Welcome to this episode of Her Power Series, featuring Dr. Jodie Boyd, Subject Area Lead (Education) and School Director for International at the University of Huddersfield. Jodie was the first member of her immediate family to attend university, earning a BA in Sociology, an MSc in Career Guidance. Her PhD focussed on the role of career guidance and open days on university choices. In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Her journey from “first-gen” student to higher-ed leader
• Practical strategies for resilience, mentorship, and work-life balance
• A behind-the-scenes look at Huddersfield’s career services and distance-learning MA degree
• The university’s holistic wellbeing and belonging initiatives for students

Timeline:

• 01:05 – 09:42 | Jodie’s Career Journey
• 09:43 – 19:48 | Career Advice Resilience in a fast-changing market; women’s & international student barriers; equity ≠ equality; find mentors, say “yes” (with boundaries)
• 19:48 – 26:31 | Work–Life Balance PhD + family + Work: embrace flexibility; plan rigorously; set boundaries; Huddersfield’s PhD workload policy & Athena Swan initiatives
• 26:31 – 30:14 | Wellbeing & Belonging at Huddersfield Hybrid Student Services counselling; Personal Academic Tutor check-ins; Board in Hood events & therapy dogs
• 30:15 – 37:50 | Huddersfield Careers Services Dedicated careers consultants; Graduate Career Explorer tool; international drop-ins for visas & sponsorship; AI & skills-focused curriculum; Global Professional Award & ICCDE launch
• 37:50 – 47:22 | Huddersfield Distance MA Programme 100% online MA in Career Development & Employability; live lectures; dual school/HE pathways; global community & virtual placements
• 47:22 – 49:27 | What is “Her Power”? Visibility, support & giving back; advice: step out of your comfort zone, overcome imposter syndrome

In this Cantonese episode, we sit down with Athena, a jewellery designer who transitioned from a theory-based education and full-time job in Hong Kong to a practice-driven Master’s program in the UK at Birmingham City University (BCU).

Athena shares:

• Why she left a stable career to study abroad
• The biggest contrasts between Hong Kong’s and the UK’s education styles
• How BCU fosters creativity through studio access, competitions and real-world exposure
• Her experience representing her class and influencing the graduation exhibition
• Meeting world-class artists at the Munich Jewellery Fair and how it shaped her artistic direction
• How she transformed recycled aluminium cans into a statement jewellery collection inspired by Birmingham’s street waste

This episode is more than just about jewellery—it’s about rethinking creativity, finding your voice through international education, and embracing cultural diversity.

In this episode of Uoffer Global Podcast Frontiers, we chat with Ayush Gurung, currently an undergraduate Media and Communications student at Swansea University. Ayush shares how his two-year gap working at a top Nepali newspaper inspired his decision to study abroad and how he’s turning practical experience into student leadership roles on campus. Discover insider tips on thriving in UK student life, building a standout CV through campus participation and securing part-time work as an international student.

Perfect for anyone looking to make the most of their study abroad journey!