English and Creative Writing crowned Aberystwyth Department of the Year

The Department of English and Creative Writing has won the highly coveted Department of the Year award at the Teaching, Learning and Student Experience Awards.

The annual awards, which received more than 700 nominations from students, are run by the University’s students’ union, Undeb Aberystwyth.

There were two new categories this year for Neurodiversity Champion and International Student Champion and 16 awards in total.

The Department of English and Creative Writing, which sits within the School of Languages and Literature, came away with three awards in total. Dr Alex Hubbard won both the Lecturer of the Year and Commitment to Student Employability awards. Estates, Facilities and Residences also won three awards.

There was widespread praise for the Department of English and Creative Writing. One nominator said of Dr Hubbard:

“[His] energy, enthusiasm, professional diligence and competency, and his knowledge and skill base, are valuable assets that significantly benefit the work of the Department of English and Creative Writing.”

Professor Anwen Jones, Pro Vice-Chancellor: Education and Student Experience at Aberystwyth University, said:

"Congratulations to all of the winners and those who were nominated for the awards. The praise received for each of the nominees shows how well regarded they are by our students and underlines our reputation for teaching and student experience."

Undeb Aber’s Academic Affairs Officer Will Parker said:

“The annual Teaching, Learning and Student Experience Awards is one of the highlights in the academic calendar and testament to the hard work put in by staff and students during the past 12 months. I would like to congratulate all of the winners as well as those who were nominated.”

The winners in full:

Student Staff Member of the Year
Karen McGuirk

Lecturer of the Year  
Dr Alexander Hubbard (Department of English and Creative Writing)

Academic Representative of the Year
Abi Shipman

Support / Service Staff Member of the Year
Kirsten Foerster (Global Marketing and Student Recruitment)

Student Volunteer of the Year         
Francesco Lanzi

Student Mentor of the Year
Mary Rendell (Student Services)

Supervisor of the Year         
Dr Eryn White (Department of History and Welsh History)

Department of the Year       
English & Creative Writing

Pencampwr Diwylliant Cymreig (Welsh Culture Champion)         
Nel Jones

Postgraduate Teacher of the Year    
Harry Marsh

Personal Tutor of the Year   
Dr Martine Robson (Department of Psychology)

Liberation Champion
Tristan Wood & Marty Fennell (Estates, Facilities and Residences)

International Student Champion 
Alex Molotska (Undeb Aberystwyth)

Sustainability Champion of the Year           
Daniel Teelan (Estates, Facilities and Residences)

Commitment to Student Employability Award
Dr Alexander Hubbard (English and Creative Writing)

Neurodiversity Champion
Dr Emma Sheppard (Department of Geography and Earth Sciences)