STUDENT COMMUNITY
FEBRUARY 2024 END OF SEMESTER ROUNDUP
The January Exam Period brings us officially to the end of the first semester, so here’s a roundup of some of the fantastic things our community has been getting up to within their subjects, the School and across the Faculty.
Welcome Week
We welcomed over 3000 new students to the Faculty in September, with a varied programme of information based and social sessions. There were a fantastic mix of social activities hosted within Programmes and at School level to help students make connections and explore their new subjects, including quizzes, buffets, video competitions and more.
Student feedback shows us the importance students place on connecting with their cohort and getting to know their lecturers.
SoSS Departments have been busy with events to support students and provide opportunities to extend their learning and employability, including the SoSS Community Seminar Series, an Academic Success Day for MA Education and Childhood Studies, the CSSP Policing and Youth Careers Day, and the launch of both the CSSP Movie Club and the Populo Journal.
Your PGT School Rep, Bethan, organised a Study skills and social session for PGT students in SoCC and SoSS, which built community among the PGT cohort, and generated some brilliant study tips for assignment writing that were shared to students across the two schools.
Student-Staff Forums have been well attended with representation across the four departments, and some great discussion. Some positive changes to date based on SoSS feedback include; period product availability at Student Information Office Reception Desks, the establishment of regular coffee mornings and study groups for mature and commuter students and an off-campus social planned for next semester.
We’ve improved communication including better promotion of alternative study spaces, and using Instagram as a communication channel for the information we put out in Canvas posts as well as promotion of community events.
Look out for “Pizza for Your Thoughts” focus groups coming in Semester 2, focusing on student communications, and student experience of the new Extenuating Circumstances System.
Across the Faculty, we have hosted a programme of activities that support student wellbeing. Creative activities such as mug painting have been particularly popular with over 100 attendees, as well as four Makers Markets comprised of a majority of student and staff stalls. We’ve engaged with other teams across the University to run joint events, including crafts with Discovery, and study skills sessions with the Centre for Academic Success.
At “Welcome to Wales” on Bay Campus, students were treated to an afternoon of Welsh music, storytelling, food and traditional Welsh crafts. All these events provide an opportunity for students to meet new people, take time out from their studies, and try something different. Our Faculty Festive Fiesta was a Christmas spectacular, with carnival stalls, buffet, music, snow and a visit from Santa Claus himself!
The Student Information Team kicked off the term with “Making the Most of Your Year”, an event for students who were repeating the year or repeating failed modules. The session delivered advice and information around study skills, wellbeing, and personal development through employability and volunteering.
SPOTLIGHT ON..... SOCIETIES
Our student societies have been very active and engaged this last term. Along with their own funds, they each receive a budget from the Faculty, and have come up with many ways to spend this! For example, the Politics and IR Society have held regular coffee and chat socials, and a talk with Tom Giffard (MS) on Welsh Policy whilst the Criminology Society ran a Policing Careers Day and have been promoting a charity food drive, and running associated events including a quiz night.
Looking ahead to Semester 2: There’s plenty to look forward to, with a busy Semester ahead. During the term, we’ll continue to run student engagement events. Mark the dates in your diaries, and keep an eye out for announcements on the School Canvas Hub.
Games & Bingo! 1st February, 5.30pm SoM Room 011
Jewellery Making 8th February, 2pm Studio, Taliesin Create
Get Creative! 14th February, 1pm SoM Room 011
Lunar New Year 15th February Taliesin Create
St. David’s Day 29th February SoM Atrium
Scrapbook Making 22nd February, 11am Mall Room, Taliesin Create
Mug Painting 5th March, 2pm Mall Room, Taliesin Create
Soup Social 6th March, 1pm SoM Atrium
JOIN US FOR OUR: ‘MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE EVENT! Hosted by your Student Information, Support and Experience Team
FREE PIZZA
This session will provide information on services, resources and activities at the University that will help you to make the most of this academic year, and the remainder of your studies. This is chance for you to identify any areas of your studies, university life, employability or student community where you might want more support or information. It’s never too late to start making the most of your year, so pop along, enjoy a slice or two of free pizza, and find out more!
Singleton: Tuesday 6th February, 1pm Union House, room 301
Bay: Thursday 8th February, 12.30pm School of Management, room 239
If you have any questions about the event, please contact community-humanitiesandsocialsciences@swansea.ac.uk
12TH MARCH
KEEP IN TOUCH!
Your Reps will next be meeting during this term at the next Student-Staff Forum. If you’ve got any feedback or suggestions to improve your student experience, remember to get in touch with your Rep. You can find a list of Reps here. If you can’t see a Rep for your subject it means the position is vacant – perhaps consider becoming a Rep yourself?
If you’d like to nominate yourself as a Rep, or would like to pass on feedback where there isn’t a course Rep in place, contact community-socialsciences@swansea.ac.uk
Follow your School on Instagram @su_soss_community
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