Appointment of Chair Designate to lead the Council of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David
At a recent meeting of the Council of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, the appointment of Emlyn Dole as the Chair-Designate of the governing body was approved.
Emlyn Dole will succeed the Venerable Randolph Thomas, who will retire after nine years at the helm, following a period working alongside him in the role.
Emlyn Dole is well known as the former leader of Carmarthenshire County Council who was responsible for the Council’s corporate vision and strategy. In his role as a leader, he was one of the main architects of the Swansea Bay City Deal along with the Council’s success in attracting Levelling Up funding from the UK Government.
The Venerable Randolph Thomas said: “It is a pleasure for the University Council to approve the appointment of Emlyn Dole as the new Chair-Designate. Emlyn is an experienced leader who has been responsible for leading some of the most transformative projects in south-west Wales. He is a skilled communicator who will be a great asset to the University as it navigates a new and exciting period in its distinguished history”.
Emlyn Dole said on his appointment: “I consider it a privilege and an honour to be approved as Chair-Designate of the Council. My hope and intention in undertaking this role is to use my experience as a Leader to the advantage and benefit of an organisation that is dear to my heart. The position and influence of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in our society is considerable and the opportunity to lead, to promote and to extend the breadth of the vision that is already in place is a completely exciting one.
“I am very aware that I am stepping into the significant shoes of my predecessor the Venerable Randolph Thomas and I am grateful to him for all his work and his energetic dedication. My intention is very simply to ensure that the University continues to succeed and deserve its rightful place as an enterprising and successful institution in its mission to transform education in Wales and thereby, of course, transform the lives of the people and the communities that it serves here in Wales and further afield.”
Emlyn Dole will join the University Council immediately and will spend a period of time working alongside the current Chair, The Venerable Randolph Thomas, in the first instance.
Note to Editor
University of Wales Trinity Saint David is part of the UWTSD Group, a confederation of several institutions which includes Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion. The University of Wales is a partner of the group. The UWTSD Group offers a continuum from further to higher education for the benefit of learners, employers and communities.
UWTSD’s vision is to be a university with a commitment to the well-being and heritage of the nation at the heart of all its activities. Central to the vision is the promotion and embedding of a dual-sector educational system which educates learners of all ages and backgrounds, and stimulates economic development in the region, across Wales and beyond.
The University’s was founded in 1822 and celebrated its bicentenary in 2022. It enjoys the accolade of being the birthplace of higher education in Wales. The University’s 1828 Royal Charter is the oldest of any university in Wales. The University’s campuses are located in Swansea Carmarthen, Lampeter, Cardiff, London and Birmingham.
UWTSD is committed to placing students at the centre of its mission by providing a relevant and inspiring bilingual curriculum, providing a supportive learning environment, investing in its campuses and facilities, and ensuring that students, from all backgrounds, are given the opportunity to achieve their potential.
Swansea Bay City Deal
The Swansea Bay City Deal is an investment of up to £1.3 billion in a portfolio of major programmes and projects across the Swansea Bay City Region, which is being funded by the UK Government, Welsh Government, public sector and the private sector. Over the 15-year lifespan of the portfolio, the City Deal will boost the regional economy by at least £1.8 billion, while generating over 9,000 jobs. The Swansea Bay City Deal is being led by the four regional local authorities – Carmarthenshire Council, Swansea Council, Neath Port Talbot Council and Pembrokeshire Council – together with the Swansea Bay University and Hywel Dda University Health Boards, Swansea University, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, and private sector partners.
Further Information
Eleri Beynon
Head of Corporate Communications and PR
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: eleri.beynon@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07968 249335