New appointment to improve Welsh for Adults provision

First Minister, Carwyn Jones and Education Minister, Huw Lewis have announced that Welsh for Adults will in future be led on a national level by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

The decision will mean that the University of Wales Trinity Saint David is responsible for setting the strategic direction of Welsh for Adults over the next 7 years.

The appointment of one organisation as a Welsh for Adults National Entity was a key recommendation of the independent ‘Raising your sights: review of Welsh for Adults’ report which looked at how the national provision of Welsh for Adults could be improved.

Following an open competition exercise, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David has been appointed to:

• Be a visible organisation that sets the national strategic direction for Welsh for Adults
• Provide leadership to Welsh for Adults providers
• Raise standards in the teaching and learning of Welsh for Adults
• Develop a high quality, engaging and appropriate national curriculum and produce resources suitable for all kinds of learners.

First Minister, Carwyn Jones said:

“We are committed to giving people of all ages the opportunity to learn Welsh and are keen to encourage them to use the language in their day to day lives.

“The decision to establish one institution to set the strategic direction for Welsh for Adults was one of the key recommendations of our recent review and I am pleased that following a period of open competition, we have been able to appoint the University of Wales Trinity Saint David to carry out this important role.”

Education Minister, Huw Lewis said:

“I am confident that the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s emphasis on the learner experience and its long term vision for Welsh for Adults will lead to exciting changes.

“Ensuring adults have opportunities to learn Welsh is a key commitment for the Welsh Government and I look forward to working with the institution to move the sector forward.”

Professor Medwin Hughes, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David said:

“We are delighted that we’ve been appointed by the Welsh Government to lead Welsh for Adults provision across the whole of Wales.  Indeed, the University is working closely with the Welsh Government on a number of major projects which will transform education in Wales.

“This achievement is testament to the hard work and expertise of staff within UWTSD – especially those who led the bid from Canolfan Peniarth.  These are exciting times for the University and we look forward to delivering dynamic and ambitious projects, providing opportunities for learners of all ages.”

Gwilym Dyfri Jones, Associate Pro Vice-chancellor at UWTSD said:

“As part of its application, the University introduced an ambitious vision that would establish a service of national excellence and contribute directly to the creation of a bilingual Wales. The provision will be guided by the needs of the learner so that each individual feels the value of the process and advocates its impact. The aim is to raise standards across the board, leading directly to transforming the profile of the Welsh language.

“It is felt that the vision developed at Canolfan Peniarth on behalf of the University, is transformational, is achievable within the timing set and one that offers value for money. It also offers a real opportunity to establish a national structure for Welsh for Adults which will encourage total participation from providers and learners alike, leading to the kind of significant outcomes that are needed to increase the number of people learning Welsh in Wales.

“We would like to emphasise that the National Entity will be an independent and credible body.  The vision set out for it provides a structure that stands firmly as a catalyst for far-reaching changes. The staffing framework established will provide guidance for providers and stakeholders as well as a strategy that will be require a collaborative and coordinated approach set against measurable and achievable targets.”