Sarah Huws-Davies held a number of posts at Swansea University from 1989 until 2014.
With a background in EFL teaching, teacher training and external assessment of teaching and training programmes, Sarah joined the Centre for Applied Language Studies (CALS) in 1989. She went on to manage the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programmes for international students. Recognising the need for dedicated pastoral support for the increasing numbers of these students, Sarah campaigned for a dedicated service and set up the International Student Advisory Service (ISAS) in 1995 as part of the new International Office. Building the service from scratch, Sarah established a quality framework for the policies and procedures underpinning advisory work. Sarah believed strongly in the need to support staff who in turn support students in times of crisis and was a popular speaker on crisis support at conferences throughout the UK and Ireland.
When ISAS became part of the new Department of Student Services in 2004 Sarah was appointed Deputy Director and the framework was adopted across the department. In 2005, most of CALS was absorbed into Student Services under Sarah's leadership and quickly established a reputation as a sector leading service which supported international recruitment and made a significant financial contribution to the University.
Sarah became Director of Student Services in 2010. She established the Welcome Fair for new students in partnership with the Students' Union. This was the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership which led to Sarah being awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Students' Union in 2014.
Always passionate about providing the best possible support to all students, Sarah restructured Wellbeing Services in 2009 to provide a broader range of services. When the Reaching Wider project became part of Student Services in 2012, Sarah began a second programme of restructuring which resulted in the Centre for Academic Success (CAS) and established a significant bridge between the work of Colleges and Professional Services in the provision of academic support.
In addition to directing a major professional service, Sarah led on Safeguarding, Prevent and Healthy Universities. She wrote the University's Safeguarding Policy, Healthy University Strategy and co-authored a number of documents to assist Welsh HEIs in responding to the Prevent agenda.
During her time at the University, Sarah also held a number of external appointments including Chair of the Association of International Advisers (1998-2001) and Chair of the UKCISA/AISA Ethics Committee (2001-2004) which produced a Code of Ethics for those advising international students recognised throughout the UK as best practice. Sarah and her team won the Times Higher award for Outstanding Student Services Team in 2013.