l urdd graddedigion prifysgol cymru newsletter of … · noddwyd gan ede and ravenscroft, darparwyr...

LLYTHYR NEWYDDION URDD GRADDEDIGION PRIFYSGOL CYMRU

NEWSLETTER OF THE GUILD OF GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WALES

Rhifyn 5 / Issue 5 Gorffennaf / July 2004

Dafydd Iwan yn derbyn gradd Doethur eranrhydedd – gweler tudalen 7Dafydd Iwan recieves his honorary Doctorate –see page 7

Dathliad rhyngwladol - gweler tudalen 3International celebration - see page 3

Noddwyd gan Ede and Ravenscroft, darparwyr gynau i’r BrifysgolSponsored by Ede and Ravenscroft, robe-makers to the University

Her newyddyn wynebu’rBrifysgol– gweler tudalennau 2, 4, 5, 6 a 11

Universityfaces newchallenges– see pages 2, 4, 5, 6 & 11 Ysgoloriaeth Mandela

Dyfarnwyd Ysgoloriaeth Mandela i AshiaPetersen, Uwch Swyddog Gwyddonol ynSefydliad Botanegol De Affrica er mwynastudio ar gyfer gradd meistr mewnRheoli Adnoddau Gwledig yn y GanolfanAstudiaethau Crasdiroedd, ym Mangor.Bwriad Ysgoloriaeth Nelson Mandela ywdatblygu arweinwyr o safon, a denu

ysgolheigion sydd eisoes wedi dangosdoniau fel arweinwyr, mewngwleidyddiaeth, busnes neu waithcymunedol. Ar ôl cyfnod yn astudiomewn prifysgol ym Mhrydain, byddenillwyr yr ysgoloriaeth yn dychwelyd iweithio yn eu cymunedau eu hunain.

MandelaScholarshipAshia Petersen, a Senior ScientificOfficer with South Africa’s NationalBotanic Institute, was awarded aMandela Scholarship to study for amaster’s degree in Rural ResourceManagement at Bangor’s Centre for AridZone Studies. The prestigious NelsonMandela Scholarship seeks to developleaders of calibre and to attract scholarswho have already demonstrated strongleadership, in politics, business orcommunity work. Recipients are able tostudy at a university in the UnitedKingdom before returning to work intheir own communities.

A_W_Cap_Cymru_Haf_2004 27/7/04 11:33 am

Rhifyn 5 / Issue 5 Gorffennaf / July 2004 2

Lai na blwyddyn yn ôl, mewn sgwrs i GangenAbertawe o Urdd y Graddedigion, cyfeiriaisyn obeithiol iawn at ddyfodol llewyrchus i’rbrifysgol, fel y gwelwn i bethau ar yr adeghonno. Roedd yn ymddangos i mi ein bod arfin gwireddu breuddwyd a fu gan lawerohonom dros gyfnod hir, sef y byddai pobsefydliad addysg uwch yng Nghymru yn rhan oBrifysgol ffederal Cymru, ac y byddem i gyd ynparatoi myfyrwyr at radd y Brifysgol. Y camangenrheidiol at wireddu’r Wtopia hon fyddaiuno Athrofa Caerdydd a PhrifysgolMorgannwg, a gwneud y SefydliadauCysylltiedig yn aelodau llawn o’r Brifysgol.

Yn anffodus mae’r freuddwyd honno wediei chwalu. Diflannodd y cynllun i uno’rAthrofa a Morgannwg. Rhoddodd PrifysgolCymru Caerdydd rybudd o’i bwriad i ymadaelâ Phrifysgol Cymru gan ddysgu ei graddau eihun o 2005 ymlaen. Byddai Caerdydd yn unoâ Choleg Meddygaeth Prifysgol Cymru, gangydnabod swyddogaeth genedlaethol y coleghwnnw drwy barhau i gyflwyno graddaumeddygaeth a meysydd cysylltiedig o danfantell Prifysgol Cymru. Er 1992, fe fu dwybrifysgol yng Nghymru sef Prifysgol Cymru aPhrifysgol Morgannwg. O 2004 ymlaen fe fyddgennym dair prifysgol – Prifysgol Cymru,Prifysgol Morgannwg a Phrifysgol Caerdydd.

Afraid dweud fod y cam a gymrodd

Caerdydd i adael y brifysgol ffederal wedicynhyrfu’r dyfroedd mewn mannau eraill.Dichon y gallai Abertawe ddilyn pan gaiff yrhawl i gyflwyno ei graddau ei hun, ac y maesefydliadau eraill sydd eisoes yn meddu arhawliau cyflwyno graddau yn ystyried dysgugogyfer â’u graddau eu hunain yn ogystal âgraddau Prifysgol Cymru.

Mae’n fater o bwys i mi fel Warden bodgradd Prifysgol Cymru yn cael ei diogelu.Buwyd yn cyflwyno graddau Prifysgol Cymruer 1893, ac fe gafodd y radd hon ei derbyndrwy’r byd academaidd ar raddfa ryngwladol.Trychineb, a dim llai, fyddai aberthu hyn oll aryr adeg yma. Fe gymer flynyddoedd i raddAbertawe neu radd Bangor i ennill y brirhyngwladol sydd gan radd Prifysgol Cymru,yn union fel y mae’n cymryd blynyddoedd ibrifysgolion yn Llundain – City, Westminster,Guildhall, Greenwich a.y.b. i gael eu derbyn ynyr un modd â graddau Llundain.

Mae’r Urdd yn croesawu sefydluGweithgor o dan gadeiryddiaeth y DirprwyGanghellor, i gynghori ar swyddogaeth yBrifysgol a’i fframwaith at y dyfodol, a’i chyd-berthynas â’r sefydliadau. Y gobaith yw y byddy Gweithgor yn gwahodd safbwyntiau o bobcwr o Gymru ac o’r byd academaidd drwyddodraw. Dymuniad yr Urdd, uwchlaw dim, fyddaipwyso’n gryf am sicrhau dyfodol gradd

Prifysgol Cymru a pharhad prifysgolgenedlaethol i Gymru. Rwy’n mawr obeithio ybydd y radd hon yn enw Prifysgol Cymru, sy’ndestun balchder i ni gyd fel aelodau’r Urdd, ynparhau. Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at gael ymatebaelodau’r Urdd i’r newidiadau sydd ar y gweill.

Ers rhifyn diwethaf Cap Cymru ymddeoloddDr Gwyn Chambers, Bangor fel Trysorydd yrUrdd. Hoffwn gofnodi ein diolch diffuant iddoam ei wasanaeth glew i’r Urdd dros lawerblwyddyn, gan ddymuno iddo ef a’i wraig yndda at y dyfodol. Yr ydym yn croesawu MrKen Richards o Aberystwyth yn olynydd iddo.

Hoffwn ddiolch i’r Urdd am ei chefnogaethi mi a gallaf eich sicrhau y gwnaf bopeth ofewn fy ngallu i wasanaethu buddiannau’rUrdd.

Robert V BarnesWarden

Less than a year ago I gave a very up-beat talkto the Swansea Branch of the Guild ofGraduates emphasising the positive futurewhich, at that time, lay ahead for ouruniversity. It seemed that at last we wereabout to realise a dream which many of ushad had for a long time – namely that allhigher education institutions in Wales wouldbe part of the federal University of Wales andwould all be teaching for the degrees of theUniversity. This Utopia would be realised withthe successful completion of the mergerbetween UWIC and the University ofGlamorgan and with the admission to fullmembership of the Associated institutions.

Alas, that dream has been quicklyshattered. The merger between UWIC andGlamorgan stalled and then fell apartcompletely. The University of Wales Cardiffgave notice that it would withdraw from theUniversity of Wales and intended teaching forits own degrees from 2005. Its merger withthe University of Wales College of Medicinewould proceed, and in deference to thatinstitution’s all-Wales role, degrees inMedicine and allied areas would continue tobe Wales degrees. Since 1992 there havebeen two universities in Wales, - theUniversity of Wales and the University ofGlamorgan. With effect from 2004 there willbe three universities in Wales, - the

University of Wales, the University ofGlamorgan and Cardiff University.

Needless to say, the move by Cardiff toleave the federal university has promptedrumblings elsewhere in the system. Swanseamay follow suit when it is granted its owndegree awarding powers, and otherinstitutions in the University arecontemplating teaching for their own degrees,where they have these powers in abeyance, aswell as for University of Wales degrees

I am concerned as Warden, that theUniversity of Wales degree is safeguarded.Degrees of the University of Wales have beenawarded since 1893, and have becomeestablished as international currency in theacademic world. It would be nothing short ofa tragedy to sacrifice all this now. It will takeyears for a Swansea degree or a Bangordegree to earn the international status of aUniversity of Wales degree, as it is takingyears for City, Westminster, Guildhall,Greenwich, East London and Thames Valleydegrees to find equal acceptance alongsideLondon degrees, if they ever will.

As a Guild, we welcome the establishmentby the university of a Working Group underthe Chairmanship of the Pro Chancellor, toadvise on the university’s future roles,functions and structure and its future

relationships with the institutions. It is hopedthat the Working Party will invite viewswidely from within Wales and from theacademic world in general. In particular theGuild would wish to press most strongly thatcareful consideration be given to the future ofthe University of Wales degree, and thecontinued existence of a national Universityfor Wales. I sincerely hope that the Universityof Wales degree which we all, as members ofthe Guild take pride in, will not be the onedegree to go under! I look forward to hearingthe views of the membership in due course.

Since the last issue of Cap Cymru theTreasurer of the Guild, Dr Gwyn Chambersof Bangor has retired from office. May Irecord the sincere gratitude of the Guild toGwyn for his sterling service over many yearsand wish him and his wife well for the future.We welcome Mr. Ken Richards ofAberystwyth as his successor.

I should like to thank the Guild for itscontinued support for me and assure you allthat I will do my utmost to serve the interestsof the Guild in the future.

Robert V BarnesWarden

Cam gwag?

One degree under

Mr Robert Barnes,Warden (yn y Canol) ar adeg cyflwyno Doethuriaeth i Syr David Rowe-BeddoeMr Robert Barnes (centre) looks on at the present-ation of a Doctorate to Sir David Rowe-Beddoe


Ddydd Gwener, 31 Hydref, roedd pob fforddi mewn i Gaerdydd yn brysur, wrth i enillwyrgraddau a diplomáu ar gynlluniau a ddilyswydgan Brifysgol Cymru deithio yma i gymrydrhan mewn seremoni i ddathlu eu llwyddiant.Croesawyd myfyrwyr o ddeuddeg o wahanolwledydd, yr oedd eu hastudiaethau ynamrywio o’r Gyfraith i Ddylunio, ac oWasanaethau Ariannol i Systemau Rheolaethyr Amgylchedd, gan gadeirydd BwrddDilysu’r Brifysgol, Dr Peter Noyes.

Yn ystod y seremoni liwgar, a gynhelir ynflynyddol i roi cyfle i fyfyrwyr Prifysgol Cymruy tu allan i Gymru gyd-ddathlu, cafodd ygraddedigion eu llongyfarch gan YsgrifennyddCyffredinol y Brifysgol, Dr Lynn Williams,Warden Urdd y Graddedigion, Mr RobertBarnes, a’r Is-Ganghellor Hyn, yr Athro

Derec Llwyd Morgan.Yn ei neges yncroesawu’r myfyrwyr, pwysleisiodd Dr LynnWilliams ymrwymiad y Brifysgol i’w rôlryngwladol, gan ychwanegu: “Mae cysylltiadaurhyngwladol fel y rhai sy’n amlwg yngNghaerdydd heddiw yn bwysig iawn ac fe’ugwerthfawrogir gymaint yn fwy yng nghyd-destun ein byd ansicr.”

Roedd yr ymdeimlad o ddathlu yn fwy nagarfer eleni yn sgil yr adroddiad ffafriol adderbyniwyd yn dilyn adolygiad annibynnol oweithgareddau dilysu a rhyddfreinio’rBrifysgol. Comisiynwyd yr adolygiad gan yBrifysgol i brofi ansawdd a chadernid y drefn,ac ymhlith sylwadau unfryd y panel ‘roeddcanmoliaeth i ansawdd ac ymroddiad staff yrUned Ddilysu.


GraddedigionRhyngwladol yn dathlu

On Friday 31 October all routes to Cardiffwere busy, as recent graduates anddiplomates from schemes of study validatedby the University of Wales made the journeyto Wales to take part in a ceremonycelebrating their success. Students fromtwelve different countries, whose studiesrange from Law to Illustration, and fromFinancial Services to EnvironmentalManagement Systems, were welcomed by thechairman of the University’s Validation Board,Dr Peter Noyes.

During the colourful ceremony, heldannually as an opportunity for University ofWales students from outside Wales tocelebrate together, the graduates received thecongratulations of the Secretary General ofthe University, Dr Lynn Williams, the Wardenof the Guild of Graduates, Mr Robert Barnes,

and the Senior Vice-Chancellor, ProfessorDerec Llwyd Morgan.

In his welcome message to the students,Dr Lynn Williams emphasised the University’scommitment to its international role, adding:“International links such as those clearly inevidence in Cardiff today are of particularimportance and are especially valued in ouruncertain world.”

The celebratory mood was enhanced thisyear by the favourable report receivedfollowing an independent review of theUniversity’s validation and franchise activities.This was commissioned by the University totest the quality and robustness of theprocedures in place. Unanimous commentsreceived from the panel included praise forthe quality and dedication of the staff of theValidation Unit.

International Graduates celebrate


Dr Peter Noyes yn annerch y seremoniDr Peter Noyes addresses the ceremony



To paraphrase Mark Twain, “news of thedeath - or even the impending demise - ofthe University of Wales is greatlyexaggerated”. In fact, the opposite of thepicture painted in these sensationalist andvery misleading headlines is the case - theUniversity of Wales is moving on and activelyevolving to meet the challenges of the future.

In last year’s edition of Cap Cymru, Ireported on the various positivedevelopments that had taken place during theprevious year, including the elevation to fullConstituent Institution status within theUniversity of UWIC and the University ofWales College, Newport and the decision toadmit four new institutions - North EastWales Institute, Swansea Institute, TrinityCollege and the Royal Welsh College ofMusic and Drama - into membership of theUniversity. During the past year, followingon from these exciting advances:

Professor Antony Chapman, Vice-Chancellor of UWIC, has been unanimouslyelected to serve as the University’s nextSenior Vice-Chancellor, after ProfessorDerec Llwyd Morgan’s retirement inSeptember 2004; to reflect its new statuswithin the University, Newport has recentlychanged its name to the University of Wales,Newport; and the amendments to theCharter and Statutes necessary to give effectto the decision to expand the University’smembership have been lodged with the PrivyCouncil and we are hopeful that they will beapproved before the start of 2004/05.

Despite these significant forward steps,some other, less welcome, developmentshave recently led to speculation about theUniversity’s future - hence the headlinesshown above. In particular, the University ofWales, Cardiff and the University of WalesCollege of Medicine (UWCM) will be mergingon 1 August this year under the formal title,“Cardiff University”. Because it is notdeemed to be possible, under the presentlegal and policy framework, for an institutionthat bears university title in its own right tobe a part or a member of another university,the new institution will have to withdrawfrom membership of the University of Wales.Beginning in 2005, Cardiff will enrol studentsonto courses that will lead to the award of a

Cardiff, as opposed to a Wales, degree. But,sad though these developments are, aconnection will be maintained between theUniversity and Cardiff. Provision has beenmade for Cardiff to be an Affiliated (Linked)Institution of the University after secessionand, because of the all-Wales role of theCollege of Medicine, the merged Cardiff andUWCM will be enabled to continue to enrolstudents onto University of Walesundergraduate degree schemes in medicine,dentistry and related areas.

Largely as a result of these developmentsin the relationship with Cardiff, the UniversityCouncil has established a Working Group,under the Chairmanship of our new Pro-Chancellor, Dafydd Wigley, to advise it onthe University’s future roles, functions andstructure, and its future relationships withthe institutions. The terms of referenceprovide for the Working Group to conduct afundamental review, and it is possible -indeed, likely - that the University will changesignificantly as a result.

I and the other senior officers believe thatchange is both necessary and unavoidable andthat, rather than weaken the University, itwill, in fact, help to ensure its survival as amajor force in Welsh higher education thatincludes and can represent the whole of thesector. The objective is to ensure that theUniversity develops into the sort ofinstitution to which all Welsh highereducation institutions, including Cardiff (andthe University of Glamorgan), can belong and,more important, of which they will want tobe a part. To achieve this, we need toensure that, even more than we do already,we provide value for money and carry outfunctions that will add value to end enhancethe activities of the sector.

It is perhaps not unnatural that somepeople should perceive these developmentsas a threat rather than as an opportunity. Asthe headlines shown above demonstrate,some journalists in particular have tended toreach for the sensationalist and simplisticheadline rather than for the more mundaneand complex truth of the story. Journalisticstandards are what they are, of course, andaffect all walks of life - the government of theday, other public bodies, politicians and our

sportsmen and women and show businesscelebrities, just as much as the University ofWales. But it is important to look beyondthe headlines and I hope that, in this briefarticle, I have been able to provide readerswith some insight into the reality of theUniversity’s present situation.

Dafydd Iwan, musician, poet and nowleader of Plaid Cymru, who was awarded anHonorary Degree of the University of Walesin April this year, wrote in one of his songs:“ry’n ni yma o hyd” (we’re still here). I firmlybelieve that the University - perhaps in a newguise and enjoying quite differentrelationships with the institutions - will stillbe here, as a key player in Welsh highereducation, for many years to come. TheWorking Group that is now engaged on itsreview of the University’s future has a vitaljob to do in ensuring that I am proved right.

As we await the outcome of the review,the support of our graduates will continue tobe invaluable. If, as one of its alumni, you areproud of your association with the Universityof Wales, then do please say so - particularlyto anyone who might suggest that its future isunsure - and assure people that there is anew determination within the University toevolve and to continue to play a vital role inhigher education in Wales, in a way that fitsin with the demands of the modern age.

Lynn E WilliamsUniversity of Wales Secretary General

“University of Wales breaking up?”No says Secretary General



I aralleirio Mark Twain, “mae’r newyddion amfarwolaeth – neu hyd yn oed y tebygolrwyddo farwolaeth – Prifysgol Cymru wedi eiorliwio’n fawr”. Mewn gwirionedd, mae’rgwir yn hollol groes i’r llun a geir yn ypenawdau hynod syfrdanol a chamarweiniolhyn – mae Prifysgol Cymru yn symud ymlaenac yn esblygu’n weithredol i gwrdd â her ydyfodol.

Yn rhifyn y llynedd o Cap Cymru, feadroddais am y datblygiadau cadarnhaolamrywiol a fu yn ystod y flwyddyn cynt, gangynnwys dyrchafu AthrofaPCCaerdydd aCholeg Prifysgol Cymru Casnewydd ynSefydliadau Cyfansoddol llawn o fewn yBrifysgol, a’r penderfyniad i dderbyn pedwarsefydliad newydd – Athrofa GogleddDdwyrain Cymru, Athrofa Abertawe, Coleg yDrindod a Choleg Brenhinol Cerdd a DramaCymru – yn aelodau o’r Brifysgol. Yn ystod yflwyddyn ddiwethaf, yn dilyn y cynnyddcyffrous hwn: etholwyd yr Athro AntonyChapman, Is-Ganghellor APCC yn Is-Ganghellor Hyn nesaf y Brifysgol, yn dilynymddeoliad yr Athro Derec Llwyd Morganym mis Medi 2004; i adlewyrchu ei statwsnewydd o fewn y Brifysgol, mae Casnewyddwedi newid ei enw yn ddiweddar i PrifysgolCymru, Casnewydd; ac mae’r newidiadau i’rSiarter a’r Statudau sy’n angenrheidiol argyfer gweithredu’r penderfyniad i ehanguaelodaeth y Brifysgol wedi eu cyflwyno i’rCyfrin Gyngor a’r gobaith yw y byddant yncael eu cymeradwyo cyn dechrau 2004/05.

Er gwaethaf y camau sylweddol hynymlaen, mae rhai datblygiadau eraill, y bu llaio groeso iddynt, yn ddiweddar wedi golygutipyn o ddyfalu ynglyn â dyfodol y Brifysgol –gan arwain at y penawdau a welir uchod. Ynbenodol, bydd Prifysgol Cymru, Caerdydd aCholeg Meddygaeth Prifysgol Cymru (CMPC)yn cyfuno ar 1 Awst eleni o dan y teitl“Prifysgol Caerdydd”. Gan nad ystyrir ei fodyn bosibl, o dan y fframwaith cyfreithiol apholisi presennol, i sefydliad sy’n dwyn teitlprifysgol yn ei hawl ei hun i fod yn rhan neuyn aelod o brifysgol arall, bydd rhaid i’rsefydliad newydd roi’r gorau i fod yn aelod oBrifysgol Cymru. Gan gychwyn yn 2005, byddCaerdydd yn cofrestru myfyrwyr ar gyrsiaufydd yn arwain at radd ‘Caerdydd’, yn hytrachna Chymru. Ond er fod y datblygiadau hyn yn

rhai trist, bydd cyswllt yn parhau rhwng yBrifysgol a Chaerdydd. Gwnaed darpariaeth iGaerdydd fod yn Sefydliad Cysylltiedig o’rBrifysgol yn dilyn ei ymadawiad, ac oherwyddrôl y Coleg Meddygaeth dros Gymru gyfan,bydd Caerdydd a CMPC wedi’r uno yn caelcofrestru myfyrwyr ar gynlluniau graddisraddedig Prifysgol Cymru mewnmeddygaeth, deintyddiaeth a meysyddperthynol.

Yn bennaf o ganlyniad i’r datblygiadau hynyn y berthynas â Chaerdydd, mae Cyngor yBrifysgol wedi sefydlu Gweithgor danGadeiryddiaeth ein Dirprwy Ganghellornewydd, Dafydd Wigley, i’w gynghori arswyddogaethau a strwythur y Brifysgol yn ydyfodol, a’i pherthynas â’r sefydliadau yn ydyfodol. Mae’r cylch gwaith yn cynnwyscynnal adolygiad sylfaenol, ac mae’n bosibl –yn wir yn debygol – y bydd y Brifysgol ynnewid yn sylweddol o ganlyniad i hyn.

Yr wyf i a swyddogion hyn eraill yn credubod newid yn angenrheidiol ac yn anochel, acyn hytrach na gwanhau’r Brifysgol, fe fyddmewn gwirionedd yn helpu i sicrhau eipharhad fel grym pwysig ym myd addysguwch yng Nghymru. Gall fod yn gorff a fyddyn cynnwys yr holl sector addysg uwch,gyda’r gallu i’w gynrychioli. Y nod yw sicrhaufod y Brifysgol yn datblygu’n sefydliad y gallpob un o sefydliadau addysg uwch Cymru,gan gynnwys Caerdydd (a PhrifysgolMorgannwg), berthyn iddo. Ac yn bwysicachna dim -sefydliad y byddant yn dymuno bodyn rhan ohono. I gyflawni hyn, rhaid i nisicrhau, hyd yn oed yn fwy nag a wnawn arhyn o bryd, ein bod yn darparu gwerth amarian ac yn gweithredu swyddogaethau fyddyn ychwanegu gwerth at weithgaredd ysector ac yn ei wella.

Efallai nad yw’n annaturiol fod rhai pobl yngweld y datblygiadau yn fygythiad yn hytrachnag yn gyfle. Fel y dengys y penawdau uchod,mae rhai newyddiadurwyr yn arbennig weditueddu i estyn am y pennawd syfrdanol asimplistig, yn hytrach na gwirionedd y storisy’n fwy technegol a chymhleth. Wrth reswm,rhaid derbyn bod safonau newyddiadurol fel ymaent yn effeithio ar bob maes – llywodraethy dydd, cyrff cyhoeddus eraill, gwleidyddion,pencampwyr chwaraeon ac enwogion bydadloniant, lawn cymaint â Phrifysgol Cymru.

Ond mae’n bwysig i ni edrych y tu hwnt i’rpenawdau, ac rwy’n gobeithio, yn yr erthyglfer hon, fy mod i wedi gallu rhoi rhywfaint ooleuni i’r darllenwyr ar wirionedd sefyllfabresennol y Brifysgol.

Yn un o’i ganeuon, ysgrifennodd DafyddIwan, y cerddor, y bardd a bellach arweinyddPlaid Cymru, y dyfarnwyd iddo Radd erAnrhydedd gan Brifysgol Cymru ym mis Ebrilleleni: “ry’n ni yma o hyd”. Rwy’n credu’n gryfy bydd y Brifysgol – o bosibl mewn diwygnewydd ac mewn perthynas bur wahanol â’rsefydliadau – yn dal i fod yma, yn chwaraewrallweddol ym maes addysg uwch Cymru, amflynyddoedd i ddod. Mae gwaith hollbwysiggan y Gweithgor, sydd ar hyn o bryd yncynnal ei adolygiad o ddyfodol y Brifysgol, i’wwneud er mwyn sicrhau y byddaf i’n cael fymhrofi’n gywir.

Wrth i ni aros am ganlyniad yr adolygiad,bydd cefnogaeth ein graddedigion yn parhau ifod yn amhrisiadwy. Os ydych chi, fel un o’igraddedigion, yn falch o’ch cysylltiad âPhrifysgol Cymru, yna dywedwch hynny – ynarbennig os oes unrhyw un yn awgrymu fodei dyfodol yn ansicr – a rhowch ar ddeall ieraill fod yna benderfyniad newydd o fewn yBrifysgol i esblygu a pharhau i chwarae rôlhanfodol yn addysg uwch Cymru, mewnffordd sy’n gweddu i ofynion yr oes fodern.

Lynn E WilliamsYsgrifennydd Cyffredinol Prifysgol Cymru


“Sialens, nid chwalfa”medd yr Ysgrifennydd Cyffredinol

Dr Dafydd Wigley,Dirprwy Ganghellornewydd y BrifysgolDr Dafydd Wigley,

the University’s newPro-Chancellor



Professor A J (Tony) Chapman (head ofthe University of Wales Institute Cardiff– UWIC) is the University’s new SeniorVice-Chancellor; he takes over fromProfessor Derec Llwyd Morgan inSeptember. Professor Chapmanintroduces himself to readers of CapCymru …

The University is one of very few trulynational institutions in Wales, and it occupiesa special place in the heart of the nation andin my own heart. I am not just honoured butabsolutely delighted to have been appointedits Senior-Vice-Chancellor, having beenprivileged to (re-)join the University as theUWIC Principal/Vice-Chancellor in 1998 andhaving enormously enjoyed life in theUniversity, as an academic psychologist, someyears earlier. That was in the University ofWales Institute of Science and Technology(UWIST), before it joined with UniversityCollege Cardiff (now Cardiff University).Between UWIST (1971-83) and UWIC I wasat the University of Leeds, joining asProfessor of Psychology in 1983, laterbecoming Dean of Science and then Pro-Vice-Chancellor. Notwithstanding most of myadult life having been in Cardiff, I still regardmyself as a ‘West Walian’, my family havingmoved to Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire,when I was ‘a toddler’.

The months and years just ahead willprove to be crucial in the evolution of theUniversity, and I am looking forward toplaying a lead-role in the process of creatingfresh opportunities for development. Mine isa deep commitment to the University: it isone of the chief reasons for my returning toWales in recent years. I hope that I can bringa mix of appropriate perspectives to the SVCrole, from my position as a Vice-Chancellorof one of the newer constituent members,but having so recently been a key member ofthe leadership of a large, traditional university– Leeds being a founder member of the‘Russell Group’ of research-led UKuniversities.

If it did not already exist, now would be agood time to invent a university of Wales.We are living in a climate wherecollaboration and joined-up thinking, soessential for top-quality teaching andresearch, is being actively encouraged inWales and far beyond, and the Universityprovides an ideal framework for ensuring thatWelsh universities are at the cutting-edge ofdevelopments.

I am immensely proud to be given the

opportunity to work with the other Vice-chancellors to take the University forward,under the Pro-Chancellorship of DafyddWigley. There is a view amongst us all thatthe process of change that has beenunderway for some time has to beaccelerated in the months and years justahead, to ensure that the University becomesan even more valuable resource to itsinstitutional and student members.

I know that there is a crop of professional,dedicated and single-minded people now inplace among the member institutions whoare applying new thinking to the future ofthe University. I am immensely lookingforward to working with them and toharnessing the determination that nowexists to drive, ever upwards, the quality,standing and usefulness of Wales’national university.

Yr Athro AJ (Tony) Chapman (pennaeth Athrofa Prifysgol Cymru Caerdydd) yw Is-Ganghellor Hyn newydd y Brifysgol. Mae’n olynu’r Athro Derec Llwyd Morgan ym misMedi eleni. Mae’r Athro Chapman yn cyflwyno ei hun i ddarllenwyr Cap Cymru …

Y Brifysgol yw un o’r ychydig sefydliadau gwir genedlaethol yng Nghymru, ac y mae ganddi learbennig yng nghalon y genedl ac yn fy nghalon i. Nid dim ond anrhydedd yw cael fy mhenodi’nIs-Ganghellor Hyn, mae hefyd i mi yn bleser pur - a minnau wedi cael y fraint o ail-ymuno â’rBrifysgol fel Prifathro/Is-Ganghellor UWIC yn 1998 ar ôl mwynhau bywyd yma rai blynyddoeddynghynt, fel seicolegydd academaidd. Roedd hynny yn Athrofa Gwyddoniaeth a Thechnoleg yBrifysgol (UWIST) cyn i’r sefydliad hwnnw ymuno â Phrifysgol Cymru Caerdydd (sydd bellachyn ‘Brifysgol Caerdydd’). Rhwng UWIST (1971-83) ac UWIC ‘roeddwn ym Mhrifysgol Leeds,gan ddechrau fel Athro Seicoleg yn 1983 ac yna’n Ddeon y Gwyddorau ac yn Ddirprwy Is-Ganghellor. Ond er i mi dreulio’r rhan fwyaf o fy mywyd fel oedolyn yng Nghaerdydd, rwy’ndal i ystyried fy hun yn un o’r Gorllewin, gan fod fy nheulu wedi symud i Aberdaugleddau, SirBenfro pan oeddwn yn ‘grwtyn’.

Fe fydd y misoedd a’r blynyddoedd sydd o’n blaen yn dyngedfennol yn natblygiad y Brifysgol,ac rwy’n edrych ymlaen at chwarae rhan arweiniol yn y broses o greu cyfleoedd newydd argyfer datblygiad. Mae gen i ymrwymiad dwfn i’r Brifysgol: hi oedd un o’r prif resymau pam ygwnes i ddychwelyd i Gymru yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Rwy’n gobeithio y galla’ i gyfrannu i fyswyddogaeth fel Is-Ganghellor Hyn o’m profiad fel pennaeth un o’r sefydliadau newydd, a hefydfel un a fu’n aelod o dîm llywio prifysgol draddodiadol fawr – yr oedd Leeds yn un o sylfaenwyr‘Grwp Russell’ o brifysgolion ym Mhrydain â phwyslais arbennig ar ymchwil.

Pe na bai Prifysgol Cymru yn bod, fe fyddai heddiw yn adeg briodol i ddyfeisio sefydliad o’rfath. Yn yr hinsawdd bresennol, rhoddir anogaeth glir yng Nghymru i gydweithio a chydgysylltuer mwyn hybu addysg ac ymchwil o’r radd flaenaf, ac y mae’r Brifysgol yn cynnig fframwaithdelfrydol ar gyfer sicrhau bod sefydliadau Cymru ar flaen y gad yn y datblygiadau hyn.

Rwy’n neilltuol falch o’r cyfle i gydweithio â’r Is-Gangellorion eraill a’r Dirprwy GanghellorDafydd Wigley. Y farn gyffredinol yw fod yn rhaid cyflymu’r broses o newidiadau dros ymisoedd a’r blynyddoedd sydd o’r blaen, i sicrhau bod y Brifysgol yn tyfu i fod o werthcynyddol i’r sefydliadau ac i’n myfyrwyr.

Mi wn fod sawl un – pobl broffesiynol, ymroddedig a phendant eu barn - o fewn ysefydliadau sy’n datblygu syniadau newydd ar gyfer dyfodol y Brifysgol. Rwy’n edrych ymlaen ynfawr at gydweithio â nhw ac at harneisio’r penderfyniad sy’n bod i hyrwyddo ansawdd, bri adefnyddioldeb prifysgol genedlaethol Cymru.

Our new Senior Vice-Chancellor

Neges gan yr Is-Ganghellor Hyn



Cyflwynwyd gradd Doethur gan y Brifysgol i’r canlynol eleni, mewnseremoni yng Nghaerdydd ar 17 Ebrill:

Yr Athro Richard Goldstone (LLD)i gydnabod ei gyfraniad i gyfiawnder ar raddfa ryngwladol. Mae’n Ustusyn Llys Cyfansoddiadol De Affrig, a bu’n gadeirydd Comisiwn ar draisa bygwth ym mywyd cyhoeddus y wlad yn ystod cyfnod y trawsnewido apartheid i ddemocratiaeth. Bu hefyd yn Brif Erlynydd ynNhribiwnlysoedd y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Iwgoslafia a Rwanda, achadeiriodd yr Ymholiad Rhngwladol ar Kosovo, ac ymchwiliadCymdeithas Ryngwladol y Bargyfreithwyr ar frawychaeth.

Dafydd Iwan (LLD), a raddiodd mewn pensaerniaeth ac awasanaethodd Cymru fel arweinydd ac ymgyrchydd dros y Gymraeg,fel bardd a chanwr poblogaidd, gwr busnes a chyd-sylfaenydd CwmniRecordiau Sain, gwleidydd, cynghorydd sir, a Llywydd Plaid Cymru arhyn o bryd.

Syr Richard Lloyd Jones (LLD), cyn-Ysgrifennydd Parhaol y Swyddfa Gymreig, igydnabod ei gyfraniad i fywyd cyhoeddusCymru.

Yr Athro EmeritusGwilym H Jones (DLitt) –ysgolhaig diwinyddol, cyn-Bennaeth AstudiaethauBeiblaidd ym Mhrifysgol

Cymru, Bangor, a chyfarwyddwr argraffiaddiwygiedig y Beibl Cymraeg a gyhoeddwyd DdyddGwyl Dewi eleni.

Morfydd Owen (DLitt)– ysgolhaig blaenllawmewn astudiaethauCymraeg y canol-oesoedd, cyn-ddarlithydd ynAdran Gymraeg PC Caerdydd ac uwch-ymchwilydd yng Nghanolfan UwchefrydiauCymreig a Cheltaidd y Brifysgol.

Yr Arglwydd Griffiths o Fforestfach (DScEcon), cyn-Athro mewn Bancio a Chyllid ymMhrifysgol Dinas Llundain, Llywodraethwr

Banc Lloegr, cynghorwr politicaidd, ac wedi hynny’n is-gadeiryddGoldman Sachs, cynghorwyr cyllidol.

Syr David Rowe-Beddoe (DSc Econ) – cyn-bennaeth AwdurdodDatblygu Cymru, sydd ar hyn o bryd yn Gadeirydd Coleg BrenhinolCerdd a Drama Cymru a Chanolfan Mileniwm Cymru. Dyfarnwyddoethuriaeth iddo i gydnabod ei gyfraniad i fywyd cyhoeddus Cymru.

Cyflwynwyd graddau er anrhydedd hefyd eleni i’r dramodydd

Meic Povey (MA), y cerddor John S Davies (MMus), yr athletwr

Colin Jackson (MSc), ac i’r Chwaer Eluned Williams

(MSc Econ), D Anthony Small (MMus) a John Osmond (MA).

Honorary doctorates were awarded this year to:

Professor Richard Goldstone (LLD) – Justiceof the Constitutional Court of South Africa, inrecognition of his contribution to internationaljustice. He chaired the Commission of Inquiry intoPublic Violence and Intimidation during the periodof transition from apartheid to democracy. He hasalso served as Chief Prosecutor of the UnitedNations Criminal Tribunals for Yugoslavia and

Rwanda, as chair of the International Inquiry on Kosovo, and of theInternational Bar Association’s Task Force on Terrorism.

Dafydd Iwan (LLD) – Welsh language campaigner and leader,businessman and joint founder of Sain Recording Company. Singer, poet,politician, county councillor and current President of Plaid Cymru/TheParty of Wales.

Sir Richard Lloyd Jones (LLD) – former Permanent Secretary of theWelsh Office, in recognition of his contribution to Welsh public life.

Emeritus Professor Gwilym H Jones (DLitt) – theologicalscholar, former Head of Biblical Studies at University of Wales,Bangor, and director of revised edition of the Welsh Bible whichwas published on St David’s Day this year.

Morfydd Owen (DLitt) – eminent scholar in medieval Welshstudies, former lecturer at the Welsh Department of UW Cardiffand senior researcher at the University’s Centre for AdvancedWelsh and Celtic Studies.

Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach (DScEcon) – former Professor of Banking andFinance at City University, London,Governor of the Bank of England, andpolitical adviser, and latterly vice-chairmanof corporate financial advisors GoldmanSachs.

Sir David Rowe-Beddoe (DSc Econ) –businessman, former head of the WelshDevelopment Agency and currentlyChairman of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and theWales Millennium Centre, who was awarded the degree in recognitionof his public services to Wales.

Honorary degrees have also been awarded this year to Olympic

athlete Colin Jackson (MSc), musician John S Davies (MMus), the

dramatist Meic Povey (MA) and to Sister Eluned Williams

(MSc Econ), D Anthony Small (MMus) and John Osmond (MA).

Er Anrhydedd Honoris Causa




YSGOLORIAETHAUURDD Y GRADDEDIGIONMae Urdd y Graddedigion yn dyfarnuysgoloriaethau i aelodau sy’n chwilio amgymorth ar gyfer gweithgarwch ymchwil.Ni osodir unrhyw amodau caeth, ondmae disgwyl i’r gwaith a gefnogir fod ynymwneud â phwnc sy’n cael ei astudio ofewn i Brifysgol Cymru. Nid diben yrysgoloriaethau hyn yw cynorthwyomyfyrwyr sy’n astudio am radd uwch, ery gall y gwaith fod yn gysylltedig â maesarbenigol y mae’r ymgeisydd eisoes wediennill gradd ynddo. Mae’r meysydd anoddwyd gan yr Urdd o’r gronfa dros yblynyddoedd diwethaf yn amrywio’nfawr, fel y dengys y rhestr hon.

GUILD SCHOLARSHIPSThe Guild of Graduates awardsscholarships to members who areseeking assistance with their researchactivities. There are no stringent rules,but it is expected that projectssupported will relate broadly to subjectsstudied within the University of Wales.These scholarships are not aimed atsupporting students who are studying forhigher degrees, though the work may berelated to a specialist field in which theapplicant has already gained a degree.The fields of study supported by theGuild from this fund in recent years varyenormously, as can be seen from thislist.

Bui Minh Giap2004Public-Private Partnership in Utility Financingin Developing Countries and PolicyImplications for Vietnam

Bui Minh Giap2000Rural Banking Strategies for the SocialistRepublic of Vietnam

Dr William Gibson1999Correspondence of William Warburton

Thomas Jonathan Rex Morgan1998Businessmen and Women of Welsh Origin

Vanessa Margaret Field1997‘Vincent’ Correspondence Project

GRANTIAU CYHOEDDI Mae’r Urdd hefyd yn cynnig grantiau ihyrwyddo cyhoeddi cyfrolau o waithgraddedigion y Brifysgol. Bydd ymgeiswyryn cyflwyno braslun o’r cyhoeddiadynghyd â ‘chynllun busnes’sy’n nodi’rtrefniadau cyhoeddi – cost argraffu, nifery cyfrolau a gynhyrchir, incwm tebygola’r gwerthiant, ynghyd ag unrhywffynonellau eraill o incwm. Fel arfer byddy grant a roddir gan yr Urdd rhwng £300a £500. Rhestrir isod y cyfrolau adderbyniodd gymorth yr Urdd er 1999.

PUBLICATIONS GRANTSThe Guild also offers grants to assistwith the publication of works bygraduates of the University. Applicantssubmit an outline of the proposedpublication, with a ‘business plan’indicating the publishing arrangements –printing costs, print-run, targeted incomefrom sales, and any other sources ofincome. The Guild normally awardsgrants of between £300 and £500.Publications supported since 1999 arelisted below.

Dr Jane Cartwright2003Feminine Sanctity and Spirituality in MedievalWales

Dr Roger Turvey2003The Treason and Trial of Sir John Perrot

Gareth Elwyn Jones & Gordon WynneRoderick (through University of Wales Press)2002A History Education in Wales

William Linnard2002Welsh Clocks and Clockmakers: a history ofclockmaking in Wales from Medieval times toend of 19th century

P H G Harries2002Educating Miners

Hywel Gwyn Evans2002Pum Ysgol

Ifan Williams2001‘Chinese Export Watercolours’

Aled Lloyd Davies1999Canrif o Gân (Cyfrol 1)Datblygiad Cerdd Dant ym Meirionnydd,Dinbych a’r Fflint 1881-1998

Dafydd Wyn Williams1999Cofiant Richard Morris 1702/3-79

Swyn “Y Llythyr”Mae Adran ieuengaf Urdd yGraddedigion wrthi’n ystyriedarwyddocad y llythyr fel ffurf lenyddol achofnod hanesyddol. Cynhaliodd AdranAstudiaethau’r Ddeunawfed a’rBedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheggynhadledd undydd lwyddiannus yngNgregynog ddechrau Gorffennaf, pangafwyd cyflwyniadau gan Dr Eryn White(Adran Hanes a Hanes Cymru, PCAberystwyth) ar lythyron yMethodistiaid – gyda phwyslais arDrefecca ac ar lythyron gan ferched, aTegwyn Jones ar y ‘Morusiaid’ ac ynarbennig Sion Owen ac Edward Hughesa fu’n cydweithio â Lewis Morris yngNgheredigion.

Bu Cathryn Charnell White yn ymdrinâ’r llythyr fel ffurf lenyddol, ac ynarbennig am lythyron o waith LewisMorris, Williams Pantycelyn a IoloMorgannwg rhwng y byw a’r marw.Ymosodiadau Syr John Rhys ar y beirddoedd pwnc trafod yr Athro Hywel TeifiEdwards, ac ymateb y beirdd iddo trwylythyron yn y wasg. A bu Huw Waltersyn ymdrin â llythyron yn y ‘Gwladgarwr’yn adrodd profiadau Cymry oedd wediymfudo i’r byd newydd yn ystod y 19eddganrif.

Trefnwyd y gynhadledd gan ysgrifennyddyr Adran, Dr Cynfael Lake.

“The Letter”in Literatureand HistoryThe importance of “the letter” as aliterary form and its historicalsignificance was the subject of asuccessful one-day conference atGregynog by the Guild’s newest Section,whose interest is in Eighteenth andNineteenth Century Studies in Wales.



Roedd Waldo Williams yn un oraddedigion y Brifysgol ac yn un olenorion mwyaf nodedig yr ugeinfedganrif. Bu’n fyfyriwr yn Aberystwyth ynystod cyfnod o fwrlwm a deffroad ymmywyd Cymraeg y Coleg yn y dau-ddegau – cyfnod Gwenallt, IorwerthPeate, Cassie Davies, Idwal Jones a sawlun arall a wnaeth gyfraniad mawr i fywyda diwylliant Cymru. Priodol felly, yn yrunion fis y byddwn yn nodicanmlwyddiant ei eni, mai Waldo fyddtestun y ddarlith yng NghyfarfodBlynyddol Urdd y Graddedigion, ar 4Medi yn Llanbed.

Y darlithydd fydd Dr Damian WalfordDavies, sy’n Uwch-ddarlithydd yn AdranSaesneg Aberystwyth – yr adran llegraddiodd Waldo yn 1926. Dr Davies ywgolygydd y gyfrol “Waldo Williams:Rhyddiaith” a gyhoeddwyd gan WasgPrifysgol Cymru (2001) ac sy’n cynnwysei holl weithiau cyhoeddedig ynghyd âdetholiad o’i lythyrau a’i lawysgrifau.

Mae newydd olygu cyfrol amlgyfryngolyn dwyn y teitl Waldo Williams: MôrGoleuni / Tir Tywyll (Gwasg Gomer). Cyfrolhudol, heriol sy’n cyfosod dyfyniadau o

waith Waldo â delweddau grymus yffotograffydd Aled Rhys Hughes. Mae’rdelweddau hynny, a’r ddeialogrhyngddynt a’r dyfyniadau, yndramateiddio cymhlethdod gweledigaethun o lenorion mawr yr ugeinfed ganrif yn Gymraeg.Teitl ei ddarlith i’r Urdd ar 4 Mediyw‘ “Sea of Light / Dark Land”:Imaging Waldo Williams’

Canmlwyddiant Waldo

Dr Damian Walford Davies ofAberystwyth will deliver the annuallecture at the Guild’s AGM on 4September, at Lampeter on the poetWaldo Williams who was born almostexactly 100 years ago. Waldo Williamswas a student at Aberystwyth from 1923to 1927 and his stay there coincidedwith that of several others who went onto make a major contribution to the lifeof Wales, including the poet D GwenalltJones, and Iorwerth Peate who becamethe founder and curator of the WelshFolk Museum and St Fagans. The officialhistory of Aberystwyth, by E L Ellisalludes to the increasing awareness bythis generation of students after WorldWar I of the place of Welsh in the life ofthe College and mentions a call byWaldo Williams “on his fellow studentsto decide, once and for all, whetherAberystwyth was to be a genuine part of‘the national university of Wales’ or amere appendage to the English provincialuniversity system”. Plus ça change ……..that debate continues!

Having graduated in English, Waldo

Williams went on to become one of themost significant Welsh-language poets ofthe twentieth century. He also made animportant contribution to the literatureof Wales in English in his translations ofWelsh works including “The OldFarmhouse” – the autobiographical novelof his friend and fellow Aber graduate, DJ Williams.

This year’s lecturer, Damian WalfordDavies is the author of “Presences thatDisturb: Models of Romantic Identity inthe Literature and Culture of the 1790’s”(University of Wales Press) and hasedited “Echoes to the Amen: Essays afterR S Thomas”. He is joint author of“Saints and Stones: Guide to the PilgrimWays of Pembrokeshire” (Gomer). Ofparticular relevance to his lecture to theGuild is his scholarly volume in Welshon the prose works of Waldo Williams(UWP), which he edited in 2001.

He recently edited the volume WaldoWilliams: Môr Goleuni / Tir Tywyll (WaldoWilliams: Sea of Light / Dark Land; GwasgGomer). This striking book setsquotations from Waldo Williams’s work

alongside powerful, newly commissionedimages by photographer Aled RhysHughes. These images, together with thechallenging interplay and dialoguebetween them and the text, succeed indramatising the complexities of WaldoWilliams’s vision.

The title of his lecture/presentation to the Guild on 4September is ‘ “Sea of Light / DarkLand”: Imaging Waldo Williams’.

A Centenary tribute


Guild Branch ActivitySeveral branches of the Guild of Graduates havebeen active this year, with a varied programme oflectures and events. The Carmarthen branch hascommemorated the 50th anniversary of DylanThomas’s death by a lecture on his work andinfluence by Professor M Wynn Thomas, Swansea.A lecture in Welsh by the Rev. Towyn Jones gavea portrayal of Elizabeth Hills-Johnes of Dolaucothi,and the annual science lecture on Education forHealth Care was delivered by Professor AnneBorsay of UW Swansea. The Elwyn Thomasmemorial lecture was by the Rev. Dr WilliamStrange, on the subject ‘What did the firstChristians read?’

Dr John Hywel gave a lecture to the Bangorbranch on William Mathias, composer andformerly Professor of Music at UW Bangor. TheSwansea branch was addressed by Professor JeanEdwards FRS in May this year on the subject ofthe National Botanical Gardens of Wales.

Cardiff Association of PastStudents The Cardiff Association of Past Students has anannual programme of social functions which allthose who have graduated through CardiffUniversity are invited to support. Events include asocial reunion and AGM in February, an annualdinner (March), a golf tournament for theHardwicke Cup in April or May, and a summerparty in July.Details can be obtained from the secretary, Miss Jane Morris, tel:029 20 753685; e-mail: [email protected]

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In the first week of July this year the HigherEducation Bill received the Royal Assentopening a new chapter in the financing ofHigher Education (HE) in England and Wales.The legislation allows English universities tolevy variable fees - up to £3000 a year- onstudents entering HE in the academic year2006-07 and devolves to the Welsh Assemblypowers over student support and policies inrespect of tuition fees in Welsh universities.

In the teeth of fierce opposition from itsown backbenchers and many LiberalDemocrats, the Labour government madesufficient concessions to its proposals to getthrough the vote introducing the bill inJanuary 2003, albeit with a very smallmajority. It is interesting to note that theConservative opposition, some would sayshamelessly opportunistically, had proposedthat if it came to power it would abolish allfees and finance HE entirely through taxation.It might be salutary if those socialist MP’swho opposed the proposals outlined in theWhite Paper on HE took note of a study bythe highly respected Institute for FiscalStudies of these proposals, contrasting themwith those of the opposition. It concluded:“Deciding to provide ‘HE for free’ ratherthan to ‘study now, pay later’ will result in a

redistribution of resources from poorerhouseholds to richer households.” 1

Support for what many would regard as asocially unjust solution seems very oddindeed. Furthermore it seems that most ofthe opposition revolved around the issue ofvariability, poorer students having to choosecheaper courses; in reality it appears thatmost if not all universities are intent oncharging the maximum amount of £3000 ayear, thus eliminating any element ofvariability.

Whatever the merits of the argument,top-up or variable fees are now going to beintroduced in England from 2006-07, althoughthe Welsh Assembly Government announcedthat it would not do so in that year but thatit would recall the Rees Committee whichreported on student hardship and finance inWales in June 2001 to advise the Assemblyon the issue of variable fees from 2007-08onward. The new committee ( REES II as ithas been dubbed) includes members of theoriginal group plus a number of otherdistinguished members.

Whatever is eventually decided for 2007-8and beyond, the year 2006-07 providesparticularly demanding challenges. Firstly, asthe Assembly Government has promised that

no university in Wales will be worse offbecause of its inability to charge top-up fees,the Rees Commission will have to calculatehow much this compensation will be, which isgoing to be no small task. Secondly, theremay be important effects on the applicationprocess. If it becomes generally known thatthey will be able to get equivalentqualifications in Wales at a much lower costthan in England, Welsh students might decideto apply to Cardiff or Aberystwyth say ratherthan Kent or Exeter. More seriously theremight be a significant influx of students fromEngland applying to Welsh universities with apossibility of ‘crowding out’ Welsh students.The ‘nightmare scenario’ couples this with anexodus of staff to better-paid jobs in Englishuniversities. The Rees Committee has adifficult task indeed.

Ken Richards is a member of the Commission onStudent Funding in Wales, chaired by ProfessorTeresa Rees. He is also Hon.Treasurer of theGuild of Graduates.

1 ‘Study Now, Pay Later’ or ‘HE for Free’,Institute of Fiscal Studies Commentary 94 , June2003

Funding and Fees –a Student’sPerspectiveOver the past year top-up fees and universityfunding have never been far from the pages ofthe newspapers, with the Governmentintroducing new legislation to set out thefuture of University funding, and students’contribution to it. As a graduating student, Ishare the concern that many students haveabout the Government’s legislation. TheGovernment argues that its new plans giveuniversities the option of reducing fees belowthe current levels, as well as raising them to alimit of £3000. Many readers of Cap Cymruwill be acutely aware, however, that thefiniancal situation that most- if not all -universities find themselves in does notprovide much leeway for reducing the feesbelow the current level. Indeed, I am given tounderstand that many universities are basingtheir financial projections on the assumptionthat they can charge the maximum fees foralmost all, if not all, their courses. Whilst theidea of deferring fee payment to aftergraduation will help some students,nevertheless it will raise the average student’s

debt upon graduation from approximately£16,000 currently to around £30,000.

The Government argues that this level ofdebt is acceptable, given that students whograduate will earn significantly more over thecourse of their lifetime than those who donot attend university. However, the factremains that in order to develop universitiesand ensure that the agenda of wideningaccess is made possible, universities willobviously need lecturers. In order for us tobe able to have lecturers, it is necessary tohave students who will embark uponpostgraduate study to gain the skills and theacademic expertise to enable them to teachthe students of the future. Unfortunately theidea of amassing more debt from staying onas a student is acting as a deterrent to thosewho might have considered postgraduatestudy. Indeed one student I know has had toabandon his PhD after two years since he nolonger had enough money to support himself.This is deeply unfortunate, given that we aremoving into what has been referred to as aknowledge based economy, and we as acountry need to produce researchers andlecturers of the highest calibre. Hence I fearthat the threat of further debt will dissuadesome of those who would help us realise thisgoal.

As many of you will be aware, the Rees

Commision has been reconvened by JaneDavidson to look at the issue of studentfunding within Wales. The issue is somewhatcomplicated by the fact that Welshuniversities – including constituentinstitutions of the University of Wales -cannot afford to lose out financially comparedto those in England who are able to chargethe fees allowed by the Higher Education Act.Yet at the same time, I hope, the Commisionand the Assembly cannot overlook theimpact of higher fees on students withinWales. As students in Wales we arefortunate to have a second bite, so to speak,and we wholeheartedly hope that theAssembly Government will find a fairerbalance between the needs of universities andthe threat of debt to students.

David Chester

David Chester has graduated this year inComputer Science from UW Swansea, where heis also the students’ Academic Affairs Officer. Hehas also served as NUS Wales Higher EducationOfficer, and for 2004-05 he will chair of theOrganisation of Students and serve on the NUSWales Executive.

Financing Higher Education in Walesby Ken Richards


Penodiad HanesyddolPenodwyd Dr Catrin Hughes ynGofrestrydd ac Ysgrifennydd newyddPrifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth. A hithau’nhannu o Gwm Gwendraeth ac yngynfyfyrwraig o Aber, lle graddiodd ac ennillgradd PhD mewn Daearyddiaeth, fe fu ersrhai blynyddoedd yn GofrestryddAcademaidd PC Bangor. Cyn hynny, bu’naelod o staff weinyddol PC Llanbedr PontSteffan. Dyma’r tro cyntaf i ferch gael eiphenodi’n brif swyddog gweinyddol yn un osefydliadau Prifysgol Cymru. Bydd ynolynu’r Athro Noel Lloyd sydd wedi eibenodi’n Is-Ganghellor a PhrifathroAberystwyth o ddechrau Medi.

A ‘First’ for WalesDr Catrin Hughes has been appointedRegistrar and Secretary of the University ofWales Aberystwyth to succeed ProfessorNoel Lloyd who takes over asAberystwyth’s Vice-Chancellor andPrincipal in September. Dr Hughes is aformer Aber student, where she graduatedand completed her PhD in Geographybefore taking up an administrative post inUW Lampeter. She moves back toAberystwyth after several years’ experienceas Academic Registrar at UW Bangor. Thisis the first time in the history of theUniversity of Wales that a woman has beenappointed chief administrative officer of aconstituent institution.



A word from the EditorIn 1976, the Guild of Graduates published avolume listing all those who had been awardedUniversity of Wales degrees, from the verybeginning up to that date. The volumeamounts to almost 500 pages, with each pagelisting approximately 140 in small print. Thattotal of around 70,000 graduates has by nowbecome but a small proportion of those whohave crossed platforms and doffed their capsat graduation ceremonies – not forgettingthose who have chosen to receive theirdegrees in absentia. With the vast growth instudent numbers over recent decades, and theextension of the University of Wales degreeto more institutions, the total number ofthose graduating annually has risen to around18,000 this year alone.

Volume and numbers are not the onlyconsideration in determining the impact of the“Wales” degree, but we cannot but feel asense of confidence in knowing that, asgraduates, we bear and represent a “brand”that is recognised and highly regardedinternationally. It is only a matter of yearsbefore some celebrated student shouldbecome our millionth listed graduate. Surely,this cannot but be a matter of pride andaspiration not only for the federal Universitybut for the constituent institutions that enrol,teach and present students for degrees. It iswith that sense of confidence and trust thatnew HE institutions have joined the ranks ofthe University over the past decade, and theGuild extends its warmest welcome and goodwishes to Professor Tony Chapman, head ofone of those new institutions, as he takes overthe role of Senior Vice-Chancellor.

Both the Warden of the Guild and theUniversity’s Secretary General in this issueoutline the threats and challenges that face theUniversity as the nation’s pre-eminent degreeawarding body. There will be debates over thecoming months, and years no doubt, withinthe corridors of academia. With all duerespect to our Vice-Chancellors, members ofgoverning bodies, academic staff,administrators – and those politicians andmandarins who will be seeking to influence ordetermine the future of the University – ourinnumerable graduates also have a legitimatevoice in the debate. Those members of theGuild who feel strongly that the “Wales” tagthat comes with their degrees is worthsomething, and should be retained for thebenefit of future generations of studentsthroughout Wales, are invited – indeedencouraged – to articulate their views overthe coming weeks or months.

There are ample reasons why the nationaluniversity should develop and flourish both asa degree awarding body and a facilitator ofcollaboration across the higher educationsector in Wales. If that is our will, we mustexpress it, to ensure that that millionthgraduate does doff his or her cap in the nottoo distant future.

Gair gan y GolygyddOs digwyddaf sôn wrth rywun fy mod ynberchen ar fath arbennig o gar, yn byw mewnpentre ger y môr, yn canu mewn côr meibionneu’n gefnogwr i glwb rygbi Llanelli, fe fyddhynny’n aml yn ddigon i brocio sgwrs fywiog.Ond pan ddwedaf ‘mod i’n swyddog o Urdd yGraddedigion, fe allaf weld ‘nawr y cwmwl yndisgyn dros y llygaid. Rhywbeth fel ‘na yw yrUrdd – mae cannoedd o filoedd bellach ynaelodau ohoni heb hyd yn oed sylweddolihynny. Go brin bod neb erioed, wrth ymgeisioam swydd, wedi nodi “aelod o Urdd yGraddedigion” ar ei c.v.

Ac eto, dyma â wnawn pan fyddwn ynarddel bod gennym radd o Brifysgol Cymru.Ac i lawer ohonom testun balchder yw bod yradd a gawsom yn dwyn enw’r genedl.

Pan sefydlwyd Comisiwn, ddeugain mlyneddyn ôl, i ystyried dyfodol y brifysgol ffederal, uno’r dadleuon cryfaf dros ei pharhad oedd einbod yn brin iawn o sefydliadau cenedlaethol, abod Prifysgol Cymru yn un o sumbolau prinein cenedligrwydd. Edrychid ar Lys y Brifysgolfel math o Senedd yn niffyg unrhyw gorffdemocrataidd cenedlaethol. Erbyn heddiwmae’r ddadl honno, ym marn rhai, wedi eithroi ar ei phen. Bellach mae gennym seneddo fath – y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol, maegennym Ddeddf yr Iaith Gymraeg, ac mae mwyo hyder nag y bu yn ein hunaniaeth fel Cymry.Felly does dim angen Prifysgol Cymru i esgusbod yn sefydliad dros fuddiannau’r genedl – achymharol ychydig a wnaeth hi beth bynnag,ym marn rhai, i deilyngu cael ei galw’nsefydliad genedlaethol Cymreig.

Ond tybed? Mae’n wir bod sefydliadauaddysg uwch yn gyffredinol wedi gorfodehangu drwy rymoedd y farchnad – maemyfyrwyr yn rhydd i ddod iddynt o bobman.Ac y mae’r un rhyddid gan fechgyn a merchedCymru i fynd ble mynnont i gael eu haddysgprifysgol. Ond y mae’r ymwybyddiaeth o“swyddogaeth genedlaethol i Gymru” yn aros,nid dim ond yn adrannau Cymraeg ysefydliadau a thrwy’r rhaglen o ddysgu drwy’rGymraeg. Elfen ddiddorol yn yr uno sydd arfin digwydd rhwng “Prifysgol Caerdydd” aCholeg Meddygaeth Prifysgol Cymru yw ybydd graddau meddygaeth a deintyddiaeth ynparhau i gael eu cyflwyno gan Brifysgol Cymru.Pam? Gan fod gan y Coleg Meddygaeth rôlgenedlaethol i Gymru gyfan, drwy ei chysylltiadâ’r Gwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol drwy Gymru.Fe ddylai pob un o’n sefydliadau addysg uwchfod yn ymwybod â’u rôl genedlaethol – hebhefyd esgeuluso’r nod o feithrin cysylltiadau acennill bri rhyngwladol. Ac os yw glynu at radd“Cymru” yn sumbol o gyfrifoldeb gwladol yColeg Meddygaeth, siawns na ddylai cyflwynograddau o’r un enw fod yn atgof parhaus i’rholl golegau o’r cyfrifoldeb cyffredinol hwnnw.A’r peryg yw y byddai troi cefn ar raddPrifysgol Cymru am deitlau “trefol” yn hybu ynisymwybodol y broses o wanhau’r genhadaethGymreig.

Yr adeg hon, pan yw llywodraeth y

Cynulliad yn pwyso am gydweithio ar draws ysector Addysg Uwch ac yn cynnig cymhellionariannol i’r perwyl hwnnw, yw’r union adeg iBrifysgol Cymru sefydlu a chyhoeddi ei llecanolog yn y broses. Rydym yn hyderus mai i’rcyfeiriad hwnnw y bydd y Dirprwy GanghellorDafydd Wigley am ein tywys. A gallwn ni, y llugraddedigion ar hyd ac ar led y wlad athramor, hyrwyddo’r nod drwy leisio eincefnogaeth a’n dadleuon o blaid gwerthparhaus Prifysgol Cymru.



Ruth ab Ieuan,Ysgrifennydd Cynorthwyol yBrifysgol, sydd â gofal dros drefniadau gweinyddolyr Urdd. Mae hi ar gyfnod mamolaeth ar hyn obryd: gwelir hi yma gyda’i mab bach Gruffudd.Ruth ab Ieuan, Assistant Secretary at theUniversity Registry, provides administrative supportfor the Guild. She is currently on maternity leave:here she is with baby Gruffudd.

Canu’r CymoeddDarlithydd gwadd yr Urdd yn y cyfardod eisteddfodol yng Nghasnewydd eleni yw’r AthroGareth Williams, Pontypridd. Cyn ymuno â Phrifysgol Morgannwg yn 2001, fe fu am dros 30mlynedd yn ddarlithydd ac yna’n Athro Hanes ym Mhrifysgol Cymru, Aberystwyth.

Mae’n gyd-awdur y gyfrol Fields of Praise – hanes datblygiad rygbi yng Nghymru rhwng 1881a 1981, a’r cyfrolau Heart and Soul ((1998) a More Heart and Soul (1999) sy’n ymdrin ânodweddion a chymeriadau ein gêm genedlaethol.

Ei brif faes astudiaeth yw diwylliant poblogaidd y Gymru fodern, ac ef yw awdur Valleys ofSong: Music and Welsh Society 1840-1914, a gyhoeddwyd gan Wasg Prifysgol Cymru (1998).‘Valleys of Song’ hefyd yw teitl y gyfres deledu hynod lwyddiannus gan ITV1 Wales (2004) aluniwyd ac a gyflwynwyd gan Gareth Williams yn ei ddull afieithus. Bu’r gyfres yn olrhain hanesein traddodiad corawl o Gôr Caradog hyd heddiw, a’r bri a enillodd corau o lowyr achwarelwyr nid yn unig drwy Gymru ond ar ymweliadau gorchestol â Llundain a Chicago ynystod rhan ola’r 19edd ganrif. Y traddoddiad corawl yng nghymodd y De a ddewisodd felthema’i ddarlith yn yr Eisteddfod, o dan y teitl ‘Pob nodyn fel perlyn pur’.

Valleys of SongProfessor Gareth Williams has written and lectured extensively on aspects of popular culturein modern Wales, and is the author of an important volume on Music and Society in Walesfrom 1840 to 1914 under the title ‘Valleys of Song’, published by University of Wales Press in

1998. He has also recently scripted andpresented the successful ITV1 Walestelevision series under the same title, whichportrayed the rich choral tradition which isone of the more positive and long-lastingoutcomes of the industrial revolution inWales since the middle of the 19th century.He has chosen this as the theme of hislecture for the Guild at the NationalEisteddfod at Newport in August. A newfeature of this year’s Eisteddfod lecture hasbeen the provision of simultaneoustranslation into English.

Gareth Williams is also co-author of‘Fields of Praise’, the official history ofWelsh rugby from 1881 to 1981. Beforetaking up his present post at the Universityof Glamorgan’s Centre for Modern andContemporary Studies in 2001, he was forover 30 years lecturer and them Professorof History at the University of WalesAberystwyth.

Cyfeiriad: Cofrestrfa Prifysgol CymruParc CathaysCaerdyddCF10 3NSRhif ffôn/Tel: 029 20 786224

Gwefan: www.cymru.ac.ukE-bost: [email protected]: [email protected]

Address: University of Wales RegistryCathays ParkCardiff CF10 3NSRhif ffôn/Tel: 029 20 786224

Website: www.wales.ac.ukE-mail: [email protected]: [email protected]

Golygwyd y rhifyn hwn gan y Clerc, Hywel Wyn Jones, mewn ymgynghoriad â swyddogioneraill yr Urdd a Chofrestrfa’r Brifysgol.Gwethfawrogir nawdd cwmni Ede & Ravenscroft eto eleni tuag at gostau cyhoeddi.Croesewir deunydd ar gyfer rhifyn nesaf ‘Cap Cymru’, erbyn dechrau Mawrth 2005.This issue has been edited by the Clerk, Hywel Wyn Jones, in consultation with fellow officersof the Guild, and the University Registry.The continued support of Ede & Ravenscroft towards publication costs is greatly appreciated.Material for the next issue of ‘Cap Cymru’ will be welcomed, and should reach us by earlyMarch 2005.

PRIFYSGOL CYMRUY mae Prifysgol Cymru, a sefydlwyd ym 1893, ynBrifysgol ffederal fawr ac unigryw sydd ar hyn obryd yn cynnwys chwe Sefydliad Cyfansoddol, sef: Prifysgol Cymru,AberystwythPrifysgol Cymru, BangorPrifysgol Cymru Abertawe Prifysgol Cymru, Llanbedr Pont SteffanAthrofa Prifysgol Cymru, CaerdyddPrifysgol Cymru, Casnewydd.

Y mae corff llywodraethol y Brifysgol, y Cyngor,wedi cymeradwyo derbyn pedwar sefydliadnewydd yn aelodau o’r Brifysgol, ac y mae’n edrychymlaen at gael eu croesawu cyn gynted ag y byddy Cyfrin Gyngor wedi cymeradwyo’r newidiadauangenrheidiol yn y Siarter a’r Statudau:Athrofa Addysg Uwch Gogledd DdwyrainCymruAthrofa Addysg Uwch AbertaweColeg y Drindod Caerfyrddinsy’n Sefydliadau Cysylltiol ar hyn o bryd, ynghyd âCholeg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru,sydd hefyd wedi bod â pherthynas agos â’rBrifysgol ers sawl blwyddyn.

THE UNIVERSITY OF WALESThe University of Wales, founded in 1893, is alarge and distinctive federal University currentlycomprising six Constituent Institutions, whoseactivities it exists to support and which are closelyinvolved in its governance. These institutions are:The University of Wales,AberystwythUniversity of Wales, BangorUniversity of Wales Swansea University of Wales, LampeterUniversity of Wales Institute, CardiffUniversity of Wales, Newport.

The University’s governing body, the Council, hasapproved the admission of four new institutionsinto membership of the University, and is lookingforward to welcoming them as soon as approval isreceived from the Privy Council for the necessarychanges in the Charter and Statutes by which theUniversity is governed.

These institutions are the current AssociatedInstitutions of the University:North East Wales Institute of HigherEducation Swansea Institute of Higher EducationTrinity College, Carmarthentogether with the Royal Welsh College ofMusic and Drama, which has also had a closerelationship with the University for many years.

Argraffwyd gan/printed by: Gwasg Gomer, Llandysul, Ceredigion SA44 4JL www.gomer.co.uk

Llun/pic: ITV1 Wales


l urdd graddedigion prifysgol cymru newsletter of … · noddwyd gan ede and ravenscroft, darparwyr...

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