Welsh Language
The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 affords the Welsh language official status in Wales. This means it must be treated no less favourably than the English language. It also establishes a legal framework to impose a duty on some organisations to comply with standards of conduct on the Welsh Language.
Welsh Language Standards replace the system of Welsh language schemes, introduced by the Welsh Language Act 1993.
The Standards are a set of legally binding requirements that aim to improve the bilingual service that the people of Wales can expect to receive from a number of public and statutory bodies, including universities and colleges. Standards explain how organisations are expected to use the Welsh language in different situations.
The duties which come from the standards mean that organisations should not treat the Welsh language less favourably than the English language, together with promoting and facilitating the use of the Welsh language (making it easier for people to use in their day-to-day life).
Standards aim to:
- make it clear to organisations what their duties are in relation to the Welsh language
- make it clearer to Welsh speakers about the services they can expect to receive in Welsh
- make Welsh language services more consistent and improve their quality.
Together the University of Wales and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David seek to comply with the following Standards:
- Service Delivery
- Policy Making
- Operational
- Record Keeping