The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol is a national organisation that plays a key role in planning, supporting and developing Welsh-medium education and scholarships in Welsh universities.

14 students were recognized last year’s Annual Congregation in Aberystwyth, and this year the Coleg was delighted to welcome seven others to the Congregation in Carmarthen where they received a certificate from the Chairman of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, Professor R. Merfyn Jones.

Dr Davies began her studies at Swansea University in 2003 when she began her BA degree in Welsh, followed by a Graduate Diploma in Law in 2006. She then continued her studies by starting a PhD in Law in 2007 under the supervision of Professor Gwynedd Parry, Director of the Hywel Dda Research Institute and Profesor of Law and Legal History at Swansea University.

Her objective was to analyse the feasability of a bilingual legal system in Wales. Her thesis provided a definition of a ‘bilingual system’, and contained a comparative study of the legal system in Canada in order to see if there are any lessons to be earnt and applied to Wales.

Dr Davies said: “I was delighted to have an opportunity to join so many icons of the Higher Education field in the annual gathering of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol this year. It was an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the excellent work the Coleg Cymraeg is doing to ensure Welsh medium Higher Education in Wales.

“It was a very successful evening and it was a great opportunity to catch up with fellow scholarship holders, who are now enthusiastic lecturers, and also some of my tutors from Swansea University. I would like to thank them for their wise words and all the help they gave me while I was studying there”.

Dr Davies now works as a translator for the Welsh Government, and her work includes legal translation which offers an opportunity for her to use both her legal and linguistic expertise on a daily basis.

Following the event, Dr Dylan Phillips, Senior Academic Manager of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol said: “It was an honour to recognize the success of the students in our Annual Congregation this year. They have all excelled in their fields of research and I wish them every success in the future “.

Image: Dr Rachel Davies receives a certificate from Professor R. Merfyn Jones, Chairman of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol