Ahead of our upcoming Open Day, History lecturer Jonathan Worton shares his thoughts on his time at University Centre Shrewsbury and why you should come along to our Open Day.
What are your tips for attending an Open Day?
“Get there well on time, make the best of your visit and ask (and don't be afraid to ask!) questions.”
What can people find out about the course on an Open Day?
“You will find out about the course programme, about the individual Historical topics ('Modules') you will study, about the teaching staff, and about the positive approach we have here towards studying History and Heritage.”
What is your favourite part of your job?
“When a student says: 'I didn't know much about that period of History and thought it would be boring, but you have made me interested in it'. Plus, what can be a better job for a Historian, than to talk (and hopefully enthuse) others day to day about his great interest in life?”
What has been your proudest moment whilst working at the university?
“Two moments this year: for me personally, being student nominated as most inspirational lecturer; but far more importantly for our department and UCS, seeing the really commendable final awards that UCS's first graduates in BA History gained this July.”
What makes University Centre Shrewsbury unique?
“Because we are a new, small, but growing university centre (and in that way quite unique in England, and special to be a part of), all teaching is done in small tutorial groups. Thus classes are delivered in a more personal way, allowing greater student participation than is usually possible in the very large lecture class sizes at other universities. Because of this, students can benefit from greater one-to-one support from lecturers and other staff at UCS. On the other hand, students also benefit from being part of the University of Chester's main Department of History and Archaeology, which has a deservedly high reputation for the quality of its teaching and research. History students at Shrewsbury also have access to the learning resources of the Chester campus.
Finally, why wouldn't you want to come and study History at Shrewsbury? Our campus is in the heart of one of England's finest county towns, dating to Anglo-Saxon times, with a fascinating historic built environment, including its own castle! Not far from Shrewsbury are the remains of Roman Britain's fourth largest city, and further down the River Severn, Ironbridge was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution. Shropshire is bang in the middle of the Welsh borderlands, a region packed with historic landscapes, containing castles, ancient churches, and prehistoric monuments. Go a little further west, crossing the ancient, but enigmatic Offa's Dyke, we are over the Welsh border, into a land full of historic interest in its many own ways.”
Why should people come to an Open Day?
“You should come to an Open Day at UCS to find out what makes this institution tick in a special way, to get a feel for our interesting courses and excellent facilities.... and to talk about History!”
Our Open Day is taking place Saturday 19th October. You can book your place here.
