Education

Hundreds of free courses on offer across Wales during Adult Learners’ Week

Published

10 months ago

September 9, 2024

HUNDREDS of free online and in-person courses, taster sessions and events are being offered across Wales to boost people’s career prospects, skills, confidence and wellbeing during Adult Learners’ Week from September 9 to 15.

Co-ordinated by Learning and Work Institute in partnership with the Welsh Government, this annual campaign turns the spotlight on lifelong learning opportunities in Wales.

Adult Learners’ Week coincides with the publication of Learning and Work Institute’s annual Adult Participation in Learning Survey which highlights the importance of continuously upskilling to either find a job, return to work or progress a career.

The survey also emphasises the impact of learning on health and wellbeing and building confidence to contribute to our communities.

Just under four in five (78 per cent) of current or recent learners said they are likely to learn in the future. Two in five (42 per cent) adults said they are likely to take up learning in the next three years and the same percentage would either like or need to change their career, industry or occupation in the next one or two years.

However, 70 per cent of adults who have not engaged in learning for the last three years reported at least one barrier to learning. The main barriers include work and time pressures along with the cost of learning, lack of confidence, being put off by tests and exams and feeling too old.

That’s why Adult Learners’ Week aims to make learning and skills opportunities more accessible to everyone and inspire people to discover how learning can change their lives.

The week provides an opportunity for people to embrace a second chance at education and work. Adults of all ages will be given a chance to start or resume their learning journey with new in-person courses and online sessions at entry level throughout September.

Advice and information will be available locally to inspire people to take up learning as a way of increasing their employability, building life skills and improving their quality of life.

People can attend special events, sign up to courses and seek advice and guidance on the opportunities available for them to brush up their skills, improve their confidence and health and wellbeing, discover new hobbies and make new connections.

Everything from digital skills, arts and crafts, health and wellbeing, numeracy and literacy, to life and job skills, the environment, languages and social sciences will be on offer.

Joshua Miles, Learning and Work Institute Director, said: “Learning is a lifelong journey that can enrich our lives in many ways. We learn for many reasons – to improve our career prospects, for our health or wellbeing, to make us feel more confident or even just because we’re interested in something.

“Every one of us has the potential to learn something new and in doing so live a more fulfilled life. Now, more than ever, it is important that we support and celebrate adults in Wales who return to learning later in life in the hope of a brighter future.”

Some of the courses and activities available across Wales this year include:

Museum Wales is holding a range of events during the week. The National Museum, Cardiff is holding a drawing group on September 10, The Fossil Swamp audio tour (Sept 12) and Clore Discovery Centre (Sept 13). St Fagans National Museum of History is hosting an introduction to enamelling and a mindful walk (Sept 10), leather stamping and painting (Sept 11), willow weaving bird feeders and a Welsh learners’ morning (Sept 12) and a sketching group and English leaners’ day (Sept 13).

Cardiff and Vale College is hosting an Adult and Family Learning Event at its City Centre Campus in Cardiff on Saturday, September 14 from 10am to noon.
Torfaen Adult Community Learning is delivering a range of inclusive lifestyle and leisure courses during the week, covering DIY, woodturning, preparing healthy meals on a budget, wellbeing and essential skills.
In North Wales, Rhyl-based RCS Wales is creating a podcast on the importance of good mental health for boosting confidence and self-belief to take the next steps in achieving a personal goal – available from September 9 – and a live online training session on September 12 between 2pm and 3.30pm.
Resource Denbighshire CIC is delivering four engaging activities themed ‘Be creative in the great outdoors’ focused on inclusion of disabled adults and those furthest from the labour market. Sessions include natural dyeing techniques for fabric and wood (Sept 9), nature search and clay impressions (Sept 10), habitats in nature and habitat home creation (Sept 11) and cyanotype photography (Sept 12)
Anti-poverty, youth and community charity Swansea MAD is hosting a Learning Event on September 12, offering taster sessions on Microsoft Office, online safety and security and 3D design, as well as developing skills, building confidence and helping people to re-engage with future learning.
In Mid Wales, Dysgu Bro Ceredigion Community Learning is delivering a range of taster sessions, including wildlife photography, using a defibrillator, staying strong and healthy, Internet safety and making a no-bake cheesecake in New Quay, Felinfach and Penparcau on September 9, 10 and 11.
In North West Wales, Eryri Ambassador Programme, in partnership with Eryri National Park and Plantlife, is running an introduction to rapid rainforest assessments and management at Llanelltyd Village Hall on September 15.

To find out what’s going on during the week and for personalised advice on learning options and the support available, get in touch with Working Wales on 0800 028 4844 or search https://workingwales.gov.wales/change-your-story/adult-learners-week .

The achievements of amazing people, projects and organisations will also be celebrated during the week. For inspirational stories about lifelong learners, look no further than the Inspire! Adult Learning Awards which recognise those who have demonstrated a commitment to never stop learning. The award ceremony is being held at the Coal Exchange Hotel, Cardiff on September 10.

Picture caption:

People across Wales will be engaging with free learning opportunities during Adult Leaners’ Week from September 9-15.

Education

Wales to host WorldSkills UK National Finals for the first time

Published

12 hours ago

July 10, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Record number of Welsh finalists as prestigious competition heads to the nation this November

WELSH venues will host the WorldSkills UK National Finals for the first time this November, marking a major milestone for skills excellence across the country.

The event—considered the UK’s premier competition for technical and vocational training—will see 417 top competitors from across the UK take part in 47 finals. This year’s contest, running from 26 to 28 November, will be held across five sites in Wales.

A record-breaking 120 Welsh competitors have qualified, making up 29% of the national finalists—an increase from last year’s already impressive figure of one in four. The success highlights Wales’ growing reputation for producing skilled young professionals in fields ranging from beauty therapy to aerospace engineering.

The Welsh Government announced its hosting partnership with Inspiring Skills Excellence and WorldSkills UK last September, following the successful international finals in Lyon. That collaboration paved the way for the UK finals to be brought to Wales for the first time.

Disciplines at this year’s finals will include 3D Digital Game Art, Aircraft Maintenance, Health and Social Care, and Culinary Arts. Top performers could be selected to represent the UK at the prestigious “Skills Olympics” in Japan in 2028.

‘Futureproofing the economy’

Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership Jack Sargeant MS said:
“These competitions show the real-world value and applications of apprenticeships and are invaluable in futureproofing our economy.

“I am proud Wales is hosting the WorldSkills UK Finals in 2025. We have a beautiful country, and I hope all visitors will take some time to explore it.

“I wish this new cohort of competitors pob lwc – I know you’ll do yourselves and us all proud.”

WorldSkills UK Competitions attract more than 6,000 registrations annually from across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The competition-based training is seen as a crucial part of the post-16 education and training landscape, helping schools, colleges, and employers benchmark performance against international standards.

Meet the competitors

Mark Wright, an apprentice at International Crusher Solutions Ltd, is competing in the Metal Fabricator category.
“I started out in Construction Metalwork competitions last year and won gold in the Skills Competition Wales with the highest score in the region, and silver in WorldSkills UK,” he said.

“I enjoyed them so much I decided to go for the UK qualifiers this year in Metal Fabrication too—and I’m over the moon to be heading to the finals. It’s a great experience—I just focus, get stuck in, and enjoy it.”

Elara Jones, selected for the Beauty Therapy Practitioner competition, added:
“Winning gold at Skills Competition Wales and now reaching the WorldSkills UK Finals shows all the hard work has paid off. It feels like everything I’ve done has been building to this—it means so much to reach this level.”

Bradley Claringbold is returning to the Industrial Electronics competition after competing last year.
“I didn’t place in the top three last time, but I’m back to show how far I’ve come,” he said. “The extra training has helped me learn so much—I’m excited to have another shot.”

For more information about WorldSkills UK and how to get involved as a competitor, tutor, or employer in Wales, visit: https://inspiringskills.gov.wales

Education

Top marks for Aberystwyth University in UK student survey

Published

1 day ago

July 9, 2025

Staff Writer

ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY is the top university in Wales for student satisfaction for the tenth year in a row according to the latest survey of students’ opinions on the quality of their courses.

The 2025 edition of the authoritative National Student Survey (NSS), which is published today, has been compiled using over 357,000 student responses from across the UK.

With an improved and consistently high student satisfaction rate, 86% of Aberystwyth University students are satisfied with the quality of their course, 4 percentage points above the sector average in Wales.

Based on the higher education institutions featured in the latest edition of The Times / Sunday Times Good University Guide, 90% of the University’s students are satisfied with their teaching, putting Aberystwyth in the top 10 in the UK.

Aberystwyth also features in the UK top 5 for ‘Academic Support’ and ‘Learning Resources’ and in the top 10 in the UK for ‘Assessment and Feedback’ and ‘Organisation and Management.

Aberystwyth also outperforms the UK sector in all seven core themes that are featured in this year’s survey: Teaching on My Course, Learning Opportunities, Assessment and Feedback, Academic Support, Organisation and Management, Learning Resource and Student Voice.

Professor Anwen Jones, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience at Aberystwyth University, said:

“This is fantastic news. Our University has a long-standing and enviable reputation for student satisfaction and today’s results underline that. They demonstrate that Aberystwyth University is rated by our students as one of the best universities in the UK, reflecting the dedication of our staff to provide the best possible learning experience.

“The survey results go to show that we are an excellent place to learn, and that our teaching is simply outstanding.

“Aberystwyth is an inclusive, welcoming and supportive place, located in one of the most inspiring locations to live and study in the UK. Our town is a friendly and vibrant community, and a safe and affordable place that welcomes staff and students from around the world.”

Undeb Aber, the Students’ Union at the University, said: “It is great to see the NSS once again backing up what we already know – Aberystwyth University offers students a brilliant experience. We are proud to work side by side with staff at the University to make sure that Aber students love student life. This result is testament to the amazing work that continues to happen right across the institution.”

The NSS is an annual survey of students in universities, colleges and other providers across the UK.

Final-year undergraduate students are asked to score their university across a wide range of measures of student satisfaction.

Students in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were also invited to express their overall satisfaction with their university.

The NSS is managed by the Office for Students on behalf of the UK funding and regulatory bodies – the Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland), the Scottish Funding Council and Medr.

Education

Milford Haven schools set for major redevelopment

Published

2 days ago

July 8, 2025

Tom Sinclair

New Welsh medium school and combined campus approved by council

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’S Cabinet has given the green light to a major investment in Milford Haven’s schools, approving a £141.6 million redevelopment plan that includes a new 3-11 Welsh medium school and a combined primary and secondary campus.

The preferred option will see a brand-new shared building constructed on the site of the current Milford Haven School. The facility will house both the English medium primary and secondary schools, with shared services such as kitchens and sports areas. It will also include a 40-place Flying Start centre and a 36-place Learning Resource Centre for secondary pupils.

This marks a significant shift from previous proposals, which had focused on refurbishing the existing Milford Haven School and Milford Haven CP School.

In addition to the shared campus, a Strategic Outline Case will be submitted to the Welsh Government for the development of a standalone Welsh medium primary school for children aged 3 to 11.

The total estimated cost of the scheme is £141,598,965, with £46.5 million to be funded through the council’s capital programme.

Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, Cllr Guy Woodham, said at Monday’s (July 7) meeting: “The Milford Haven schools redevelopment represents the largest investment in the school estate ever undertaken by the Council. It will address serious concerns about the condition of the existing buildings and allow Milford Haven CP School to operate from a single site.

“The co-location of the English medium schools will deliver economies of scale through shared facilities and also opens the door to developing an ‘all-through’ school in the future, if that is what the community wants.

“The creation of a new Welsh medium school will meet growing demand in the Milford Haven area and allow Ysgol Caer Elen in Haverfordwest to extend its catchment area. This is a key step in delivering the aims of the Council’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.”

Cabinet members voted unanimously to support the plans.

Local member and Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, Cllr Rhys Sinnett, welcomed the decision: “This is a great day. This has been such a long time coming. The redevelopment can’t come quickly enough.”