The “evidence“ being presented to Professor Kevin Haines was a framed certificate which verifies that Swansea University has won the 2012 BSC National Awards for Teaching Excellence in Criminology. The award was presented to Prof Haines by Dr Helen Jones, Director of the British Society of Criminology Learning and Teaching network. The Department of Criminology at Swansea University was honoured with its award in recognition of its work on its undergraduate programme. The Department demonstrated alignment to the UK Professional Standards Framework and showed evidence that their students both inform, and are informed by, the learning experiences developed by the Department.

The award comes at an important time for the University’s Criminology Department with the recently published National Student Survey showing that its degree programme received a score for overall satisfaction of 90%, which places the programme in the top section of the national league tables and above the University average of 87%. In addition the recently published Sunday Times University Guide 2013 showed Swansea University has jumped 12 places and is now on the threshold of the top third of all universities in the UK. 

The presentation of the BSC National Teaching Excellence Award took place at the University. The event was attended by students and staff and focused on student engagement. Speakers talked about the benefits of students and staff working closely together to develop effective learning processes and to enhance the student experience.

The Department of Criminology offers a diverse, flexible and reflective programme of learning, teaching and assessment which prioritises alignment between critical course components and which is driven by dedicated student engagement processes. The synergy between students and staff has created a reflective, responsive, coherent and dynamic degree programme that enhances the student experience and equips undergraduates for life after University.

Head of the Department of Criminology, Professor Haines said: “ I am delighted that our teaching team – staff and research students - have been given this award. They have worked tirelessly over recent years to develop a dynamic, aligned and reflective degree programme that is informed by pedagogy, current research and student engagement processes. They are highly dedicated and student-focused academics, deserving of official recognition for their dedication to producing a high quality programme that has been recognised by students, colleagues, external examiners and the University as significantly enhancing the student experience.”

Dr Helen Jones, Director of the British Society of Criminology Learning and Teaching network and also the network lead for the Higher Education Academy said: “ Swansea students are taught by an exceptional team of criminologists and I am delighted that the Department of Criminology at Swansea University has been awarded the British Society of Criminology’s National Award for Teaching Excellence 2012. At a time when the quality of teaching at universities is under intense scrutiny, the team at Swansea University can hold their heads high and their students can feel secure that their futures are bright because of the dedication of this award winning team.”

Picture: From left to right – Professor Kevin Haines, Head of the Department of Criminology; Dr Stephen Case, Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Centre for Criminal Justice and Criminology and Dr Helen Jones, Director of the British Society of Criminology Learning and Teaching network.