Lecturers Appointed to Meet Demand for Welsh Language Provision at Swansea

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Swansea University is pleased to announce four Welsh language medium lecturers have been appointed thanks to the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

Iwan Williams, Llyr Gwyn Lewis, Heledd Iago and Delyth Lloyd Griffiths will begin their posts shortly and contribute to the University’s Welsh language provision in their individual fields.

The appointments in Public Relations, Welsh, Medicine and Social Work will be funded until 2017.

They will join eight other lecturers who have already been appointed under the Coleg Cymraeg’s Staffing Scheme over the last three years.

Iwan Williams will join Academi Hywel Teifi as Lecturer in Public Relations after working for the National Assembly for Wales as Head of Press, Publications and E-democracy. Iwan hopes to develop a challenging provision which will provide the students with vocational skills to enable them to enter the world of work successfully after graduating.

Llyr Gwyn Lewis is currently drawing his PhD on the works of both T. Gwynn Jones and W. B. Yeats to a close. The talented bard from Caernarfon was awarded the Urdd Eisteddfod Chair two years running in 2010 and 2011. He may be familiar to many as a vocalist with the Violas and he also presents Stiwdio on BBC Radio Cymru. Llyr will coordinate modules within the University’s Department of Welsh, including language learning theory, bilingualism and sociology and language planning.

Heledd Iago will contribute towards the growing need for Welsh language provision for students within the College of Medicine. As Lecturer in Medical Science, she will conduct research through the medium of Welsh and establish new modules such as ‘Medicine, Welsh and Welshness.’ Heledd hopes to promote the Welsh language within the field and ensure the students are confident enough to discuss medical issues through the medium of Welsh.

Experienced social worker Delyth Lloyd Griffiths will join the College of Human and Health Sciences as Senior Tutor in Social Work. Delyth is no stranger to higher education after years spent lecturing in Bangor University before coordinating a post graduate course for Swansea University Social Work students between 2009-2012. Her main responsibility will be to increase the Welsh language medium provision available in South West Wales and work closely with local partners and authorities.

Professor Iwan Davies, Swansea University’s Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor said: ‘‘We are pleased to have been able to appoint these lecturers and look forward to seeing the Welsh language provision strengthened across numerous disciplines from September onwards. The individuals have vast experiences in their own fields and our students will no doubt benefit from their expertise over the next five years. I would like to extend a warm welcome to all four and wish them well in their new posts.’’

Dr Ioan Matthews, Chief Executive of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol concluded:  ‘‘We are glad that Swansea University have successfully appointed these academics under the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s Staffing Scheme. The Coleg welcomes the yearly progress with regards to the Welsh language provision at Swansea and the exciting developments at Academi Hywel Teifi. Students at Swansea University and further afield will no doubt benefit from these posts over the next few years as a result of the Coleg’s investment.’’