The Wales Institute of Science and Art (WISA) brings together the complementary disciplines of science and art in all of its complex possibilities.
From the historic traditions of architectural stained-glass to the cutting-edge of cybersecurity computer networks WISA offers its students the opportunity to explore the innovative potential of art and science that drives our world.
The focus of the Institute is on developing employment-ready graduates who can be change makers in their chosen field of study. We CREATE, we INNOVATE, we INSPIRE the next generation of leaders and experts to possess a strong emotional and social conscience to tackle issues on a global stage.
Our Locations
The WISA portfolio of courses is delivered throughout the South Wales region. With cultural centres for Art, Design, Media, Music, and Performing Arts at Swansea, Carmarthen, and Cardiff sitting alongside computing, engineering, construction courses at our Waterfront campus at Swansea.
Our Management Team
Rob Charters
Position: Assistant Dean (International and Domestic Partnerships)
Telephone: 01792484027
Email: robert.charters@uwtsd.ac.uk
Assistant Dean: International and Domestic partnerships the focus of my role is the provision of transnational education (TNE) in Art, Design Engineering and computing across a number of the universities global partnerships, Formally Assistant Dean of Quality assurance at Swansea college of Arts with senior teaching, learning and managerial roles at a number of universities and Independent Art Colleges within the UK.
Practising artist and photographer since 1985 with Masters degrees in Image and narrative analysis and Master of research in Technology Enhanced Learning. Currently researching my professional doctorate. Visiting Lecturer at Wuhan Huaxia, Wuchang Souyi, and Fujian Jiangxia universities in China.
Dr Mark Cocks
Position: Dean (Interim) Wales Institute of Science & Art
Telephone: 01792481021
Email: mark.cocks@uwtsd.ac.uk
About me
Dean (Interim): Academic and Marketing with particular focus on academic resourcing, workshop provision, H&S, student recruitment, and marketing.
Formerly Assistant Dean Resources: Swansea College of Art. Skilled in Strategic Planning, Resource Management, Learning and Teaching, Quality Enhancement, Staff Development, and Marketing. Practicing artist and arts education professional with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Photographic Education and SFHEA.
- Academic Profile: Dr Mark Cocks
Mrs Rhian Pole
Position: Assistant Dean: Quality and Enhancement
Telephone: 01792 481150
Email: rhian.pole@uwtsd.ac.uk
About Me
Assistant Dean: Quality and Enhancement with particular focus on academic audit requirements, providing general academic and professional leadership within the areas of quality assurance and enhancement of the student learning experience. An experienced lecturer in Computing, with Professional Membership of the British Computer Society (MBCS) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors (FCIEA).
Dr Gregory Owen
Position: Academic Director (Education)
Telephone: 01792481000
Email: gregory.owen@uwtsd.ac.uk
About Me
Academic Director: Engineering, Built and Natural Environments and member of the Advanced Higher Education Academy awarding panel. Formerly Principal lecturer Academic Partnerships and Student Experience for the Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Engineering.
Current interests involve Teaching and Learning and Engineering Education in HEIs. Previous research activities involve Grain Boundary Engineering of 316 stainless steels and nano-scale investigations of semiconductors for gas sensing purposes. Masters in theoretical physics and a PhD in experimental physics and SFHEA.
- Academic Profile: Dr Gregory Thomas Owen
Dr Kapilan Radhakrishnan
Position: Academic Director (Applied Computing)
Telephone: 01792481154
Email: kapilan.radhakrishnan@uwtsd.ac.uk
About Me
Academic Director of Applied Computing portfolio with responsibilities of managing staff, strategic planning and operation of portfolio, programme development and delivery.
Kapilan is a specialist in Computer Networks and Cyber Security, has a PhD in Computer Networks and number of professional qualifications such as CCNA, CEH, CHFI and a Senior Fellow of HEA.
- Academic Profile: Dr Kapilan Radhakrishnan
Dr Pete Spring PhD, FRSA, FHEA
Position: Academic Portfolio Director: Architecture & Design
Telephone: 01792 4814520
Email: peter.spring@uwtsd.ac.uk
About Me
As Academic Portfolio Director for Architecture and Design, I look after and manage eleven programmes. I am very pleased to be able to continue to contribute lecturing within the Foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate levels in my portfolio in addition to supervising both MPhil and PhD students. I enjoy being able to help all students find creative and challenging ways to understand and make valuable contributions within their chosen careers.
My own PhD in Design used evolutionary dynamics to explore ways to build beneficial interactions with my research interests focused now, on finding ways to enrich the learning environments for students and colleagues, to ask questions, but most of all, to have fun whilst doing so.
Amongst many things, I love motorcycling and designing and making chairs.
- Academic Profile: Dr Peter Spring
Caroline Thraves
Position: Academic Director (Art and Media)
Telephone: 01792481000 Ex 3219
Email: caroline.thraves@uwtsd.ac.uk
About Me
Caroline is responsible for the academic disciplines of Fine Art, Illustration, Photography, Film, Computer Games, Computer Animation, Music and Performing Arts. She also holds an MA in Post Compulsory Education and Training, alongside an MSc in Management Studies.
Caroline has extensive experience of working with industry on knowledge exchange projects and has a strong track record of gaining external funding to support the creative industries with innovation, research and development. Previous projects include EU funded ACT project and EU funded TTP, at present Caroline is the Project Director of the EU Interegg Project Catalyst.
Caroline was awarded Welsh Women of the Year 2019 for Services to Education at the Welsh Women’s Awards. Caroline was awarded the Sunday Times/WeAreTheCity’s Rising Star’s Award 2019 (Education and Academia).
- Academic Profile: Caroline Thraves
