Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language – in the Senedd at 2:25 pm on 20 November 2019.
Thank you very much. I was also pleased to see the establishment of Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Caerdydd back in 2017, and I do think it’s crucially important. We know that there is a decline as people leave school and they don't have an opportunity to use their Welsh language skills, and I think it's very important that students have an opportunity to use the Welsh language in a social capacity, and this is exactly what this student union provides.
I was also aware that the board of trustees in the past had committed to appointing a full-time officer in Cardiff, and I am disappointed that they have stepped away from that. Of course, it's a matter for the student union itself to make a decision here, but I do think it's worth noting that Bangor is in the vanguard, as is Aberystwyth and Swansea too. Also, it's worth putting on record that there are more Welsh speakers going to Cardiff University than there are to the other universities. So, I do think that it's important that they do give serious consideration to this situation. I received correspondence on this issue on Monday, and now that you have mentioned that there is some urgency, I will look at it.