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My British Airways work placement with Environmental Health at Cardiff Met

Nadia standing in front of aeroplane
Nadia standing in front of aeroplane

My name is Nadia Abdul Matin, and I am a second-year Environmental Health student at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
I am studying Environmental Health because I believe it is crucial for the health and protection of the general public. The subject is applicable to all walks of life. It covers a wide variety of concepts, including Environmental Protection, Food Safety, Health and Safety at Work, Housing Safety, Public Health, and so on. I am passionate about working to reduce the effects of environmental hazards and making the world a healthier and safer place. It is an exciting and gratifying subject in industry today, and I am thrilled to be a part of it.

Nadia and Simon chatting in front of plane

Health and Safety is one of the Environmental Health modules provided by Cardiff Met Uni, and I had the chance to get hands-on experience during my undergraduate work placement at British Airways Maintenance Cardiff. BAMC is a subsidiary of British Airways that inspects and repairs the Boeing 777 and 787 fleet of aircraft to ensure that their customers travel safely and comfortably. I have managed to apply the theories that I have learned at Cardiff Met, such as conducting risk assessments, site inspections, etc. I have also had the opportunity to learn more about the aviation industry, particularly the health and safety aspects, and I have enjoyed every opportunity to work with and to get to know the diverse range of people and all the various aspects they specialise in that make up this aviation maintenance organisation. It was amazing to realise how many different components there are in something we use to travel so frequently, without paying any regard to the minor aspects.

Nadia and Simon inspecting plane

For me, the placement was an essential part of learning because it not only reinforced my ambitions to become a health and safety officer, but also provided the opportunity to learn interpersonal skills, expand on my academic skills, and apply them in a practical and professional setting.

Cardiff Metropolitan University has been very supportive and has provided opportunities for myself and many of my peers to succeed in our studies by providing academic knowledge and giving us the chance to experience a real-world setting with no shortage of support and opportunities provided on the programme. There is always something new to learn and discover in the field of Environmental Health.

Learn more about the BSc (Hons) Environmental Health degree