The University has appointed two new lecturers via the Coleg’s Academic Staffing Scheme to work in the fields of engineering and biomedicine.

Since completing his degree in mechanical engineering at Swansea University, Dr Eifion Jewell has worked at SPECIFIC (Sustainable Product Engineering Centre for Innovation in Functional Coatings). The SPECIFIC project is a unique research and development facility consisting of a multidisciplinary, international consortium led by staff from the MRC within the College of Engineering and Tata Steel. By conducting research projects and teaching engineering modules in Welsh in his role as senior lecturer in engineering, Dr Jewell hopes to help students gain confidence in dealing with the subject through the medium of Welsh, a factor he hopes will support and maintain the engineering industry in Wales.

Dr Alwena Haf Morgan from Carmarthenshire joins Swansea University’s Medical School as a lecturer in biomedicine. After completing her doctorate in 2009, Dr Morgan spent time working as a trainee clinical scientist in Histocompatiblity and Immunogenetics at the Welsh Transplantation and Immunogenetics Laboratory (WTAIL). Since 2011, Dr Morgan has been conducting research into oxysterols (derivatives of cholesterol), produced by human immune cells. Dr Morgan will be responsible for expanding and strengthening the biomedicine and genetics provision which is already available at the Medical School. 

'Fruitful investment'

The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s investment in specific areas has been fruitful, as the latest figures show a further increase in the number of students who study part of their degree course in Welsh at Welsh universities. Latest data shows an increase of 22 per cent in the number of students at Swansea University who study at least five credits per year in Welsh since 2012/2013.

Professor Iwan Davies, senior pro-vice-chancellor at Swansea University, said: “We are delighted to have managed to appoint these leading academics through the Coleg’s Academic Staffing Scheme. Welsh medium provision the University has increased considerably over the last few years, and these appointments will ensure that the provision continues to go from strength to strength, and across a wide range of academic disciplines. We wish Eifion and Alwena the very best in their new roles.”

Dr Ioan Matthews, Chief Executive of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, added: ‘‘We were glad to be able to support these appointments and look forward to seeing more students studying subjects through Welsh as a result of the Coleg’s investment. At the Coleg, we’re extremely pleased to see new subjects being developed through Welsh at Swansea University; therefore these developments are to be welcomed. I would like to wish them all well as they create provision for students over the years to come.’’

Click here to learn more about the Swansea University branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.