University celebrates 150 years of learning

ABERYSTWYTH University is to hold a year-long programme of events to mark 150 years since it was established.

Throughout the year, the university, along with its students and staff, will join a worldwide community of alumni, friends and partners to celebrate their contribution and academic heritage in Wales and around the globe.

Founded in 1872, following community and national fundraising efforts to establish the first Welsh university, this pioneering educational institution has since helped shape generations of scholars and academics and prides itself on being at the forefront of the development of higher education with its important historical achievements.

Aberystwyth University has led the way in establishing teaching and research across the sciences and humanities and was committed from the beginning to opening its doors to students from all backgrounds regardless of race and religion.

Highly regarded and commended as an innovative and inspiring academic institution, its achievements also include establishing the first Department of International Politics in the world and continues to break new ground for Welsh higher education with the opening of Wales’ first School of Veterinary Science, opened officially by university alumnus His Royal Highness Prince of Wales in December 2021.

Aberystwyth University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Elizabeth Treasure, said: “It is a true honour to be part of Wales’ first university as we celebrate such a significant milestone. We have great pride in our history here, and the wonderful legacies it has created, but these celebrations will be about our future as well as our past.

“As a university we’ve never stood still, constantly developing, as we respond to new and changing challenges faced by society. This is evident in our cutting edge research and the ambitious educational projects that Aberystwyth academics are driving forward, such as our new work in healthcare education which will commence in this 150th year.”