We Are BSU 2024
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Bath Spa University 2024 Round-Up
Monday, 23 December, 2024From literary triumphs to unveiling a refreshed brand, 2024 has certainly been a year to remember for Bath Spa University.
Celebrating the wonderful achievements of our staff, students and alumni, we’re looking back at some of the biggest stories of the year, celebrating how the BSU community thrived once again over the past 12 months.
We Are Award Winners…
A number of BSU students, staff and alumni impressed on the biggest of stages this year, with Professor Sam Harvey rising to stratospheric heights by winning the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel ‘Orbital’.
Graduates Ellie Bowler and Gigi Cooke found worldwide and local acclaim respectively, with Ellie rustling her way to an Emmy win for her work on the Netflix documentary ‘Island of the Sea Wolves’, and Gigi sweeping the prestigious Creative Student award at the 2024 Creative Bath Awards.
Quite literally producing the goods as well was Commercial Music student Amy Sergeant, who caught the eye of the music world by taking home the 2024 Music Producers Guild Rising Star Award.
We are Professionally Creative…
Bath Spa University prides itself on professional creativity, with plenty of our community members showcasing this desirable quality.
BSU hit the national news in January when Professor Nathan Filer spun the Jungle music scene into a craze thanks to a University Challenge remix. That same month also saw graduate Llara Plaza Garcia land her dream job on hit BBC show ‘The Traitors’, photographing Claudia Winkleman.
The Gruffalo may not make the list of BSU alumni but he’s certainly there in spirit, with the man behind the illustrations, and BSU graduate, Axel Scheffler studying at our Corsham Court site in the early 80s. His story came to life in 2024, as BSU dug deep into the archives to highlight one of our most critically acclaimed graduates.
We Are Inviting…
Plenty of famous faces arrived at BSU in 2024, none more so than the granddaughter of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia. Marking 70 years since the Emperor’s visit to Newton Park, Her Imperial Highness Princess Esther Selassie Antohin attended a special tree planting ceremony at our picturesque campus.
BSU also opened its doors to the world for the first time for Heritage Open Days in September, inviting members of the public to explore the history of our grounds and discover the people that built the University’s foundations.
Not only that, but BSU also hosted another BSU, with American institution Bowie State University arriving at Newton Park for an exchange of knowledge, friendship and mutual abbreviations.
We Are Community Champions…
Bath Spa University is proud to boast a range of outstanding partners, with that number growing in 2024 thanks to the arrival of Bath Carnival, BRLSI and 3SG.
A major new sponsorship deal also took place in 2024, with BSU finding the top corner and being announced as the new front of shirt sponsor for Bath City Football Club.
BSU also boarded the Bath Safe Bus, supporting a scheme that ensures students and city residents have access to a safe space on nights out in Bath.
We Are BSU…
2024 was a year of change and BSU was firmly part of that; a refreshed brand arrived in February, marking the start of a new era, and in April we coined and celebrated the first ever National Newt Day, a nod to our amphibious residents.
Our confidence also rose to new levels this year, showcasing projects like ‘BSU One Hundred Portraits’ and ‘Home From Home’, the latter of which starred as the University’s first ever festive campaign.
There were plenty of goodbyes and hellos in 2024 as well. Vice-Chancellor Sue Rigby departed after seven years of service, with Professor Georgina Andrews being appointed in her place, and Sharanjit Leyl was warmly welcomed as our new Chancellor in May.
The Summer graduation season once again brought memories to last a lifetime, with two members of the BSU community making their day extra special by getting engaged and sparking nationwide adoration.
2024 has certainly been a year to remember at Bath Spa University and we can’t wait to see what next year has in store.