Student essay competition winners

Students will be rewarded for their creative writing skills today (Tuesday 6th May, 2003) at the University of St Andrew’s Student Essay Competition Awards Ceremony.

The students, who were invited to submit essays describing their learning experiences in a ‘creative, succinct and meaningful way’, will be awarded cash prizes of up to a thousand pounds.

Dr Brian Lang, Principal and Vice- Chancellor will award certificates to the winners. Dr Frank Quinault, Director of SALTIRE, and Dr Colin Mason, Director of Learning and Teaching Development will also be present at the ceremony.

Dr Mason, developer and organiser of the essay competition said:

“This competition provided students not only with an opportunity to be rewarded for their creativity, but also uses the innovative method of on-line technology for essay submission. It is an intriguing indirect route for students to give feedback on their experiences of teaching at St Andrews and their own individual approaches to learning and studying.”

The competition, launched in the 2001-2002 academic year, is an initiative of SALTIRE (St Andrews Learning and Teaching: Innovation, Review and Enhancement), whose mission is to promote excellence in learning and teaching at the University.

Launched last year, SALTIRE is aimed at enhancing the development of traditional and innovative approaches to learning and teaching. Staff are offered support in their teaching roles, through training courses, and academic schools and individuals benefit from funding and learning resources. Students benefit from guidance and support on independent learning skills such as study, IT and personal development through the provision of individual consultations, seminars, small group courses and learning resources.

The organisers of the student essay competition were looking for short essays of 500 words that contributed to the University’s understanding of effective, enjoyable approaches to learning at St Andrews.

The £1000 prize money was split equally between four winners:

Sarah Barr for “Innocuous Innovation” Matthew Beilby for “As the scripture says, so we have done” Tom Potter for “Old Dog – New Tricks?” Susan Watson for “Advice to the Teaching Academic”

In addition, prizes of £25 were awarded to two students for the most creative essay titles. These were:

Maria Byars for “Designed for Life” Peter Fryatt for “The very best of chilled Old Skool Gangsta’ Rappin’ from the children of da Bibliothèque, kickin’ it, St- Andrews Style”

Entries are invited for the 2003 essay competition ¿ interested students should visit the SALTIRE website at: http://www.st- andrews.ac.uk/saltire/studyskills/a wards.shtml

ENDS

Issued by Beattie Media On behalf of the University of St Andrews Contact Gayle Cook on 01334 467227, mobile 07900 050103, or email [email protected] Ref: SALTIRE STUDENT ESSAY AWARD 020503.doc View the latest University news at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk