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Professor Mirjam Plantinga, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the ���Ҵ�ý (UWTSD),  has been awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Welsh-Medium Education award by the  

The award, which recognises individuals who have gone above and beyond their professional roles to promote and enhance Welsh-medium education, was presented at the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Awards Ceremony in Carmarthen last night (19 June). 

Mirjam is originally from Egmond aan Zee in the Netherlands, and has learned Welsh through the University’s Welsh Lanaguage Services Centre. She continues to receive lessons, but in addition to that she is fully committed to the task of reading widely and taking opportunities to socialise with the local Welsh community, and Llanddarog Church in particular. She is also a loyal member of the University Choir and sings at numerous events and services throughout the year. 

Mirjam has responsibility for academic experiences at the University. With the full support of the University’s management team, she has worked quietly but diligently to change the way Welsh-medium education, and issues relating to the growth of Welsh-medium education in particular, are strategically planned by the University.

She was nominated for the award by Bethan Wyn, who works as Welsh-medium Education Manager at the university. Bethan said:

“What characterises Mirjam is her commitment to ensuring that the student experience comes first regardless of the student’s background. That includes individuals who wish to receive Welsh-medium experiences across our campuses, ensuring that these schemes provide access and encouragement to less confident speakers and students from under-represented backgrounds.

Mirjam has worked with others to ensure that Welsh-medium provision is one of the core considerations of the University’s curriculum planning processes. Based on data showing the linguistic ability of staff and students per subject and campus,

Mirjam identified potential areas for new development and secured additional specific provisions within the University’s Welsh-medium offer.

Miriam said. “I’m so grateful to receive this award.  I would like to thank the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol for the huge honour and encouragement.

“I hope that our community of students and colleagues will benefit from my award and that we will continue to develop the Welsh experiences and academic opportunities for our students.

“For the future, I’m looking forward to playing my part in developing Welsh-medium education and ensuring that the language flourishes at the University.”

Professor Elwen Evans, KC, Vice-Chancellor of the ���Ҵ�ý added:

“Mirjam has brought the Welsh language to the top of the University’s planning priorities in action as well as word. She is a passionate advocate of the language on many levels, and has ensured that she can contribute to, shape and understand the University’s decision-making in Welsh as well as English.  This Outstanding Contribution Award is richly deserved and a true testament to her commitment to the Welsh language.”

Further Information

Eleri Beynon

Head
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: e.beynon@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 01267 676790