| Description | Track 1 [00:55:54] [Session One: 28 September 2017] Prof. Robin Williams [RW], born in Llanuwchllyn, North Wales in 1941. RW talks about his schooling at Llanuwchllyn Primary School and Bala Grammar School. RW mentions his father, a hill farmer. RW talks about growing up on a farm and how it shaped his interest in Physics. [00:02:00] RW talks about studying Physics at Bangor University [BU]. RW talks about the Physics Head of Department, Eric Williams. RW describes his PhD on semiconductors. [[00:05:04] RW describes his academic career before Swansea. RW talks about his time at Ulster University and Cardiff University [CU]. [00:07:14] RW talks about how he ended up at Swansea University [SU]. RW describes the interview process for the position of Vice-Chancellor and talks about being interviewed by James Callaghan [President of SU and former Prime Minister]. [00:10:15] RW talks about his decision to switch from research to administration. [00:12:40]. RW talks about his predecessors at SU, including Brian Clarkson, Robert Steele and Frank Llewelyn Jones. [00:14:26] RW compares SU and CU. [00:16:00] RW talks about problems at SU, including allegations of low academic standards and plagiarism, internal divisions, and financial challenges. [00:18:45] RW talks about efforts to investigate allegations, including forming a committee to audit departments. [00:22:29] RW describes changes in the grants system and talks about the effects on SU. RW talks about SU receiving an EU [European Union] grant. [00:25:09] RW talks about the state of the buildings on campus and describes renovation efforts. [00:27:15] RW talks about an expansion in student numbers and SU’s reaction, including the introduction of new courses. [00:28:53] RW talks about the introduction of tuition fees and the marketisation of degrees. [00:31:02] RW talks about departmental changes, including Engineering, Chemistry, Law, Education, and Philosophy. [00:34:40] RW talks about computerisation and its difficulties. RW describes the introduction of a new IT system by Andrew Greene and Kevin Daniels. [00:37:18] RW describes his administrative colleagues, including David Herbert, Phil Goth [then Director of Finances] and Peter Townsend [then Registrar]. [00:39:00] RW describes the management structure at SU and talks about changes to it under his tenure. [00:42:30] RW talks about the University of Wales [UoW] and its disadvantages, including geography and decline in standard. [00:46:35] RW talks about the decline of the UoW and the withdrawal of CU, SU, Aberystwyth and BU. [00:48:40] RW describes the positive effects of withdrawing from the UoW on SU. RW talks about the founding of the SU Medical School [SUMS]. RW describes Julian Hopkins [first Head of Department of SUMS]. [00:52:05] RW talks about the importance of devolution to the creation of SUMS. RW talks about the efforts of Plaid AM [Welsh Assembly Member] Dai Lloyd and Labour AM Andrew Davies. RW talks about CU opposing SUMS. RW describes the reasons for the success of SU.
Track 2 [00:26:51] [Session One: 28 September 2017] RW talks about the development of new sports facilities at SU, including an Olympic swimming pool and a running track. [00:05:02] RW describes the relationship between SU and the city. RW talks about collaborations between SU and the city council, including a joint bid for hosting the Senedd [Welsh Assembly] and for the Olympic pool. RW describes collaborations between industry and SU. [00:12:22] RW describes interacting with students and the student unions. RW talks about the change in student culture, including more collaboration with the administration. [00:17:27] RW describes a decline in collegiality between staff at SU and talks about his efforts to change this. RW describes his philosophy of staff equality. [00:20:53] RW talks about his social life at Swansea, including attending student-led events. RW talks about his wife, a school teacher, and her help with social events. [00:23:37]. RW talks about the reason for his retirement from SU. RW describes his activities after retirement, including being a Chief Scientific Advisor to the Welsh Government. |