1. Public Engagement, digital scholarship and language learning
How digital platforms are supporting language learning in Wales
Claire Gorrara, Cardiff University, UK

2. Context for language learning in Wales
Picture of decline in language learning in Wales at secondary level (ages ):
: only 18% of all pupils chose to study a language post-14 for a formal qualification
Welsh Government response: Global Futures strategy ( )
MFL Student Mentoring project ( onwards): partnership model ; 4 universities, 68 schools across Wales

3. Digital language mentoring? How does it work?
What is it: six-week on-line programme: ‘who do you think you are and where do you come from?’
Digital resource, hosted on the Welsh Government’s educational platform: Hwb
What are its aims?: to promote the benefits and values of a global mind set; to challenge a transacti0nal and skills-based model of language learning; to locate language learning within the broader context of personal development
Benefits
Increased connectivity between schools and universities
Raising awareness of the opportunities that come with multilingual competency
Countering the ‘Brexit effect’ and working with more disadvantaged groups

4. Options for sustaining this humanities educational resource
Project lifecycle to end in 2020; challenges and opportunities:
1. Embedding resource into the infrastructure and educational mission of the partner institutions
2. Licensing agreements: commercial and non-commercial
3. ‘Spin off’ company and consultancy
4. Partnering with other European projects with cognate mission and ethos
Key principle: promoting public engagement and a ‘languages mission’