annual review 2012/13 Contents Foreword from the Vice-Chancellor 01 A year of progress 02 Highlights 04 Creativity 06 Culture 14 Enterprise 22 Foreword from Internationalisation 28 the Vice-Chancellor Development and Alumni Relations 30 Welcome to the Annual Review of the Bath Spa University has taught in Bath I thoroughly enjoyed our summer graduation Academic highlights 34 University for 2012/13.We are proud to and the surrounding area for over 160 years ceremonies, held for the first time in Bath celebrate the achievements of our staff and and we prides ourselves on the quality of our Abbey. Our presence in the city did not go Research expertise 40 students, reflecting the core themes of our provision. It is pleasing to report another year unnoticed, with our students standing proud vision – creativity, culture, enterprise and of gains in the National Student Survey in their caps and gowns, admired by the many Working with business 50 education. with students expressing their continued visitors to Bath. It was my honour to present Community 52 satisfaction with the experience we provide. this year's honorary graduates with their Higher education policy continued to present The University offers a distinctive student awards in recognition of outstanding HR update 58 universities with challenges during the last 12 experience, fostering vibrant and creative achievement in their respective fields. months. Here at Bath Spa University we have student communities.With our new academic Facts and Figures 60 developed our vision and strategy to build on building at Newton Park we look to the I hope that you enjoy this review of the our strengths and maximise our opportunities. future, providing world-class student learning exceptional achievements and highlights of Governors and senior staff 61 We celebrated new international partnerships, opportunities. the last year which make Bath Spa University bringing new students as well as global such an inspirational place to work and study. opportunities for local students. Our aim Our research community continues to grow is to help our students develop and become across traditional areas as well as exploring Professor Christina Slade socially engaged global citizens at Bath Spa. what it means to undertake practice-based Vice-Chancellor research. Researchers are reaching out across the globe, from New York to the peaks of Mount Athos. In a year where preparation for the Research Excellence Framework has been intense, we have seen progress in supporting our academic community. The launch of our repository, Research SPAce, has proven a great success and the new academic year will see many new PhD students including our new interdisciplinary cohort. Cover image: ‘Capriccio Beakers’ by Elke Sada ( BA Hons Ceramics, 2003) 01 In June of this year construction of new student residential accommodation at the top of the campus near to the Students’ Union began. The new student residential accommodation will consist of 55 individual ‘houses’ for up to ten students, six fully accessible rooms and a small number of Engaged research with impact studios, providing a total of 561 bedrooms. Each house will have a shared kitchen/living Research is focused on creativity, culture and space and en-suite bedrooms fitted to a high enterprise with established strengths in Art Newton Park campus standard. The building work is scheduled to be and Design, Music and Performing Arts, completed by September 2014, in time for A year of progress Humanities and Creative Writing and development the start of the new academic year. Education. These priority areas will be developed and the University’s reputation A large scale development project at the enhanced by increasing external funding, University’s Newton Park campus began in growing postgraduate research and teaching the summer of 2012. An outstanding new activity, enhancing international partnerships academic building and student residential and maximising impact and engagement. accommodation are being constructed and Specifically the University will: will transform the student experience. G deliver excellence in research, This is the largest development to ever take G provide a vibrant postgraduate community, place at Bath Spa. It will significantly change Vision and Strategy for 2015 the Newton Park campus and provide Hartham Park developments G engage the public in its research and exceptional new facilities for all current and Since her arrival at the University in 2012, the develop research in areas of key strength; A distinctive student experience innovation. future students. As the University grows it is A significant addition to the University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Christina Slade has notably creativity, culture and enterprise. essential that it offers an outstanding infrastructure was developed in 2013 through worked with colleagues to develop a vision for Building on its distinctive reputation, the The University’s location in the world heritage A world university experience and attracts students from around a partnership with Hartham Park in Corsham. the future. That vision is for Bath Spa to be a University will internationalise its operations, city of Bath provides the backdrop for delivery the world. The development of the Newton leading educational institution in creativity, introducing global perspectives to the of outstanding academic programmes in The strategy for internationalisation will Park campus is a key element in helping the The University’s PGCE provision in the School culture and enterprise. Through innovative curriculum and opening programmes to creativity, culture, enterprise and education. transform the University’s international University realise its Vision for 2015. of Education will be re-located to Hartham teaching and research, the University will an increasingly international student body. A practitioner-focussed approach to teaching profile, embed global perspectives into the Park in 2014 to form a new and high-profile provide a high quality student experience. features studio and small group teaching, curriculum and grow international student Work on the new academic building began in Bath Spa Institute for Education. The move Based in a world heritage city and connected The Vision for 2015 is underpinned by supported by the latest developments in recruitment. Specifically the University will: June 2012. It is situated in the middle of the has been subject to a comprehensive public to a network of international partners, Bath principles derived from the University’s long e-learning. The University works in partnership campus next to the Michael Tippett Centre. It consultation, and will involve transforming G establish the profile of Bath Spa as a world Spa University will ensure that its graduates history and proven strengths. It is inspired by with the cultural and creative industries as will provide state-of-the-art teaching facilities university, part of the Hartham Park estate into a superb are socially engaged global citizens. the University’s idyllic location in the world well as regional, national and international for students across all subjects, as well as a purpose-built teaching facility. heritage city of Bath in which work and play, education partners to produce employment- G develop graduates who are socially engaged café, learning commons, bookable rooms for This year, the realisation of that vision has science and fiction, technological ready graduates who are socially engaged global citizens, group working and an outdoor amphitheatre This exciting development will complement started through the implementation of a clear development and environmental awareness global citizens. Specifically the University will: for performances. It will also house a the University’s postgraduate provision based G increase overseas student numbers. strategy for the University up until 2015. converge to stimulate creativity and fantastic new digital studio and editing suites at Corsham Court, and consolidate the strong G foster vibrant and creative student innovation. The supporting strategy sets for all digital media-related courses. It will communities, partnership between the University,Wiltshire In 2015 Bath Spa University will celebrate over out clear goals for the student experience, feature the best technology and equipment, Council and local schools. As a leading 160 years as an educational institution and research and internationalisation. G deliver world-class student learning equal to anything used by commercial education provider with Ofsted ‘outstanding’ ten years as a university. The Vision and opportunities, companies and will be the most outstanding status, the University is ideally placed to lead Strategy for 2015 show how the University facility of its kind in the South West.Work on the way in educational policy and practice G learn from its students. will expand its educational offerings and the new academic building is scheduled to be development, and to help shape the national completed by April 2014. agenda on teacher education. 02 03 Highlights SEPTEMBER 012 OCTOBER 012 NOVEMBER 012 DECEMBER 012 JANUARY 013 FEBRUARY 013 Moby Dick Big Read is launched at A new resource for schools In Care, Film director Ken Loach is awarded Cook, TV presenter and Bath Spa Bath Spa and the Holburne Museum Stephanie Kitchen wins the Fashion the Plymouth International Book In School is launched at the House an honorary doctorate at a special alumna Mary Berry is announced as formalise their long-standing Awareness