OUR HERITAGE
Our University originated in the dreams of the miners and industrialists whose contributions enabled the establishment of the University of Wales, and whose hope was that their university would provide new opportunities for their communities as it helped to shape the future of Wales. In 1920, Swansea became the federated university’s fourth member. The University College, Swansea was conceived as a technical institution that would work in partnership with its community to address the needs of the region, and local industry in particular. Although our founding disciplines were in the Sciences, Mathematics, Engineering and Metallurgy, these were swiftly complemented by the introduction of Welsh, English, French, History, Classics and Education. Hence, despite being founded by industry, for industry, our University was always imagined as a broad and eclectic institution that embraces the spectrum of academic endeavour. This ambition is encapsulated in our motto, gweddw crefft heb ei dawn (technical skill is bereft without culture) , and it remains true today. We are, after all, the University of Glanmor Williams, Kenneth O. Morgan and Hywel Teifi Edwards, of Mary Williams, Saunders Lewis and Rush Rhees as much as we are the University of Edward Bowen, Florence Mockeridge and Olek Zienkiewicz. We have produced some of the most remarkable and influential figures of Welsh academic and public life, alongside sporting heroes and cultural icons.
Our University was the first purpose-built campus in the UK, with an enviable beachfront location. Our expansion onto the new Bay Campus in 2015 was a powerful statement of our self-belief and an impressive demonstration of how far we have come since our foundation. Our student community has grown from just 89 in 1920 to nearly 22,000 today. Our reputation for teaching excellence, an outstanding student experience and cutting-edge research has resulted in our compelling international profile. We are proud to rank consistently in the top ten UK Universities for student satisfaction; to have won the WhatUni University of the Year twice in the last five years; and to have been recognised as the Times and Sunday Times Welsh University of the Year twice in four years. From humble beginnings as a local University College one hundred years ago, today we are confident, proud to serve our region’s people and industries, and strong enough to hold our own alongside many of the world’s top institutions.
A SECOND CENTURY OF MAKING WAVES
A SECOND CENTURY OF MAKING WAVES
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker