A Pinch of SALT

In this episode, Alex and Mandy catch up with a group of colleagues who recently presented on the far-reaching potential of Microcredentials and Microprovision at the SALT Learning and Teaching Conference. They’ve have kindly agreed to come on the show to give us an insight into why Microcredentials and Microprovision are the future of university provision, the benefits to learners, and the ways t...

Societies at Swansea University are described by some as the heartbeat of its student experience. Two people that subscribe to this school of thought are Esyllt Rosser and Gwern Dafis, who are the outgoing and incoming Societies and Services officers for Swansea University’s Students’ Union. In this episode, they tell us all about the value added by societies at Swansea, and the ways in which thes...

This episode of a Pinch of SALT was recorded on Swansea University’s Research Vessel, the RV Mary Anning . It gives an insight into the work of the vessel and the experience, knowledge and skills of the vessel’s staff and how they contribute to the teaching and learning environment and the student experience at Swansea.

In this episode Mandy & Stuart talk to two colleagues from the Computer Science department here at Swansea University, Casey Hopkins and Luke Clement about  Technocamps and the Degree Apprenticeship . They share with us their passion for developing programming skills with children from an early age, and discuss the future of the programme and their own personal journey with Technocamps so far....

In this episode, Mandy talks to Emma James , she's a senior lecturer in accounting and finance here at Swansea University. She is a professionally qualified accountant and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. She is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE, and has a wealth of industrial experiences, which she enjoys sharing with her students in creative ways. Her innovative teachi...

The SALT conference is an opportunity for us to showcase the very best practice in learning and teaching from colleagues across the university. It’s a chance to inspire, to be inspired, and sharpen one another in our craft. In this episode, we have the privilege of sitting with some colleagues without whom the conference simply does not happen, to hear about this year's conference, and to hear the...

With any major transition in our lives, there is the potential for feelings of grief, or deep sadness in response to something we’ve lost. We often associate grief with the loss of a loved one, but grief can also come with other transitions: leaving university, losing a job, divorce, children leaving home, menopause and retirement qualify as major life transitions.  These transitions can caus...

In 2020, Swansea University adopted a new Digital Learning Platform, moving from Blackboard to Canvas. To ensure the transition was as smooth as it could possibly be, the University assembled a project team of individuals who are passionate about Technology in education. Over the past couple of years, the team has evolved, adapted, and supported staff to launch out into the world of online learnin...

We began planning A Pinch of SALT a little over a year ago February 2021 and published our first episode in July 2021. We opened with Swansea's Pro-Vice Chancellor of Learning and Teaching professor Martin Stringer which was the perfect start to the collection. So far, we have managed to capture staff and student voices from a range of perspectives, with many more in the pipeline. In this episode,...

Studying for a PGCert in teaching in higher education provides an important grounding in teaching techniques, approaches, and theories and supports the continuing development of your teaching practice. Some might argue, that it is a vital developmental qualification for both new members of academic staff who are just embarking on a career in Higher Education, as well as those who may have been tea...

In this episode we talk to SALT's own team of Academic Developers, supporting the internal HEA Fellowship programmes. A must for anyone thinking of pursuing a fellowship application, becoming an assessor or simply wishing to find out more about the world of HEA Fellowship here at Swansea!

In this episode we talk with Paul Edwards, Swansea University's longest serving Grounds Manager. We gain an insight into the work of the Grounds Team and explore how the university's two diverse campuses continue to support learning, promote wellbeing and help nurture Swansea's distinctive identity.

Talk about mental health and wellbeing in society has changed, so is it assumed that we are more proactive about asking for help to ensure our own positive metal health? It is fair to say that conversations emerging around mental health and wellbeing are well established on the HE sector’s agenda and have dominated the media, it has even caught the attention of government. But the level of stress...

For women all over the world, just being a woman can be very hard. Having a special day like International Women's Day means that some of their stories can be told, and those more fortunate can learn and begin to understand how privileged we are. In today's episode, we celebrate being a woman in higher education. We discuss our fortunate position, of living in a country where higher education is n...

This is a special episode today where we're promoting our Living Books event , which is taking place on the 23rd of March. So what is a Living Book? We got our inspiration for the event from the Danish organisation The Human Book Library . So essentially in the true sense of the word, it is a library of real people, with real stories to tell. On the 23rd of March, readers can borrow 'books', our h...

Today we are talking to Archivists at the Richard Burton Archives , here at Swansea University. This enthusiastic and engaging team of archivists have come here today to share their passion for the wonderful resources that are held within the archives and to share ways in which these artifacts, not only of local and regional, but also national significance, can offer a unique opportunity to enhanc...

In this episode we speak with Pete Hanratty from Swansea University's Centre for Academic Success about the evolution of the unit and learn that their ever expanding offerings support students in far more than just basic essay writing skills

Today I am talking to Georgios Dimitropoulos .  He is the manager and inspiration behind the Media Suite Innovation Lab at Swansea University .  Georgios an academic, a joint sector entrepreneur, and a documentary filmmaker and producer, he is also the Founder of kefalonia.com , which provides a beautiful insight to its amazing Greek Island, he is Co-founder of 4theRegion , the new Centr...

In this episode we discuss the ongoing influence of achieving HEA Fellowship with Swansea University's Marcela Bezdickova and Charlie Earle. This episode is a must for anyone considering fellowship, in the process of applying or just curious about how HEA fellowship can impact on your professional practice.

In this edition, we speak to Lori Havard, Sarah Jones and James Broomhall from the University's library. We discover a little about their background and what led them to life within Libraries and explore some of the opportunities presented to us through the services that our own libraries offer.

Tina Webber is the manager of the Transcription Centre here at Swansea University.  Tina has been working in the university since 2005 helping to provide accessible learning materials for students with visual impairments . She describes herself as an ambassador for Swansea University and enjoys visiting specialist colleges for visually impaired students across the country, educating students...

Neuroscientist Professor Phil Newton is the Associate Dean for Education in the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences at Swansea University. Phil teaches Neuroscience across a variety of programmes in the School. He also teaches evidence-based education as part of the School's online MSc in Medical Education . Phil has also taught students and staff worldwide about plagiarism and other for...

Joining us in this episode of A Pinch of SALT is Tomos Watson . He is a Geography graduate and is currently the Student Voice Coordinator, was also the former Welsh Affairs Officer at Swansea University's Student Union . Over the years he has been heavily involved in a number of high-profile developments here at Swansea , such as the creation of designated Welsh language accommodation and the host...

In today's episode we are very pleased to welcome Dr Jo Berry as our Guest on A Pinch of SALT.  A Roman historian and was the Dean of Assessment at Swansea University .  Jo studied at Reading University, reading Ancient History and Latin, and subsequently completed her MA and a Ph. D., writing a dissertation on "the Roman House at Work". Jo has authored, co-authored and edited a number o...

Theresa Ogbekhiulu was the education officer at Swansea University from 2019 -2021. During this time, she has worked with colleagues and students in all aspects of university life. As an international student, originally from Nigeria, Theresa came to the UK and to Swansea to begin her higher education journey.  Achieving a first-class degree in Media and Public Relations, Theresa went on to comple...