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1. CYNULLIAD / WELSH ASSEMBLY
1.1 Fourth
Economic Summit Communiqué
The fourth session of the
all-Wales Economic Summit brought together business leaders and representatives
of key sectors to review progress on tackling the recession.
Although Welsh unemployment remains lower than any time between 1984 and
1997, labour market statistics published last month show the number of jobs in
Wales is down 16,000 over the previous year (14,000 down over the previous
quarter). During 2009, other job losses recently announced – notably by Corus,
affecting around 1,100 jobs in Wales – will be factored into the employment
picture.
The meeting received a full update on the responses co-ordinated by the
Welsh Assembly Government since the third Summit on 5 December 2008.
Members were pleased to note the rapid roll-out of the new ProAct
initiative, introduced as a pilot scheme for Wales’ automotive industry. This
new scheme provides quality training for employees put on short-time working –
offering an alternative to redundancy, through retraining on days not being
worked.
To read full article visit:
http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/latest/2933598/?lang=en
1.2 Telesgop
lands new contracts and expands into new markets
Telesgop – one of Wales’ fastest
growing production companies announced today (Thursday February 5) that it has
secured contracts worth in excess of £1.8million and is expanding its capacity
to become one of the UK’s leading providers of internet TV.
The news coincided with the launch of their new purpose built headquarters
on SA1 Swansea Waterfront which were officially opened by Ieuan Wyn Jones,
Minister for the Economy and Transport at the Welsh Assembly Government.
Support from the Assembly Government enabled Telesgop to create twelve new
jobs, create a new multimedia team, and invest in the latest internet and Hi
Definition technology.
Opening their new facilities the Minister said:
It's always good news to hear that a Welsh business is expanding and
successfully entering new markets and winning significant new business.
We have a wealth of talent in Wales particularly in the creative industries
sector and I am particularly pleased the Assembly Government has been able to
support Telesgop with their exciting plans.
To read full
article visit:
http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/latest/2930731/?lang=en
1.3 Automotive
workers get ‘ProActive’
One of the first companies in Wales who could benefit from the Welsh
Assembly Government’s unique ProAct scheme has been announced today [Thursday 5
February 2009] during a visit from the First Minister.
100 staff at the Japanese-owned automotive component manufacturer, Shimizu,
based in Welshpool, could receive up to £2,000 of funding per individual for
training and a wage subsidy of £2,000 each.
Shimizu is in the process of putting together its ProAct training plan with
assistance from the Welsh Assembly Government’s Human Resources Development
Advisors.
ProAct is a new £48m scheme launched in January this year which provides
funding for employers who are facing difficulties during the recession.
The support is intended to help businesses prepare for economic recovery
by up-skilling their workforce while they are on short-time working and
retaining skilled staff who may otherwise be made redundant. The pilot
programme is focussing on the automotive sector with a view to extending this
to other private sector companies.
To read full
article visit:
http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/latest/2930315/?lang=en
1.4 Minister
publishes planning advice on sport, recreation and open spaces
Updated advice for sport,
recreation and other open spaces was published by Welsh Assembly Government
Environment, Sustainability and Housing Minister Jane Davidson today (Thursday
5 Feb).
Technical Advice Note (TAN) 16, 'Sport, Recreation and Open Space' is the
latest TAN to be revised in a series of guidelines for communities, developers
and local planning authorities in Wales, to help them prepare local development
plans and make decisions on planning applications.
Jane Davidson said:
Planning plays an essential part in helping deliver the Assembly
Government's strategies for the people, environment and economy of Wales. I am
pleased that the revised note reflects our commitment to a healthier, more
sustainable country.
It draws on our strategies for sport and recreation, play, health and
well-being while recognising that managing open, green spaces can help us
deal with some of the effects of climate change.
The TAN advises local planning authorities – Wales' 22 local councils and
three National Park Authorities – on preparing Open Space Assessments.
These can help authorities with their longer term development planning
and also provide planners throughout Wales with a common basis to gauge the
current provision of parks and other green spaces and help to meet future
needs.
http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/latest/2932436/?lang=en
1.5 European
funding for credit unions
A £750,000 project to extend
financial services to help people in Wales struggling to manage their money has
been given the go-ahead for Convergence funding, Social Justice Minister Dr
Brian Gibbons announced yesterday (Wednesday Feb 4th).
The European Regional Development Fund has contributed almost £270,000 to
fund the project in Convergence Areas, which has been matched by the Welsh
Assembly Government. A further £217,000 has been provided by the Assembly
Government to run the project in other areas.
The project will strengthen the existing network and attract thousands more
customers who will benefit from a range of services including savings schemes,
and affordable loans as well as information and advice on managing their
finances. It will target those on low incomes and struggling with debt. It will
also provide vital support for people who may have a poor credit history and
are unable to access mainstream banking services.
The credit union movement in Wales exists to provide a trusted,
community-based service which currently assists more than 47,000 people.
The new scheme will raise awareness and provide an alternative solution
to the risks of turning to loan sharks and doorstep lenders to relieve such
pressures.
To read full
article visit:
http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/latest/2932189/?lang=en
1.6 ‘A piece of
cake’ for bakery workers to gain new skills
Deputy Minister for Skills John Griffiths has today launched a new learning
centre for employees at Avana Bakeries in Rogerstone, Newport.
The Welsh Assembly Government’s Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) has
provided nearly £100,000 of funding for the provision of services at the new
learning centre at Avana Bakeries, a supplier of Marks and Spencer and part of
the UK’s biggest food manufacturer, Premier Foods.
The funding, secured by the ‘The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union' (BFAWU)
is set to bring more learning opportunities to Avana Bakeries' employees via a
range of vocational learning. The learning opportunities will enable employees
to gain extra skills at pre NVQ and at levels 1 and 2 in a flexible and
supportive environment.
Cutting a specially made cake to mark the official opening of the learning
centre, John Griffiths said:
I am delighted that the funding provided by the Welsh Assembly Government
and effective partnership working between trade unions and employers has
created such a fantastic opportunity for workers to gain extra skills. The
learning centre project is another investment in the workforce of Wales and
an excellent example of how we are helping to protect our workers from
the challenges our economy faces.
http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/latest/2926501/?lang=en
2. ADDYSG
BELLACH AC UWCH /
HE AND FE
2.1
Scientists from
The BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy
Centre (BSBEC) represents the biggest ever single
Dr Iain Donnison from the
To read full article visit:
http://www.aber.ac.uk/aberonline/en/archive/2009/01/au909/
2.2
Developing
To a person living
in a remote corner of
This is all set to
change with a new three-year project which is being coordinated by the
Professor Michael
Woods, Head of the Institute, is leading a €1.5m study funded by the European
Union Framework Programme into Developing Europe’s
Rural Regions in the Era of Globalization (DERREG).
This ambitious
project will work with partners in nine European countries, ranging from
Professor Woods
has been interested in the idea behind the project for a number of years. His
research has been predominantly in the area of rural politics and governance,
and he is fascinated by the way in which global processes affect different
regions.
“One of the
fallacies about globalization is that it is a steam-roller that erodes local
differences,” says Professor Woods. “Yes, there are overarching trends that
affect us all but different regions are differently positioned to respond to
them.”
Globalization is obviously a tremendously large concept, so the team has broken
it down into a series of themes. One of these is the economic impact, and how
businesses in rural areas are becoming engaged in global processes. Another is
increased mobility and migration, such as migrant workers and second home
owners.
Sustainable development is the next element, looking for instance at how rural
areas can use their natural environment as capital, such as through ecotourism
or the potential for renewable energy. The final theme is capacity building,
looking at issues such as education and training.
There is a
practical purpose to this research. At the end of the three-year project, the
intention is that there will be an online resource centre which will make the
information gathered and conclusions reached publicly available as a tool to be
used by people involved with rural and regional development. This can then inform
the preparation of strategies to cope with globalization, allowing people to
look at the issues in the context of their own regions and highlighting best
practice.
To read full article visit:
http://www.aber.ac.uk/aberonline/en/archive/2009/01/au1309/
From Daily Post
A UNIVERSITY is to change
the face of education in North Wales with three new centres of learning worth
£13m.
Professor Michael Scott,
vice chancellor of Glyndwr University in Wrexham, spoke exclusively to the
Daily Post last night about plans for a groundbreaking £2m early learning
facility, as well as the development of an £8m design and technology block and
a £3m conference and arts venue.
“We get the keys to the
conference and arts centre in the coming days and hope to formally open it in
June,” said Prof Scott.
“It’s a conversion of the
old school hall and now looks a very modern building, it looks fantastic.
“We are also developing an
£8m technology building which is only at the design stage at the moment. It
will be great when it comes through.”
But the most exciting
development, according to Prof Scott, is the early learning centre, following a
£2m grant from the Welsh Assembly Government recently.
“This is going to be at the
cutting edge,” he said. “We are going to look at what schools and nurseries
have been doing with 0-3 year olds and we even have a degree in children’s play
now at the university.
“The concept is different,
it’s not all about education.
“You don’t just put
education in a centre like this and hope it works, you put the child in the
centre and see what the child needs – love, security, financial security, as
well as numeracy and literacy.
“That’s part of it but it’s
also going to concentrate on health, diet, physical exercise. It’s going to be
unique.
He added: “We’re looking at
the long-term, so the proof of whether we’re successful will be in 16-18 years
time, not right now.
“We will see then if we have
the same problems in society – such as binge-drinking and violence – young
people feel angry and disenfranchised so we need to get right back to the start
of the process and say to ourselves, ‘this child is special’.
“We tell the play leaders
this, and the nursery nurses, and parenting is so important.
“The political feedback has
been very good so we can’t wait to go ahead with this.”
The North East Institute of
Higher Education (Newi) was granted university status by royal assent of the
Queen, on the advice of the Privy Council last July.
The institute, which has
nearly 8,000 students, was named Glyndr University after Wales’ most famous son
– the visionary leader, scholar and nation builder Owain Glyndr.
And Prof Scott admits its
inauguration on February 28 will be a proud day for everyone who oversaw its
transition.
“I’ve been here for eight
years now, and my dream back then was for us to become a university within
seven years, which we did,” he said.
“We’ve redefined and
extended what our mission was and are focused even more now.
“Everything we do is for
the development and economic regeneration of this region and our community.”
From Daily Post
A REVOLUTIONARY new digital
conferencing suite – the first of its kind in the UK – has been opened at
Wrexham’s Glyndr University.
Saville Audio Visual, in
collaboration with the university, has equipped the William Morgan Room at the
university campus with the Beyer Dynamic Revoluto, the world’s first line array
microphone system.
Delegates using the room
will be able to benefit from vastly improved audio quality when speaking and
listening to others.
The installation is part of
an audio visual package, including sophisticated audio recording and remote
voting software, control interfaces and video projection equipment.
“Our intention with the
room was to bring state of the art technology alongside a paperless working
environment and I feel that we’ve accomplished this,” said Andrew Cheatham, the
university’s technical manager.
The William Morgan Room,
officially opened by Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones, will be used for
official university meetings, as well as by students studying on Glyndr
University’s new foundation degree in Welsh translation.
The room is named after
former Bishop of Wales, William Morgan, the first person to translate all of
the Bible into Welsh.
Mr Jones said: “The use of
Welsh is increasing and a lot of businesses now recognise the value of the
Welsh language.
“The William Morgan Room
will be a very important facility for the local community as well as the
university. The institution has always been very committed to providing
facilities for the community and should be congratulated for that.”
Professor Michael Scott,
vice-chancellor of Glyndr University, said: “The Welsh language is something we
are tremendously proud of, so we decided that our new Welsh translation course
should be taught in this room.”
2.5 Secretary of State praises
research excellence
The
Mr
Denham described the vital role universities play in supporting employers and
employees through challenging economic times and laying the foundations for the
upturn. He said: “The research undertaken in centres of excellence like those I’ve seen at
Welcomed by the
Vice-Chancellor, Dr David Grant and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter
Blood the Secretary of State, Mr Denham was joined by
the Welsh Assembly Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and
Skills Jane Hutt AM and given a guided tour of the
£21m
To read full article visit:
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/articles/secretary-of-state-praises-research-excellence.html
2.6
Researchers from
the
Craig Hogan, a
physicist at Fermilab Centre for Particle
Astrophysics in
Scientists from
the School’s Gravitational Physics Group, who are part of a European team
working on the GEO600, will now carry out new experiments in the coming months
to yield more evidence about Craig Hogan’s assumptions. If proved
correct, it could help in the quest to bring together quantum mechanics and
Einstein’s theory of gravity.
To
read full article visit:
2.7 Study of
Health of Young People First for Wales.
A unique study, which will monitor the physical health of young people in a
South Wales Valleys community, is being carried out by exercise scientists at
the University of Glamorgan.
Working with pupils at Porth County Community School over an eighteen weeks
period, experts will be monitoring obesity, physical fitness, cardiovascular
risk factors, diet and psychological well being amongst 400 youngsters
In the first study of its kind, the pupils, aged 12 and 13, will be
carrying out exercise while doing their day to day national curriculum based
studies while completing an activity knowledge circuit.
The study will monitor the improvement, or not, in the children’s’ health
over the period. This part of the study is innovative, as it will affect the
children who are particularly inactive in addition to the pupils who have
active lifestyles. The study will also monitor physical activity levels and dietary
habits of the children outside of school hours.
The exercise sessions will be two hours per week for eighteen weeks. Blood
biochemistry, blood pressure, body mass, maturation status, anthropometry,
physical activity, diet, psychological status and lifestyle will all be
assessed pre and post intervention.
The team conducting the study is led by Professor Julien Baker of the
University of Glamorgan along with his colleagues Professor Bruce Davies and Dr
Sue Falkner as well as Dr Non Thomas (UWIC) Dr Jaynie Rance (University of
Swansea).
To
read full article visit:
http://news.glam.ac.uk/news/en/2009/feb/02/study-health-young-people-first-wales/
2.8 World First
for Computer Forensics
The University of Glamorgan has teamed up with American company AccessData to offer
the first courses in the world to be accredited by the leading Computer
Forensic software company.
From September 2009 both the University’s undergraduate and postgraduate
degree courses in Computer Forensics will carry the unique accreditation from
AccessData.
Paula Thomas, Head of Computer Science Division explained, “We are the
first University in the world to work in partnership with AccessData in this
way. This accreditation will give our students a head start when it comes to
finding employment in the Computer Forensics industry.”
AccessData delivers court-validated, state-of-the-art computer forensic,
password cracking and decryption solutions to law enforcement, government
agencies and corporations around the world. Recognized as an industry leader,
AccessData provides unsurpassed training in the field of computer forensics,
and its ACE certification is one of the most sought after designations among
industry professionals.
To
read full article visit:
http://news.glam.ac.uk/news/en/2009/feb/04/world-first-computer-forensics/
2.9
Only 20 institutions in the
"We are delighted to have been named as one of the elite few to
offer this new Postgraduate qualification, as the CIM
is committed to only offering a high quality course in what is the benchmark
qualification for employers,"
said Sue Cole, Senior CIM Lecturer at
visit www.newport.ac.uk
http://www3.newport.ac.uk/news/displayStory.aspx?story_id=350
3. LLYFRGELLOEDD
CYHOEDDUS / PUBLIC LIBRARIES
An exciting new project
based around Daniel Morden's book Dark
Tales from the Woods has started in the Bryn y Cwm area.
In Dark Tales from the Woods Daniel Morden
retells the stories of Abram Wood, the king of the gypsies, who came to Wales
at the beginning of the eighteenth century. It is a collection of
gripping, traditional tales featuring dark deeds, dark motives and magic!
Dark Tales from the Woods is suitable for children aged 9 - 11.
During January Daniel held
Year 5 children spellbound as he told them dark tales. During
February the children will have the opportunity to take part in a follow-up
workshop (encouraging children to write and perform their own fantastic
stories) with storyteller Jan Shivel.
On Saturday 7th March 2009
the best story-telling children will be invited to share their stories in a
celebration at The Priory Centre in Abergavenny. This event will be
funded by the Welsh Books Council as part of their support for World Book
Day.
Every child in Year 5 or Year
6 in the Bryn y Cwm area can borrow a copy of the awarding winning book from Abergavenny Library or Gilwern Library.
http://libraries.monmouthshire.gov.uk/index.php?lang=EN&navId=141
3.2 Duffryn could get library in Tredegar
House
From
A NEW and much-needed library for the Duffryn
area of
Council officers are preparing to apply to CyMAL
(the advisory body for Museums, Archives and Libraries) for up to £300,000 of
grant aid for the project.
If the bid is successful, it is proposed that
the money would be used to internally renovate the visitors centre to combine
that use with a new library.
It would also install public access computers
and equip a small learning space, said a report by Gill John, community
learning and libraries manager.
http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/search/4107293.Duffryn_could_get_library_in_Tredegar_House/
4. DATBLYGU
DARLLENWYR / READER DEVELOPMENT
4.1 Our children won’t succeed if they don’t read books
From The Sunday Times
February 8, 2009
School Gate blog: author Joe Craig asks why secondary schools destroy
creativity
One of my most triumphant moments as a parent came in my local library. A
daughter – I’m a father of seven – had taken it upon herself to read The
Gruffalo to a sibling. She got louder and more expressive until every head in
the place was turned towards her. People were on tiptoe peeping over shelves. Strangers’
children gathered at her feet and, when she finished, clamoured for her to read
more.
Why did it feel so different from the torture of “round the class” reading
when I was at school? Because it was done for fun and not for marks. Unesco,
the United Nations educational and cultural arm, has produced a report which
shows that reading for pleasure is the single best indicator of social
mobility. People who can lose themselves in a book do better than those who
can’t. Simple as that. Everyone wants the best for their children. Parents go
private, hire tutors, even move house for educational edge. But the most
effective thing you can do is share the pleasure of reading with them. Take
them to the library.”
To read full article visit:
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article5682895.ece
4.2 Patterson,
master of all genres, tops library list
James Patterson is less a novelist than a literary factory, and it seems
the British public cannot get enough of him.
The American is revealed today as the UK's most borrowed author from
libraries, coming top for the second year, after his books were taken out more
than 1.5m times between July 2007 and June 2008.
Patterson and the writers he employs are happy to keep the fans happy, with
the Patterson name emblazoned across at least eight books in the last year, in
genres from thriller to romance to misery memoir. Other writers' names
regularly appear on the cover - often in much smaller type - but he denies that
he sometimes has no involvement at all in the writing. Last year he said:
"I get all this baloney about well, what does he do? Does he even look at
them? Well yes, he does look at them."
Among his series are the Alex Cross books about a black detective and model
single father who mixes family life and volunteering with tackling unimaginably
horrible killers. There is his Maximum Ride series for young adults featuring youngsters
who are 2% avian. Other heroes are the four women in San Francisco who eat
Mexican food while solving murders.
The list goes on to more than 60 published works. It is mainly this
prolificness that ensures Patterson is number one. The other two holders of the
top spot since records began were similarly able to turn them out: Jacqueline
Wilson was number one from 2002-06 and before that it was Catherine Cookson for
18 years.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/feb/06/james-patterson-libraries
5. DATBLYGIAD PROFFESIYNOL
/ PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
5.1
ACLIP/MCLIP support event
There will be a
CILIP Cymru / Career Development Group Wales ACLIP/MCLIP event for prospective Chartership,
Associate candidates at
Please contact
Kate Leonard,
5.2 CILIP
Don't forget - CILIP members receive up to 40% discount on all CILIP training.
ROVING WITH A PURPOSE IN HE/FE LIBRARIES
Roving, or floor walking, has recently been adopted by a number of
library and information services in order to become more proactive, providing
point of use assistance to users wherever they are. This intensive one-day
CILIP workshop will give an introduction to the concept of roving and provide
you with practical ideas and examples to help develop roving in your own
service.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
* What roving means and why it matters
* Roving to improve your service
* Delivering proactive library services for the 21st C
* Managing the learning environment
FULL DETAILS: http://www.cilip.org.uk/training/training/2009/libinfo/rovingwithapurposeinheorfelibraries.htm
CONSULTANCY SKILLS FOR LIBRARIANS
4 &
An essential course for senior library/information staff and
frontline staff seeking recognition for their high quality service and are keen
to deepen their relationship with users. This two-day course explores a series
of practical exercises offering advice on how best to build confidence and
establish your role at consultancy level.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
* The consultancy process and skill set
* Client / consultant relationship
* Mapping the consultancy stakeholders
* Project managing a consultancy exercise
FULL DETAILS: http://www.cilip.org.uk/training/training/2009/mp/consultancyskillsforlibrarians.htm
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF GOOGLE(tm)
How do you Google? Without doubt Google is the information professional's
general purpose search engine of choice but many of us perform searches simply
by entering subject terms. This can often bring back good results but not
always, because we are not using Google(tm) in the most effective way. This
one-day hands-on CILIP course will teach you the techniques needed to bring the
most relevant hits to the top of your search list.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
* How it works and why it matters
* Advanced search functions
* The future - what's going on in the labs?
FULL DETAILS: http://www.cilip.org.uk/training/training/2009/ict/gettingthemostoutofgoogle.htm
REFLECTIVE PRACTICE FOR LIS STAFF
The ability to reflect on activity and learn from the experience adds purpose
and meaning to the way we work. This established CILIP training course will
enable you to explore a range of approaches and gain practical insights into
the practice of reflection.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
* Background to reflection and reflective practice
* Noticing what happens - the use of feedback
* Reflective approach: Kolb and Gibbs
* Reflection and learning
FULL DETAILS: http://www.cilip.org.uk/training/training/2009/md/reflectivepractice.htm
You can browse the full selection of courses for February and the rest of 2009,
online: http://www.cilip.org.uk/trainingcourses
6. LLYFRGELL
GENEDLAETHOL / NATIONAL LIBRARY OF
6.1 New search solution for
electronic resources
The National Library of Wales has launched a new search solution for
its subscribed electronic resources.
External Resources
offers quick and easy searching across electronic resources ranging from 18th
century newspapers to 21st century e-books. This not only makes searching
simpler but also encourages users to explore resources they may not have
considered relevant before.
Most of these resources are available through Athens to anyone with a reader’s ticket who lives in
External Resources is powered by
7. IECHYD
/ HEALTH
7.1 Health Promotion Library New
Books Bulletin
See attached (Issue 1, 2009)
Find out more about the Health
Promotion Library-
http://wales.gov.uk/topics/health/ocmo/publications/library/?lang=en
Mandy Powell
Development Officer
Chartered Institute of Library and
07837 032 536