Introduction to the history of the Computer Science department
The Department of Computer Science at Aberystwyth University was established in 1970. Starting with a professor and two lecturers, syllabuses were planned, lecture courses written, and students recruited. In the 1970s an average of ten students graduated in Computer Science per year, plus a number of MSc research students. By 2020 the department was offering twenty-two Single Honours degrees, five Joint degrees, and six Masters programmes; and the number of students had increased by a factor of more than thirty.
This website covers the department's growth and development over the first 50 years. The history is presented in various forms: narrative, timelines, and data tables.
Origins of the University
The University College in Aberystwyth was established in the Old College building in 1872. The first Principal, two professors and a Registrar-Librarian, welcomed twenty-five students into ‘the people’s University'.
Twenty-three years later the University of Wales was established by Royal Charter as a federal university with three constituent colleges – Aberystwyth, Bangor and Cardiff. Swansea joined in 1920. This was the first university established in Wales. Prior to the break-up of the federation in 2007 the University of Wales was the second largest university in the UK.
From 1893 our title was UCW, the University College of Wales but in 1992 this changed to UWA, the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. After 114 years the federal structure disintegrated and names changed again and we became AU, Aberystwyth University. The constituent colleges became independent and awarded their own degrees – previously all degrees were awarded by the University of Wales and were processed by the University Registry in Cathays Park, Cardiff.
Aberystwyth Principals or Vice-Chancellors
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| 1969-1979 | Sir Goronwy Daniel (deceased 17 January 2003) |
| 1979-1989 | Gareth Owen (deceased 4 May 2002) |
| 1989-1995 | Kenneth O. Morgan, Baron Morgan of Aberdyfi |
| 1995-2004 | Derec Llwyd Morgan |
| 2004-2011 | Noel Lloyd (deceased 7 June 2019) |
| 2011-2016 | April McMahon |
| 2016-2017 | John Grattan (acting) |
| 2017-2023 | Elizabeth Treasure |
| 2024- | Jon Timmis |
Heads of Department of Computer Science
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| 1970 - 1984 | Prof. Glyn Emery |
| 1984 - 1985 | Prof. Mike Tedd (acting) |
| 1985 - 1990 | Prof. Mike Tedd |
| 1990 - 2000 | Frank Bott (deceased 16 June 2023) |
| 2000 - 2010 | Prof. Chris Price |
| 2010 - 2013 | Prof. Qiang Shen |
| 2013 - 2018 | Dr Bernie Tiddeman |
| 2018 - | Dr Thomas Jansen |
Professors of Computer Science
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1970 | Glyn Emery (Emeritus 1985, deceased 8 December 2006) |
| 1985 | Mike Tedd (Vice-Principal 1990, emeritus since 2001) |
| 1987 | Mark Lee (Emeritus since 2018) |
| 1999 | Chris Price (Emeritus since 2022) |
| 2004 | Ross King (left 2012) |
| 2004 | Qiang Shen (Institute Director 2013, University Executive member 2016, Pro VC for Faculty of Business and Physical Sciences since 2018) |
| 2009 | David Barnes (deceased 25 July 2014) |
| 2009 | Reyer Zwiggelaar |
| 2020 | Jungong Han (left 2023, now an Honorary Professor) |
| 2021 | Bernie Tiddeman |
| 2022 | Tossapon Boogoen |
Other pages give historical timelines, details of staff and students, and research and teaching activities.
Please note the following disclaimer:
Unless otherwise stated, all images are copyright of Aberystwyth University. Every effort has been made to contact the rights holders to obtain permission for the use of copyrighted text or images. If we have inadvertently made use without permission of any materials in which you believe that you may own rights, we would ask you to please contact us as soon as possible at: cs-history@aber.ac.uk. If you appear in any of the images, or you are mentioned in any parts of the text or data, and you wish these to be corrected or removed please contact us with the relevant details at: cs-history@aber.ac.uk.
We have tried to ensure the information on this website is correct. However, we make no representation and give no warranty of any kind in respect of the information. In particular the difference between the calendar year and the academic year can give rise to dates being in error by plus or minus one year. If you find any factual errors in the data we would be very grateful if you would send the correction to: cs-history@aber.ac.uk.
Image credits
The front page includes images provided by the following people. The images are used with their permission.
- History image – Sylvia Lutkins
- People image – Sandy Spence
- Events image – Colin and Claire Sauze
- Research image – Sandy Spence