Trinity enhances outdoor reputation

Trinity University College’s School of Sport, Health and Outdoor Education continues to develop its reputation as one of the leading and most innovative and specialist academic schools within its field in Wales.
The School has been successful in winning a Teaching Fellowship through the Centre for Welsh Medium Higher Education for Outdoor Education.
The Carmarthen University has identified Outdoor Education as a priority area for development, and over the past few years, it has seen an increase in the numbers of Welsh medium students enrolling onto degree programmes within the School of Sport, Health and Outdoor Education.
In response to the increase, the School has been developing its provision through the medium of Welsh.
“Already, there is an opportunity for students to study bilingual modules” said the Head of the School. "And when we appoint the Fellow later this year we will be in a position to develop Welsh medium modules as part of the BA in Outdoor Education by September 2010."
There is little opportunity for students to study courses of this nature in Wales and the UK, especially through the medium of Welsh. Trinity’s Outdoor Education courses are known and are highly rated in Wales, the UK and throughout Europe. In September 2008, the University was responsible for the organisation of the European Institute of Outdoor Adventure Education and Experiential Learning conference which was attended by academics and policy makers from 17 European countries.
“The field of Outdoor Education is increasingly popular” said Dr Andy Williams, Director of Outdoor Education programmes at Trinity, “and the Welsh Assembly Government’s Climbing Higher Strategy stresses the need for all children in Wales to gain experience of outdoor activities and therefore there is a need for highly qualified professionals to lead in this area. This is the rationale underpinning the increase in provision within Outdoor Education at Trinity.”
Trinity is already working with the Urdd , Europe’s largest youth movement, on a number of activities and the School of Sport, Health and Outdoor Education is providing training to their staff and also plans are afoot to organise a canoeing expedition around the Welsh coast in the summer 2010. It is hoped that the partnership will attract more students to Welsh medium provision in Outdoor Education which make a valuable contribution to the development of a bilingual workforce in this area.
The Fellowship will be advertised in the spring. In the meantime, anyone wishing information about the provision should contact the University on 01267 676767.
The picture at the top shows a student climbing a frozen waterfall at Abercrave, near Brecon.