Bilingual Champion Targets More Welsh In Workplace
Bilingual Champion - Ryan Evans
A bilingual champion has been appointed by the National Training Federation Wales to provide work based learners with a viable learning pathway through the medium of Welsh or bilingually.
Linguist Ryan Evans, 28, from Pembroke Dock, joins the Cardiff-based NTfW team on a 29-month contract after working for PRP Training Ltd for nearly six years as finance manager and Welsh language development officer.
He will work closely with work based training providers and the Welsh Government, which is funding the post in support of its Welsh-medium Education Strategy.
The bilingual champion’s mission is to support work based learning providers to develop Welsh medium and bilingual provision where previously the take up has been low.
Mr Evans’ first challenge will be to prepare a plan that includes objectives on:
- increasing the number of learners pursuing Welsh medium or bilingual learning within targeted sectors in the work based learning network;
- encouraging those leaving Welsh medium or bilingual schools to continue their Welsh medium education;
- sharing good practice within the network;
- ensuring that more sustainable Welsh medium provision is developed;
- raising the profile and developing awareness of Welsh language and bilingual issues within the NTfW provider network.
Mr Evans will be working closely with the work based learning network within Wales and the Welsh Government to achieve his goals.
“It’s an exciting job as I am passionate about the Welsh language and want to improve the opportunities available to every work based learner as well as promoting the benefits of bilingual learning to employers,” he said.
“The Welsh language is part of our heritage and culture and we want to improve its presence in the workplace. I shall be working closely with training providers across Wales to identify and share good practice.
“I shall also be meeting bilingual champions in further education colleges to identify best practice and strategies suited to the work based learning sector.
“I am looking forward to collating feedback from training providers in the four regions of Wales on what can be done to improve bilingual provision in the workplace. There are benefits to providers and employers who offer their learners Welsh language and bilingual learning opportunities.
“There is now a much greater emphasis on the Welsh language in schools and we need to extend that to the workplace. The ultimate target is to gain equality for the Welsh and English languages.”
The Welsh-medium Education Strategy has set targets for the number of learners studying through the medium of Welsh or bilingually by 2015.
Arwyn Watkins, NTfW retiring chairman, said: “We are delighted to have secured investment from the Welsh Government to take forward the challenge of developing Welsh medium and bilingual provision across the work based learning network.
“To achieve the targets set out in the Welsh Government’s Welsh-medium Education Strategy for work based learning it will require the sharing of best practice across the whole network. We need to understand how to best build in bilingual skills into the world of work where our learners are developing.”
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