REF 2014: School of Welsh research impact recognized

Over the years, Welsh scholars at Bangor have made major contributions to the culture of Wales. They have been regularly called upon to serve the Eisteddfod, to take part in radio and television programmes and to lecture to numerous literary societies throughout Wales. By means of their publications, particularly in the fields of lexicography and creative writing, they have had a far-reaching influence on the life of Wales. Furthermore, such commitments have been reinforced in Bangor by Canolfan Bedwyr and its Language Technologies Unit who have significantly contributed towards the enhanced use of Welsh in the workplace and in education.

This contribution has been formally recognized in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, an assessment of research conducted in all of the United Kingdom’s universities.  In the assessment areas of Welsh, modern languages and linguistics Bangor was placed second out of 57 institutions in relation to the impact of its research beyond academia and on society in general.

According to Professor Peredur Lynch, Head of the School of Welsh, this success derives from a two-fold commitment which has always formed part of the study of Welsh in Bangor.

“As academics in the field of Welsh it is our great privilege to engage in a scholarly manner with Welsh and its literature and to sustain and enhance the intellectual tradition of its study. But hand in hand with that we are acutely aware that Welsh scholarship does not exist in a void. It is a natural thing for us to engage with the culture of Wales and to interact with audiences beyond academia. Of course, the fact that this highly important aspect of our activities has now been formally recognized through the 2014 Research Excellence Framework is an extra bonus.”

A summary table of the University’s REF results can be accessed here.

Publication date: 23 December 2014