THE Connect

From classroom to clinic: teaching future veterinarians

The Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences at City University of Hong Kong focuses on shaping students to be compassionate about animal welfare and nurturing their development as emerging veterinary scientists

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Sreethu Sajeev speaks with Vanessa Barrs, dean of the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, and student Jalal Abdullah Ali Abdulrahim about the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine programme at City University of Hong Kong. The episode explores the programme’s focus on practical clinical skills, research projects and real-world placements.

This episode is sponsored by City University of Hong Kong.

How early-childhood programmes strengthen communities and restore trust after conflict

Led by researchers at Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University, the LINKS project evaluates and strengthens evidence-based early-childhood programmes in conflict-affected countries, developing culturally grounded models that connect quality early education with long-term social cohesion and peacebuilding outcomes.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Laura Dunne, reader at the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast. They explore the global impact of the LINKS project and the next steps for research, policy and practice when integrating childhood development into peacebuilding efforts.

This episode is sponsored by Queen’s University Belfast.

Advancing precision engineering through research collaboration and innovation

The Centre for Precision Technologies at the University of Huddersfield advances precision engineering through integrated research, doctoral training and close collaboration with industry partners. Through diverse funding streams and strategic innovation efforts, the centre delivers both fundamental research and real-world manufacturing impact while preparing for emerging technologies.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Alistair Lawrence speaks with Liam Blunt, director of the Centre for Precision Technologies, and Andrew Longstaff, research director at the Centre for Precision Technologies at the University of Huddersfield

This episode is sponsored by the University of Huddersfield.

Bringing learning to life with virtual and augmented teaching environments

Digital technologies give universities powerful ways to enhance how students learn, but the real challenge lies in using them effectively. Too often, new tools are introduced without input from those who will use them, leading to poor adoption. At Queen’s University Belfast, the Centre for Technological Innovation, Mental Health and Education collaborates with clinicians and educators to design immersive, practical learning experiences.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Paul Best, director of the Centre for Technological Innovation, Mental Health and Education, and Janine Stockdale, lead midwife for education at Queen’s University Belfast.

This episode is sponsored by Queen’s University Belfast.

Going the distance: Sports innovation for elite and grassroots success

A partnership between University of Exeter and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has seen the two institutions collaborating to share resources, expertise and ideas relating to sport science. The partnership is addressing the needs of India’s rapidly growing sports sector, improving outcomes for elite athletes and increasing participation at the grassroots level.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Dominic Farris, associate professor and director of global engagement for the Department of Public Health and Sports Sciences at the University of Exeter, and Biswarup Mukherjee, associate professor in the Centre for Biomedical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

This episode is sponsored by the University of Exeter.

When sound engineering meets human perception

From the science of hearing and spatial perception to innovations in sound design, psychoacoustic research is transforming the way we listen. Audio and psychoacoustic engineering explore how humans perceive sound and how researchers use that knowledge to shape audio technology.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Hyunkook Lee, a professor of audio and psychoacoustic engineering at the University of Huddersfield.

This episode is sponsored by the University of Huddersfield.

Turning microbiome discovery into health innovation

The communities of microorganisms living within and around us shape the way infections begin, progress and resolve. By studying the microbiome alongside pathogens, researchers are uncovering why some individuals are more resilient than others and how this insight could transform prevention and treatment strategies.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Jo Fothergill, professor of medical microbiology in the Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, and Steve Paterson, professor of genetics in the Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour at the University of Liverpool.

This episode is sponsored by the University of Liverpool.

Faster, safer and lower cost: an introduction to the Institute of Railway Research

UK railway research is making rail transport more competitive, environmentally friendly and passenger-centric – both at home and abroad. The Institute of Railway Research at the University of Huddersfield works with academic, industry and government partners to ensure that its research has real-world impact.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Paul Allen, director of the Institute of Railway Research, and Joao Pombo, professor of railway technology at the institute.

This episode is sponsored by the University of Huddersfield.

Redefining skills in the age of AI

Rapid advances in AI are fundamentally altering how work is organised worldwide. Enterprises are rethinking how they operate, roles are being redesigned, and the skills required to succeed are evolving faster than ever. In response to these changes, Huawei has published a white paper, ICT Job Roles and Skills in the Intelligent World, offering guidance for organisations, educators and policymakers as they adapt to an AI-driven economy.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Dr. Mazen Ali, dean of the IT College at the University of Bahrain and president of the ISACA’s Bahrain Chapter, and Tamara Tavsultanova, executive manager in the ICT talent partner development department at Huawei.

This episode is sponsored by Huawei.

Why teaching investigative psychology at PhD level matters

The landscape of forensic investigation and national security is rapidly evolving, demanding a sophisticated fusion of academic rigour and operational experience. At the forefront of this movement is the University of Huddersfield, which is taking a pioneering approach to investigative psychology.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with John Synnott, who is director of the University of Huddersfield’s Professional Doctoral Academy, and Maria Ioannou, who is deputy director of the academy and director of the university's Cyberpsychology Research Network.

This episode is sponsored by the University of Huddersfield.

Embracing AI-enabled computing research

As AI transforms every facet of society, universities face the challenge of rethinking how we learn, teach and innovate. The National University of Singapore's School of Computing is rethinking its curriculum to move beyond traditional knowledge delivery and embrace AI-enabled, lifelong learning.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Tulika Mitra, dean of the School of Computing at the National University of Singapore, and Suranga Nanayakkara, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science.

This episode is sponsored by the National University of Singapore.

Honouring victims of the Holocaust with ethical archaeology

Investigations into the Holocaust and other instances of mass violence require a compassionate approach that brings together disciplines from forensic science to poetry.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Caroline Sturdy Colls, a professor of Holocaust archaeology and genocide investigation at the University of Huddersfield.

This episode is sponsored by the University of Huddersfield.

Accelerating climate solutions with international collaboration

Faced with the urgency and severity of the climate crisis, and growing volumes of disinformation sowing doubt and confusion, universities must work together to ensure that those charged with making decisions affecting the future of our planet are provided with the robust, evidenced analysis they need.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Stuart Brocklehurst, deputy vice-chancellor for business engagement and innovation at the University of Exeter, and Amanda Ellis, senior director for global partnerships and networks at Arizona State University’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory.

This episode is sponsored by the University of Exeter.

Sustainable protein for a growing society

The global population is projected to hit nearly 10 billion by 2050, creating a significant rise in demand for food. Societies urgently need to rethink traditional sources of protein, keeping environmental, ethical and health implications at the forefront of research.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Sreethu Sajeev speaks with Weibiao Zhou, head of the Department of Food Science and Technology at the National University of Singapore.

This episode is sponsored by the National University of Singapore.

Understanding brain health with AI

Advances in neuroscience and AI are improving our understanding of how the brain develops, ages and becomes vulnerable to disease. As scalable technologies bring the possibility of population-level brain health monitoring closer to reality, researchers are looking to a future where neuroscience, medicine and AI converge to transform care and prevention.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks to Helen Zhou, director of the Centre for Translational Magnetic Resonance Research at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore.

This episode is sponsored by the National University of Singapore.

From vision to recognition: Nazarbayev University’s rise in global university rankings

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with Nazarbayev University, host Phil Baty speaks with Waqar Ahmad, president of Nazarbayev University.

They discuss the universities rapid rise in global university rankings, the landscape of higher education in Kazakhstan, and Ahmad's vision for the future.