The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol is celebrating twenty years of its Research Scholarship Scheme which supports students to study a doctorate through the medium of Welsh.
Since the scheme was established, over 180 people have achieved a PhD in various fields which have opened doors for them to have successful careers in academia through the medium of Welsh, as lecturers or as researchers.
The scheme has contributed to the creation of new Welsh-medium lecturers and researchers who have been instrumental in developing and increasing Welsh-medium provision for students at universities across Wales.
Seren Evans from Bala completed a PhD in Sport at Bangor University in 2023, using artificial intelligence technology to investigate injuries at rugby matches. This led to opportunities "that she had never imagined." Seren said:
"I have been brought up through the Welsh language, therefore I would never have considered doing a PhD except for the opportunity to do it through the medium of Welsh. I am very grateful to the Coleg for the opportunity.
"My dream since a young age was to work as a Sports Physiotherapist, and since achieving my doctorate, my qualification has opened many doors for me.
"Not only do I have the opportunity to inspire young people, and girls in particular, into the field as a Sports Lecturer at Bangor University, but I'm also an Associate Researcher and Physiotherapist for World Rugby."
Cai Ladd from Beulah is now a coastal geographer and spends his time between classrooms lecturing in Geography at Swansea University, and travelling the world doing groundbreaking research studying coastal wetlands. Cai completed his doctorate through the Coleg Cymraeg Research Scholarship Scheme in 2018. He said:
"As an academic, every day is different.
"The Welsh language and Geography have fascinated me since I was young, and I feel lucky now that I am able to lead on research internationally and bring that research back to Wales in order to learn and understand more about the Welsh coastline, and develop bilingual courses for students."
Cennydd Jones from Aberystwyth was inspired by personal experiences to pursue a PhD studing Bovine TB. He received his PhD certificate in 2023 and is now a Lecturer in Agriculture at Aberystwyth University. He said:
"There is no need to explain why this topic is important – it affects so many farms across Wales.
"I wanted to learn more about how the infection stays alive in the environment and how farmers are trying to control it.
"I would encourage anyone who is passionate about their subject to do a doctorate through the medium of Welsh through the Coleg Cymraeg. You will get the Support you need, and the opportunity to try and make a difference - to Welsh-medium academic life, and to people on the ground."
Dr Dylan Phillips, Director of Higher Education and Secretary of the Coleg, is delighted to see the positive impact of the scheme on individuals, and on Welsh-medium education more broadly. He said:
"The aim of establishing the scheme was to develop researchers of the highest calibre who can work through the medium of Welsh.
"It's great to see that the scheme has been so successful, and we now have an enthusiastic group of new Welsh-medium academics working at universities across Wales, doing innovative work, and increasing and developing Welsh-medium provision for students."
To mark the twentieth anniversary, Cennydd, Cai and Seren will feature in a video commissioned by the Coleg which will be released on the Coleg's social media platforms and You Tube.
Follow the Coleg on Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, Linked In and Bluesky to see content on the PhD students.