The 'University of Wales, Aberystwyth' (; sometimes known as "UWA", "Aber" or "the College by the Sea")
[2] is a university located in
Aberystwyth,
Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal
University of Wales and was one of the first university institutions to be established in Wales. As of late 2006, the University has over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.
On
1 September 2007, The University of Wales, Aberystwyth became independent from the University of Wales along with
Swansea University and
Bangor University, but the universities will still award University of Wales degrees for the foreseeable future. Its new name (Aberystwyth University) and a new corporate identity will be formally launched on
1 October 2007 [3].
The quality of teaching was recently confirmed in the
National Student Survey. This comprehensive survey named Aberystwyth fifth in the UK, and the leader in Wales, for overall student satisfaction.
[4][5] Indeed,
The Times Good University Guide 2008 ranked the University of Wales, Aberystwyth joint first in the UK for student satisfaction. It also ranked Aber 39th out of 113 insitutions in the league tables.
[6]
History
The University was founded in 1872 as 'University College Wales'. The first Principal was
Thomas Charles Edwards and initially there were just 26 students. In 1894 the college joined the University of Wales as a founder member (prior to this students had been submitted for examinations of the
University of London). One of the newest departments in the University is the Department of Sports and Exercise Science, which was established in 2000. Within the next few years the university has plans to establish a department of Psychology, which will be based upon the Centre for Applied Psychology currently found within the department of International Politics. Indeed many joint honours Psychology degrees are being launched for September 2007.
The University's coat of arms was awarded in the late 1880s.
[7] The shield features two red dragons, the
red dragon being a common symbol of Wales, and an open book, symbolising learning. The crest is an eagle or phoenix above a flaming tower: it possibly symbolises the rebirth of the College after the fire of 1885.
7 The motto is "Nid Byd, Byd Heb Wybodaeth": "A World Without Knowledge, is No World".
The main Entrance to Old College at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
Reputation and ranking
The University has an outstanding National and International Reputation.
[8] The internationally recognized
IGER institute which is part of the University leads the way in many areas of Enviormental Research, as do other departments of the University in their respective fields.
The University has a number of notable alumni, including
Frederick Soddy, a
Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, and
Prince Charles. Notable past academics include
R. Geraint Gruffydd,
Bobi Jones,
E. H. Carr and
Leopold Kohr.
The Institute of Geography & Earth Sciences was the first British university department to offer single honours degrees in human geography and physical geography,
[9] a course which has since been adopted by many other universities in the UK. Aberystwyth was ranked 14th of 65 UK universities for Geography and Environmental Studies in the 2008 ''
Guardian'' University Guide.
[10]
The Department for International Politics was founded in 1919 and is the oldest such department in the world.
[11]
According to ''
The Times Good University Guide'', Aberystwyth's Overall Academic Ranking is 39, from a total of 113 Universities.
The University has come under recent criticism for its record on
sustainability, with a ranking of 97th out of 106 UK higher education institutions in the "
Green League 2007".
[12]
Departments
The Department of History and Welsh History, and the Institute of Mathematics and Physics can trace their beginnings back to the formation of the University in 1872. The Department of Law was established in 1901, and as such is one of the oldest law schools in the UK. The School of Art has a history stretching back to 1917 when it was part of the only British university concerned with the Art and Crafts Movement. In 1936 it became a sub-department within the Education Department where, in 1965 the Joint Honours Art scheme was established. Single Honours Art and Masters degree schemes were introduced in 1974, one year after the subject had once again been given autonomy as a university department. Modern languages has been taught at Aberystwyth since c. 1874, making the current Department of European Languages one of the oldest departments in the UK to teach the subject. The Department of Information & Library Studies was founded in 1989 following the merger of the University with the
College of Librarianship Wales. The Institute of Biological Sciences was formed in 1993 from the Department of Biological Sciences, the Department of Biochemistry and the Genetics Group of the Department of Agricultural Botany. These former departments in turn can trace their beginnings to the foundation of the University. In 1993 budgetary considerations caused the University to permanently close its department of
philosophy. The efforts of some student philosophy organizations have so far failed to restore any funding for a philosophy department at Aberystwyth although there are a number of political philosophy related modules covered by the Department of International Politics.
List of Departments
★ Art
★ Biological Sciences
★ Computer Science
★ Education & Lifelong Learning
★ English
★ European Languages
★ Geography & Earth Sciences
★ History & Welsh History
★ Information Studies
★ International Politics
★ Law
★ Management & Business
★ Mathematical & Physical Sciences
★ Rural Sciences
★ Sport & Exercise Science
★ Theatre, Film & Television Studies
★ Welsh
Old College, University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
Department of Computer Science
The Department of Computer Science at Aberystwyth was founded in 1970.
AberMUD, the first popular internet-based MUD, was written in this department of the university by then-student
Alan Cox. The Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences was formed in 1989 from the former Departments of Geography (established in 1917) and Geology. This department contains the E.G. Bowen map library, containing 80000 maps and 500 atlases.
Department of Information Studies
The
College of Librarianship, Wales was established at
Llanbadarn Fawr in 1964 in response to a recommendation for the training of bilingual librarians, in the Bourdillon report on ''Standards of public library service in England'', (H.M.S.O., 1962). The college grew rapidly and became the largest institution for the training of librarians in Europe.
[13] The independent college merged with the University in August 1989. The College of Librarianship gained an international reputation for the training of librarians, particularly in the developing world. Since 1989 the new department has gained a reputation for introducing innovative teaching methods, and particularly offering courses by open and
distance learning.
Department of International Politics
In 1919 the world's first Department of International Politics was founded at Aberystwyth. Today it is the largest department of its kind in Europe, and one of the largest in the world. It also has an international reputation for excellence scoring top marks for both research and teaching placing the department on a par with the
London School of Economics. In 2006, a new building for the Department of International Politics was completed and opened on the main Penglais Campus.
Department of Law and Criminology
The Department of Law is housed in the Hugh Owen Building, which is centrally located on the main campus, was founded in 1901. The Department bases itself on a long, reputable and increasingly varied experience of legal education and academic work. Ranked within the top twenty institutions for Law in the United Kingdom, it is the oldest law school in Wales and one of the oldest in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, the Department is home to the specialist research centre, the ''Centre for Welsh Legal Affairs''. All lecturers in the Department are actively engaged in research and as such, the ''International Journal of Biosciences and the Law'', and the ''Cambrian Law Review'' are edited in the Department. Over the years a large number of well-known legal academics, practitioners and politicians have taught in the Department have made their mark in a range of subsequent careers. Recently the Department has worked closely with
the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in testing new processes for teaching quality assessment. The Department is one of only a few universities in the United Kingdom which offers the two-year
LL.B scheme to graduates in a discipline other than law.
In 2006, the Department of Law started a
Legal Practice Course, which is run in collaboration with the
University of Wales, Swansea. The LPC is a requirement for anyone who wishes to practice as a
solicitor in England and Wales.
Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies
The Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies is one of the largest departments in the University in terms of numbers of undergraduate students and was established in the late 1970s.
Institute of Rural Sciences
The
Institute of Rural Sciences on Llanbadarn Campus was formed by the merger of the Welsh Agricultural College, which had hitherto been independent, and the University's Department of Agriculture in 1995.
School of Management and Business
In 1998 the Department of
Economics (founded 1912), the Department of
Accounting and
Finance (founded 1979) and the Centre for
Business Studies merged to create the School of Management and Business. The MBA at Aberystwyth was established in 1985 and the school is one of only around 100 business schools in the world to have its
MBA program accredited by the
AMBA; it was the first business school in Wales to achieve this honour, and for many years the only. However
Swansea University has also recently been accrediated. The schools postgraduate programmes in Management and International Business Management are both PEMM (Pre Experience Masters Degrees in General Management) accredited by the Association of MBAs. Less than 20 business schools throughout the world have achieved this prestigious programme accreditation. Recently the school has been ranked 16th in Europe for accounting research by the Journal ''Accounting and Business Research'' and 22nd in Europe for Finance and Financial Economics by the ''Journal of Business Finance & Accounting''. In the most recent subject specific teaching quality reviews the Accounting and Finance degrees schemes and the Economics degree schemes at Aberystwyth were both judged to be excellent, this is the highest category that can be awarded. The research training masters are also
ESRC 1+3 recognised.
Geography
The main campus of the University is situated on Penglais Hill, overlooking the town of
Aberystwyth and
Cardigan Bay. The Penglais Campus is the site of 13 of the University's 18 departments, as well as most of the student halls of residence. Just below the Penglais Campus is the
National Library of Wales a copyright depository. The original university building, next to the sea, known as "Old College", is the site of most of the University's administration as well as the Departments of Welsh and Education. The Llanbadarn Campus is located approximately one mile to the east of the Penglais Campus, and hosts the Institute of Rural Sciences and the Department of Information Studies. Additionally, the Llanbadarn Campus is the site of the Aberystwyth branch of
Coleg Ceredigion, a further education college, and not part of the University. The School of Art is located between the Penglais Campus and the centre of Aberystwyth, in what was originally the Edward Davies Chemical Laboratory, site of the now-defunct Department of Chemistry.
Student residences
Aberystwyth is the UK's favourite university town according to the findings of a study published by www.accommodationforstudents.com published on
5 June 2007. The University came top with a score of 64 per cent, scoring particularly well on the metrics "community" and "going out".
The various student residences owned, leased or managed by the university offer almost 4,000 bed-spaces in total.
[14] There is a mixture of halls and shared apartment-style accommodation. All feature wired access to the University's computer network and a support network of wardening staff.
'Penglais Campus:'
★ Cwrt Mawr (self-catered flats, capacity 485)
★ Pantycelyn (traditional catered Welsh speaking hall, capacity 260)
★ Penbryn (traditional catered hall, capacity 525)
★ Rosser (self-catered flats with en-suite rooms, capacity 333)
★ Trefloyne (self-catered flats, capacity 146)
'Llanbadarn Campus:'
★ Aeron, Cletwr, Dyfi, Einion and Leri - 5 residences with a total of 298 catered rooms (due to close during 2007)
'Pentre Jane Morgan (the Student Village):'
★ 178 self-contained houses accommodating typically 5 or 6 students each
'Town:'
★ Brynderw (self-catered flats, capacity 146)
★ Seafront Residences (self-catered flats located on the seafront and Queen's Road, overall capacity 720-800 including the redeveloped Alexandra Hall)
Notable academic staff and alumni
Academic Alumni
★
Ian Banks, author, Professor of Men's Health, President of The Men's Health Forum, BMA
★
Gary Akehurst, services research, founder editor of the Service Industries Journal
★
Stephen Clackson, Natural Philosopher (1990s)
★
Alan Cox, Programmer (major contributor to the Linux kernel) (1980s)
★
Andrew Gordon Naval historian
★
Jane Green, Best-selling fiction writer (1987)
★
Datuk Zawiyah Baba, Former Director-General of the National Library of Malaysia
★
Deian Hopkin, Historian
★
Mary King, Political Scientist
★
David Russell Hulme, conductor and musical historian
★
Chris Leek, Chairman of Mensa International
★
Andrew Linklater, Woodrow Wilson Professor of International Politics
★
Paul Maddrell, political scientist
★
Frederick Soddy,
Nobel Prize Winner in chemistry (1921)
★
Samuel Ifor Enoch, Theologian
★
Nigel Thrift, Geographic Scholar
★
David John Williams, Writer
★
Waldo Williams, Poet
★
T. Harri Jones, Poet
★
Emrys George Bowen, Geographer
★
Tan Sri Datuk Arshad Ayub, Chairman of the University of Malaya and Pro-Chancellor of University Technology MARA. Served as the President of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth Alumni Club in Malaysia for the first 10 years of its existence and was awarded Honorary Degree of LL.D in 1995.
★
John Tudno Williams, Theologian
Legal Academics and Alumni
★
Lord Morris of Aberavon QC, Chancellor of the University of Glamorgan and Attorney General for England and Wales (1997-1999)
★
Sarah Caudwell, former lecturer in law. She was a barrister and writer of detective stories.
★
Neil Hamilton, MP, barrister
★
Tun Salleh Abas, Chief Justice of Malaysia (1984-1988). The Lord President of the Federal Court was the title of the head of the judiciary (now Chief Justice) of Malaysia until 1994.
★
Elwyn Jones, Baron Elwyn-Jones (1919-1921), Attorney General for England and Wales (1966-1970) and Lord Chancellor (1974-1979)
Political Alumni
★
Joseph Borg,
European Union Fisheries Commissioner
★
Nick Bourne, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the National Assembly for Wales, Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales
★
Gwynfor Evans, first Member of Parliament for Plaid Cymru
★
Carwyn Jones, Minister for the Environment in the Welsh Assembly Government, Assembly Member for Bridgend
★
Elystan Morgan, former Labour MP for Ceredigion
★
Roland Moyle, Labour MP and Minister
★
Gareth Thomas, Politician
★
Dato' Seri Hishamuddin Hussein, Malaysian politician
★
Mark Williams, Member of Parliament for Ceredigion (1984-1987)
★
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, President of
Sierra Leone
★
Tun Dr. Ghazali Shafie, former senior Malaysian Cabinet Minister
Business/Finance Alumni
★
Tom Singh, owner and CEO of
New Look (store)
★
Tan Sri Dato' Ahmad Mohamed Don, Governor of Bank Negara, Malaysia (1994-1998)
Civil Servant Alumni
★
Tan Sri Musa Hassan, current Inspector-General of Police, Royal Malaysian Police
★
Dr Timothy Brain Chief Constable for Gloucestershire
★
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (1969)
Sports Alumni
★
John Dawes, legendary Welsh rugby player whom captained Wales and the British Lions.
★
Carwyn James, Welsh and British and Irish Lions rugby coach (1949?-1951)
★
Berwyn Price, International 110m hurdles athlete, Commonwealth Games & World Student Games gold medallist.
★
Leigh Richmond Roose (1895-1899), Welsh international goalkeeper of eccentric habits
TV/Film Alumni
★
Aneirin Hughes, actor
★
Sharon Maguire, film director of
Bridget Jones's Diary (film)
★
Jan Pinkava, Oscar winning animator, Pixar, (1981-1985)
★
Tomos Lewis, Director of ITV1 Wales programme "Truckers"
Further reading
★ Iwan Morgan (ed.), ''The College by the Sea'' (Aberystwyth, 1928)
★ E.L. Ellis, ''The University College of Wales, Aberystwyth: 1872-1972'', University of Wales Press ISBN:978-0708319307 (2004)
★ Ben Bowen Thomas, ''"Aber" 1872-1972'' (University of Wales Press, 1972)
★ J Roger Webster, ''Old College Aberystwyth: The Evolution of a High Victorian Building'' (University of Wales Press, 1995)
★ Emrys Wynn Jones, ''Fair may your future be: the story of the Aberystwyth Old Students’ Association 1892-1992'' (Aberystwyth Old Students’ Association, 1992)
References
1. Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2005/06
2. BBC Mid Wales News - Student Life
3. BBC Mid Wales News - Three universities go independent
4. Student satisfaction survey results
5. Aberystwyth Top in UK for Student Satisfaction
6. Aber 'most satisfying' uni time
7. U.W.A. - Collegiate Identity
8. Aberystwyth - The University of Aberystwyth, Wales
9. Institute of Geography & Earth Sciences
10. University guide: Geography and environmental studies
11. Postgraduate Courses - International Politics
12. People & Planet Green League 2007
13. Coleg LLyfrgellwyr Cymru/College of Librarianship Wales(2004), p. 9
14. ''Home Page - Residential and Hospitality Services - UWA'' (2007)
★ Coleg LLyfrgellwyr Cymru/College of Librarianship Wales(2004), ''Dathlu 40/40 Anniversary'' (2004), University of Wales, Department of Information Studies
★ ''Home Page - Residential and Hospitality Services - UWA'' (2007) http://www.aber.ac.uk/residential/en/
External links
★
University of Wales, Aberystwyth – Official website
★
Aberystwyth Guild of Students – Students' Union
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