansea University, for a doctoral research project exploring how illustration can support the development of shared decision-making aids in healthcare.

The PhD project, due to begin in September 2026, will investigate how storytelling and illustration-based research methods can contribute to more authentic shared decision-making tools, supporting meaningful conversations between patients and healthcare professionals.

Anna was supported by Debbie Savage and Amelia Huw Morgan from Cardiff School of Design, and Dr Rhiannon Phillips from Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, as well as Dr Jamie Duckers from Health and Care Research Wales.

Debbie Savage, Associate Dean of Research at Cardiff School of Art and Design, said:

“This project has helped amplify the voices of people living with cystic fibrosis while exploring new approaches to communication between patients and clinical teams.

“The involvement of Cardiff Met researchers and illustration graduates demonstrates the value of creative practice in addressing real-world healthcare challenges. We are delighted that the project has created a foundation for future research into how storytelling and illustration can support shared decision-making and improve healthcare experiences for patients.”

Here are some comments from the participants in the project:

“What surprised me most was how therapeutic the experience became. Putting my story into words helped me understand how I truly felt about certain moments and gave me a sense of validation that I didn’t realise I needed.”

“ … I think the fact that these are digital, I just think makes them … more powerful than if I was to be given a piece of paper that had all the scripts on it.”

“It’s amazing how a short four-minute clip can be so powerful and thought-provoking.”

“Quite often the key thing is to get a publication in a journal that then sits behind a paywall that no one can access. So, this is hopefully something that’s just much more accessible”

“I’m really grateful to have been given the space to tell my story and I hope sharing it helps someone else feel a little less alone.”

Cardiff Met Sport Broadcast students, graduates and staff are set to play their part in one of the biggest sports media operations in the world this summer, taking on broadcast roles connected to the FIFA World Cup.

In addition, former Sports Coaching and Development student, Harrison Kingston, takes on the role of Director of Performance Analysis for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. The team’s Group C opener takes place on Saturday 13 June, with Morocco facing one of the most iconic nations in world football, Brazil.

Two Cardiff Met graduates and four current students from the MSc Sport Broadcast programme will be working for FIFA Host Broadcast Services at the FIFA / HBS London production headquarters in Olympic Park for seven weeks this summer.

Graduates Dan Rhydderch and Oliver Hampson will be joined by current students Jack Tapp, Eve Pearson, Dylan Odelet and Tom Flint as part of the operation, supporting the delivery of content and coverage for a tournament watched by audiences across the globe.

These graduates and students are part of a wider Cardiff Met broadcast contingent involved with FIFA during the tournament, with a number of current and former students working remotely and in the USA across different areas of the media and production operation.

Among the alumni involved are Aaron Ackerman, Harry Lowe, Alessandro Foglinio, Harvey Rutherford, Alex Goddard, Jake Allman and Oli Pau, alongside current students Sam Cocker, Joseph Dali-Kemmery, Oliver Buck, Jonah Jones, Matthew Austin, Megan Bowen and Oliver Tuffill.

Programme Director for the MSc Sport Broadcast, Joe Towns, will also be working for FIFA as a Senior Features Producer, based in Philadelphia for the group stages in June and one knockout match on 4 July.

The involvement of so many Cardiff Met students, graduates and staff comes as sports broadcasting is enters a new era. The tournament will feature more teams, more matches and more cameras than ever before, with innovations including AI avatars, enhanced player tracking, semi-automated offside technology, spider cameras, 360 cameras, referee-view footage and greater use of vertical and behind-the-scenes content.

Through practical experience, industry-facing projects and the work of Cardiff Met Sport TV, students develop the skills needed to operate in demanding live sport environments, from production and editing to storytelling, reporting, camera work, social media and live broadcast roles.

Cardiff Metropolitan University has achieved its highest-ever Fairtrade University Award score, earning a two-star Fairtrade University Award in recognition of its commitment to ethical sourcing, sustainability and social justice.

Cardiff Met achieved 385 points across 41 assessment criteria, demonstrating a University-wide commitment to creating positive social and environmental impact.

The award reflects positive action across the University, from increasing the availability of Fairtrade products and strengthening ethical procurement practices to embedding Fairtrade and responsible consumption within the curriculum. Students have also taken part in Fairtrade-focused projects, campaigns and volunteering opportunities that connect global challenges with real-world learning.

The achievement places Cardiff Met among a select group of UK universities recognised by the Fairtrade Foundation and SOS-UK for embedding Fairtrade principles across teaching, research, procurement and student engagement. Other universities in the 2024-26 Fairtrade University Award cohort included UCL, Birmingham, Leeds, St Andrews, Cardiff and Exeter.

The University has held Fairtrade accreditation since 2007, but this latest result marks its strongest performance to date.

One standout initiative was the Fairtrade afternoon tea and storytelling event, delivered through a collaboration between Cardiff Met’s Sustainability, Catering and Print teams, Fairtrade Wales and Fairtrade Pontypridd. The event brought staff, students and community partners together to explore the real-world impact of Fairtrade and ethical consumer choices.

Cardiff Met’s Climate Action Lead, Dr David Clubb said: “This award is hugely meaningful for the Climate Action team. Through our work, we’ve come to better understand the real impact Fairtrade has for small producers around the world, supporting their efforts to remain as custodians of the land and helping to safeguard dignity and living standards in rural areas.

“Achieving the two-star award demonstrates the commitment and effort of the everybody involved in the accreditation process and reflects positively the University’s ambition to act responsibly on a global scale across all that it does.”

For students, the benefits extend beyond the classroom.

MSc International Business Management student Ferdous Woahid Raz said: “Volunteering for the University’s Fairtrade initiatives has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It has allowed me to develop new skills, deepen my understanding of global ethics and sustainability and gain valuable experience that will support my future career. I am proud to be part of a university community that truly promotes these values.”

With the next assessment due in 2028, Cardiff Met is already looking ahead to building on this success and creating even more opportunities for staff and students to champion ethical and sustainable choices.

Cardiff Metropolitan University has been recognised as part of an award-winning partnership at the Welsh Sport Association Sport Industry Awards 2026, with the Team Wales’ LeadHERship Programme winning the best collaboration initiative award.

The programme, delivered by Team Wales in partnership with Cardiff Met and RBC Brewin Dolphin, was recognised for bringing together sport and business to support, empower and develop the next generation of women leaders. The award was presented at the Welsh Sport Association Sport Industry Awards on Thursday 4 June, with the LeadHERship Programme named winner in a category that also included Cardiff City FC Community Foundation and Actif Sport & Leisure.

The LeadHERship Programme was created to provide women across sport and business with a space to learn, share experiences, build confidence and develop the networks needed to progress in leadership roles.

The programme has been supported by Dr Kerry Harris and Dr Sofia Santos from Cardiff Met, alongside partners from Team Wales and RBC Brewin Dolphin with contribution of Belinda Houghton-Jones, Laura Williams, Prof Katie Thirlaway and Prof Rachael Langford, as well as the inaugural LeadHERship cohort and the guest speakers who helped shape the learning experience.

The LeadHERship Programme was designed to empower women in leadership roles across sport and business, with objectives including building confidence, raising awareness of gender dynamics, developing support networks and helping participants navigate professional environments. The year-long programme includes residential sessions, online learning and access to inspirational leaders from both sectors.

Laura Williams, Assistant Director Sport, Physical Activity & Health, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to see the LeadHERship programme recognised in this way. This initiative was built on the belief that collaboration between sport and business could create real change, and working alongside Team Wales and RBC Brewin Dolphin has enabled us to reach and support an exceptional network of inspiring women. Dr Kerry Harris and Dr Sofia Santos have provided outstanding guidance to our first cohort, and we are excited to see how they continue to grow and succeed.”

Cohort two of the Team Wales LeadHERship Programme is expected to be advertised soon.

To mark Refugee Week, Dr Shahira Shahir from Cardiff School of Management reflects on her journey from leaving Afghanistan and seeking sanctuary in the UK to being awarded a PhD.

As a nine-year-old Afghan girl, when the Taliban first took control of Afghanistan, I was banned from attending school simply because I was female. I often wondered what was in the books that we were forbidden to read. That curiosity led me to continue my education in secret classes, held under a tree in my teacher’s house, and at great risk.

When the Taliban fell in 2001, I returned to formal education. I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in economics from Herat University, followed by an MBA in India on a scholarship.

By the age of 26, I had become a Faculty Dean at Qhalib University. Although I was free to study and teach, I worked in a male-dominated environment and faced significant gender discrimination. Despite these challenges, I remained determined and served successfully in this role for four years. I later joined Herat University as a lecturer and was promoted to senior lecturer within three years.

In 2021, when the Taliban returned and once again banned women from education and work, everything I had built was taken from me. But I refused to let that be the end of my story.

Determined not to give up, I secured a scholarship from Cardiff Metropolitan University, along with a fellowship from CARA (an organisation which helps academics who are forced to flee their home countries), and moved to Wales to pursue my doctoral degree, leaving behind my family and friends.

Starting a doctorate in gender equality in a completely new country and context tested my courage, strength and resilience, and revealed what I was truly capable of. Through this journey, I came to understand that gender inequality is a global phenomenon, shaped by context and expressed in varying forms across different institutional and cultural settings.

During this time, I published an article on female academics in Afghanistan, presented my work at four academic conferences, contributed to two research projects as a Senior Research Assistant, delivered public talks as an Afghan academic, and became the first Afghan to be awarded a fellowship at the education charity Cumberland Lodge. I now work as an Associate Tutor in Human Resource Management at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Today, having completed my doctoral degree, I believe that nothing is impossible if we do not give up. I continue my academic journey with a deep commitment to equality. My story is not only about what I have endured, but also about what I stand for: the right to education, dignity and opportunity. I am determined to use my voice, my research and my experience to challenge inequality and contribute to meaningful change, so that no one is denied their future because of who they are.