SHARE & INSPIRE
SUMMER
TEACHING AND LEARNING AT BANGOR UNIVERSITY
FOURTH YEAR OF SUCCESS IN STUDENT CHOICE AWARDS!
BANGOR UNIVERSITY WAS NOMINATED FOR AWARDS IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: ACCOMMODATION, CLUBS & SOCIETIES, COURSES & LECTURERS, GIVING BACK, INTERNATIONAL, JOB PROSPECTS, STUDENT SUPPORT, BEST PROSPECTIVE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND OVERALL UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR.
Based on the reviews and opinions of our own students, Bangor University has been chosen as the best in the UK for its Students’ Union Clubs & Societies as well as its Student Accommodation in this year’s WhatUni.com Student Choice Awards. The University was also placed third in the University of the Year category and second for Courses & Lecturers. Professor John G Hughes (Vice Chancellor) said:
I’m delighted that the University has won two category awards, and these awards reflect our close working relationship with the Students’ Union and our own students in order to provide an excellent education and all-round student-centred university experience.
Mair Rowlands
(Director of Bangor Students’ Union) said:
Students are at the heart of what we do, and we achieve these awards by listening, and working in partnership with them to ensure that the students of Bangor have the best possible opportunities.
bangor.ac.uk
01
The History of Witches and Wizards, 1720 (Wellcome Trust Collection)
MESSAGE FROM PVC PROF OLIVER TURNBULL This has been another excellent year for teaching and learning in Bangor, and this document showcases the various reasons for this: highly motivated staff, inspirational teaching and supportive pastoral care. Following on from our Gold TEF award in 2017 (the only Gold award to a Welsh university), we have yet again achieved over 90% for student satisfaction (on the National Student Survey, NSS), placing us again in the top 10 in the UK. We are also currently the only Welsh university who scores consistently over 90%. We did wonderfully well in the WhatUni Student Choice Awards, where we were 1st in the U.K. for Clubs and Societies, and also 1st in the U.K. for Accommodation. Impressively, we also finished in Bronze position for University of the Year.
In this document, you will see many examples of our innovation, excellence, and inspiration. Bangor has been a unique institution for more than 130 years, and I hope readers can see why we are so proud of the teaching and learning experience we deliver for our students.
Student satisfaction is, of course, not the only measure of quality. Our achievements were also backed by an evaluation by our national regulator, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), who had many positive things to say about our “robust arrangements for securing academic standards and managing academic quality”. I’m delighted to say that they were so impressed with our provision that they produced a report which (quite exceptionally) included no formal recommendations on how we might improve.
COMMENDATIONS FROM THE QAA Not only were there no areas recommended for improvement at Bangor University, but the panel specifically outlined 3 areas of commendation: The way in which Bangor uses a data-driven approach to inform and enhance the student experience. Our deeply-embedded, extensive, and culturally valued partnership with students. The fact that Bilingualism is embedded within, and positively impacts upon, all aspects of the student experience.
PROFESSOR OLIVER TURNBULL PRO VICE-CHANCELLOR TEACHING & LEARNING
WITCHCRAFT AT BANGOR UNIVERSITY Students in the new School of History, Philosophy and Social Sciences will now be able to study witchcraft! The module, ‘Magic and the Supernatural’, considers beliefs in witches, demons and magic, as well as phenomena such as angels, ghosts, dreams and prophecy. Ideas of magic and the supernatural were prevalent in the minds of many European cultures throughout the early modern period. They were the very essence of religious and scientific beliefs in the 15th and 16th centuries. The religious upheaval and political change at this time had a dramatic impact upon European culture, and upon the beliefs
and practices of European populations. At the heart of this culture were concepts of cause and effect beyond human ability. Many of the fears, changes, and beliefs in popular culture were the cause of the cultivation of the ‘witch-craze’ resulting in hundreds of thousands of people – mainly women – being burned at the stake across Europe and the Americas. This module considers the dynamic and, at times, lethal relationship between the Church, the State, and popular beliefs. Students use primary sources such as trial records, witchhunting treatises, and images and engage with scholarship in history and beyond to understand the ideas and concepts that underlay beliefs in the supernatural and the attempt to contain them.
CONTENTS Witchcraft at Bangor
03
Student-Led Teaching Awards
04
Enterprise by Design
06
The 3rd CELT Conference
07
Higher Education Academy Fellowships
08
The Silk Road Project
10
Bangor University Teaching Fellowships
11
Success at the Commonwealth Games
12
MODULE ORGANISER DR AUDREY THORSTAD
said:
The study of magic and the supernatural is a great way to get students to think in theoretical terms about popular culture and belief in the pre-modern world. We cover a range of approaches, from gender to economic, and social to religious. Students seem to really enjoy studying history, and exploring the past, through the lens of magic 03
STUDENT LED TEACHING AWARDS Bangor Students’ Union has again been celebrating excellence in our staff via the Student-Led teaching Awards. The finalists from nominations are annouced annually in April at an awards ceremony in PJ Hall, along with the presentation of Course Representatives Awards. Each year, students are given the opportunity to nominate members of staff for an award, across a range of categories. Hundreds of nominations are received across the schools and service departments of the University. The Student-Led Teaching Awards are an established highlight of the academic year, and they are a source of great pride to staff. Nominations have significantly increased over the last few years which goes to show that more and more students are recognising the importance of the quality of teaching on their education. Here we celebrate our 2017 and 2018 winners.
HELEN MARCHANT
Vice President for Education and Welfare in the Students’ Union, and one of the organisers of the evening, said:
The SLTA’s are a fantastic experience to be a part of. The awards celebrate the partnership that staff and students have, and it should be something that every University should strive for.
AWARD FOR SUPPORT STAFF MEMBER YEAR
IWAN DAVIES
STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT AWARD
FIONA ZINOVIEFF
UNSUNG HERO AWARD
PAUL MACLEAN
AWARD FOR DISSERTATION / THESIS SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR
INTERNATIONAL AWARD
GWENDA BLACKMORE
AWARD FOR SCHOOL OF THE YEAR SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES AND GEOGRAPHY
YSGOL Y GYMRAEG
KAREN POLLOCK
NIA GRIFFITH
ALAN EDWARDS
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PASTORAL SUPPORT
AWEL VAUGHANEVANS
PETER SHAPELY
LUCY HUSKINSON
AWARD FOR SUPPORT TEAM OF THE YEAR
JOSHUA ANDREWS
REBECCA JONES
AWARD FOR NEW TEACHER OF THE YEAR
REBECCA SHARP SCHOOL OF ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE ADMINISTRATION TEAM
ALISON MOYES
TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD
GRAHAM BIRD
THOMAS CASPARI CAROLINE BOWMAN
LUCY HUSKINSON
DYLAN WYN JONES
REBECCA JONES
Rebecca has been an absolute star for me and other students during time at university. Rebecca always has time for every student, lecturer and staff. She is a real asset to our school and has helped make my experience at university a much better one
DURING THE SLTAS THE OUTSTANDING AND INVALUABLE WORK OF OUR COURSE REPRESENTATIVES WAS ALSO RECOGNISED:
STUDENT CHOICE AWARD
AMY GREENLAND
OLIVIA FLETCHER
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AWARD
ANDREW DAVIES
MANDY ANGHARAD
EDE & RAVENSCROFT INNOVATION AWARD
MARK BARROW
VP CHOICE AWARD AWARD FOR POSTGRADUATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR
AWARD FOR WELSH MEDIUM EDUCATION
ALI KHAN
OPEN AWARD Paul is an extremely valued member of the security team and we as wardens really appreciate all of the support and time which he gives to us. Paul really is a hero to so many of us on the warden team, and he is an unsung hero to many students who will have met him over their time at university
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
NAOMI COULTON
COURSE REP DRAGON’S DEN
SOCIAL SCIENCES
STAFF CHOICE AWARD
LUKE BIDDER
ERROL GRANT
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO STUDENT VOICE
SOFIA TARTAGLIA
NATALIE EVANS
OLIVIA YOUNG
MANDY DAVIDSON
05
MULTIDISCIPLINARY INNOVATION IN ADVENTURE TOURISM AT BANGOR UNIVERSITY: BRINGING WELLNESS TO NORTH WALES Now in its 7th year, the Enterprise by Design course is a key example of multidisciplinary study at Bangor University, giving students a unique opportunity to collaborate with students in other departments that they might not get to work with during their normal courses. The challenge brings students from the areas of Psychology, Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Business, Product Design, and Creative Studies and Media to work together in multidisciplinary teams. Their goal is to create a product or service for local businesses over an 8-week period. Adventure Tourism is booming in North Wales. A fast-growing industry for local businesses, the sector is not resting on its laurels; as adventure attractions pop up in other national parks, businesses are asking “Beyond adventure, what high-value experiences might ensure our region maintains a lead?”. The Wellness industry has been identified as a burgeoning, high-value opportunity that would complement adventure.
Students were fortunate to be able to work with two thriving companies in the local sector, Rib Ride and Zip World. Not only do they get hands-on experience working with a client, applying knowledge they have acquired through their degree course, but they also learn about the practical reality of working in a creative, interdisciplinary team.
ANDY GOODMAN
Director of Pontio Innovation, said:
we set out to provide a simulation of creative startup, and you can’t teach this in a traditional, didactic way. It has to be experiential
NICK MCCAVISH
Head of Operations at Zip World, said:
fantastic to be associated with the students at the University, and it’s something we want to continue over the next few years.
The winning team were: Tom Owen, School of Creative Studies and Media; Loizos Vasileiou, Computer Science; Christos Tsangaris, Psychology; (with Nick McCavish, Operations Director, Zipworld;) and Aaron Owen, Bangor Business School The winners, ‘Team Benchwarmers’, pitched and created a prototype of an App, ‘Step Outside’, which encourages users to engage with local restaurants, attractions, and outdoor activities. The team had four minutes to present, and to entice the judges to visit their trade stand, where they clinched the deal; demonstrating their working prototype, together with a compelling brand and convincing business concept.
THE CELT CONFERENCE
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN LEARNING & TEACHING’ The third University CELT conference was held on 15th September 2017 to celebrate the range of exciting teaching initiatives taking place in Bangor. It also marked the launch of our Student-Led Teaching and Learning Strategy, an exciting development which is the first of its kind in the sector, being driven by priorities set by students, for students. This strategy is just one example of Bangor University’s very successful partnership with students, which is a real strength in our approach to learning and teaching.
The conference was built around three themes from the Teaching & Learning Strategy, to illustrate the ways in which strategic ambitions can be applied to different disciplines across the institution.
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT This strand explored the different measures of student engagement, including attendance at lectures, participation in extra-curricular activities and return rates for module evaluations. The different interpretations of “student engagement” were discussed and innovative approaches to increasing student involvement in the university community were presented.
Taking a few minutes to reflect on the event, I strolled past some teaching rooms and noted the many posters related to student engagement more broadly. They were everywhere! A truly pervasive commitment to learning, rather than the mere delivery of teaching was very clear on the day. A prime example for other institutions, so I took plenty of pictures I now use in presentations elsewhere! PROF GWEN VAN DER VELDEN
The conference opened with a keynote talk by Professor Gwen Van der Velden from Warwick University, who shared her experiences of how to encourage student engagement with research. Gwen presented some of the practices from Warwick and elsewhere, which have successfully encouraged students to engage with research.
CURRICULUM DESIGN & EMPLOYABILITY This strand considered creative approaches to embedding the development of students’ employability skills within the curriculum and explored ways to engage students in the development of existing and future degree programmes to ensure we continue to meet their needs.
PROFESSOR GWEN VAN DER VELDEN
Much like the first of Bangor’s conferences I went to, this year’s was hugely inspiring again. Speaking with colleagues during breaks I was struck by how positively committed and loyal to Bangor participants were. I have worked with many universities where staff feel their greatest loyalty to their discipline, rather than the university community they are also part of. But here, participants referred to institutional support for innovation as a factor, whilst others spoke highly of their colleagues and how they had challenged their teaching. But the recurring thread throughout discussions was partnership with students. In some of the sessions it was clear how pervasive this commitment is, not least because students copresented on pedagogical innovations and their involvement had clearly led to a robust quality of reflection and redesign
ASSESSMENT & FEEDBACK FOR RETENTION In the third strand, we considered how small changes in assessment and feedback can have enormous impacts on student success, by increasing their understanding of what is required of them. We considered metrics relating to student attainment, and then considered how support could be improved to enhance student performance.
AFTERNOON PLENARY:
THE LEARNER ANALYTICS SYSTEM The University’s learner analytics system was officially launched in the afternoon of the conference. The system was designed to be transparent and easy to use. We looked at the features of the system, and ways in which it could be used to identify students in need of extra support.
The day concluded with a lively evening dinner, followed by presentations at which CELT Associates were acknowledged for their support over the last twelve months.
07
HIGHER EDUCATION ACADEMY FELLOWS
SARAH COOPER (LINGUISTICS & ENGLISH LANGUAGE) FELLOW
For the 6th year, Bangor academic staff have been awarded Higher Education Academy Fellowships via the Aberystwyth-Bangor scheme for recognising CPD in Teaching and Supporting Learning. The recognition scheme is based on the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) and the Accreditation Panel recently awarded fellowships in several HEA categories.
PROF OLIVER TURNBULL
Chair of the panel, said:
Bangor has made impressive progress in awarding HEA Fellowships in recent years. The latest round again had many high-quality applications, and these are a testament to the innovation and passion of our staff
FELLOWS
ARMELLE BLIN-ROLLAND, Modern Languages EVA BRU-DOMIGUEZ, Modern Languages RUDI COETZER, Psychology JENNIFER COONEY, Sports Sciences SARAH COOPER, Linguistics SUSAN CRITCHLEY, Coleg Llandrillo CAMERON DOWNING, Psychology CHRISTIAN DUNN, Biological Sciences AMA EYO, Law MIKE GARNER, Coleg Llandrillo GEMMA GRIFFITH, Psychology JESSICA MEE, Sports Sciences DEBBIE MILLS, Psychology JOSH PAYNE, Psychology BEN PEPLER, Coleg Llandrillo CLAIRE SZOSTEK, Psychology AUDREY THORSTAD, History SANDY TOOGOOD, Psychology SHASHA WANG, Modern Languages
As part of the fellowship application, I reflected on my professional values and our work in our School to promote participation of students from a wide range of backgrounds. I know that some students struggle to develop skills that are relevant for future study or employment. Since completing the HEA application, I reflected on this and now make sure I highlight the importance of the transferrable skills that are developed in my classes, and how they might relate these to job applications or further study in the future.
STEPHEN CLEAR (SCHOOL OF LAW) SENIOR FELLOW
Areas of Activity
Core Knowledge
I am thrilled to have received the award of Fellow of the HEA. The process of applying for the fellowship was useful for me in reflecting on the work that I have put in over the years to develop my teaching and pastoral support for students. This award confirms that this work meets the standards outlined by the HEA at a national level. I am an advocate of using research in my teaching, and have developed modules which involve students conducting their own research projects and disseminating their findings to their fellow class members.
Professional Values
Effective teaching is research-led, pedagogically informed and is rooted in an understanding of the learners within the class. I view these three facets as unequivocally interconnected, yet as academics we can all too often see our teaching, research and administrative responsibilities as competing priorities. The opportunity to seek HEA Fellowship, alongside CELT activities, has enabled me to reflect upon my teaching and studentsupport activities, and experiment with different pedagogically-informed approaches to achieve best practice
as a Lecturer in Law and Senior Tutor. Through these experiences, I have been able to research and publish work in areas such as: student expectations; effective student feedback; law student perceptions as to the effects of Brexit; and law student employability. Whilst this CPD process has had the direct benefit of providing the foundations for me to adopt a more holistic view towards my academic responsibilities, as well as enhance my research profile; indirectly it has also given me the opportunity to revise and refocus my approaches to teaching, for the benefit of my students.
SENIOR FELLOWS
CHRIS BAINBRIDGE, Coleg Llandrillo STEPHEN CLEAR, Law TANYA HERRING, Law DEBBIE ROBERTS, Healthcare Sciences LEILA SALISBURY, Student Services SARAH TROTMAN, Sports Sciences ANDREW WALKER, Healthcare Sciences JOANNA WRIGHT, Creative Studies and Media
PRINCIPAL FELLOWS SUSAN BUSH, Coleg Llandrillo
ANDREW WALKER (HEALTHCARE SCIENCES) SENIOR FELLOW My approach to teaching emulates the approach I took to working with children and young people as a Mental Health Nurse, and is focussed on building relationships, being creative, and challenging students to think differently. Not everything works each time, but trust, enthusiasm, genuineness and sometimes a bit of humour can increase engagement and make a real difference. These values were embedded within my Senior Fellowship application, a process which enabled me to take a step back, reflect, and explore the narrative of my career successes to date.
I studied Mental Health Nursing in Bangor in 2006, and I now love being back, 11 years later, teaching our future healthcare workforce on that same programme and am honoured to be part of their exciting, challenging journeys. My additional role as the School’s Director of Equality and Diversity allows me to help create an inclusive, vibrant learning and working environment. The HEA Fellowship has provided recognition of my hard work and has also strengthened my belief in my approach to teaching, which keeps me focussed and confident to try new ideas.
You can read more about the scheme here: www.bangor.ac.uk/celt/recognition-tandl.php.en
09
© STEPHEN PRICE
THE SILK ROAD PROJECT: NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WALES AT THE WELSH MOUNTAIN ZOO The aim of the Silk Road Project is to create a unique cultural bridge with China, showcasing a range of Chinese species of fauna and flora. A new snow leopard enclosure will be a focal point for the project, but there’s much more to it than that. Wildlife, habitats and nature are strong national symbols representing the cultural pride of both China and Wales. This shared perspective provides an ideal opportunity to pave the way for the Welsh economy to benefit, by building a gateway with the world’s next superpower. The plan is to build a unique experience for our visitors, creating a cultural link with one of the most beautiful, diverse and vulnerable places in the world – China, the main habitat for snow leopards in the wild.
BANGOR UNIVERSITY TEACHING FELLOWS
The University Teaching Fellowships are awarded each year to promote, reward and celebrate excellence in teaching and related activities that support and enhance the Bangor student experience. The fellowships recognise the importance of excellent teaching, of enhancing students’ learning experience and of the support provided to students. Through these fellowships we celebrate the University’s commitment to teaching excellence and student support.
Dr Clair Doloriet
Bangor Business School Clair’s teaching and support has gone far beyond the classroom and supervision sessions. Clair is extremely approachable and you can be open and honest with her. She understands how to interact with students in a captivating, memorable, and effective way leaving a lasting impression on her students. She is vastly knowledgeable in her subject area and always seeks to bring out the best in students.
Professor Raluca Radulesca English Literature The new Snow Leopard enclosure, Welsh Mountain Zoo
The Welsh Mountain Zoo, in Colwyn Bay, has a well-established partnership with Bangor University. Through this we aim to develop a mobile App to further enhance the science, learning and interpretation behind snow leopard conservation and Chinese ecological preservation. The App will deliver an even broader level of content and information about Chinese ecology and enable an everwider audience to experience and understand the work we are doing.
The schools of Creative Studies and Computer Science are currently looking at developing the interactive App which will use storytelling to guide people around the zoo and which also facilitates opportunities for users to be involved in future research, either as participants or as citizen scientists. There will also be volunteering and work experience opportunities for students, in addition to access to a fabulous teaching and research facility.
Raluca is one of the professors who has truly made a difference in my life at Bangor’s School of English Literature. She is an exceptional and unique mentor and supervisor. It is her patience, her ability to solve problems (as if by magic), and the invaluable support and encouragement she gives to all students, that make her such a champion within the School, and the wider academic community.
Dr Hayley Roberts Law
Dr Hayley Roberts is a truly exceptional lecturer and is the sole reason I chose to undertake postgraduate studies: her commitment to students is unparalleled. Her innovative and engaging teaching style and her indepth knowledge and broad subject base bring colour to some very difficult areas of public law that inspired students to continue learning outside the classroom.
Dr Marie Parker Law
Dr Eben Muse Head of School of Creative Studies and Media
Dr Lyle Skains Senior Lecturer in Writing
Dr Dave Perkins Lecturer in Computer Science
Dr Panagiotis D. Ritsos Lecturer in Visualisation
Dr Parker is an invaluable asset to Bangor Law School and to the University; she has always gone above and beyond her role as either my personal tutor or as module leader. It was easy to see her passion for the subject when she taught Family Law and she made this subject not only thought provoking and interesting, but also highly relevant to today’s society.
11
BANGOR UNIVERSITY SUCCESS AT THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES!
Tesni Evans
Gareth Evans
Bangor University recently congratulated six members of Wales’ successful Commonwealth Games squad who are connected with the University. VICE-CHANCELLOR JOHN G HUGHES told them:
You have done Wales proud and you have done Bangor University proud. You are fantastic role models for our University community and I congratulate you all on your achievements.
Wales’ first Gold Medal in the Commonwealth Games was secured in weightlifting, by Gareth (Gaz) Evans, a member of staff working at the University’s Canolfan Brailsford, while squash player, Tesni Evans, a Bangor University Local Athlete Bursary winner, added a Bronze Medal to Wales’ tally at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Weightlifting Wales has moved to Canolfan Brailsford and Chair, BARRY EATON said: The sports facilities at Bangor University are second to none, and the best in Wales for weightlifting. And he predicted that...
In addition to Gareth’s medal success, what we have here is a stream of talent, which I’m sure holds future medals for Wales.
Bangor University supports elite athletes by offering annual Sports Scholarships to its students and talented local athletes. Seth Casidsid (Psychology graduate who works at Canolfan Brailsford), Hannah Powell (Sports Science graduate who works for Welsh Weightlifting, based at Canolfan Brailsford) Catrin Jones (Psychology student and winner of the BBC Wales Carwyn James Young Sportswoman of the Year 2017 award) and Harry Misangyi (Sports Science student) have all benefited from these Scholarships over the last few years.
CATRIN JONES said: The support I’ve received from Bangor University over the last few years has been incredible! The Sports Scholarship that I was awarded as a local bursary whilst I was at school, and now as a Bangor student, has benefitted me massively as it allows me to concentrate on both my studies and training to the best of my abilities.