Sail - Swansea University

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Supporting Swansea students Swansea students to gain global experience Combining her interest in Ageing Studies with her work in supporting people with HIV, Jenny decided to explore the area further by studying a Taught Master’s at Swansea University. Thanks to improvements in medication, many HIV positive people are living longer. With this comes further demand on support services which hasn’t been investigated or realised until now. Swansea University has successfully launched its study and work abroad programmes for 2011 providing an increasing number of opportunities for work placement schemes. Jenny Phillips, originally from London, is studying an MSc in Ageing Studies, having been awarded an Alumni bursary covering the full cost of the tuition fees. Jenny graduated from Swansea University in 2000 with a BA in Philosophy and soon after returned to her native London. Around nine years ago, she chose to come back to Swansea, having enjoyed her time here as a student so much. Jenny began working for AIDS Trust Cymru, a charity set up to support people with HIV in Wales. Her role as project manager involved designing and implementing a scheme which has now been adopted by four local authorities across Wales. She was awarded the Alumni bursary from Swansea University’s Alumni Fund to cover the full cost of tuition fees due to her strong academic background and commitment to the research area. Jenny also demonstrated her financial need and how the research will impact on the wider community. Swansea University’s Alumni Fund was set up in November 2004 with the generous contributions of Alumni across the UK. To date, eleven bursaries have been awarded to Taught Master’s students. Jenny said, “Undertaking research as part of the Taught Masters will be of huge benefit, not only for AIDS Trust Cymru, but also other smaller organisations. It will help focus resources and possibly aid access to funding – particularly relevant in these current economic times.” As a part-time student at Swansea, Jenny said, “Postgraduate study is very different to undergraduate study: the classes are smaller and I have found myself working with people from a variety of backgrounds. In fact it has proved a useful means of networking as I am studying alongside others who are also working part-time in related sectors.” Jenny continued, “Academics respect the fact that we, the students, possess a lot of knowledge and experience through our careers, so seminars become a great forum for debate. As the organisation I work for is very small, they could not afford to sponsor my studies but are very supportive of me studying part-time. Without the Alumni bursary I would not have been able to return to Swansea University to study. I am very grateful for receiving the Alumni Bursary and consequently the opportunity to undertake research which will assist AIDS Trust Cymru.” If you would like to support a Swansea student, please contact the Alumni Office by emailing alumni@swansea.ac.uk Under the current plans students will be able to build up a portfolio of transferable, cross-cultural skills which are increasingly demanded from graduate employers. Amongst the projects already proving successful, the International Development Office has secured eleven internship placements with multi-national companies in India over the summer. This is the third year these internships are being offered and has grown from just one placement with GE Healthcare, Bangalore in 2009. These opportunities are in addition to those already available through the Erasmus scheme. The internships will be with, GE Hyderabad in Computer Science; Thomson Reuters, Mumbai in Business and Finance; 3M Bangalore in Law; and Private Equity, Gurgaon in Finance and Journalism. Sian Impey, Head of Internationalisation from the International Development Office said: “The programme builds on the success of the 2010 programme, which saw five Swansea University students spend three months working on a range of projects within the companies. Our aim is to continue with the development of the internships with the hope of expanding in India and other countries in 2012.” Abhishek Karal, who is studying in his final year MEng in Computing in the College of Science at Swansea, carried out his internship last summer at The John F. Welch Technology Centre ( JFWTC) in India. The site is GE’s largest integrated multi-disciplinary research and development centre and is the first to be located outside the USA. Commenting on his experience, Abhishek explained: “The three month internship in GE was my first real experience working in a corporate world and I took a lot from it. Understandably, the internship challenged me in many ways, but I was always able to turn to my manager and colleagues for input and support when needed. I strongly believe the experience will further enhance my career prospects.” Vanessa Talbutt, a student of History and American Studies in the College of Arts and Humanities at Swansea University, spent the summer of 2010 in India. Vanessa (pictured above) said: “This experience has changed who I am as a person. I appreciate the opportunities given to me and consequently have a greater desire to succeed.” For more information about the summer internships see www.swansea.ac.uk/ internationalisation If you can assist Swansea University with its study and work abroad programme by offering work placements, please contact the Alumni Office. “ This experience has changed who I am as a person. I appreciate the opportunities given to me and consequently have a greater desire to succeed. ” Sail – 08 Sail – 09
Academi Hywel Teifi yn hybu’r iaith Gymraeg yn Abertawe Mae enw’r Academi yn dathlu cyswllt hir un o fawrion y genedl, y diweddar Athro Hywel Teifi Edwards, â’r Brifysgol ac yn mawrygu ei gyfraniad aruthrol i fywyd academaidd, diwylliannol a chyhoeddus Cymru. Sefydlwyd Academi Hywel Teifi yn 2010 yn ganolfan ragoriaeth ar gyfer astudio’r iaith Gymraeg, ei llenyddiaeth a’i diwylliant, ac ar gyfer addysg ac ymchwil amlddisgyblaethol cyfrwng Cymraeg ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe. Ddechrau’r flwyddyn hon penodwyd Dr Gwenno Ffrancon yn gyfarwyddwr cyntaf yr Academi. Meddai: “Y mae’n fraint o’r mwyaf cael arwain academi sy’n dwyn enw Hywel Teifi Edwards a chael cyfle i sicrhau bod ei gyfraniad amhrisiadwy i Brifysgol Abertawe, i addysg ac ysgolheictod cyfrwng Cymraeg, ac i ddiwylliant, iaith a llenyddiaeth Cymru nid yn unig yn cael ei gofio ond bod adeiladu sylweddol ar y cyfraniad hwnnw yn digwydd er lles Cymru.” Tra bod yr Academi yn darparu cymuned i holl ddarparwyr addysg ac ymchwil cyfrwng Cymraeg y Brifysgol, y mae’n gartref sefydlog i oddeutu 30 o staff, yn ddarlithwyr a thiwtoriaid a gweinyddwyr, a hynny yn Adeilad Keir Hardie ar gampws Parc Singleton. Y mae’r Academi yn gartref i’r Gymraeg fel disgyblaeth, gyda’r Athro Tudur Hallam yn llywio’r gwaith ymchwil rhagorol a gyflawnir yn y maes. Y mae hefyd yn gartref i waith allweddol Canolfan Cymraeg i Oedolion De-orllewin Cymru sydd yn darparu a chynllunio ar gyfer dysgwyr Cymraeg yn ardaloedd Abertawe, Castell-nedd a Phort Talbot, a siroedd Caerfyrddin a Phenfro, dan ofal ei chyfarwyddwr Aled Davies. Darpara’r Academi felly ystod helaeth o raglenni gradd sengl a chydanrhydedd ardderchog ar yr iaith Gymraeg a llenyddiaeth Gymraeg Cymru i fyfyrwyr israddedig, ôl-raddedig ac i oedolion sy’n ddysgwyr. Amcan Academi Hywel Teifi yw darparu cefnogaeth strategol ac arweinyddiaeth ar gyfer dysgu ac addysgu ac ymchwil cyfrwng Cymraeg ar draws y disgyblaethau a gynigir gan Brifysgol Abertawe. Ceir ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe, er enghraifft, ddarpariaeth cyfrwng Cymraeg gref ym meysydd Ieithoedd Modern, Daearyddiaeth, Gwyddor Iechyd, Y Gyfraith Sail – 10 ac Astudiaethau’r Cyfryngau ac mae gwaith yn mynd rhagddo i ddatblygu darpariaeth gyffrous ym meysydd Mathemateg, Peirianneg, Hanes a Seicoleg. Mae’r Academi felly yn darparu cefnogaeth ac anogaeth i ddarlithwyr ac ymchwilwyr ac i’r 3,500 o fyfyrwyr y Brifysgol sydd yn siarad Cymraeg, y nifer uchaf yn yr ardal. Cefnoga’r Academi, yn ogystal, waith y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol ac ym mis Medi 2011 bydd cangen Prifysgol Abertawe o’r Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol yn cael ei hagor o fewn Academi Hywel Teifi gan ddarparu pwynt cyswllt ar gyfer myfyrwyr cyfrwng Cymraeg sydd am fanteisio ar gynlluniau cyllido, yr adnoddau a’r gefnogaeth addysgol sydd ar gael gan y Coleg Cymraeg newydd. Trwy’r amrywiol weithgareddau hyn mae’r Academi yn cefnogi, cynyddu a chyfoethogi darpariaeth addysg ac ymchwil cyfrwng Cymraeg Prifysgol Abertawe gan hybu cydweithio, mentergarwch a chreu cyfleoedd trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Mae cynlluniau eisoes ar waith i sicrhau cyfleon profiad gwaith mewn amrywiol feysydd i fyfyrwyr cyfrwng Cymraeg gan ffurfio cysylltiadau manteisiol a chyffrous â darpar-gyflogwyr, ac mae gwaith yn mynd rhagddo i gynyddu’r cyfleon sydd ar gael i fyfyrwyr cyfrwng Cymraeg o ddisgyblaethau amrywiol dreulio cyfnodau astudio neu weithio dramor. Y nod yw sicrhau y bydd myfyrwyr Prifysgol Abertawe yn cael y gorau o ddau fyd – profiad cwbl Gymreig a Chymraeg mewn Prifysgol ag iddi gysylltiadau amlddiwylliannol a rhyngwladol. Os hoffech ddysgu mwy am waith Academi Hywel Teifi, mae croeso i chi gysylltu â ni trwy’r manylion isod: Gwefan: www.abertawe.ac.uk/ academihywelteifi ebost: academihywelteifi@abertawe.ac.uk ffôn: 01792 602070 If you would like an English translation of this article, please let us know by emailing alumni@swansea.ac.uk Atgofion am Hywel Teifi Edwards Lansiwyd Academi Hywel Teifi yn Eisteddfod Genedlaethol 2010. Gwahoddwyd ymwelwyr i rannu eu hatgofion am Hywel Teifi Edwards, cyn Athro’r Gymraeg a Phennaeth yr Adran Gymraeg ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe, a chyn hynny tiwtor llenyddiaeth Gymraeg yn yr Adran Efrydiau Allanol. Dyma rai o’r atgofion hynny, a adawyd gan gyn-fyfyrwyr a chydnabod: “ ‘Darllenwch!’ oedd geiriau H.T. ym mhob darlith. Cwyno oeddem fel myfyrwyr bryd hynny (1991-1994). Ond mae’r gorchymyn yn dal i seinio yn fy nghlustiau hyd heddiw ac ydw, erbyn hyn dw i’n darllen bob cyfle ga i. Diolch i H.T. am ei ysbrydoliaeth a’i anogaeth. Heb ei eiriau a’i gerydd fydden i ddim wedi parhau i ysgrifennu. Mari George “ Mae’n syml – heb eich help ni fyddwn i yma i siarad am eich help yn ystod y cwrs. Diolch am bopeth a dwi’n colli’r chats bach ar y maes! Diolch. Jason Mohammad “ Gŵr gwefreiddiol a fu wastad yn gymorth mawr ac yn ysbrydoliaeth. Mark Smith ” Llais unigryw gyda rhywbeth diddorol “ a phwysig i’w ddweud – rhaid gwrando arno fe! ” Dienw Cystadlaethau Creadigol Academi Hywel Teifi Yn ystod ei blwyddyn gyntaf mae Academi Hywel Teifi wedi mynd ati i hybu ysgrifenwyr ifanc yng Nghymru drwy sefydlu Cystadleuaeth Ysgrifennu Creadigol cyfrwng Cymraeg flynyddol ar gyfer disgyblion ysgol blynyddoedd 12 a 13, gyda gwobr o £100 a dosbarth meistr i awdur y darn gwaith creadigol mwyaf dyfeisgar ac addawol. Lansiwyd hefyd Tlws y Llenor Ifanc , Academi Hywel Teifi, yn Eisteddfod yr Hendy ger Pontarddulais – un o’r eisteddfodau lleol mwyaf a hynaf yn ne orllewin Cymru. Yn ôl Dr Gwenno Ffrancon, Cyfarwyddwr Academi Hywel Teifi : ‘Bu’r Athro Hywel Teifi yn weithgar iawn wrth hyrwyddo a chefnogi doniau creadigol pobl ifanc ac mae’r Academi felly yn falch iawn o fedru parhau yn ysbryd y gwaith clodwiw hwnnw trwy gefnogi cynlluniau o’r math yma.’ Ceir gwybodaeth am y cystadlaethau hyn ar wefan yr Academi: www.abertawe.ac.uk/academihywelteifi ” ” Alumni Profile Alumni Officer Sally Thurlow met up with Penny Roberts, a journalist and media consultant who graduated in 1980 with a BA (Hons) Politics. Your parents and other members of your family studied at Swansea. Did that influence your decision to study here? My mother and father, Rita Rhydderch and Ron Roberts met at Swansea University in the 1950’s. My aunt also studied here, and my brother followed a few years after me, so Swansea is in my DNA. I knew it was a great place to live and study and it was also close enough to take my washing home, but far enough away to be independent! What did you enjoy most about your course at Swansea? I originally applied to read History, and was influenced by a selection interview with Peter Stead who remains a great friend to this day. In my first year I also studied English and Politics and decided later to switch to single honours Politics. It was a fascinating course, Professor Greenleaf was Head of Department and he led a team of enthusiastic and supportive lecturers. Dr Richard Taylor taught me Propaganda in Nazi Germany and was inspiring. He later became my supervisor when I embarked on postgraduate work in the department. You are best known as Chief Reporter for BBC Wales. What are you doing now? I spent 25 years at BBC Wales, first as a radio presenter/reporter before moving to Wales Today as programme anchor with Vincent Kane. After my children were born, I was appointed Chief Reporter which is the best job in journalism as far as I’m concerned! I left to set up a media training/video production company, Tower Media, with a colleague Tony O’Shaughnessy last year. Tony incidentally is another Swansea politics graduate. We provide training for the private and public sectors as well as making films for use on a variety of platforms. How has Swansea University and your course helped you with your chosen career path? I’d be lying if I said I’d always had a burning ambition to be a journalist. It was a few years after I graduated that I realised that journalism was the career for me. Swansea University certainly instilled a work ethic in me and encouraged an inquiring mind – you’d be surprised too, how many Swansea graduates are out there. There’ve been many times that I’ve turned up to conduct challenging interviews and found that my interviewee had spent three years in Swansea. Always a good ice breaker! What are the most rewarding parts of your job? I have always felt very privileged to be in a job that on occasions, can make a real difference to people’s lives. I have worked on a number of documentaries that have influenced government policy and corrected injustices. Of course, it’s been great to have a front row seat at major events and I’ve been very fortunate to have had wonderful experiences during my career. You have interviewed many people over the course of your career – who stands out and why? There are perhaps too many to mention. Dr Lyn Evans of the Hadron Collider fame was inspiring. He was visiting the University and I popped down to grab a sound bite with him. I ended up interviewing him for more than an hour. Quincy Jones was wonderfully indiscreet when he recounted stories about his weekends with the Rat Pack. Interviewing Howard Marks in a Florida penitentiary was an experience, and I couldn’t leave out Donny Osmond, my teenage heartthrob. Ian Paisley was challenging… he called me Jezebel after a particularly combative interview, but I suppose it’s the people who aren’t famous who have the most impact, those whose lives have taken a sudden turn because of extraordinary circumstances. What was the best careers advice you were given and what advice do you have for new graduates? The best career advice I had was to make sure I enjoyed my work. How awful would it be to have decades of your life stretching ahead of you doing a job that doesn’t fill you with enthusiasm? It’s so hard for today’s new graduates, laden with debt and facing fierce competition to get a job. My experience has been that it isn’t necessarily the graduates with the highest grades or the greatest experience that make the most effective employees. Don’t rush into a career and trust your instinct. Twenty-one is very young to know exactly what you want to do for the rest of your life! What are your favourite memories of your university years at Swansea? Making great friends at Beck Hall and then moving out in our second year to a house in the Uplands that really should have been condemned! No one cared though and we did have some memorable parties. Walking through Singleton Park in all weathers to get to lectures, drinking coffee in the Crush Bar and Tuesday Night Student Discos in Nutz nightclub in Mumbles – who can ever forget the polystyrene crocodile! Do you keep in touch with your fellow Swansea graduates? I try to keep in touch and living in Swansea means I do get to see people when they come back to their old haunts. Andy Green, the former Ents Officer when I was in university is great at keeping everyone in touch. I used to share an office as a postgraduate with Nigel Evans MP now the Deputy Speaker and we’re still in contact. The first person I met on my arrival in Swansea was Mark O’Callaghan, who is now the Head of News and Current Affairs at BBC Wales… so not only did we go through University, but worked closely together for many years too. In the newsroom at BBC Wales there are many Swansea graduates like Jason Mohammad, so even if we weren’t there at the same time we have a great deal of common ground. The recent Varsity Match was a wonderful opportunity to renew old friendships and it’s been great to get back into contact with alumni. What have you done that you’re most proud of? Bringing up two happy daughters. What are your plans for the future? Developing the new business is enormously rewarding and is taking up much of my time. In the immediate future I’m providing tea and sympathy for my two girls who are going through A-levels and GCSEs! And finally, describe yourself in three words… Inquisitive, driven, Mum. Sail – 11
Page 1 and 2: The Alumni Office Singleton Abbey S
Page 3 and 4: Research news Upping the anti Scien
Page 5: Campus transformation on the horizo

Sail - Swansea University

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