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LampeterLife

Issue 1

2 | University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Lampeter Life

Contents

WelcomeWelcome to the first edition of ‘Lampeter Life’. The University has had another successful year as we continue to move up in all the major league tables. The recent Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018 showed that the University has been ranked 16th overall in the UK for ‘Teaching Quality’ and third in Wales. These results come swiftly after the University was recently awarded its highest ever Student Satisfaction score in the National Student Survey 2017 (NSS). Satisfaction amongst final year

undergraduates at the University has improved in two consecutive years to 85% from 79% two years ago. This improvement has seen UWTSD climb 44 places in the UK Universities NSS table. This is testament to the hard work and quality of academic staff we have at the University. We’ve just welcomed a new cohort of students to the Lampeter campus and we look forward to another busy academic year. ‘Lampeter Life’ gives you a taste of what has been happening on campus over

the past few months and in this edition we look at some of the highlights during graduation, the opening of the University’s Academy of Sinology as well as a visit to the campus by BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards who was guest lecturer at this year’s Cliff Tucker Memorial Lecture. Finally, we’d like to thank you for your continued support as we look forward to another exciting year for the University.

4Lord Elystan-Morgan receives Honorary Doctorate

6Five New Professors of Practice Appointed

8Harmony Conference

9Cliff Tucker Memorial Lecture

10Student Article published in ‘Anthropology Now’

12Academy of Sinology opens its doors

13Exploring the Materiality of Foodstuffs

14Medieval New Year

15Chinese New Year

16Ceredigion’s Legends of the West app

University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Lampeter Life | 3


Lord Elystan-Morgan receives Honorary DoctorateDuring the graduation ceremonies on the Lampeter campus Lord Elystan-Morgan was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University.

Born in North Ceredigion, Lord Elystan Morgan was educated at Ardwyn Grammar School, Aberystwyth and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth before training to become a solicitor. In his early political career he was a Plaid Cymru candidate but later joined the Labour Party before being elected Member of Parliament for Cardiganshire at the 1966 general election.

He served as a junior minister in the Labour Government as Under-Secretary at the Home Office from 1968 to 1970. He was also chairman of the Welsh Parliamentary Labour Party between 1971 and 1974. Having left politics, Lord Elystan Morgan concentrated on his legal career. He was admitted to Gray’s Inn in 1971, entitling him to practise as a barrister.

Lord Elystan Morgan was made a Life peer in 1981 with the title Baron Elystan-

Morgan of Aberteifi in the County of Dyfed. He held the office of Recorder between 1983 and 1987 and the office of Circuit Judge between 1987 and 2003.

Presenting the award to Lord Elystan-Morgan was UWTSD Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor Gwilym Dyfri Jones. He said:

“It is my very great privilege to present Lord Elystan-Morgan, the former Cardiganshire MP and High Court Judge and one of Wales’ greatest living statesmen, for admission to the degree of Doctor of Literature. Lord Elystan-Morgan is a statesman of stature and brilliance who served Wales with great distinction for over fifty years.

An unassuming, kindly and unprententious gentleman, he has been instrumental in the emergence of a confident, successful and self-believing nation, in shaping the identity of a mature, culturally-vibrant, and forward-looking Wales.”

Lord Elystan-Morgan’s contribution to life in Wales and beyond has been immense

as a politician, lawyer and a judge. On receiving his Honorary Doctorate, Lord Elystan-Morgan said:

“The gratitude I feel towards the University of Wales Trinity Saint David is concurrently a mixture of humility and indeed of wonderment. You have honoured me far, far beyond any possible expectation that I had.

May I also congratulate all of you that have received your degrees and various other qualifications. You have achieved a great deal and I salute your achievements most sincerely. You are members of a distinguished school of learning that had its origins 195 years ago. It was founded as a religious institution but over a period of time it has served Wales and Great Britain with honourable distinction and credit. The efforts you have made are indeed part of the supreme pioneering spirit of this University and it shows the willingness of many generations to sacrifice everything in the name of higher education. You are now part of that rich heritage.”

“An unassuming, kindly and unprententious gentleman, he has been instrumental in the emergence of a confident, successful and self-believing nation, in shaping the identity of a mature, culturally-vibrant, and forward-looking Wales.”Gwilym Dyfri Jones, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor



Mr Kidwau is a trustee of South Wales Islamic Educational Trust; Secretary General at the Muslim Council of Wales; a trustee of the Muslim Council of Wales Charitable Foundation; Chair of the Executive Committee of the Islamic Social Services Association-Wales; Chair of the Executive Committee of the New Leaf- Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders, and Vice President of the Welsh Scouts Council.

The Revered Dr Jeremy Duff is the Principal of the St Padarn’s Institute, established in 2016 to provide education, training, formation and professional development for the Church in Wales. St Padarn’s brings together many strands from across Wales, including a significant partnership with UWTSD. This continues a long tradition of partnership between the Church in Wales and the University, stretching back to the origins of the Lampeter Campus as St David’s College which was founded by Bishop Thomas Burgess in 1822 to prepare priests for the Church in Wales.

Dr Duff was born and brought up in Liverpool. At eighteen he became an officer in the Royal Engineers, serving overseas with the British Army and United Nations, and then went up to Cambridge where he received a First in Mathematics and a First with Distinction in Theology and Religious Studies. Doctoral research in New Testament and Christian Origins then followed at Jesus College and The Queen’s College, Oxford and then a research fellowship at St Cross College and tutorial appointments at Worcester College and Wycliffe Hall. In 2004 he moved back to Liverpool becoming the Director of Lifelong Learning in the Anglican Diocese, and Dwelly-Raven Canon at Liverpool Cathedral. Then in 2010 he moved ‘to the coal face’ becoming vicar of a highly deprived part of Widnes, near Liverpool, where under his leadership the church saw significant growth, particularly though partnerships focused on recovery from addictions, domestic violence, in further education and the town’s nightlife.

Dr Duff is a biblical scholar, publishing and teaching in the area of New Testament and Greek, and has a nationally recognised expertise in the formation of priests and other ministers. However, his real passion is in the power of the Bible to transform individuals and communities when taken away from elite interpreters and put in the hands of people in their own language, as was done first in Wales by William Morgan in 1588 – who himself has been the priest at St Padarn’s church near Aberystwyth.

“I’m delighted to appoint such eminent individuals as Professors of Practice at the University,” said UWTSD’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Medwin Hughes, DL.

“They join a number of exceptional individuals who are working with the university to bring their unique and professional expertise to benefit our students. The role of Professors of Practice is relatively new to the University and allows us to work with partners with specific expertise related to our strategic aims who sometimes do not come through the traditional academic route. Through their involvement in our provision we can enhance the access to a range of defined skills to support academic delivery and build upon our rapidly improving reputation for delivering graduate skills in the context of employability, sustainability and work-related education and training.”

Five new Professors of Practice appointedThe title of ‘Professor of Practice’ is bestowed upon an individual to honour and recognise that person for having attained academic and/or professional distinction in those disciplines which are aligned with the strategic intentions of the university.

The five individuals who were honoured by the University are Professor Jianjun Bu; John Darlington; Alan Ereira; Saleem Asghar Kidwai and The Revered Dr Jeremy Duff.

Professor Jianjun Bu is the Director of UWTSD’s Teaching Centre at Renmin University of China and has almost 22 years of experience working in higher education. With an excellent reputation for research, teaching and international education, Professor Bu has led the HND centre of Renmin University since 2003.

Having undertaken a PhD in Management in International Cooperation, Professor Bu went on to become Vice President of the School of Talent Training at the Information Centre for Social Sciences at Renmin University of China before being appointed Director and Assistant Dean of the School of Training and Education. He took up his current role as Deputy Dean of the School of Training and Education in 2013.

Professor Jianjun Bu, holds a number of other positions including Deputy Director of the Central Education Committee of Chinese Peasants And Workers Democratic Party; Expert Group Leader of HND program CSCSE China Ministry of Education, and a Member of the Standing Committee of Beijing Haidian District People’s Political Consultative Conference.

John Darlington is the Executive Director for World Monuments Fund Britain (WMFB), a UK charity that champions and breathes new life into extraordinary buildings in Britain and across the globe. WMFB is the largest affiliate of World Monuments Fund, based in New York, the leading independent organisation for the protection of cultural heritage. Mr Darlington has a professional background in heritage, scholarship and environmental management and the charity’s current projects include Stowe House, St Paul’s and Coventry Cathedrals, Newstead Abbey, Charlton House, Strata Florida and initiatives in Zanzibar and Jordan. John Darlington joined WMFB in

June 2015 from the National Trust where he was Regional Director, North West of England. In this position John championed a diverse portfolio of high profile projects at places ranging from mansions such as Dunham Massey, Lyme Park and Little Moreton Hall, to the mountains and countryside of the Lake District. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries as well as a Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and frequently writes for The Art Newspaper.

More recently Mr Darlington has enjoyed contributing towards Oxford University’s Department of Continuing Education, mentoring post-graduate students from London City University and coordinating a regular series of lectures at the Royal Geographical Society on an historical theme. The latter has brought speakers from Syria, Antarctica and Egypt to a UK audience on topics as diverse as the Oxyrhynchus scrolls, the preservation of huts of the heroic era of polar exploration and reported on most recent events in Syria. He is also a special contributor to the British Museum’s Iraq Training Scheme, helping to teach Iraqi conservation professionals about the UK’s approach to heritage management.

Alan Ereira is an award-winning writer and producer-director who specialises particularly in history and archaeology. He worked for 15 years with BBC Radio, being awarded the global Japan Prize for the best educational radio programme (Battle

of the Somme), then for 15 years with BBC TV, winning many awards including the Royal Television Society’s Best Documentary Series (Armada) and creating the series that launched the History Channel (Crusades). He then became a successful independent producer, working closely with ex-Python Terry Jones.

In 1990 he encountered the Kogi, a remarkable indigenous community in Colombia with whom he has made two films regarded as seminal. His account of the Kogi, From the Heart of the World, won the Green Book Award. He founded the Tairona Heritage Trust to help the Kogi preserve and convey their culture. He has written a number of works on historical topics, most recently the Nine Lives of John Ogilby. He is currently working on a cultural history of gold, for publication in 2019.

Mr Saleem Asghar Kidwai, OBE is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive of EBSP Ltd, Leadership, Equality and Diversity Training Centre. He is also the Co-Founder and Chairman of Islamic Banking and Finance Centre UK and serves as Independent Director at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. Mr Kidwai is a Member of Board of Governors, Cardiff Metropolitan University and a Wales Committee Member of Equality & Human Rights Commission Wales. He is also a Director of Groundwork Wales and Chair its Finance Committee as well as a member of Glas Cymru.

“I’m delighted to appoint such eminent individuals as Professors of Practice at the University.”Professor Medwin Hughes, DL, Vice-Chancellor UWTSD



Harmony ConferenceThe University of Wales Trinity Saint David hosted its second annual public Harmony conference at the Lampeter campus this year.

Entitled “What is the Relationship Between Harmony and Sustainability?” delegates had an opportunity to hear the thoughts of leading environmental commentators and activists including Quaker Writer David Cadman; John Sauven, Executive Director of Greenpeace UK; Tony Juniper, an independent sustainability and environment adviser and Peter Davies who is the former Welsh Government Sustainable Futures Commissioner.

The four distinguished experts, who are also UWTSD Professors of Practice, opened the conference by giving a short statement on the theme of Harmony before discussing their views in a series of Question and Answer sessions with students from disciplines across the University, including Philosophy, Anthropology and Business.

Dr Nicholas Campion, Director of UWTSD’s Sophia Centre and Conference Chair said:

“The University was proud to host another day in its series on Harmony with the University’s Harmony Professors of Practice. The University has been developing policies and teaching related to sustainability in recent years – we are now interested in developing the philosophical notion of Harmony within the curriculum and in connection with the wider community.“The conference was an outstanding success in terms of contacts made and ideas shared. Bringing teaching staff and students from across disciplines together with the Harmony Professors was a vital step towards developing philosophical perspectives which can underpin the University’s sustainability agenda and develop its national and global collaborations.”

Students themselves also had an opportunity to present papers on a range of Harmony themes and discussed a variety of perspectives with the eminent Professors of Practice. Lecturers from a range of subject areas also presented case Studies linked to Harmony.

The event took place on the University’s Lampeter campus and was organised in partnership with the University’s Institute of Sustainable Practice, Innovation and Resource Effectiveness (INSPIRE) and the Sophia Centre for the study of Cosmology in Culture.

John Sauven, Professor of Practice and Executive Director of Greenpeace UK was delighted to be a part of the conference.

“Part of our role is to come and give a lecture a couple of times a year to the students, the staff and to the local community and really to try and find ways in which the whole issue around sustainable development, harmony and protection of the environment can be brought into the university and into the curriculum - to give it a higher profile and also get people out of their silos. So the important thing we’ve been doing today is talking to philosophy students, anthropologists, economists and so on. This is the way we need to go – we need everyone to start thinking about these issues.

“It’s tremendously important that young people and students in particular are discussing these issues, because in a way, the future is theirs, the consequences of what we do today - they will definitely feel, so it’s really important that they take responsibility for this - that they feel empowered and have the knowledge to be able to deal with these really important issues. I think it’s been fantastic today to talk to students across all of these different disciplines and to have this debate with them,”

Postgraduate student, M.A. Rashed thoroughly enjoyed the conference and relished the opportunity to discuss the different notions of Harmony in the company of fellow students, staff and the distinguished Professors of Practice:

“Being able to contribute to the Harmony conference of 2017 was a uniquely inspiring experience. Considering the expanding conflict that exists today on many levels, societal, political, and subsequently environmental, it has never been as essential as it is today to understand the philosophical significance, classical and contemporary, of harmony in our everyday lives.”

“...it has never been as essential as it is

today to understand the philosophical

significance, classical and contemporary, of harmony in our

everyday lives.”M.A. Rashed, Postgraduate student

John Sauven, Executive Director of Greenpeace UK Cliff Tucker Memorial LectureBBC broadcaster and author Huw Edwards was the guest speaker at this year’s Cliff Tucker Memorial Lecture.

The title of this year’s lecture was Ar drywydd y ‘Ginshop’: Capeli’r Cymry yn Llundain (On the trail of the Ginshop: the chapels of the London Welsh). Huw Edwards was born in Bridgend but from the age of four, was brought up in Llangennech, near Llanelli. He was educated at Llanelli Boys’ Grammar School and graduated with a first-class honours degree in French from University College, Cardiff, in 1983. As the BBC News lead presenter for major breaking news in the United Kingdom he presents Britain’s most watched news programme, BBC News at Ten, the corporation’s flagship news broadcast.

The Memorial Lecture is named after magistrate and politician Cliff Tucker, who was educated at St David’s College Lampeter before going to work as an industrial executive with British Petroleum.

Huw Edwards said: “I very much enjoyed my visit to the University of Wales Trinity Saint David Lampeter and I’d like to thank everybody for their warm welcome. It is impossible to understand the remarkable

story of the London Welsh without understanding the story of their numerous chapels in the city. Since a considerable amount of new and colourful information has come to light regarding the roots of the Nonconformist causes in London, it was an opportunity to explain more about their importance during the lecture.”

Cliff Tucker is commemorated at the university through a history research degree scholarship in his name and through the construction of the Cliff Tucker Lecture Theatre on the Lampeter campus. Previous guest speakers include the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and the composer Sir Karl Jenkins.

Dr Rhiannon Ifans from the Faculty of Humanities & Performing Arts added:

“The Faculty of Humanities and Performing Arts were pleased to welcome the author, scholar and broadcaster Huw Edwards to the Lampeter campus. It was wonderful to see the Cliff Tucker theatre full. It certainly was an evening of entertainment and learning, and one that will remain in the memory for a long time to come.”



Student Article published in ‘Anthropology Now’Early in the year Lampeter based student Lucinda Walker, originally from Salisbury, submitted a paper to Anthropology Now and was swiftly informed that the article would be published in the April edition.

Anthropology Now is a unique, peer-reviewed publication for research-based articles, book, film and exhibit reviews, photo essays and commentaries. The Journal in particular provides opportunities to inform readers about emerging perspectives on important issues, and thus contribute to public understanding of the human condition.

Lucinda’s article explores the agency of light, exploring complex and in-depth concepts that tackle the themes of materiality and immateriality. Lucinda’s fieldwork experience in Zimbabwe with the charity Love Zimbabwe was the foundation for the article in which she analyses her experience and how this contributed to her research.

“I’ve been to Zimbabwe with the charity Love Zimbabwe twice since starting my course at UWTSD,” says Lucinda. “This has been a fantastic experience. I’ve taken part in voluntary work, living in villages, visiting the Domboshawa caves and building keyhole gardens for water projects.

“After returning to University, I decided to focus my dissertation on light – the commodification of light and its impact on society. In the module Materialities in Anthropology, I created sculptures out of rubbish inspired by the caves in Domboshawa – looking at how light changes their form and how light can make material objects immaterial. I then further explored this theme in the paper I submitted to Anthropology Now.”

The paper has been commended by the journal’s editors with one of them commenting, “It is very creative…I’ve never read anthropological work on light and lighting before, this is a very original direction to go!”

UWTSD Anthropology Programme Director, Luci Attala, is extremely proud of Lucinda’s success. “I am absolutely thrilled with Lucinda’s achievements,” says Luci.

“Her work illustrates the real-world value of Anthropology and how the discipline can be used to make the world a better place. Lucinda’s work should inspire others to both reflect on their contribution to the world and to act to make a difference.

“From her research and work with the charity Love Zimbabwe, Lucinda is now considering the social consequences of the commodification of light in rural Zimbabwe. She should be very proud of herself! I know I am proud of her!”

Lucinda is now looking forward to seeing her work published and is working on further papers that she’s keen to submit to other academic publications.

“This is really exciting,” says Lucinda. “I never thought I’d have a paper published as an undergraduate. I now want to continue writing. This experience – along with the fantastic support of my lecturers - has given me the confidence to carry on.”

Lucinda who graduated from UWTSD in July has her sights firmly set on working in International Development. In the meantime, Lucinda is continuing to work with Love Zimbabwe, taking on a role as a charity trustee.

“I never thought I’d have a paper published as an

undergraduate. I now want to continue writing. This experience – along

with the fantastic support of my lecturers

- has given me the confidence to carry on.”

Lucinda Walker, Student at UWTSD



The new Academy of Sinology based in Lampeter has opened its doors to the first cohort of students this year.

The Academy of Sinology was established in July 2016 as a joint institution between the Chin Kung Multicultural Educational Foundation and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, marking the beginning of a new era in the studies of ancient Chinese culture, values and ethics.

The nine students who have recently embarked on their studies within the Academy were greeted by members of the University along with members of the Chin Kung Foundation in an evening of thanksgiving, prayer and song.

The purpose of the Academy is, through education, instruction and enlightenment, to reintroduce ancient heritage and culture to the international community, at a moment when so much change and chaos in the world undermines people’s faith and belief in social harmony, mutual respect and peace.

Commenting on the development of the Academy, Professor Medwin Hughes, DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David said: “This development is very much grounded in the tradition of the University’s Lampeter campus as a multi-faith and multi-cultural centre, rooted in

Wales but looking out across the world. “This is a major development and is one of many which we are pursuing centred upon the expertise and location of Lampeter. It will not only benefit the University but will also benefit the town and the community in Ceredigion”.

Speaking via video during the celebration, the Venerable Master Chin Kung praised the University for its vision and celebrated its rich heritage in the teaching of religious education.

He said: “There is a sign at the entrance gate illustrating the history of the Lampeter campus. It says that Saint David’s College was founded by Bishop Thomas Burgess in Lampeter in 1822 and that it is the oldest college in Wales. It was established with a goal of improving the education of Anglican clergymen. From 1827 to the 1920s, two-thirds of the Clerics of Wales graduated from this college.

“Today, the Academy of Sinology has the great honour to be established on this campus with its extraordinary past achievements and legacy in the field of religious education. I hope the academy of sinology can shoulder the responsibility of reviving the education of ancient sages of the East and learning from the religious education of the West to carry the past glorious history of St David’s College. This is

to set a good example in order to build up a culture of learning. As the positive impact of the education of the ancient sages and of religious education gradually become influential in the world, all great scholarly minds which share the same mission can join forces in order to promote social stability and world peace. That will be a great blessing for the whole of humanity.”

The Chin Kung Multi-Cultural Educational Foundation is a Hong Kong based organisation, established by Master Chin Kung, a Buddhist monk whose core belief is that all religions share a common, universal element of shared values, toleration, compassion and a respect for the views and beliefs of others.

These values reinforce Lampeter’s long history as a world centre for multi-faith and multi-cultural study, and will build upon the Faculty’s existing provision in the field of Chinese Studies, the study of Ancient Civilisations and home to Wales’ first Confucius Institute.

The Academy’s aim is to guide and educate its students towards a deep understanding of the classic Chinese texts, and the legacy of the ancient Sages including the Sakyamuni Buddha, Confucius and Laozi. It uses an immersive teaching methodology allowing the students to focus their learning on one subject until they are able to translate their learning into deep understanding and insight by the end of each module. There are six modules within the MA and the programme runs for 72 weeks.

Academy of Sinology opens its doors

A major international archaeology publication has been launched at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

‘Exploring the Materiality of Foodstuffs’ by Dr Louise Steel and Dr Katharina Zinn is the output of a Wenner-Gren Foundation funded workshop held at UWTSD’s Lampeter campus in 2014.

The scope of the publication is interdisciplinary and the contributors are international and include world-renowned anthropologist Prof Rick Wilk (Indiana University) and archaeologist Prof Brian Hayden (Simon Fraser University). This new publication explores the materiality of foodstuffs past and present, examining humanity’s intriguingly complex relationships with, and experiences of, food.

Dr Louise Steel, Reader in Mediterranean Archaeology at UWTSD said:

“We’re delighted with the interest shown in our new publication and it was very pleasing for us to see so many people attend the

book launch itself. We’re very proud of the final output and we’d like to thank the New York based Wenner-Gren Foundation for their support.

This volume explores the materiality of foodstuffs past and present, examining humanity’s intriguingly complex relationships with, and experiences of, food. The book also makes a fresh contribution to our understanding of materiality through a novel focus on material culture, analysing objects used to prepare, wrap, serve and consume food and the tactile experiences involved in its production and consumption. We believe that Exploring the Materiality of Food ‘Stuffs’ will make an important contribution to this burgeoning field and will be of interest to archaeologists and anthropologists working in the key area of food research.”

As part of the official launch a re-enactment of an ancient wine drinking ceremony was held as recorded in the art of the Near East and Aegean.

Dr Katharina Zinn, Senior Lecturer in Egyptian Archaeology and Heritage added:

“It was a very successful event and we’d like to thank everybody that supported us and contributed towards the evening’s success.

We’ve ensured that this book considers a wide range of cultures, spanning from ancient China to modern-day Kenya. The broad collection of interdisciplinary chapters reveal the multiple interplays between foods, bodies, material worlds, rituals and embodied knowledge that emerge from these encounters and which, in turn, shape the material culture of food.

One of the highlights of the launch was the re-enactment of an ancient wine drinking ceremony. This ceremony included the mixing of wine and water in a replica Mycenaean krater and using a dipper juglet serving it into different types of drinking cups according to status or ethnicity. We also demonstrated the correct way to drink from these cups, according to ancient etiquette of course.”

Exploring the Materiality of Foodstuffs

“The Academy of Sinology has the

great honour to be established on this

campus with its extraordinary past achievements and

legacy in the field of religious education.”

Venerable Master CHin Kung


14 | University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Lampeter Life University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Lampeter Life | 15

Medieval New Year

The Medieval New Year was celebrated on the Lampeter campus as hundreds of people attended the University’s first Medieval Day.

The free public event was a day of ‘living history’ and included re-enactments with the University’s Norman, Viking and Battle societies; archery and medieval craft demonstrations.

During the day, visitors to the University’s Lampeter campus also had the opportunity to hear the University’s Medieval Choir perform in the chapel on campus as well as being able to view displays of a range of medieval research projects.

“The University of Wales Trinity Saint David has a strong reputation for its Medieval Studies programmes in Lampeter and as we looked forward to the Medieval New Year, we thought it would be a great opportunity to celebrate with the local community by organising a public Medieval Day,” says Janet Burton, Professor of Medieval Studies.

“UWTSD Lampeter is one of only a very small number of UK institutions that offers Medieval Studies at undergraduate level and our first Medieval Day allowed us to showcase and celebrate the University’s role in the teaching of Medieval history,” she adds. Janet is well known for her research on medieval monastic orders and is the author of many books and articles on the subject. She works closely with colleagues in UWTSD and in other universities in Wales, and in Europe and beyond. Professor Burton is also Director of the Monastic Wales project.

“Our Medieval Studies degree schemes have been very successful and many of our graduates have gone on to further research, and to careers in heritage; museums, archives; heritage tourism as well as teaching and a range of administrative posts.

“Staff across the disciplines – History, Archaeology, Literature, Manuscript Studies – are engaged in a number of major research projects that feature Medieval themes, such as the Newport Ship; Strata Florida; Saints in Wales;

Monastic Wales and the Swansea ‘City Witness’.

Medieval Studies is an interdisciplinary degree that draws on the expertise of its internationally renowned staff in History, English, Welsh, and Archaeology, and makes full use of its rich collection of medieval manuscripts and early printed books, which are accessible to students at all levels.

The Medieval Studies BA offers students the opportunity to study this exciting and vibrant period of history, combining modules that cover broad sweeps of time, which allow them to consider long term developments in politics, society, economy, and culture, and others that focus on particular topics and genres, such as Medieval Welsh Prose, Anglo-Saxon poetry, and the impact of the Normans on the medieval world.

For further information on the Medieval Studies provision we have at the University please contact Professor Janet Burton:[email protected]

Chinese New Year

The Confucius Institute opened its doors to the community in Lampeter to celebrate Chinese New Year’s Day.

Around 60 people of all ages, all with an interest in Chinese culture, were welcomed to the festively decorated Confucius Institute Reading Room on the University’s Lampeter campus to take part in a range of workshops.

During the day, visitors were given the opportunity to try their hand at a variety of traditional Chinese activities and workshops.

Sam Qin, from Beijing Union University, introduced the ancient art of calligraphy. Much more than just the practice of Chinese handwriting with a brush and ink, calligraphy is a form of artistic expression that requires stillness of mind and body.

As well as being a talented calligraphist, Sam is also a Chinese teacher, teaching students at Crickhowell High School and teaching Chinese to Tourism Management students at UWTSD Swansea.

Alex Liao, a volunteer teacher from China Sichuan Province also showed how Chinese painting developed from calligraphy and helped workshop participants to draw pandas - the iconic animal most often associated with China.

Visitors also tried their hand at paper cutting. This traditional art form is closely linked to Chinese New Year celebrations and at this time of year, families across China decorate their windows with beautiful images of flowers, animals and the lucky ‘Fu’ character to guarantee a prosperous year ahead. At the end of the workshop everyone had made an extra-lucky 3-D papercut to take home.

Fan Tai Chi workshops and the opportunity to take part in Chinese tea ceremonies were also offered during the day under the guidance of Ellen Zeng.

The tea ceremony was beautifully accompanied by the tones of the zither (guzheng) played by Elan Mu. Elan is

currently taking an MA in Heritage at Beijing Union University and has been studying for two semesters at the Faculty of Humanities at the Lampeter Campus.

During the Chinese New Year period staff from the Confucius Institute visited schools all over Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire to bring a Chinese Spring Festival experience to pupils. Children in these schools had an opportunity to make Chinese dumplings, learn about the Chinese Zodiac – especially the Rooster - and heard more about how families in China celebrate their long winter holiday.

The University recently celebrated its place in Wales’ rich rugby history as it launched its involvement with a new and innovative heritage app.

To celebrate Wales’ Year of Legends staff and students from the Lampeter campus have been working in partnership with Ceredigion and the Dyfi Biosphere Destination Partnerships to deliver a project that will bring the region’s stories, legends and folklore to a new and broader audience.

The university’s input focuses on celebrating Lampeter’s place in rugby history with the town being recognised as the birthplace of rugby in Wales. To mark its involvement in the project coaches from the Scarlets rugby region were invited to the campus to hold training sessions and activities with up to 80 children from Ysgol Bro Pedr.

An exhibition of rugby related memorabilia was also launched – an exhibition curated by the University’s Heritage Studies students based at Lampeter.

With funding from the Regional Tourism Engagement Fund (RTEF) from VisitWales, the Ceredigion and the Dyfi Biosphere Destination Partnership group has developed a new App with Bangor based digital company, Locly to bring Ceredigion’s legendary landscape to life, delivering stories, legend based games, activities and information to visitors as they roam the region with their smartphones. The new app, works with GPS and iBeacon technology to locate the user and push content to their devices, encourages

visitors to engage more deeply with the culture of the region and explore the places and spaces associated with the legends contained on the app.

With Lampeter being the birthplace of Welsh rugby, it was fitting that the content about the town focussed on its sporting heritage.

The 2015 /2016 rugby season marked the 150th anniversary of the first competitive rugby match ever played in Wales between St David’s College and nearby Llandovery College.

It is widely accepted that rugby was introduced to Wales by the Rev. Professor Rowland Williams, who became Vice-Principal of St David’s College in 1850 and who’d played Rugby Football as a student at Kings College, Cambridge.

Ceredigion’s Legends of the West app

The Welsh Rugby Union also acknowledges Lampeter’s importance to the birth of rugby in Wales, giving their full support to last year’s season of events.

With articles in the University’s archives featuring former students reminiscing about playing rugby at Lampeter in the 1850s, rugby matches were certainly thought to have been played between students from 1850 onwards, although the first competitive match using the rugby rules wasn’t played until 1866.

Local historian, Selwyn Williams who has written a book about the town’s place in rugby history entitled The Fighting Parsons features on the app and tells the story of the town’s legendary rugby heritage.Lindsey Gilroy, Business Development Officer at UWTSD’s Lampeter campus has been instrumental in the development of the project and has been working in collaboration with the Ceredigion Destination Management Partnership.

“The Legends of the West App is a wonderful overview of the exciting legends of Ceredigion and includes St David, Twm Sion Cati, the Nanteos cup, and even covers some contemporary legends such as the successful TV show Hinterland filmed in

and around Ceredigion. The Lampeter content covers some of the history of how rugby was brought to Lampeter, with an audio narration by Selwyn Williams himself, including historical photographs of the town and University, and information about Rowland Williams as well as his portrait.

“The University has also launched a temporary exhibition of Rugby covering the period from the birth of the game to the current era, that ran throughout the Summer. The exhibition was curated by our very own Heritage Studies students and has been supported by the Welsh Rugby Union who’ve loaned us some artefacts from their collection.”

During last year’s celebration, the University unveiled a memorial on the University’s campus in the town to commemorate Rowland Williams’ contribution to Welsh rugby. A special rugby fixture between the University and the invitational side, Welsh Academicals was also played.

“The 2015 / 2016 rugby season was a very special one for the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. It marked the 150th anniversary of the first competitive game of rugby played in Wales as well as noting Rowland Williams’ contribution to the

sport,” says Dr Jeremy Smith, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Performance at UWTSD.

“It is our continued aim to raise awareness of Lampeter’s connection with the game whilst also allowing University staff and students, the people of Lampeter and rugby fans across Wales to find out more about its history and its origin,” he adds.

“We are very proud of the University’s role in the development of rugby and are delighted to be celebrating Lampeter’s place in rugby history by being part of such an exciting digital project.”

“The Legends of the West App is a wonderful overview of the exciting legends of Ceredigion and includes St David, Twm Sion Cati, the Nanteos cup, and even covers some contemporary legends such as the successful TV show Hinterland filmed in and around Ceredigion.”Lindsey Gilroy, Business Development Officer at UWTSD’s Lampeter campus

University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Lampeter Life | 1716 | University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Lampeter Life

CONGRATULATIONS to the Class of 2017


University of Wales Trinity Saint David

@StudyUWTSD

UWTSD

University of Wales Trinity Saint David Lampeter Campus, Ceredigion SA48 7ED

Tel: 01570 422351 www.uwtsd.ac.uk

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