Dieticians gather for networking event | News | University College Birmingham

March 2025

Dietetics students learn from the professionals at Nutrition and Hydration Week event

By Claire Huggins

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University College Birmingham students and registered dietitians shared experiences and professional advice over a lunch event at the Restaurant at the Birmingham College of Food to mark Nutrition and Hydration Week (17-23 March).

Part of the placement for Dietetics MSc (pre-registration) students, the Global Tea Party was an opportunity to explore and familiarise themselves with large-scale catering events.

“It’s an integral part of the course that our students immerse themselves in a range of settings where registered dietitians can play a part,” said senior lecturer Kathleen Hennessey-Priest.

“They also get to find out more about the profession.”

L-R: Kathleen Hennessey-Priest, Manaal Sayeed, Hayley White and Megan Bridger

Colleagues and guests gather to enjoy lunch at UCB

Joining the students for lunch and the afternoon’s networking opportunities were a number of registered dietitians.

Students were able to quiz their professional counterparts and chat about their possible career pathways, benefiting from the expertise in the room in a relaxed and informal environment.

“I wasn’t able to benefit from an event like this when I was a student,” said guest speaker and registered dietitian Manaal Sayeed.

“It’s incredible that you’re doing this. It’s a valuable snapshot of what they’ll be getting into, what they can expect and what they’ll be able to offer.”

“This is an amazing set up,” added Hayley White, physiotherapist, reconditioning specialist and guest speaker.

“My training was all hospital-based, but here you can discover other specialist avenues for your work. From my perspective, events like this give me some insight into what my colleagues are doing outside of the NHS route.”