Swansea University Wins Coveted Education Award

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Swansea University is celebrating the news today (18 June) that it has won the Outstanding Student Admissions Team category in the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards 2014 held in association with the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education.

Thelma Awards imageTheir victory was witnessed by more than 1,000 people, who gathered at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane for the awards last night.

Now in their sixth year, the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards are a highlight of the academic calendar and a celebration of the best of the sector.

Swansea University’s entry this year for the Outstanding Student Admissions Team category involved a combined submission from the Recruitment, Admissions and Marketing Teams as these teams developed and led a highly successful cross-University recruitment and admissions strategy for new home undergraduates – leading to a 24% increase in applications in 2013 and 25% in 2014; and a 26% increase in new student enrolments in 2013.

Lead judge Ken Sloan, registrar and chief operating officer of the University of Warwick, was impressed by how the university’s admissions staff had sought “to put Swansea on the map” by broadening its appeal.

“They got their act together in terms of marketing and recruitment to target a wider geographical area, with a focus on the South East,” he said.

John Gill, editor, Times Higher Education, said: “Winning a Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Award is recognition of a most impressive achievement: making an exceptional contribution to the success of one of the UK’s most precious assets, our universities...”

Speaking about the University’s achievements Vice- Chancellor Professor Richard B Davies said: “Swansea University continues to go from success to success. The further increase in applications this year by a record 25% reflects the hard work which our Student Admissions, Recruitment and Marketing teams have put into improving the recruitment and application process. Their concerted efforts have also resulted in record attendances at our Open Days.

“This award is the latest achievement for Swansea University.  We can truly demonstrate that we are an ambitious institution with top quality teaching and an excellent place to study for UK, EU and international students.”

Keran Williams, Head of Admissions for Swansea University said: “I am delighted to have won this award which recognises the hard work of the team and their success in showcasing Swansea as a great place to live and study.”

Other evidence paints a similar picture: 

  • The University leapt to 27th overall joint ranking  (up from 42nd place last year) in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey, which looks at areas such as high quality staff/lectures, well-structured courses, and good industry connections, as well as good support/welfare, good environment on campus/around university, and good social life.
  • Swansea University was also voted the Overall Best University in the UK voted exclusively by students at UK universities in the WhatUni.com Student Choice Awards 2014 
  • The University has also celebrated the news it has moved up from 48th to 42nd place in The Complete University Guide 2015 which analyses universities across the UK and looks at areas such as graduate prospects, student satisfaction and spend per student.
  • The Complete University Guide 2015 also showed that Swansea University is in the top 20 places in the UK for a range of subjects, from engineering and medical technology to social work, putting it among the UK’s leading universities.
  • The University is also in the world’s top 200 institutions by the QS World University Subject rankings and also maintained our place in the world’s top 5% of Universities in the overall QS World University Ranking 2013/14.
  • Sunday Times’ University Guide 2014 ranked Swansea University in the top 50 UK universities having risen 5 places and was the only university in Wales to move up the table. The guide also recognised that Swansea University was in the top 20 in the UK for graduate job prospects, with 77% of graduates in professional jobs or graduate study.
  • Overall student satisfaction, at 86%, is higher than the Wales and UK average.
  • Over 90% of Swansea University students are already in further education or employment within 6 months of graduating and our students will get even more of a head start with our Employability Academy, launched in 2012.