Lecturers from across Wales come together in a video to say “DIOLCH” to their learners and students following a challenging two years.
During a year of celebrations to note the tenth-anniversary of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, this evening (Wednesday 13 Gorffennaf) some of Wales’ most recognised faces from the world of music, television and academia, including Dafydd Iwan and Angharad Mair, have presented awards to some of the brightest Welsh students, and to lecturers who have made a significant contribution to Welsh and bilingual post-compulsory education in the 2021-22 academic year.
In a special celebration in Canolfan S4C, Yr Egin, Carmarthen, the Coleg was pleased to announce the winners’ names across five categories of Student Awards this year:
1. The John Davies Award for the best dissertation in Welsh History. The award was presented by Dr John Davies’ daughter, Anna Brychan, to William Charles Lewis Roberts, School of History, Law and Social Sciences, Bangor University for his dissertation, “Effaith Pandemig 1918 ar Gymunedau Gogledd-orllewin a Gogledd-ddwyrain Cymru” (The effect of the 1918 pandemic on communities in the north west and north east of Wales).
2. The Gwyn Thomas Award is for the best dissertation submitted in the subject of Welsh. The award was presented by author and translator, Elin Meek, who was a Member of the awarding panel, to Catrin Eleri Huws, School of Welsh and Celtic Studies, Bangor University for her dissertation “Y defnydd o adeiladau a nodweddion pensaernïol yng ngwaith Dafydd ap Gwilym ac Iolo Goch” (The use of buildings and architectural features in the work of Dafydd ap Gwilym and Iolo Goch).
3. The Norah Isaac Award goes to the student who received the best result in the Coleg’s Welsh Language Skills Certificate assessment.This year’s winner is Catrin Llwyd from the University of Wales Trinity St David’s Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. The award was presented by councillor Peter Hughes-Griffiths who was himself related to Norah Isaac.
4. The William Salesbury Further Education and Apprenticeship Award recognises the contribution of a learner or apprentice to Welsh language, life and culture within a further education college or apprenticeship provider. This year’s winner is Ffion Llewellyn, Cardiff and the Vale College for her enthusiastic contribution to her role as Ambassador raising the profile of the Welsh language across the college, and supporting people to learn Welsh in a creative, inventive and fun way.
5. The William Salesbury Medical Award recognises the innovation of a research project delivered through the medium of Welsh, and/or a contribution to current extra-curricular activities through the medium of Welsh within the field of Medicine. This year’s winner is Dwynwen Spink, School of Medicine, Cardiff University.
The William Salesbury awards were presented by a trustee of Ymddiriedolaeth William Salesbury (the William Salesbury Fund), and one of Wales’ heroes, Dafydd Iwan.
Each winner received a plaque and a financial prize of £200 or £500.
During the ceremony a special film was shown created by the Coleg in conjunction with lecturers from the universities and the colleges saying “DIOLCH” to all of the students and learners for their perserverance following the last two challenging years.
There was also an opportunity to award lecturers in three categories of the Coleg’s Associate Lecturers Awards:
1. The Student Award gives students the opportunity to nominate a lecturer who has made a huge difference to their university life. The winner of this year’s award is Dr Gethin Thomas, Senior Lecturer in Biosciences, Swansea University, for the positive impact he has had on students within the department during a challenging period, which came across very strongly in the students’ testimony.
2. The Excellent Welsh-medium Resource Award recognises a lecturer or practitioner who has led on creating a high-quality Welsh-medium resource that supports the students in their studies. This year’s award winner is Dr Llŷr Roberts, Senior Lecturer, Business and Marketing, the University of South Wales, for developing the e-book ‘Cyflwyniad i Farchnata’ (An Introduction to Marketing), which is the first Welsh text book in the field of marketing. The award was presented by Angharad Mair, presenter of S4C’s daily evening magazine show and Managing Director of media company Tinopolis.
3. The Outstanding Contribution to Welsh-medium education award goes to an individual who deserves to be honoured for their outstanding contribution to higher education beyond their professional role. This year’s winner is Dr Gwenan Prysor, Senior Lecturer in Social Work, Bangor University, for leading the MA Social Work course in Bangor University which is delivered 100% through the medium of Welsh, and for her work supporting students and workers to learn about the importance of the Welsh language within social work. The award was presented by Sandie Grieve, from Social Care Wales who is also a member of the Coleg’s Social Work panel.
Journalist Owain Evans presented the awards evening from the Egin, and live music was provided by Steffan Rhys Williams who has a recording studio there.
According to the Chief Executive of the Coleg Cymraeg, Dr Ioan Matthews: “Tonight’s winners deserve so much praise and recognition for their brilliant academic work but also for encouraging and supporting their peers and colleagues within universities, colleges and workplaces to take pride in their Welshness and in doing so, raising the profile of the Welsh language within their institution.
“I’m so pleased we were able to hold a face to face event this evening to celebrate the commitment of our learners, students and lecturers. They are at the heart of the Coleg’s success over the decade and we really do pride ourselves in their success over the last year.”
The ceremony took place between 18:00 and 20:00 in Canolfan yr Egin, S4C, Carmarthen with a live feed on the Coleg’s YouTube channel which can be watched back.
The winner of the Gwobr Merêd(the MerêdAward) and the Gwobr Goffa Eilir Hedd Morgan (the Eilir Hedd Morgan Memorial Award)will be presented at the National Eisteddfod in Tregaron in August.