| Description | Track 1 [01:19:28] [Session one: 9 July 2019] Professor Iwan Davies [ID], born 14 January 1958, in the Rehobarth Baptist Chapel Manse, Briton Ferry, South Wales. ID briefly explains moving to Treboeth, - father became Minister at Caersalem Newydd, Treboeth. ID briefly mentions attending Ysgol Lonlas junior school and Dinefwr Grammar School [DGS], Swansea. ID praises DGS teaching standard. Tells anecdote about his ‘greatest accolade’ at school - a teacher commented ID and Rowan Williams were the best pupils he ever taught. ID characterises his upbringing – Welsh household, a traditional chapel going community, an eminent boy soprano (8-12/13 years old). ID mentions his ‘A’ level subjects - theology, history, geography. Explains choosing Aberystwyth University to study law -won Evan Morgan Scholarship, and tradition of Aberystwyth law graduates continuing to ‘the bar’ after completing studies at Cambridge University. Tells anecdote – gaining a Tutorial Assistant (Aberystwyth) post through Peter Glasebrook (Cambridge tutor); comments this was reason he became a legal academic. ID tells childhood memories of Swansea University [SU] (1960’s/70’s), mentions lunches at Fulton house with parents, father did Masters at SU. Explains he didn’t study at SU as no law school, but remarks on SU’s distinguished legal collection. Long explanation of differing courses for Law in 1960’s (Cardiff and Aberystwyth), explains why SU was able to establish a law school in early 1990’s. Remarks - one of his ‘greatest thrills’ was being 2nd head of SU Law School, and growing it over 8 years (student numbers and teaching facilities). Tells anecdote regarding ambition to work in SU environment, remarks on his close association with SU. [00:09:42] ID explains his early career - AU, 1980-1981, Cardiff University, 1981-1994, SU, 1994. ID expresses delight at spending his career with the University of Wales. Comments on SU as a very insecure institution in early 1990s, refers to huge expansion in the 1970s creating some intellectual weariness, also troubled times of the Philosophy scandal, (mentions Colwyn Williamson [CW]) and insecurity around possibility of closure during the Margaret Thatcher era (late 1980’s). Explains the FTE [Full Time Equivalency] allocation system at the time and why the Law School took ability to recruit from Chemistry Department. ID comments very favourably on Principal Brian Clarkson and his successor Robin Williams [RW]. [00:17:55] ID remembers SU’s Law School lacked identity when he arrived – mentions location in the Vivian Tower, lack of a proper Law Library, compares it to Cardiff. Explains why he came to Swansea with a degree of apprehension and keenness to grow the Law School - tells anecdote involving Professor M. Bruton, Cardiff; mentions changes beginning in University funding and expectations. ID gives a potted history of SU’s Law School, before and when he arrived in its second year -a very small school headed by Jennie Levin [JL]. Explains becoming Head of Department (1998) when JL retired, and reason for leaving his practitioner career. Explains his specialities in law and the sponsorship of his ‘Personal Chair’ (1998) by Sir Julian Hodge. [00:26:28] Explains methods of financing Law department, for growth to a full service Law School, describes unsuccessful involvement with the ‘technium movement’ at time. Refers to importance of scale and disciplines in a law school, mentions law and criminology coming together. ID describes the progress to a UK top 20 law school for research by 2007; explains he was keen to bring focus to Masters Programmes and create a centre for shipping trade and international commercial law. Talks about contributing to debate on change and challenges to legal scholarship. [00:32:20] Comments on the difficulties of growing the law department in the early 2000’s - lack of resources, other departments closing; tells anecdote involving RW; remembers what he learnt from the time. [00:35.02] ID describes the expectations, circumstances and his personal feelings around his appointment as Pro Vice Chancellor [PVC] after sudden death of Mike Barnsley. Explains his interest in involvement with the development of SU’s Bay Campus [BC]. Explains and comments on the drive of Vice Chancellor [VC] Richard Davies’ [RD] ambition for SU; discussion on RD’s reasons for and approach to closing Chemistry Department in favour of establishing a Medical School; comments on recent decision to close chemistry at Bangor University. [00:43:00] ID explains that his pioneering of growing international student recruitment in the Law school led to him developing an internationalisation strategy for SU as PVC, mentions RD’s keenness for this. ID describes the management team he joined, Peter Townsend (Registrar), Rhys Williams (PVC), John Baylis and Nigel Weatherill. ID describes the consequences of 3 PVC’s resigning/retiring at the same time, remarks on the challenge of this for himself and RD; names new PVC’s as - Noel Thompson, Ian Cluckie and Alan Speight. [00:47:01] ID talks about internationalisation at SU and his role; remarks that SU had history of international students from 1930s; mentions business and law schools as areas for recruiting international students; remarks he sought to put a wholistic international strategy in place, describes aspects of the strategy. Comments on his experience of international reputation of SU due to Professor Zienkiewicz; explains the benefit of Empire and Commonwealth Scholarships in 1950’s/60’s - allowing international students to study engineering/engineering related subjects; comments on ’madness’ closing SU’s Centre for Development Studies (CDS) during his time; further explains his understanding of SU receiving Empire Scholarships. ID explains his view of the necessary financial nature of Universities, remarks on the current challenge of this; mentions importance of values, and of understanding how Universities can transform lives and the world. ID comments at length on the potential of tension between academic standards and the need for student recruitment - remarks on need for support of studies and widening opportunity for study, particularly with reference to Wales. ID gives personal opinion on Dewi Z Phillips and CW, in relation to the Philosophy Scandal and knowledge of academic standards. [00:56:15] ID talks about history of SU as a ‘Campus’ University, mentions acreage, purchasing, temporary buildings, relationship with BP - benefactors of the 1930’s library, and donors of a large painting outside the VC’s room; remarks John Fulton invented the idea of a campus university at SU in 1947, describes the relationship with Swansea Council and land acquired, mentions the ‘Pub in the Pond’. Talks about campus universities, remarks SU was again ahead of its time, remarks SU was then a ‘forced campus’ concept, briefly compares to later campus by Fulton at Sussex. Explains his ideal, on one level, of developing a campus at singleton rather than the ‘Bay’. Comments on SU’s dual campus status, starting with purchase of Hendrefoilan (1960’s) – tells interesting story of 19th Century litigation (Dillwyn and Llewellyn case) involving Hendrefoilan house and Sketty Hall, ID links this to a proposed option in his time for establishing identity for the law school at Hendrefoilan. [01:03:30] ID describes the difficulties of building the BC, financially and due to opposition; details BP’s involvement and mentions scepticism of Welsh Government; explains tactics of not applying for European funds. Discussion of BC – ID’s opinion on its legacy, potential difficulties, possibility for expansion across from Fabian Way, explanation of siting in Neath Port Talbot area rather than City and County of Swansea. Remarks on favourable opinion today of BC despite initial opposition. ID gives opinion on concerns regards future student numbers – mentions need for Universities to change, and a changing experience; comments on challenge in Wales of encouraging Welsh males into University education, and the potential legacy for this in field of engineering at the BC. [01:14:10] Section closed until 2049 [01:18:07] Comments on his next position at Bangor University. |