Bath Spa University
Bath Spa University is an arts-based university with a vibrant and flourishing School of Science and the Environment and School of Social Sciences.
The School of Science and the Environment teaches biology, diet and health, environmental science, food nutrition and consumer protection, development geography, geography, remote sensing, and tourism management. Research within the School of Science and the Environment occurs across all the subjects and involves all members of the School: academic staff, technical and support staff, postgraduate and undergraduate students alike. We have a dynamic research environment that not only investigates the pure and applied aspects of research that underpin the content of our teaching, but also we research teaching methods, ensuring that content and delivery of our courses is at the cutting edge of knowledge and practice.
Research within the School of Science and the Environment occurs across all the subjects and involves all members of the School: academic staff, technical and support staff, postgraduate and undergraduate students alike. We have a dynamic research environment that not only investigates the pure and applied aspects of research that underpin the content of our teaching, but also we research teaching methods, ensuring that content and delivery of our courses is at the cutting edge of knowledge and practice.
Research is facilitated through specifically-designed laboratories, computer suites, and even the grounds of our campus are being instrumented as a natural laboratory. Staff and students are active in publishing books and scientific papers that contribute to the development of science and the environment in both the national and international arena in times of such important topics as climate change, biodiversity crises, and food quality.
The School of Social Sciences has a central aim of providing high quality academic and vocationally oriented programmes in Business and Management, Psychology, Sociology and Health Studies for as wide a range of students as possible.
All four subjects are offered in major/joint/minor combination allowing undergraduates to study other social sciences or subjects from a wide range of disciplines across the University. We work with six FE Colleges<link> in the region on Foundation Degrees and the delivery of first year courses in Psychology, Sociology and Health Studies. At postgraduate level we offer the MSc in Health Studies on a full or part-time basis. It draws on staff expertise in all four subjects, and Psychology. Sociology and Health Studies offer PhD supervision. The School currently has over 600 full-time students, over 35 full-time and part-time academic staff, two administrative staff and ten research students, some of whom contribute to undergraduate teaching.
We have extensive contacts with other universities and relevant National Subject Centres of the Higher Education Academy<link>. All subjects have been reviewed favourably by the Quality Assurance Agency <link> with Sociology gaining a national award to disseminate its good practice to other Departments in England. The majority of staff have research degrees or are working towards one, and most are qualified HE teachers. All academic staff undertake scholarly and/or research activity, and there is an extensive publication record in all subjects. We take the training and development of our staff very seriously and achieved 'Investor in People' status in 2002.
The University has a history of academic excellence and knowledge relevant to a range of business and social enterprises. The range of opportunities resulting from these links include training and development related to the workplace, bespoke projects and research consultancy. The University's Centres of Expertise are particularly active in the following areas:
Bath Spa University Food Business Centre was set up in response to the increasing demand for consultancy, training and research services by industry. The centre is situated within Food Studies, Department of Biology and Food, which has a reputation for high quality teaching based on scholarship, research and practical experience of the food industry. It houses the Centre for Food Product Development and the Western Food and Health Forum. The centre has had several nutrition, product development, food microbiology and food law consultancy projects. These have ranged from conducing short trouble-shooting projects to longer projects lasting several months. It has also provided bespoke training courses for the industry.
Geotechnologies was established in 1992, by a team of specialists in vertical digital aerial photography, digital photogrammetry and geographic information systems. It specialises in the:
- Integration of commercial off-the-shelf components into digital aerial photographic systems
- Field performance testing of airborne systems, and training and production of operational methodologies and manuals for digital aerial photography and digital elevation model production
- Capture scalable, secure, electronically distributable, infrared and true colour, vertical digital aerial photography for near-real-time client specified applications
- Deliver training in digital aerial photography, digital image processing, Differential Global Positioning System ground control surveys, digital photogrammetry, map production and geographic information systems
- Survey and map production quality control, aerial survey logistical support and project management
The new generation of geospatial technologies employed by Geotechnologies have been successfully integrated and transferred into cohesive field and desktop environments. These have enhanced the end-user's abilities to collect and analyse diverse and complicated information on coastal zones, geomorphology, transport, distribution, civil and mine engineering and ecosystems, and have facilitated the sharing of expertise, information and techniques. Since 1993, the unit has operated in Africa, Europe, the Far East, South America, South East Asia, and the Mediterranean, and has completed in excess of forty commercial projects. These have addressed issues associated with increased pressure of use, stringent environmental regulations, more intense global scrutiny of natural resources, preventative maintenance and disaster prevention and hazard management.
The International Centre for Digital and Interactive Audio at Bath Spa University has rapidly established itself as one of the UK's leading providers of degree-level music technology education.
Undergraduate provision centres on a BA in Creative Music Technology, which focuses on the creative applications of new and emerging audio technologies. The Centre also runs a range of industry-accredited short courses. The UK's first approved Emagic Training Centre, we also work closely with Digidesign UK developing and delivering certified Pro Tools training for Europe-wide delivery. Other partners include Future Publishing, Korg and Focusrite Audio Engineering.
The Digital and Interactive Audio Centre's research strengths lie in interactive audio, computer music, multimedia sound and creative practice. Specialist interests include the impact of audio on the gaming experience, audio file formats, multi-channel audio, real-time spectral transformations, etc. Another key strand is our interest in charting and interpreting the impact of emerging technologies on the production and consumption of music via Labour Market Intelligence projects.
Interactive Multimedia at present offers a taught Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) 'in house' and an MA degree which is available in-house and by distance learning. The PGDip, which comprises Multimedia Theory and Practice contextualised by Cultural Theory, will also be offered as individual components to provide an extremely flexible and customisable education resource. This flexibility is invaluable for businesses and employees who need to gear learning into relevant 'chunks' or around busy schedules.
Using staff and student skills we are able to offer multimedia design solutions for output to Web or CD-ROM. Web site hosting and maintenance is available for projects developed by IMM. We are currently providing this service for a range of music and media professionals, businesses and public sector organisations.
PGDip and MA Graduates are able to produce multimedia work to professional standards and deadlines, being competent not only in planning and graphic skills, but also in the linking technologies of programming and software administration. Projects for Web and CD-ROM using sound, video, text and image editing packages are undertaken, these are a mixture of set and personal projects plus a growing number of external commissions.
Graphic Design - Creative Communications is based within the Bath School of Art and Design. It works closely with the creative media professions including Advertising, Television, Digital and Print Publishing, and Design Consultancy. This includes work in the areas of Corporate Identity, Packaging, Retail Design and Information Design for the public and private sectors. Particular expertise includes:
- Graphic Communication
- Illustration
- Multimedia design and development
- Moving image and still photography
Potential projects are discussed between the client and members of the academic staff so that a brief can be formulated and a time frame agreed. Students and staff are then selected for the project team and work on the project towards a client presentation.
Recent clients have included: Western Provident Association (WPA), Fairfield Park Health Centre, Mutek Ltd., Benchmark Software Ltd., Photohistorica 2000, Mitel Ltd.