The Coleg Cymraeg appoints new Postgraduate Ambassadors
Following a successful pilot scheme last year, the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol has appointed new ambassadors for the 2021/22 academic year and the emphasis on maintaining contact with postgraduate students studying outside of Wales is a crucial element this year
Eight postgraduate ambassadors will take up their new role over the coming months representing a variety of research areas.
Five of the ambassadors are based in universities in Wales and three are based in universities in England and all are keen to develop the sense of a Welsh medium postgraduate 'community' in Wales and beyond. The Welsh Government has identified attracting students back to study or work in Wales as a priority and therefore Coleg Cymraeg is delighted to be able to support this agenda through the Postgraduate Ambassador Scheme.
Sofie Roberts is one of the Coleg's ambassadors from Bangor University, said:
Sofie Roberts
"As a postgraduate ambassador for the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, I look forward to inspiring others to get involved, and help create a community of Welsh postgraduate students. The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol's Resource Portal has been extremely useful for my studies, and I'm very happy to help others find out more, I've been studying on my own for a while, so I'm really pleased to get out of the 'bubble' and hopefully inspire other students to do the same and benefit on what's available for us."
They will represent and support the work of the Coleg Cymraeg in a variety of ways. Some of their online duties will include promoting and hosting events, creating and contributing to the content of the Coleg's social media websites, writing blogs and creating podcasts covering everything related to postgraduate student life. The podcasts will be added to the 'Swn y Sdiwdants' channel. In addition, the group will organise a research presentation competition and Christmas quiz in December as well as opportunities for postgraduate students to come together to network during the year.
Dr Llion Jones, Director of Bangor University’s Canolfan Bedwyr commented:
"We congratulate Sofie on her appointment and are confident that the strong Welsh-speaking postgraduate community we have in Bangor will support her in her work as an ambassador".
Lois McGrath, Development Officer for Research and Training at the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, said:
"We are delighted with the appointment of this exceptional group of postgraduate ambassadors this year and look forward to working with them during the academic year. The experience of being a postgraduate ambassador is going to support the students in enhancing their academic profile as well as strengthening their CV. The ambassadors will play a leading role in encouraging and promoting our Research Skills Program - a program that offers training and support to students throughout their research degrees. The program is open to all research students – wherever they are studying and whatever the research area. Everyone is welcome and we want to share that message widely."
