A recent British Chamber of Commerce survey shows that 61% of businesses consider a lack of foreign language skills to be a trade barrier. The new foreign language courses will help support local business to overcome this challenge.

Developed in consultation with local businesses and support organisations, the language courses, currently in French,  German and Chinese are scheduled to take place in June and July. In response to the recent British Academy report which highlights that languages are needed at all levels, the courses have been developed for people with different experience in foreign  language learning. Each course will be specifically targeted to business needs and will fit around work commitments.

Clare Sinclair, Business Development Manager, said: “Export Week takes place to promote the value of exporting to businesses around the UK; it’s fantastic that we are able to unveil our business language courses during this key time of the year”.

The new business language courses expand on the current language learning provision the University offers. Dr Catherine Chabert, Co-Dean of Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning and foreign language specialist, said: “Our language courses are wide-ranging, covering a spectrum of languages spoken around the world. I welcome the new language for businesses courses to our provision and I urge local businesses to come and take advantage of our expertise.”

Examples of the kind of training on offer include short half day sessions for those who have not learnt a language before but want to be able to meet and greet international visitors, to more intensive training for those who want to develop their existing skills to be able to use them in a professional context.  Bespoke training is also on offer for organisations with specific language needs.

Further information on the new courses can be found on the Cardiff University website: www.cardiff.ac.uk/train/languages

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To ensure the Webinar had minimal impact on an organisation’s day to day operations it was organised over a lunch hour.  Participants heard a presentation on Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease including symptoms, prognosis, and treatments involved, and were invited to take part in interactive polls and ask questions that were answered by the presenter.

Feedback from the participants showed the Webinar to be a big hit, with one company stating it was ‘thoroughly thought provoking, informative and very enjoyable. We particularly liked the interaction between parties’ and another commenting ‘Very good webinar.  Enjoyed the interactive nature and level of detail’.

To ensure the Webinar reached as many people as possible, key points were Tweeted during the session and a full recording of the Webinar is available to download.

Business Development Manager, Clare Sinclair said ‘Cardiff University has an award winning track record in providing specialist medical professional development for the insurance sector.  The Assessing and Managing Medical Risk for Insurers courses that we are running in May and June are a mix of on-line and face to face teaching so delivering the Webinar seemed an appropriate method to use to introduce learners to the type of teaching to expect on the course and the education experience they will have.’

Attendance on Cardiff University’s medical risk courses has proved to have significant impact on the organisations attending.  Tangible benefits reported including: cost savings from a reduction in cases referred to external medical experts; a reduction in errors and improved quality in decisions; quicker decision making, resulting in improved customer service; increased delegate confidence; and increased confidence from reinsurers.

A recording of the webinar is available – www.cardiff.ac.uk/train/medicalrisk

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Our Pathway Co-ordinators will be on hand to discuss your study, including funding. This informal and relaxed event will be held in the Cafe (with complimentary tea and cakes) Everyone welcome! Take that first step towards achieving your ambition of studying an undergraduate degree at a world class university! There will be a Pathways talk at 11.00am and drop-in sessions from 12.00 noon.

• Learn more about our pathways to a degree
  

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The short 45–60 minute sessions will act as a brief introduction to the language and up to 20 delegates could be accommodated.  The sessions will be business focused and activities may include composing an email as well as more interactive spoken exercises. Prior to or following this session, a member of the team will be available to discuss your current and future business language training needs.

Sessions are available from Monday 20^th – Friday 24^th May, and can be provided at your premises at a time to suit you.

For further information, please contact the Professional Development Team or complete the form below:

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You will be able to view this webinar live from your work or home computer or on your mobile devices.

We have extensive experience at developing and running successful courses for the Insurance sector.  Our Assessing and Managing Medical Risk for Insurers courses currently have spaces available.

There are only 100 spaces available for this webinar so register now for this session at attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/631906174592770816

Should you have any queries please contact the Professional Development Team on:

• train@cardiff.ac.uk
• 029 2087 5274

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The ceremony is a formal occasion where students are recognised for their academic achievements in a variety of subject areas including: Humanities, Computer Studies, Science and Environment, Business Studies, Social Studies and Languages.

Foundation Certificates, Certificates and Diplomas of Higher Education, European language qualifications and departmental prizes were among the awards presented by special guest Professor Patricia Price, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Student Experience and Academic.

Alex Lamprey, who received a Foundation Certificate in Astronomy, said: “I had a great time at the Award Ceremony. My Foundation in Astronomy certificate is much more than just a handsome piece of paper. It’s a very welcome “pat on the back” and a real vindication of all my hard work, highs, lows and narrowly met deadlines! The night was also a great opportunity to meet like-minded individuals from diverse fields.”

People from many walks of life choose to study at the Centre for Lifelong Learning every year, even Cardiff University professors. This year the Centre was pleased to welcome Cardiff University’s Professor Paul Atkinson who was awarded his Certificate of Higher Education in Italian.

Professor Atkinson said: “I normally attend University ceremonies as a presenter, but this year I was on the receiving end. I am a firm believer in continuing education, having completed a distance-learning BA in opera studies in my fifties, and having also studied Modern Greek for several years. I do think that as far as possible teachers in universities ought to be students too. Struggling to get essays in on time, preparing for examinations and summoning the nerve to talk in class are salutary reminders of what it is like to be a student. I was humbled to meet people for whom LEARN has provided a route into a degree at Cardiff, and to be reminded that for some people the opportunity to become a student is a very precious one.”

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By successfully passing the exams, students gain internationally recognised qualifications that correspond to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and range from A1 for beginners to C2 for language skills at the highest level.

The Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning is the first language provider in Wales to be accredited by the Goethe-Institut to conduct their exams. To celebrate this, Director of Educational Links at London’s Goethe-Institut, Karl Pfeiffer, visited Cardiff on Thursday 7 March to formally launch the partnership.

Karl Pfeiffer said: “The Goethe-Institut is pleased that we can bring our popular international examinations to Wales for the first time.”

Guests at the launch, including Helga Rother-Simmonds, Honorary Consul for Germany in Wales, Ceri James, Director of CILT Cymru and the Centre’s German language students got to practice their German conversation skills together over some authentic German refreshments.

Current students are already busy preparing for their new exams and there are more courses starting in April for anyone interested in doing some last minute preparation. The range of German language courses that the Centre offers throughout the year, from absolute beginners to very advanced levels, will provide ample opportunity for more students to prepare for the exams in 2014.

For more information, please visit:

• www.cardiff.ac.uk/learn/choices/languages/language-qualifications/international-language-qualifications/goethe-institut-examinations/

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Lifelong learning student Eileen Younghusband, 91, has been awarded a British Empire Medal for her services and commitment to lifelong learning.

Eileen has been a student at Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning for over 17 years studying Creative Writing and Spanish.

After completing a Diploma in Higher Education at the Centre, Eileen went on to study towards a degree with the Open University, which she gained at the age of 87.

After graduation, and with help from the Centre, Eileen published her first book Not an Ordinary Life, and she soon followed it up with her second work titled One Woman’s War. She is now in the process of writing a third which will be called Men I have known.

Eileen said: “I am completely surprised. I’d never anticipated that at 91 I would even be considered for anything like this. Older people who are able to continue learning really extend their life I consider. It’s no good just sitting back and doing nothing.”

“I cannot speak too highly of the Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning. The encouragement and support which I have encountered throughout the Centre both from tutors and support staff has been magnificent. Furthermore, I have managed to meet and make friends with so many interesting people. Without doubt, my quality of life has been improved by taking part in Lifelong Learning programmes.”

Among those that nominated her for the British Empire Medal is Dr David Wyatt. He said: “Anyone who has met Eileen knows that she is a very special person. Her sharp intellect, rapier wit, and well honed social skills remain undiminished by time. We all owe her a huge debt of gratitude for her contribution to Britain’s war effort. Moreover, in later life, her studies have provided her with the skills bring that important story, of the unsung girls from the RAF’s filter room, to the attention of the public. She has done this through her remarkable books, tireless presentations to schools and community groups and countless media appearances. Eileen is a remarkable communicator and inspiration, not just to adult learners, but to us all. It is a great privilege to have campaigned and worked with her over the last four years and to have played some small part in her receiving this award.”

Eileen is just one of almost 4,000 students that study at the Centre each year. The Centre offers a range of courses at a variety of levels for the general public – and not just in the subject area of Creative Writing and Spanish. You do not need lots of qualifications to study at the Centre, just an interest in a subject and a willingness to explore it in the company of others. Find out more online at www.cardiff.ac.uk/learn.

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Sir Michael Tippett is widely considered to be one of the most individual composers of the twentieth century, whose music continues to be performed to critical acclaim throughout the world.The Cambridge Companion to Tippett discusses the contexts and concepts of modernism, tradition, politics, sexuality and creativity that shaped Tippett’s music and ideas, engaging with archive materials, relevant literature and models of interpretation.

It features a range of international contributors including Arnold Whittall, Thomas Schuttenhelm, Suzanne Robinson, Edward Venn, Christopher Mark, Alistair Borthwick, Suzanne Cole, Iain Stannard and Joanna Bullivant.

As well as co-editing duties, Dr Jones has contributed a chapter on Tippett’s string quartets. Dr Gloag has contributed two chapters – one on Tippett’s concertos and one on his operas.

Find out more, or order a copy here. 

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