Sioned Williams shows her support for Technocamps

Sioned Williams MS asks First Minister about "the importance and significance of Made in Wales programmes such as Technocamps”

Today in a question to the First Minister, Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for South Wales West, has raised concerns that funding is going to an English University to provide online digital skills training at the expense of a Welsh organisation already providing high quality face to face training.

Technocamps, which is based out of Swansea University in Ms Williams’ region, supports digital upskilling of children and adults across Wales through hubs in all Welsh universities.

Founded 22 years ago, Technocamps has since delivered over 5,000 workshops, reaching learners and teachers all across Wales through direct, bespoke and bilingual engagement in schools and on university campuses.

Technocamps recently learned their Welsh Government funding was cut and instead £1.4million, under the Curriculum for Wales Grant Support Programme, is going to York University in England to provide on-line resources with only “face-to-face sessions in priority areas”.

Ms Williams’ asked the First Minister Eluned Morgan how the Government considered this to be an adequate, cost-effective replacement for in-person, bespoke, made in Wales digital skills support. In response, the First Minister defended the decision to award increased funding to an institution outside of Wales. 

Ms Williams quoted founder and patron of Technocamps, Beti Williams MBE, who has launched a petition to continue funding Technocamps, citing the reliance that many teachers in Wales have on the programme, given the pace at which digital technology is advancing, and who has accused the Welsh Government of “disrespecting”  Wales. 

Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for South Wales West, said:

“I have had the pleasure of visiting a Technocamps workshop at Swansea University and I saw how they deliver on the Government’s strategic goals for digital education. 

“When the Digital Competence Framework was introduced, they delivered 10 hours of workshops in 97% of the nation’s secondary schools to embed it. And when the Digital Technology qualifications were introduced, they provided bespoke, in-person training for over 200 teachers struggling with the transition from the ICT curriculum.

“Funding for digital skills couldn’t be more critical in this age of AI and replacing a successful made in Wales programme which provides in-person bespoke local support with one provided by an English University is a decision that raises further questions, particularly given that research by NESTA suggests that the approach offered by York University is one that might deepen inequalities and hierarchies rather than empower more people to get involved in STEM. 

“In her answer, it’s disappointing that the First Minister failed to recognise the importance and significance of successful made in Wales programmes such as Technocamps, which already offers this support across Wales, and is so highly commended by teachers. 

“At a time when Welsh Universities are in financial crisis, it’s an additional barrier that increased funding for digital skills training has gone to a university in England.”

You can read the Senedd record here.

You can watch a video of Sioned Williams speaking in the Senedd here: