FAREWELL FROM PRINCIPAL PETER T. HOWE What will he miss? How does our celebrated history inform 2021? What's he learned? Campus in 30 years' time?
ALUMNI &SUPPORTERS NEWSLETTER Summer 2021
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Goodbye from Peter T. Howe Leavers' Ceremony video Campus film on 'Consent' Lighthouse highlights Wales and Clean Seas Mentoring programme Proof the sun shines in Wales New head of communications
As he leaves Wales for Bermuda, Principal Peter T. Howe reflects on the last four years and the future for UWC Atlantic... What will you miss about UWC Atlantic? Its potential. A strong foundation has been laid over the last four years and it’s only going to get better. UWC Atlantic is the most exceptional campus and it could be the greatest school in the world. But it must not, it cannot, rest on its laurels; it has to keep pushing. This is a magical place. You feel that as soon as you walk on to campus. I’ve been to every UWC campus, save two, and nowhere else has the combination of seafront, woodlands, the valley and the castle. There’s absolutely nothing you can think of that you couldn’t do here. As a laboratory for learning it’s exceptional. Our brains burn 20% of calories we consume so it’s constantly trying to push us into auto-pilot. For that reason we have to work hard at remaining in the moment - this is where the learning takes place and this is precisely what our experiential educational programme must do. The secret to a phenomenal 21st Century education is the power of this place to keep students ‘on’ more than ‘off’ and that we constantly motivate them to remain present!
UWC Atlantic has a famous history. How does it fit with the 2021 campus? When I think about the rescue services and how the alumni talk about them, of course, I am in admiration for the level of training and willingness to serve. That training kept students awake and feeling alive. If you're training to do something, you can't be on autopilot. Sea rescue stimulated senses, engaged brains and that carried over into other areas of college life.
"Sea rescue stimulated senses, engaged brains and that carried over into other areas of college life."
The beauty of that experience was experiential learning. The brilliance of rescue services was you had a perfect vehicle. But you have to unpack and ask ‘what exactly is the learning that's taking place?’ And so for the alumni, there was the fact that they were rescuing people but there was also the learning that took place in the process. In the early days of the college the rescue services were needed, and the RIB was invented to serve that compelling need. The Atlantic Pacific charity continues that tradition, designing the next generation of rescue boats and training crew to serve around the world. But once rescue services were professionalised on the Bristol Channel, the college’s focus needed to shift to other compelling needs. The thing about experiential learning is you have to be deliberate about it, and it has to have purpose. Today there's a huge opportunity with sustainability and the environment. The seafront remains integral to the future of the college and remains a brilliant learning opportunity. What the world needs is a deeper understanding of the ocean. You need boats that can carry out research. That’s why the Ocean Systems and Coastal Management unit of the Changemaker Curriculum is so exciting. I’d love for us to be designing a research RIB that the students could take out to fulfil that important part of the new curriculum. That’s experiential learning that’s addressing a compelling need of the 21st Century.
"What the world needs is a deeper understanding of the ocean. You need boats that can carry out research."
So yes, the seafront is a vital classroom as it was in the days of rescue services. The ocean needs attention and understanding. We know less about it than we know about space. So let’s get on with it!
What has UWC Atlantic taught you over the past four years? There was some heavy lifting to do here when I arrived from UWC Maastricht. Atlantic seemed outside the UWC movement to me. It was doing its own thing and the need for change was apparent. I underestimated how challenging that would prove to be. The college had lost its way in my view and I wanted to set it on a new direction at the heart of the UWC movement and as its flagship. But change is never easy and the opposition I faced was fierce. But the bandage needed to be ripped off if we were to treat the wound. And doing that was really tough! Change is a fundamental part of the UWC education. My time here has vividly and, at times, unpleasantly reminded me that making tough decisions takes courage, requires resilience and a willingness to fail. You’re rarely going to be popular leading change but I’ve come to learn that I’ve had an outlier perspective, so I embrace that. I shook things up because I felt it was needed and somebody had to do it, so why not me? As my family and I leave Wales, I’m happy that the initiatives being celebrated at UWC Atlantic today were introduced under my tenure and will, hopefully, continue to evolve.
"You’re rarely going to be popular leading change... I shook things up because I felt it was needed."
These include the timetable, the calendar, the student conferences, the Changemaker Curriculum, the Head of Tutors and Student Affairs position, the Head of Wellbeing and Safeguarding position, increased staff diversity, the communications role, external relations committee, The Learning Centre (TLC), the vision of world-class philanthropy and all the many successful teams I've helped build.
How would you like to imagine UWC Atlantic in 30 years? That it would be taking full advantage of its environment, which students are completely immersed in and the outdoors is where the real learning takes place. I’d like to imagine that there’s been a massive shift from traditional teaching, that the single subject expertise is a thing of the past and has been replaced with mentorship providing unconditional support for students, which is so critical for the emotional and intellectual development of teenagers, versus peer support which is always conditional. I know that the trust, belief and authentic responsibility bestowed on students today, the restoration of their voice on campus and the improved relationship with staff will sow the seeds for how UWC Atlantic will look in 30 years’ time. In 2021 UWC Atlantic can rightly claim to be the flagship of the UWC movement once again. And I’m so proud of what we have achieved in my time in this magical part of South Wales – where even the dramatic weather weaves magic - to restore the focus to the people who matter the most – the students.
"In 2021 UWC Atlantic can rightly claim to be the flagship of the UWC movement once again."
Leavers’ Ceremony Saturday 22nd May: Leavers’ Ceremony UWC Atlantic Class of 2021 Watch the highlights below....
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A playback of the entire livestream is on YouTube here.
Photos: Nacho Garcia Anaya
Thanks to Pippi Reader and Ewan Meredith for organising the ceremony.
"CONSENT" Project Week: Students collaborated with a film company to make a short movie shot on campus. Twelve students contributed to the writing, filming, directing and acting. The film will be accessible to current and incoming students and shared via the UWC Educators Network.
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The project is a culmination of work on creating a consent culture at UWC Atlantic. Thank you to our generous donors Gudula and Konrad Werhahn.
Romeo and Juliet Tower June 2021 Proof the sun does shine in Wales . Occasionally. Photo: Nacho Garcia Anaya
Student led artwork auction to raise scholarship funding for 2021 entry students - from Syria, Argentina, Russia and Bulgaria. A variety of high quality artwork created by current and past students, parents, and UWC Atlantic staff is available for your eyes only and will run until 12 noon BST on the 11th July 2021.
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Lighthouse highlights 2020-21 The academic year saw the continued growth of Lighthouse - an on-campus centre for meaningful changemaking. Designed as a hub to inspire and support student-initiated impact projects, Lighthouse unites students around a shared mission and values to enact positive change in the world and their communities. Connecting students with appropriate resources to ensure success, Lighthouse offers 1:1s, training, personal coaching, space, events, mentors and student access to alumni support in the development of student projects.
Lochlann Atack
Over the past academic year, two dedicated Lighthouse Coordinator Interns - Ula Adamska (MUWCI ‘16) and Lochlann Atack (UWCM ‘16) - worked to ensure continued development of Lighthouse and its further integration within UWC Atlantic. The Lighthouse Space now consists of a working area for students, a meeting room, office space for coordinators, the Creativity Lab (used for informal gatherings), the foyer, and the classroom. The Lighthouse mural, created by two 2nd year students, welcomes anyone entering via the side door and features the original RIB boat built at UWC Atlantic.
Ula Adamska
Selected examples of Lighthouse events and workshops included: “Dimensions of Meaningful Changemaking” series of events - lectures, workshops, Q&As with experts Social business entrepreneurship event featuring Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Professor Muhammad Yunus Dedicated session with a Forbes “30 under 30” honouree “From Social Activism to Social Change - the Social Response Cycle” Project management for “Narratives for Social Change” Changemaker Unit Design Thinking workshop Weekly Lighthouse sessions as well as drop-in sessions The weekend of April 24-25 saw the ‘InLightenment Festival’. Nine alumni and friends of the college supported as mentors. The year rolled out the Lighthouse Project Grant to support student-led innovation with eight projects benefitting. The Lighthouse Prize was launched to incentivise and support initiatives with up to £10,000 awarded to the projects showing entrepreneurial promise and lasting positive impact by contributing to sustainable development. Applications were evaluated by the Advisory Panel - three UWC Atlantic alumni and a member of the senior leadership team. Six projects applied, four secured funding.
As a result of these wide-ranging efforts, the number of projects working with Lighthouse increased from 3 in October 2020 to 18 in May 2021. All of the projects engage with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Throughout the year, all Lighthouse projects could request an expert mentor to support their projects by helping to monitor progress and providing feedback. There are currently 13 mentors assigned to Lighthouse projects. It is estimated that each project benefited from at least two mentorship sessions per month. We have received positive feedback from Lighthouse project leaders and we hope more alumni will be interested in supporting the initiative by sharing their expertise.
If you’d like to find out more about getting involved with Lighthouse, please email Magda Joshi at joinin@uwcatlantic.org.
Alumni profile
Wales and Clean Seas
Ffion Mitchell
Research Assistant for the Wales and Clean Seas team at the Marine Conservation Society
Why did you choose to apply to UWC Atlantic? I'd been fortunate enough to travel and I knew I wanted an internationally immersive education. I was looking for a place where I could be exposed to new experiences and knowledge in and out of the classroom; UWC Atlantic was a perfect fit. It helped that I was already familiar with the college, having grown up in Llantwit Major. You graduated from UWC Atlantic not long ago, how has the college influenced your life since? Being part of the Outdoor Faculty and my Project Week at a turtle conservation centre in Turkey fuelled me to study Geography at the University of Exeter. This was followed by a Masters in Applied Marine Science at Plymouth University. Historical ties between the college and the RNLI sparked my interest to work seasonally with the RNLI’s Face to Face fundraising division for nearly four years while studying. I continue to work on embodying UWC values throughout my life and early career, challenging the status quo and upholding a commitment to contributing to a sustainable future.
Twitter: @Ffion_Mitchell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ffionmitchell-586b10151/ Atlantic Connect: https://atlanticconnect.org/user/26831 Email: ffionmitchell@hotmail.com
UWC Atlantic's Changemaker Curriculum is developing an ‘Ocean Systems and Coastal Management’ unit. Any advice to students interested in a career in that field? Make the most of the opportunity you have to study ocean systems. Feed your interest, be inquisitive, ask questions and contact people in the field. Network with your UWC Atlantic alumni - Felix Appelbe, founder of Ocean Ambassadors, for example, and myself! Build up volunteer experience – there are plenty of fascinating (and free) citizen science projects that will look great on your CV and stand you in good stead for university, or any other future path you decide to take. You're supporting the Ocean Systems and Coastal Management unit. Would you recommend giving your Time and Talent to the college? Absolutely! I’m overjoyed that ocean studies are getting more recognition. I remember all too well the challenges and pressures students face and I want to support and give back in whatever way I can. I'd certainly recommend it to others. Remember giving Time and Talent can take any shape or form; and if an opportunity doesn’t exist, create your own.
A significant part of your work at university was focused on our oceans. Why did you choose to pursue this field? Having grown up in a seaside town, the ocean always intrigued me. At university I decided to delve deeper into that fascination because I didn’t particularly know much about it. The primary reason for pursuing this field was the realisation that no living thing could survive without the existence of the ocean and the healthy functioning of its systems. Many people still don’t realise this and that’s something I’m hoping to help change across the duration of my career. How do you feel your work with the Marine Conservation Society makes an impact? It fights for our ocean through people-powered action, with science on our side. We defend habitats and species working with communities, businesses and governments. As a research assistant, I support my teams in response to the many human pressures the ocean faces around Wales and the UK. Our work on influencing policy and decisions has positive impacts on both the marine environment and the wellbeing, health and sustainable livelihoods of the people that depend on it.
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MENTORING PROGRAMME
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With a network of 9,000+ alumni globally, our AtlanticLINKS Mentoring Programme offers opportunities to seek, as well as offer, support. The video above explains how to offer or benefit from alumni mentoring. To get involved, join Atlantic Connect and click on 'Mentoring'. If you have not logged in for a while, please update your profile as settings have recently changed.
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New Head of Communications and Engagement Being the 'new face' at the college is a novel experience for me having spent much of my adult life with only one previous employer. Before my nearly 24 years at the BBC - reporting, news desk management, and more recently podcasting and documentary film - I was a feature writer on Fleet Street. I’m something of a local, Cardiff-born but have called Llantwit Major my home for many years which is how I first became aware of UWC Atlantic. The UWC mission combined with the extraordinary beauty and history of the castle is a magical combination. But that is only part of the reason why I was keen to work at the college. The primary appeal is the people and their stories. Storytelling, my passion, is one of the most powerful educational tools. And as the media landscape shifts giving autonomy to organisations over how their story is told, I'm keen to create impact by showcasing the lives of our 9,000+ alumni. If possible, I’d like your help in answering four questions:
How could communication with you improve? What do you want to read and see in our newsletters? Do you have experience with media/storytelling to support me with student workshops to ensure they are at the heart of the stories we tell? What inspiring stories have you heard about the lives of UWC Atlantic's alumni? Please get in touch. I’d love to hear from you, Ceri
ceri.jackson@atlanticcollege.org 07843 664663 01446 799240
Change lives today
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With your support, Rahma will be joining UWC Atlantic this September. Others like her who merit a place still need your help. Thanks to our generous donors, 51% of students received a scholarship for the 2019 and 2020 entry. Our ambition is to reach 60% by 2023. Thanks to two alumni ambassadors, we have been gifted £30k towards our scholarship fund as long as we raise £30k before July 31st. If we reach our goal we would have enough to support students from Syria, Latvia, Russia and Bulgaria to join us this September.
https://www.atlanticappeal.org/changelives
Leaving a gift in your will A meaningful gift and personal gift, the impact of which will be felt by many. It is your legacy, it is a lasting expression of your values and commitment, to be remembered and carried forward. When you pledge a legacy gift to UWC Atlantic, you and your family can take comfort in knowing that your wishes will be looked after by people who understand and share your values. A gift in your will costs nothing in your lifetime, but from the moment you pledge, you know you are making a difference to the future of the college, the future of our students and the continued shared experience of a UWC Atlantic education. A legacy gift needs not be large to make a difference. Gifts at any level are valued and an endowed gift can make your support go even further. We will be hosting a lunch at the Savile Club in London on September 24th 2021 where we will be sharing how a gift in your will can make a real difference. If you would like to join us or for more information, please don’t hesitate to be in touch with Keith Steel at keith.steel@atlanticcollege.org. “My life was changed by Atlantic College. I would like to make sure that it continues to change the lives of people like me. Leaving a material amount of money in my will will help, with limited financial pressure on me in my retirement!” (Chris Outram, UWCA ‘68)
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“SINK” - THE IMPACT OF PHILANTHROPY Without philanthropy, UWC Atlantic would not be able to do the important work we do. Everyone knows about scholarship provision or our Seafront Development but, at times, our philanthropy . takes less obvious forms. A specialist sink for the art department was kindly paid for by The Mousetrap Settlement Trust. This new facility has enabled students to participate in screen printing, the process of putting designs on fabric... the freedom of expression.
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To keep up to date, be sure to regularly check the News section on the UWC Atlantic website: www.atlanticcollege.org/media