A Cambridge University academic, originally from Swansea, has just completed a week-long tour of South Wales to inspire 875 teenagers to enter top universities.

Plans are well underway to nurture the skills and talent of local youngsters and boost the local NHS and life sciences workforce.

Over 200 pupils in Year 11 from Bishopston Comprehensive were invited to a recent special careers conference highlighting the variety of jobs in the NHS and life science sector, such as laboratory and scientific testing to help diagnose and treat illnesses.

The first Elevate Conference was held at Swansea University earlier this month and it proved a huge success with the Bishopston pupils.

Gower College Swansea students have attended a special graduation ceremony at the city’s National Waterfront Museum to celebrate the achievement of their higher education and professional qualifications.

Almost 100 students donned their cap and gowns to collect certificates in a range of disciplines including AAT Accounting, Engineering, Hair and Beauty, IT, Children’s Care, Learning and Development, Business, Sport and Leadership and Management.

International A Level students at Gower College Swansea celebrated an overall 100% pass rate in 2015, with 67% achieving A*- A grades.

These students have now progressed from the college to some of the UK’s top universities - including Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London (UCL), Exeter and Manchester - as well as further afield, with one student attending Knox College, Illinois.

Gower College Swansea’s Engineering Technology department (Tycoch) has celebrated its most successful Level 3 BTEC cohort to date.

From the graduating class of 2015, seven are heading to top universities around the UK including Swansea, Manchester, Lancashire and Bristol, to study degrees in Chemical, Civil, Mechanical, and Computer Aided Engineering, Architecture and Robotics.

A further 14 students have secured apprenticeships with established companies including Tata Steel, 3M, Quartzelec, Wall Colmonoy, Lyte Ladders and A.I.R Precision.

Gower College Swansea is celebrating an overall 98% pass rate at A Level - which is above the Welsh national average -with 1548 separate exam entries.

Of these passes, 81% were at the higher grades of A*-C and 57% were at grades A*-B, both increases on the results of 2014.

The overall pass rate at AS level was 90%, with 66% of those passes being grades A-C and 42% being grades A or B, again increasing on 2014’s results.

There were 3066 separate exam entries for AS in total.

Jodie Croxall, from Swiss Valley in Llanelli, celebrated achievement this week as she received her PhD in Social Policy from Swansea University.

Jodie, aged 39, received her award at the Summer Degree and Award Congregation for the College of Human and Health Sciences at the City and County of Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall, cheered on by her proud parents Allan and Tina, husband Neil and son Adam.

Access to Law student Felix Green is celebrating after receiving both a conditional offer to study Law at Swansea University and a £1,500 Incentive Scholarship from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

A former Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr pupil, Felix was awarded the scholarship as he intends to study his Law degree through the medium of Welsh.

Health and Social Care students from Gower College Swansea's Tycoch campus recently attended mock interview sessions with local employers at an event organised by Lucy Turtle, the college's Enterprise Officer, and Gareth Price from Career Wales.

Seven Gower College Swansea students have been offered places at Oxford and Cambridge Universities this year.