An evening to inaugurate Fellows and celebrate students for achieving a Coleg Cymraeg-funded PhD, including Dr Gareth Bonello and Dr Aneirin Karadog
Live performances by Ysgol Hamadryad choir and the musician Dr Gareth Bonello.
On Tuesday 21 March at the Tramshed, Cardiff, during the tenth Annual Congregation of the Coleg Cymraeg, the influential scholar Professor Sioned Davies, former Coleg Chair Dr Haydn Edwards, and former Vice-Chair of the Coleg Academic Board Delyth Murphy, will be inaugurated as Honorary Fellows of the Coleg for their lifetime contribution to post-compulsory Welsh-medium education.
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Professor Sioned Davies will be recognised for her contribution over almost 40 years to teaching and research as an academic at the School of Welsh, Cardiff University, including 20 years as head of the school until her retirement in 2019.
Sioned was also the first woman ever to hold the position of professor of Welsh. Sioned, who has also received international praise for her English translation of the Mabinogion, said
"I’m very grateful to the Coleg Cymraeg for this personal honour. I’ve been fortunate to have had some great opportunities during my career, and without the support of the staff at Cardiff University’s School of Welsh, achieving anything would have been difficult. I look forward to working with the Coleg and contributing to the tremendous work they are doing."
The fellowship recognises her academic distinction as well as her contribution over many years to Wales and Welsh-medium education at Cardiff University and beyond.
Also on the night, Delyth Murphy will be conferred as an Honorary Fellow for her significant contribution to higher education while working at Bangor University developing the field of Widening Access and Lifelong Learning. The fellowship is presented in recognition of her commitment to improving the learner experience and expanding learning opportunities for everyone, regardless of age and background.
Delyth said:
"My career has been a team effort: Bangor University's Lifelong Learning team, the Coleg Cymraeg team and the small team at the University’s Widening Access Centre until my retirement. So with a big thank you to the Coleg Cymraeg for this special honour, I’d like to dedicate it to all those whose journey through education I’m privileged to have been a part of."
Dr Haydn Edwards, former chair of the Coleg Cymraeg Board of Directors will be the third person to receive a fellowship on the night. He was a key part of establishing the National Centre for Learning Welsh, and the fellowship is awarded for his contribution to the development of the Coleg Cymraeg but also education and training in Wales.
Haydn said:
"It was an unexpected and pleasant experience to be invited to receive an Honorary Fellowship of the Coleg Cymraeg. This is an organisation that has done so much in a relatively short amount of time to transform Welsh-medium education at our universities and is now establishing a national pattern for vocational education and training. It was a privilege to be of service to the Coleg as Chair for a period and I treasure this honour very much. I wish the Coleg every success as it develops further".
The three individuals will be recognised as Honorary Fellows as part of the Coleg Cymraeg's Annual Congregation at the Tramshed in Cardiff on Tuesday, 21 March.
PhD Awards
As part of the evening, there will also be an opportunity to celebrate and present certificates to PhD students for achieving a doctorate under the Coleg Cymraeg’s Research Scholarship Scheme.
Among them is the well-known musician, Dr Gareth Bonello, who received his doctorate in Music at the University of South Wales for researching historical and cultural links between Wales and the Khasi community in North East India. Gareth will also perform on the night.
He said:
"I had an inspirational and enriching experience while studying for my doctorate. It was a rare privilege to have the time and support to explore an important and fascinating subject in detail, so I’m very grateful to the Coleg Cymraeg. Completing my studies is an achievement I’m proud of and I’m delighted that my connection with Khasi communities has continued to grow since I graduated. I’m hopeful that my work will be a small but positive step that will help bring about much more collaboration between Welsh and Khasi artists and academics in the future."
The poet, presenter and musician Dr Aneirin Karadog will also receive his certificate for achieving a doctorate in Welsh. He said:
"I will forever be grateful to the Coleg Cymraeg and the Department of Welsh at Swansea University for the opportunity to apply for a Doctorate degree in creative writing. The opportunity brought so many positive aspects in terms of going back to academia. Being able to attend courses and conferences as part of the Scholarship I received was also invaluable, from making new friends to being able to share and learn about research projects and all the innovative work of the Coleg Cymraeg."
Dr Wyn Mason, who has been working as a successful playwright while studying for his doctorate in Welsh at Swansea University, will also be receiving his certificate:
"I had an invaluable opportunity to develop my skills as a playwright and writer and I managed to write two stage plays while studying. Gwlad yr Asyn was even staged by Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, and Os Nad Nawr has toured Wales. Thanks to the support of the Coleg Cymraeg, I am now a professional writer."
All the PhD students will be celebrated on the night, and Dr Gareth Bonello and a choir from the local Welsh-medium primary school, Ysgol Gymraeg Hamadryad, will perform.
In looking forward to the event, Dr Ioan Matthews, Chief Executive of the Coleg Cymraeg said:
"Congratulations to all those who’ll be celebrated at the Coleg Cymraeg’s Annual Congregation this year. There will be an enormous amount of talent all under one roof at the Tramshed. The three Honorary Fellows have made a vital contribution to post-compulsory Welsh-medium education and paved the way for the next generation of talented PhD students who will also be receiving their certificates. We look forward to celebrating all their achievements at the Coleg Cymraeg’s tenth Annual Congregation."
The Annual Congregation will be streamed live from the Tramshed on the Coleg Cymraeg’s YouTube channel at 18:15 on 21 March, where everyone is welcome to join us.