SPARTAN Summer 2014

SPArtan B AT H S P A A L U M N I A N D F R I E N D S M A G A Z I N E I S S U E T H R E E S U M M E R 2 0 1 4

04 NATHAN FILER: DEBATES, DETENTION CENTRES AND AN AWARD-WINNING NOVEL 06 ALUMNI COLLECTIVES 08 CODE CLUB 10 THE ORIGINS OF BATH SPA UNIVERSITY 14 Q & A WITH AMY DAWSON

Hello from our President W

elcome to the third edition of SPARTAN, the magazine for Bath Spa University’s Alumni and Friends. As the sun shines and a new group of students graduate, this is a happy time of year to catch up on news of our fellow alumni.

In this issue we explore the theme of family. Our Bath Spa family includes alumni of Newton Park College, Bath College of Higher Education, Bath Academy of Art and my own alma mater, Bath College of Domestic Science, to name a few. This year Bath Academy of Art alumni are celebrating a 50 year reunion and Newton Park College alumni, a 60 year reunion. I look forward to hearing more about their celebrations in a future issue of SPARTAN. Since I last wrote, I have been busy filming my new cookery series for BBC2 which aired in March and April and featured some of my all-time favourite recipes. Filming took place in my own kitchen which was wonderful and helped bring a sense of family life into the programmes.

Family, whatever form it takes, is a very powerful thing. We can gain so much knowledge and grow immensely from the wisdom and guidance of others, and in turn offer support and encouragement based on our own experiences.

My own family has been a great support and inspiration to me throughout my career and I have run a successful business venture with my daughter Annabel for many years.

We are keen to hear about the support and inspiration you would like to benefit from your Alumni Association. This summer you will be receiving an email or postcard from me asking you to take a few moments to fill in the new alumni survey or you can visit www.bsu2014.org. If you haven’t yet had chance, I would urge you to take the time to do so. The feedback we give will help the Alumni Association provide opportunities to support, inspire and entertain us.

We are fortunate to be members of an alumni community with a varied and interesting history. Whether you are a recent graduate or, like me, an ‘Oldie’ (I was recently voted Oldie of the Year 2014!), we can benefit from each other’s professional and personal support.

Today, Bath Spa University welcomes students into a creative family that encourages working together to help inspire new, creative thinking. As alumni we are part of that family and can offer much to the students of today and graduates of tomorrow.

Mary Berry, CBE Bath Spa University Alumni Association President

tom right Mary - bot 2

Contents 04

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Keep in touch Correspondence

Alumni collectives

Your feedback matters.

We would love to hear your suggestions for future issues of SPARTAN, along with your comments on this issue.

Please write to us by email at alumni@bathspa.ac.uk Or by post: Alumni Association Bath Spa University Newton Park Newton St Loe Bath BA2 9BN

Three groups talk about their joint ventures and how working together following graduation has resulted in professional success.

Alumni enquiries Ruth Russell alumni@bathspa.ac.uk

Nathan Filer: Debates, detention centres and an award-winning novel Creative Writing Lecturer and alumnus talks about his shock of winning the Costa Book of the Year award.

SPARTAN is published twice a year. The opinions expressed in its editorial are those of the writers concerned and not necessarily those of Bath Spa University.

Code Club

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Clare Sutcliffe has devised an inspirational after school club to help develop children’s technology skills.

Cover Cover shows jacket artwork from The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer, reproduced by kind permission of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. Images © Shutterstock.com

The origins of Bath Spa University A look back in time at the history of the various colleges that formed Bath Spa University.

Facet Alumni magazine 1966

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Correspondence A selection of letters and emails from our alumni.

Q & A with Amy Dawson

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The current Students’ Union President and 2012 graduate reflects on her Bath Spa University experience.

Long before the first issue of SPARTAN, students at Newton Park College produced 'Facet' - a magazine for past and present members of the College. We have reproduced a sample of an issue from 1966 which includes wonderful stories and articles about topics concerning students of the day. We hope you enjoy reading this snippet of the magazine and discovering how, although we now live in a new era, we share a vibrant and colourful history.

Visit www.bathspa.ac.uk/facet

A final note Professor Christina Slade, Vice-Chancellor of Bath Spa University.

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he last six months have been rather busy for Nathan Filer. Not only is he now an award-winning author, he also got married and works at Bath Spa University as a creative writing lecturer. Reflecting on recent events he said, “The recognition and award was a great surprise and the two or three weeks that followed were a bit of a whirlwind, but of course the journey of writing the book was far slower. For me, this sudden success has been part of a much longer journey.

Debates, Detention Centres and an Awardwinning novel Creative Writing Lecturer and alumnus talks about his shock of winning the Costa Book of the Year award.

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© Sarah Lee/Guardian News & Media Ltd.

“To have firstly been shortlisted and then win the Costa First Novel Award was very humbling. To win the Costa Book of the Year was incredible. I didn’t expect to win, especially when nominated alongside such talented writers as Kate Atkinson. I was completely shocked.”

Nathan’s profile as a writer has risen rapidly since his Costa Book Award success, but what about the journey of writing his first novel? He explains the role his MA in Creative Writing played in the development of The Shock of the Fall.

“I first started thinking about my protagonist, Matthew Homes, when I was training to be a student nurse in 2003. Overall it has been a nine or ten year project. But I started writing it in a concentrated way during my MA course in 2009, where I completed the first full draft.

“This was the most significant year of the novel’s journey, an intense period when I achieved the most progress. I was able to focus completely on my writing, to prioritise it. This is something that can be very difficult to do if you are not already writing as a profession.

“One of the key outcomes of the course was the momentum I had when I finished. I honestly think I would still be writing the book if I hadn’t had that momentum and enthusiasm to finish it.”

Nathan is grateful for the tuition he received, not least from his manuscript tutor Tricia Wastvedt. “She helped me to look at the work in a critical way, whilst also being encouraging about its strengths,” he explained.

“She was a real asset, and when I read certain lines of the book I know in my mind that Tricia helped me to shape them.

“A great thing about the MA Creative Writing course is you have the opportunity to learn from such a wealth of experience and talent. I worked with people who are skilled writers and tutors.”

From student to teacher Nathan is a tutor on the BA (Hons) Creative Writing course, teaching third year students. Having been a creative writing student himself, Nathan has a unique perspective of the course he now teaches, as he explains.

“To be in an environment surrounded by peers who share the same difficulties, stresses and successes, created a unique creative community and that was very special to me. I try to foster that sense of community with my BA Creative Writing class. Students critique each other's work and we share feedback collectively.

It can be quite an intense process, but hopefully a fun one too.”

Not just a novelist Away from teaching and writing Nathan volunteers for the International Solidarity Movement, an organisation dedicated to the human rights of Palestinians. On their second trip to the West Bank Nathan and his partner Emily were apprehended at Tel Aviv airport in Israel.

They were interrogated and then detained to be deported the following day. Unbeknown to Emily, Nathan had been planning to propose to her at some point during their trip. However, a ‘stop and search’ in the airport detention centre scuppered Nathan’s plans, as he explains: “I had the engagement ring safely hidden away in my pocket. A guard made me empty out all of my belongings in front of Emily and she naturally spotted it.

My proposal was ruined, but thankfully she agreed to marry me just the same. The guard offered us a can of Sprite to celebrate in our cell. Not the champagne toast I had imagined, but we are now happily married with a beautiful daughter, Ayda, whose name means ‘to return’ in Arabic.”

Competition 31st July 2014 To win a signed first edition copy of The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer in our free Prize Draw, please answer the following question: What is the name of the protagonist in The Shock of the Fall? a) Thomas b) Matthew c) Nathan Please email your answer to alumni@bathspa.ac.uk by 5:00pm on Thursday 31 July 2014.

The value of creative writing courses A debate about whether creative writing can be taught has featured prominently in the media recently. Nathan has spoken about this on Radio 4's Today Programme and shares his view: “I think that whilst some aspects of writing may come more instinctively to some people, much of writing is craft and much of this craft can be taught. We start learning to write when we are very young children and first pick up a pencil. A creative writing degree may be rather more advanced, but it's all the same learning curve.” y nd famil Nathan a

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Alumni Collectives Three groups of Bath Spa University alumni tell us about their joint ventures and how continuing to work together after graduation can result in professional success. seam seam is a contemporary textiles collective founded by four MA Design: Fashion and Textiles alumni. Its focus is to support members in their textile practice, promote members’ work and focus on local opportunities. We spoke to founding member Desiree Goodall:

Collective /kəˈlɛktɪv/ noun: 1. a cooperative enterprise.

“We started meeting regularly from January 2013 to critique each other’s work and share information about textile-related matters. With all of us being Bath Spa alumni, we have a common way of working, the same awareness of quality standards for work and shared networks – all advantages as we pursue our professional and creative goals together.

“Maintaining a connection with Bath Spa has its benefits. We use the library, keep up with events and opportunities from the School of Art and Design, attend the TextileMatters symposia and exhibitions at Sion Hill.

One of our members, Anna Glasbrook, has given a talk to the students in the School of Art and Design and has mentored several students as part of the alumni mentoring scheme.

“Joy Merron has had her proposal accepted to be part of the launch of the new Commons building at Newton Park. Anna Gravelle is working as a textile technician at Bath Spa and Penny Wheeler works as a visiting lecturer. Penny applied and was accepted for the Rising Stars exhibition at the New Ashgate Gallery (Farnham), after seeing a notice on the Bath Spa opportunities board.

“The first year was a lot of work defining the collective, creating the website, and then organising our first exhibition, but now we feel like we are on a really firm footing to move forward and focus on the fun bit; our creativity.” seamcollective.wordpress.com seam founders: Desiree Goodall, Tabitha Stewart, Linda Row-Care, Penny Wheeler. seam members: Joy Merron, Penny Seume, Anna Glasbrook, Lyn Snow, Sam Onyechi, Anna Gravelle and Llio James.

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Sounds of Harlowe

Unique Voice

Sounds of Harlowe is a live hip-hop collective consisting entirely of Bath Spa University alumni. With powerful beats, funky grooves and smooth vocals, the band’s signature brand of music has been wowing fans across the UK since 2011. We spoke to beatboxer and lyricist Solomon Ogunmefun (BA (Hons) Graphic Communication 2013) a.k.a S.3.O.

Unique Voice is a Bristol-based theatre company and educational provider that writes, produces and creates performances and workshops exploring the social issues affecting young people today. Their services provide a platform for young people to explore their talents, skills, development and fears through drama.

“People are usually surprised to hear that none of us attended the Commercial Music course, but came from different disciplines. The best part about that is we have different knowledge and skills to draw from. For example, the technical side of things such as recording can mostly be done by the CMT (Creative Music Technology) boys, dramatically cutting costs for studio sessions, and I designed our logo and identity.

"Our biggest achievement has been sticking together after University. Many bands break up after graduating and we've experienced that to a degree. Members have parted ways with the group to pursue other careers. Just one of those things that can happen with large groups...

We wish them all the best going forward!

“We came back to Bath Spa to play at the Students’ Union for Halloween 2013, which was cool. It's always nice to be back in Bath and its great when some friendly faces come out to see us again. It’s good to go back to where you started.

“Bath Spa has been great to us as a collective. The support we've received from everyone gave us a great foundation to build on. We always love meeting new people and encourage anyone who has been following us to say ‘hi’ and share the love with their friends.

Hopefully we'll catch some Spartans (old and new) next time we're playing near you!” www.facebook.com/soundsofharlowe www.youtube.com/soundsofharlowe Sounds of Harlowe includes: Solomon Ogunmefun, Mike Gill, Jamie Aubrey, Kenroy Medford, Luke Thorpe and Christopher North.

Unique Voice was founded by BA (Hons) Performing Arts (2009) alumni Krystal Keeley, Claire Farnham and Cat Sparkes. Krystal tells us more: “Through watching our plays, young people have self-identified as young carers, reported bullying and self-harm. There have also been occasions when a criminal investigation has taken place after young people have associated their experiences with the drama they have seen. For us, that is an achievement and a prime example of why we do what we do. We are also extremely proud to be patroned by Sir Patrick Stewart.

“We are involved in the Graduate Mentor scheme at Bath Spa and continue to welcome students to experience our company and offer advice for their future careers. We have also been invited to give talks to undergraduates and have been fortunate to access invaluable business advice throughout our development. Joining the Graduate Mentor scheme has helped improve the dynamic of our team. Hosts have helped spread the Unique Voice brand and talks have also generated income.

“The best advice we can give to those who would like to set up a company is never be afraid to ask for help!

We wished we had been more confident at the beginning to be bolder. Always remind yourself of your passion and use this in your path.” www.uniquevoice.org Other Bath Spa alumni involved in the project include: Suzanne Booth, Adam Fuller, Sarah Fullager, Claire Rowbotham, Kim Elliott-Jones, Lizzy Cummins, Simon Batchelor, Liam Watts-Burrows, Jenni Waugh and Ruth Stokes.

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CODE CLUB Clare Sutcliffe has devised an inspirational after school club to help develop children’s technology skills.

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hat sort of after school clubs did you go to?

Technology today plays an increasingly important part in people’s lives and a Bath Spa alumna is leading the way in offering school children a different sort of after school experience.

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Clare Sutcliffe is a Graphic Design alumna and in 2012 she created a nationwide network of free, volunteer-led after school computer coding clubs for children aged nine to 11.

After graduating in 2004 Clare began working as Art Director for Alphabet Advertising. Two and a half years later Clare moved on and until 2012 she worked as a designer for a number of different companies.

‘Code Club’ is a not-for-profit organisation funded by donations from the public, technology companies and grants.

There are currently over 2,000 Code Clubs across the UK. Clare’s company creates projects for its volunteers to teach at after school coding clubs or at non-school venues such as libraries. The projects teach children how to program computers by showing them how to make computer games, animations and websites.

The way Code Club works is quite simple. A volunteer who knows how to program computers visits their local school or venue. They take with them one of Code Club’s specially written projects and teach children how to program. Each Club meets for one hour a week and one project is taught per session. Every term a new set of projects is written to challenge the students while encouraging them to use their imagination to create their own projects.

Clare explains the aims and objectives of Code Club: “Our mission is to give every child in the UK the chance to learn to code. It is our aim to have a Code Club in 25 per cent of primary schools in the UK by the end of 2015,” she said.

A recent survey of UK adults showed they believe computer coding skills will be of greater value to their children than a second language. The survey, published by code.org showed that 52 per cent of British adults favoured coding when asked which subjects they thought should take priority in schools.

Clare added: “Teaching children to code empowers them to bring their imaginations to life. Code is another tool they can use to be creative and express themselves - which is what children do best!”

Clare recently returned to Bath Spa and gave a lecture to current Graphic Communication students. Anna Judson, who will graduate from the course in 2015, attended the lecture and commented: “Having attended Clare’s lecture I have been encouraged to continue experimenting with coding in my own work. Clare emphasised how important it is to know how to write and understand code in the graphic design industry today.

“Following Clare’s talk I have used coding in my recent projects and plan to continue developing my coding knowledge to better my career opportunities.”

More information about Code Club can be found at: www.codeclub.org.uk

Bath Spa Clare at Clare presenting Hacking the future at TEDxBrighton, 2012

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The origins of Bath Spa University As a member of the Bath Spa University Alumni Association you are part of a 50,000-strong community.

Your fellow members are alumni from Bath Academy of Art, Bath College of Higher Education, Newton Park Teacher Training College, Bath College of Domestic Science and more, so you are in good company!

Bath Spa University celebrates 10 years as a university in 2015, with a proud heritage of over 160 years teaching in Bath. Here is a brief look at our exciting journey.

Bath School of Art founded following The Great Exhibition of 1851.

Bath Technical Schools founded, creating the Bath College of Domestic Science based at the Guildhall and joined by Bath School of Art.

Bath School of Art Headmaster William Harbutt invents Plasticine in his efforts to create a reusable, nondrying modelling material for art students.

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Bath College of Domestic Science moves to Brougham Hayes (now home to Haysfield Lower School).

Bath Academy of Art opens at Corsham Court, training art teachers and artists.

Principal: Clifford Ellis.

Bath School of Art temporarily moves to the home of Walter Sickert in Bathampton following a bombing at its Green Park site.

City of Bath Training College for women only, opens in various locations across Bath. Principal: Mary Dawson.

City of Bath Training College moves to Newton Park.

HRH Princess Elizabeth officially opens City of Bath Training College on 2 March.

HRH The Queen Mother officially opens the Bath College of Domestic Science Sion Hill building.

City of Bath Training College admits men.

City of Bath Training College becomes Newton Park College of Education.

Bath College of Domestic Science and Newton Park College of Education merge and become Bath College of Higher Education (BCHE).

HRH Prince Charles opens the Students’ Union building (now the library) on 12 June.

Bath Academy of Art merges with BCHE and moves to Sion Hill, and the Home Economics department (Domestic Science as was) moves to Newton Park.

BCHE becomes Bath Spa University College. ViceChancellor: Professor Frank Morgan.

Bath Spa University College becomes Bath Spa University and a new Graduate School opens in Corsham Court.

Bath Spa University is granted research degreeawarding powers.

BCHE is granted degree-awarding powers. Director: Professor Brian L Gomes da Costa.

The Alumni Association is launched with the first edition of SPARTAN magazine and President Mary Berry, CBE.

Professor Christina Slade joins as the new Vice-Chancellor and is driving the University forward as a leader in creativity, culture, enterprise and education.

A new worldclass building ‘Commons’ and residential accommodation open at Newton Park transforming facilities for students and staff.

Bath Spa University is 10 years old, with a proud history of over 160 years of teaching.

We have found some inconsistencies in the historical records.

If you think anything is out of place, please let us know.

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correspondence We always love to hear from you.

Keep writing, posting and tweeting or email alumni@bathspa.ac.uk Jennifer Skellett has generously sponsored two postgraduate bursaries in the School of Music. The recipients of the 2013 awards recently met up with Jennifer to thank her and share with her how the awards are helping them further their studies.

Jennifer Skellett Postgraduate Bursary Dear Jennifer, Thank you so much for your kind donation to Bath Spa University. I am extremely grateful for the bursary I received.

I am thoroughly enjoying my course in MMus Songwriting, and got distinctions in my first term which I am really pleased about!

Travel has been quite expensive this year, and your donation has enabled me to buy a bus pass each month to get to Corsham where my course is based. The bursary has also helped toward travel to gigs, mostly in Bath and Bristol. Playing regular gigs has developed my confidence and solidified my performance skills, and I hope to continue playing as much as possible. I also recently went to London for a music networking event, and met many songwriters, producers, publishers and composers who may be very useful contacts for life after Bath Spa University.

Thanks again,

Jennifer Skellett Postgraduate Bursary Dear Jennifer, Here is a letter in recognition of your scholarship for my master’s degree (for which I cannot be thankful enough), and an update on how the course is going so far and what I’ve achieved.

Firstly, the funding has helped to alleviate the financial pressures of studying, enabling me to focus more on piano practice, research and acquiring recordings and scores. Secondly, the unique opportunity to use the piano in Bath Abbey, is a hugely valued asset. It is a pleasure to play on such an exceptional instrument, in a truly unique rehearsal space.

I’ve been given inspiration and drive and once again, I can’t thank you enough. The opportunities that the Jennifer Skellett Award has provided are a significant backing to my future goals, and I’ll continue to benefit from them for a long time.

Thank you again, Tom Davis Masters of Music (MMus) Performance

Kirsty Folan Masters of Music (MMus) Songwriting

Reunion Thanks

Kirsty om and T h it er w Jennif

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The Bath Spa University Archive, based at Corsham Court, collects documents, images and ephemera associated with the University and its predecessor colleges. An important aspect of this work is collecting oral and written memories of our former students and staff. Here are two memories from the archive. If you would like to share a memory please contact us at alumni@bathspa.ac.uk.

Bath Spa Archive

Bath Spa Archive

Esther and Michael Esther trained as an art teacher and attended Bath Academy of Art at Corsham Court from 1955 to 1958. In an oral history interview she recalled vivid images of some of her experiences at the time.

Elaine and Brian came to Newton Park in 1965, and have happy memories of the time and place they met.

Brian describes his first view of the campus as “like arriving in heaven” compared to the industrial landscape of West Yorkshire he was used to.

Whilst here studying a rural science teacher’s course, he became involved in a growing Students’ Union, which - being the mid-1960s - pushed for a more relaxed attitude to rules and regulations. At that time, there were still curfews at hostels, and strict visiting times for members of the opposite sex.

During an oral history interview for the Bath Spa Archive, Elaine recalled that “when we came we were 18, but you weren’t considered an adult until 21.

By the time we were 21, this had dropped to age 18.”

So College rules had to be updated to accommodate this change in society as a whole, and Brian and Elaine’s generation were in the middle of all this. Students became more independent as a result.

When they qualified as teachers and left Newton Park, the couple married before taking up their first teaching posts. Elaine said: “We had to get married really, you couldn’t not and I wouldn’t have expected to get a fulltime teaching job, well not in a church school which a lot of them were. I got a junior job in a churchcontrolled school and they just expected you to be married or completely single, but you know certainly not living in the same town... with a man.”

“I was summoned for interview on my 18th birthday.

The letter told me to bring along two works – a selfportrait and half a cabbage or cauliflower: one was to be in black and white and the other in colour. I spent a long time sat at the kitchen table doing those.”

At her interview, on a dark December evening Esther recalls: “Throughout the meal my hosts chatted on about how wonderful Corsham was and who taught there, though their names meant little to me, and I looked at all the works by old Masters hung on the walls which I thought rather dull and dark and wondered where all the progressive and exciting work was. Then I began to think that if I was offered a place, I wasn’t sure that I would accept. I became bored with the enthusiastic chatter and I turned my head towards the end of the long refectory table and at the far end a figure was sitting staring straight ahead, and all I can say is that lightning struck.

Despite my shyness, I broke into the chatter and asked my friend who this figure was. She laughed and said, ‘Oh, that’s Michael.’ There was something about him I couldn’t explain and I thought if he’s the kind of student they have here, I’ll accept a place if it’s offered. If anyone tells you there isn’t such a thing as love at first sight, don’t believe them. There is.”

Esther and Michael’s relationship grew over their time at Bath Academy of Art and she speaks fondly of their life together until he died a few years ago.

A different time, and a different society.

Join the LinkedIn professional network, connect with successful alumni and stay one step ahead in your career. Search for the Bath Spa University Alumni Association group on LinkedIn or use bit.ly/BSULinkAlumni

Like us on Facebook – enjoy the news and photos; find old friends. facebook.com/BathSpaUniversityAlumni

Follow us on Twitter – keep up with the very latest from Bath Spa alumni. twitter.com/BathSpaAlumni 13 13

A flipping excellent time!

Q&A with Amy Dawson, BA (Hons) Cultural and Drama Studies, class of 2012 Now: Students’ Union President, until 20 June 2014!

As you bid a fond farewell what will you miss most about the job?

“The students! I’m so lucky to be surrounded by hundreds of students who are determined to make the most of their university experience. Any student who takes proactive steps in helping create change makes this job worthwhile. From course reps, whose dedication and commitment never ceases to amaze me, to Student Council members who stand up for what they believe in and all the student volunteers. They’re absolutely brilliant.”

How do you hope to stay involved with Bath Spa over the months and years to come as a member of the growing Alumni Association?

Amy Dawson has been President of Bath Spa University Students’ Union for the last two years.

Amy, tell us about your time as the Students’ Union President.

“The experience has been absolutely invaluable. It has been a massive challenge and I will never forget what a privilege it has been to be in this role! During a time of massive change at Bath Spa and in the wider higher education sector, there has never been a dull day in my job!”

You were successfully re-elected for a second term as Students’ Union President, but what single accomplishment are you most proud of?

“I’m tempted to say the improved bus service – it’s always top on the list of students’ priorities, and this year the travel survey showed that students are finally much happier with the service. But as exciting as buses are, my favourite accomplishment was the introduction of the Bath Spa Teaching Awards. We’re all so willing to talk about what needs changing and what’s not good enough, but these Awards enable students to talk about what they value at Bath Spa. “The incredible response we have received to this campaign during the last two years shows just how much students have to say about their teaching! The Awards are used to help make positive changes across the University, which I am very proud of. I’ve also really enjoyed being part of turning the Union around, both financially and helping boost its reputation.”

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“I would definitely like to attend any events that happen in the future. The work that’s being done in the Alumni Relations department is really exciting and I can’t wait to attend my 50 year reunion in 2062! I’d also be keen to support students by getting involved in the career mentoring programme as it’s something I think I could have benefitted from as a student. I’d love to continue to rally support from Bath Spa Alumni for the Students’ Union. Whether you were involved in the Students’ Union or not, it is constantly working to get the student voice heard and improve students’ experiences at university.”

What are your career plans and aspirations?

“I would love to stay in the higher education sector in one way or another, possibly through widening participation charities or something along those lines. I am keeping my search very broad and my options open. The next step is a petrifying one – I’ve been so lucky to have a steady job during my first two years since graduating. However, first things first, I want to get away for a month or two. Just a short break before I face reality!”

Finally, what three words would you use to describe Bath Spa University and your time here?

“Flipping excellent time!”

r right Amy - fa

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hope you enjoyed this issue of SPARTAN and found it interesting and inspiring to hear more about the extended family of which you are a part. Reading the stories in this issue we journeyed through Bath Spa’s history, into a present to be proud of and towards an exciting vision for the future.

A final note....

You, as our alumni, are a vital part of the Bath Spa community and our continuing journey. I know I speak on behalf of everyone at the University when I say we feel very proud hearing about your achievements and on-going success.

Our alumni community is flourishing with another cohort of students graduating in July, and an increasing number of new students, many from overseas, joining us each year. The relationships formed at university develop beyond geographical boundaries making the Bath Spa community a truly global one. We have a growing network of international alumni ambassadors who are sharing their own experiences with young people in countries across the world and helping them decide whether to pursue higher education at Bath Spa. It is wonderful when you, our alumni, give something valuable to the community through your time, advice, advocacy or philanthropy all of which enhance our students’ experience and prospects. Your generosity is helping Bath Spa develop from being an excellent university to a truly great institution for years to come.

Thank you for your continued support of Bath Spa and please continue to keep in touch and share with us your inspiring news.

Professor Christina Slade Vice-Chancellor, Bath Spa University

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MAY 21 - SEPT 14

diary dates

JUNE 2

Partnership Event Julian Opie: Collected Works

Graduate Fashion Week

at The Holburne Museum, Bath To book www.holburne.org

12.30pm at the Old Truman Brewery, London Graduate Showcase To book www.gfw.org.uk

JUNE 7-14

JUNE 9-14

BA Art & Design Degree Exhibition

Universities Week

10am-5pm daily at Sion Hill, Bath

Details will be available online at www.bathspa.ac.uk

Graduate Showcase

Research

JUNE 13

JUNE 25

SEPT 20-24

SEPT 26-OCT 5

Music Showcase

Professor Gavin Cologne-Brookes, “Mortality and Memoir: Recalling What Matters”

MA Art & Design Show

Bath Children’s Literature Festival

7pm at the Assembly Rooms, Bath

ss, 2008, inned dre u q e s rame. h it esa w minium f lu a in Maria Ter c pie, Acryli Julian O

10am-5pm daily at Sion Hill, Bath

5pm at Newton Park, Commons Building

Graduate Showcase To book www.bathspampa.com/ bathspalive

Professorial Lecture Series

Graduate Showcase

Partnership Event To book www.bathfestivals.org.uk

To book www.bathspa.ac.uk/pls

w jus why just t be grea great at at at it w when yyou ou can mas master t it? ter DIFFERENT THINKING

Study for a postgraduate aduate degr degree ee at Bath Spa University University and advance yyour our career, car eerr, fuel your your passion. assion.

How far can you you go? g bathspa.ac.uk/pgrad bathspa.ac.uk/pg grad