Advice for Educators: Supporting the Use of Welsh within Tertiary Education

This document presents findings and practical recommendations on how health and social care education providers can increase students’ use of Welsh. Drawing on research evidence, it explores the factors that influence students’ language choices, including linguistic confidence, sense of belonging, learning experiences, and institutional support. The document offers a series of actions for managers and strategic leaders to consider when developing Welsh-medium and bilingual provision. It focuses on interventions that are most likely to have a positive impact on the use of Welsh and on the development of a bilingual workforce for Wales.

Introduction to the Coleg Cymraeg academic e-journal, Gwerddon, by the deputy editor, Dr Hywel Griffiths. Gwerddon is a Welsh-medium open access academic e-journal which publishes research in a wide range of academic subjects. Its aim is to stimulate and encourage first-class academic discussion across as wide a range of subjects as possible through the medium of Welsh, and thereby to create a store of scholarly material for the use of research students and academics. All articles are published in Welsh and adhere to REF guidelines creating work of an international standard which is peer reviewed. This presentation gives an overview of the background of Gwerddon together with a detailed guide to the process of submitting and publishing articles in the journal.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the landscape of higher education. It is influencing the way students learn, how staff design teaching and assessment, and how institutions support academic development and digital skills. While AI presents significant opportunities, it also raises important questions around academic integrity, digital literacy, equity and inclusion.   This report explores the use of Artificial Intelligence within the context of Welsh-medium higher education, with particular attention to the opportunities and challenges facing Welsh speakers and speakers of minority languages. The report brings together current research, practical tests and feedback from staff and students to provide an overview of AI and its implications for Welsh-medium education. The report also highlights examples of good practice and identifies ways in which institutions can support the responsible and equitable use of AI. The report includes practical guidance and resources, recommendations on selecting appropriate tools, writing effective prompts, checking the reliability and accuracy of AI-generated content, and considering issues such as privacy, bias and transparency. We hope that the report will spark discussion, experimentation and collaboration across the sector to ensure that Welsh speakers can take fair advantage of DA developments, supporting a bilingual, inclusive and responsible approach to the use of these technologies in higher education.

A series of videos introducing NVivo by Emma Grigorian, PhD researcher at Cardiff Met University. NVivo is computer software used to collect, organise, analyse and interpret qualitative data. It can be used to analyse data from qualitative research methods such as interviews, focus groups, questionnaires and transcripts by coding the data and identifying themes and patterns. An online workshop will be held on 1 June at 2pm to accompany this resource. You can register for the workshop here.