QAA Cymru publishes latest annual report on Welsh language engagement

QAA Cymru is pleased to publish our annual report on engagement with the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 during academic year 2022-23.

The report demonstrates how QAA meets our commitments to the Welsh Language Standards (No. 2 regulations) 2016 in service delivery, operations, policy-making and record-keeping. It also demonstrates our wider commitment to the Welsh language and its role in higher education in Wales. 

QAA’s widespread commitment to the Welsh language includes Welsh Language Standards and Awareness training for staff and the cross-organisational Welsh Language Working Group.

In 2022-23, QAA updated the Quality Enhancement Review method which is funded through grant arrangements with HEFCW. QAA took that opportunity to strengthen the Welsh language commitment in the review process and the handbook, for example by including information in the handbook on how to raise complaints regarding QAA's Welsh language compliance, and by making draft reports available in both Welsh and English.

In 2022, QAA also hosted an all-staff session on raising awareness of Welsh language in higher and further education, presented some of the recently published high-level census results, and shared information on the Cymraeg 2050 Strategy.

The report also notes that, as part of the HEFCW-funded Peer Observation of Teaching Enhancement Project, consideration was given to how the availability of Welsh-speaking staff in higher education providers impacts on the administration and delivery of Welsh-medium peer observation sessions.

Commenting on the publication of the report, Kathryn O’Loan, QAA Director for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland said:

'We’re proud of our continued progress in ensuring that our activities are as accessible as possible for Welsh language speakers in the sector, supporting the Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 strategy. We are committed to strengthening our practice to support Welsh language opportunities, and we look forward to working with colleagues across the sector in Wales in 2024 to do this.

You can read the full report on our website.