A warm Welsh welcome to the Welsh-speaking freshers
Despite the unusual circumstances faced by new students starting university this year, Academi Hywel Teifi has been able to extend a warm Welsh welcome to the Welsh-speaking freshers who are beginning their studies at Swansea University.
Academi Hywel Teifi commissioned a special virtual welcome event from the National Eisteddfod's Maes B team, Cwis, Croeso a Chicio Corona - an evening of fun with music and a quiz which offered Welsh-speaking students the opportunity to meet each other. The evening was hosted by DJ Elan Evans and one of S4C's Hansh stars, Garmon ab Ion. The winners of the evening’s quiz were Erin MacDonald, who studies Medical Biochemistry and Hanna Parry, who is studying Geography. Both are former pupils of Ysgol Bro Teifi, Llandysul and live in the University's Welsh Hall, Aelwyd Penmaen.
Every fresher who attended the evening received a welcome pack, which included a special ‘Welcome to Swansea University’ greeting card. Other goodies included a Swansea University water bottle, a Maes B key ring, a Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol bottle opener, an Academi Hywel Teifi hand sanitiser and holder and a pack of Tregroes Waffles. Freshers were also given information about the University's Welsh medium life and how to access support and advice.
Lois Wyn Griffiths, Swansea University’s Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Branch Officer said:
“It was lovely to welcome so many new Welsh-medium students to Swansea University and although we weren't able to meet face-to-face as usual, the Cwis, Croeso a Chicio Corona event provided everyone with the opportunity to get to know each other and to enjoy each other's company. It was great to be able to work with the Union's Welsh Affairs Officer, Katie Phillips, and GymGym (the Welsh Society) to give freshers the best possible start to the new term.”
Dr Gwenno Ffrancon, Director of Academi Hywel Teifi, said:
"Although the circumstances this year have been challenging, Academi Hywel Teifi wanted to extend a warm Welsh welcome to Swansea to our Welsh-speaking freshers and to ensure that they heard about the support and opportunities available at the University to live and study through the medium of Welsh."
