The Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies looks to its future

The Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies

 The Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies looks to its future

 The Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies is looking towards its future as it becomes a part of the academic structure of the Institute of Education and Humanities at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD).

 The Centre is renowned as an international centre of excellence for the study of Welsh as well as the languages, literatures, history and cultures of other Celtic nations. The new structure confirms the close collaboration that has existed for several years between the Centre and the Institute in relation to joint teaching and research. The Centre will continue to be a separate entity and research centre and will manage its own academic activity and research, maintaining and expanding upon its disciplines. It will also continue to be led by a Director and an Advisory Board will offer advice, support and will promote the interests and ambition of the Centre.

Professor Medwin Hughes, DL, Vice-Chancellor, University of Wales and University of Wales Trinity Saint David said: "In embedding the centre within the academic structure of the University's Institute of Education and Humanities the aim is to offer wider opportunities for teaching and research whilst also providing additional support to promote its work and reputation with the support of the university's specialist teams in attracting grant funding, marketing and consultancy services. The University has also established a strategic alliance with Jesus College Oxford, based on the Centre's expertise and the University's Lampeter provision, to nurture new opportunities to promote Celtic and Welsh Studies. We look forward to working with Professor David Willis, incumbent of the Celtic Chair at Oxford, on our academic plan over the next five years".

The Centre is also responsible for maintaining the University of Wales Dictionary and among the many well-known projects is its work on the Poets of the Princes and the Poets of the Nobility.  The Centre’s current work covers the early history of the Celtic languages, the Cult of the Saints in Wales, travel literature and place names. The centre hosts events that are open to the public on a regular basis, including annual fora relevant to its current projects, important conferences in the field of Celtic Studies, and fortnightly seminars during the winter and spring terms.

The Centre's Director, Professor Dafydd Johnston, said: "The support of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David is vital to the future of the centre, and we look forward to developing the strong relationship we have with the staff of the Institute of Education and Humanities in the interests of Welsh and Celtic scholarship."

Arwel Ellis Owen, Chair of the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, said: "The University will select the members of the Centre’s Advisory Committee as a matter of urgency to assist the Director and Institute staff to address the development of research areas and forge new partnerships for the future."