Who We Are & What We Do

You know your own modules but have you ever wondered about the other subject areas in the School of Humanities and what they do? Here’s our guide to who they are and what they are most proud of this year!

Philosophy

Who we are and what we do: The Philosophy Group teaches and researches philosophy and religious studies. We aim to help our students develop the combination of imagination and rigour typical of the best philosophy. Our major achievements this year: Success in securing external funding from the LeverhulmeTrust, the Mind Association and the Alphawood Foundation has released permanent staff to pursue their research and allowed us to add fresh faces and fresh ideas to our teaching team.

Politics and International Relations

Who we are and what we do:The PIR group is made up of scholars with a broad range of interests in Politics and International Relations theory and practice. Our aim is to support students in the development of critical and analytical skills and to help them build an understanding of the contemporary challenge in an increasingly complex world. Our major achievements this year: We have worked hard to set up a new MA course in International Relations, which will start in 2020, and we have managed to move our BA courses online at very short notice to respond to the pandemic. We are also excited to have given our final year and second year students the opportunity to meet professionals from all walks of life who have graduated with an Undergraduate or Post-graduate degree in Politics and International Relations.

English Literature

Who we are and what we do: The Literature group is made up of research-active academics specialising in literary cultures ranging from the eighteenth to the twenty-first century. Our aim, and our passion, is to share our interests with students, and help them hone their skills as communicators and thinkers in a world which needs these attributes more than ever before. Our major achievements this year: Developing a truly innovative online Master’s programme with global appeal, consolidating our expertise with strong academic results across all levels of study, and extending further our ongoing work to facilitate a more inclusive learning environment for all of our students.

Media

Who we are and what we do: The Media group comprises Film, Media and Journalism. We are a mix of experienced practitioners and media theorists, all with a passion for the industry. Our aim is to help build confidence, a sense of community and communication skills through supporting students to gain a mix of skills in a supportive community enabling them to have a good chance of success in the communications field. Our major achievements this year: This year we have focused on increasing awareness of employment opportunities and student celebrating success, from offering students the chance to do

work experience in local radio to holding an exhibition of their advertising campaigns. We have introduced global modules that decolonise the curriculum and we have brought media experts into the seminar room. We moved all our courses online within a week.

English Language and Linguistics

Who we are and what we do: The English Language & Linguistics group is a team of applied linguists engaged in analysing language data to gain insights about different aspects of language. We support our students to look at language and communication and to build up their skills through a mix of theoretical and practical tasks. Our major achievements this year: We introduced new modules in the first year and worked on decolonizing the curriculum (such as introducing new topics and a variety of authors). We made the transition to online provision for undergraduates and the MA TESOL within a week We miss not being able to say goodbye to the final years in person this year

History

Who we are and what we do: The History group is dedicated to ensuring that our students leave us with the skills necessary to take their next steps in life. As global citizens and advocates for their local communities, our students are both sensitive to, and embrace, diversity in all its forms, and are empowered with the critical thinking skills to challenge and make a difference in the world around them. Our major achievements this year: Have included showcasing our final year student’s work at a successful dissertation conference; continuing our work to globalise and decolonize the histories that we teach and explore together with our students; contributing to University events such as International Women’s Day, and celebrating our class of 2020. We can’t wait to see you all at graduation!

Languages

Who we are what we do: Learning a language opens the world up for you. Not only do you meet students from other subjects you may not normally come across, but you will explore the world outside the UK. You can use your new language skills to network internationally and you will gain a competitive advantage as a graduate in the global job market. Our major achievements this year: Students from a range of diverse backgrounds contributed to videos promoting languages, our new project of ‘Languages for Fun’ was approved and we have used quizzes in formal assessments at beginner’s levels while reinstating the advanced route for French. We moved all language modules online within a very short period of time!

Creative Writing

Who we are and what we do: Creative Writing includes poets, authors and writers for stage and screen, who all practise in their subject professionally as well as teaching on our degrees. Our aim is to help build confidence, a sense of community and creative writing skills through supporting students to create work that will help them compete for publishing contracts, agents and commissions as well as jobs in many related fields such as journalism, publishing and literary event organisation. Our major achievements this year: This year we have focused on increasing awareness of employment contacts and opportunities for our students, with exciting collaborations with a theatre company and the continued success of our poetry hub. We moved our teaching online within a week and added new mechanisms to ensure students were supported during the transition.