Buddsoddiad mewn STEM yn dod â labordai coleg o'r radd flaenaf i Ddolgellau a Phwllheli

Derbyniodd Grŵp Llandrillo Menai gyllid gan Magnox/Awdurdod Dadgomisiynu Niwclear (NDA) tuag at brosiect uchelgeisiol i ddiweddaru 10 o labordai mewn tri o'i gampysau.

Mae'r £386,034 gan Magnox/NDA yn cael ei fuddsoddi gan brosiect LabSTEM er mwyn moderneiddio adnoddau yn Nolgellau, Pwllheli a Llangefni. Mae gweddill y cyllid wedi'i ddarparu gan Raglen Ysgolion a Cholegau ar gyfer y 21ain Ganrif Llywodraeth Cymru a Grŵp Llandrillo Menai.

Mae tri labordy gwyddoniaeth ar safle Dolgellau a Phwllheli wedi cael eu hadnewyddu a'u uwchraddio gyda'r dechnoleg ddiweddaraf. Bydd labordy arall yn cael ei greu ar gampws Marian Mawr yn Nolgellau gyda chyfleusterau roboteg a pheirianneg drydanol.

Mae gwelliannau tebyg yn yr arfaeth ar gampws Coleg Menai yn Llangefni ac mae cynlluniau eraill, fel cryfhau'r cwricwlwm a chydweithio gyda sefydliadau eraill, eisoes ar droed.

Nod LabSTEM yw gwella'r amgylchedd a'r profiad dysgu, denu mwy o bobl ifanc 16 oed - yn enwedig ferched - i astudio Gwyddoniaeth a Pheirianneg, ac ymestyn y cwricwlwm STEM i gynnwys pynciau megis Peirianneg Drydanol/Fecanyddol a Roboteg/Electroneg.

Yn ogystal â rhoi adnoddau o safon fyd eang i ddysgwyr, bydd y prosiect hefyd yn cyfrannu at ddatblygiad STEM yng ngogledd orllewin Cymru trwy roi lleoliadau ar gyfer gweithgareddau gan sefydliadau eraill a chwarae rhan mewn prosiectau STEM ar lefel ranbarthol.

Meddai Aled Jones-Griffith, Pennaeth Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor a Choleg Menai, yn ystod agoriad swyddogol y labordai yn Nolgellau:

"Bydd LabSTEM yn rhoi'r adnoddau a'r cyfleoedd gorau bosibl i fyfyrwyr yng Ngholeg Meirion-Dwyfor a Choleg Menai. Bydd hyn yn dod â budd sylweddol i ddysgwyr, cyflogwyr a'r economi'n ehangach.

"Mae'r galw am bobl ifanc sydd wedi astudio pynciau STEM hyd at Lefel 3 ac uwch, boed hynny'n academaidd neu'n alwedigaethol, yn tyfu a disgwylir iddo dyfu ymhellach. Credir y bydd 75% o'r holl swyddi yn y DU dros y degawd nesaf yn gofyn am wybodaeth a sgiliau STEM."

Ychwanegodd: "Mae'r gofyn am gyflogeion ym maes STEM yr un mor gryf yma yng Ngogledd Cymru. Er fod datblygiadau fel Wylfa Newydd ar stop am y tro, mae nifer o ddatblygiadau ynni eraill ar y gweill o fewn y rhanbarth.

"Bydd y prosiect moderneiddio hwn yn sicrhau bod gan ein holl ddysgwyr ym maes STEM y cyfleusterau diweddaraf i gefnogi eu hastudiaethau a rhoi iddynt y sgiliau angenrheidiol i fedru manteisio ar yrfaoedd llwyddiannus yn lleol.

"Rydym yn hynod ddiolchgar i Magnox/NDA a Llywodraeth Cymru am eu buddsoddiad, ac i'n holl bartneriaid yn y sector am gefnogi ein gweledigaeth."

Meddai Simon Napper, Rheolwr Cysylltiadau Rhan-ddeiliaid a Sosio-Economeg NDA:

“Mae NDA yn awyddus i annog a datblygu addysg a sgiliau, isadeiledd cymdeithasol a chyflogaeth gynaliadwy.

“Mae'r prosiect yn anelu at wneud pynciau STEM yn ddeniadol i bawb a byddem yn arbennig o falch o weld mwy o ferched yn cymryd rhan. Mae'r prosiect yn cyd-fynd ag ethos NDA o fuddsoddi mewn addysg a sgiliau er mwyn cyfrannu at gyflogaeth gynaliadwy.

“Gyda Trawsfynydd wedi'i ddynodi fel y prif safle ar gyfer Rhaglen Ddadgomisiynu Magnox, a nifer o gynlluniau yng Ngogledd Cymru i greu cyflogaeth o ansawdd, mae hwn yn gyfle delfrydol i sicrhau y gall cenedlaethau'r dyfodol barhau i gael gwaith yn y rhanbarth.”

DIWEDD

Cyswllt: Elliw Williams, 07766 335612 / elliw@atompr.com

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai secured Magnox/Nuclear Decommissioning Authority funding towards an ambitious project to upgrade 10 laboratories across three of its campuses.

£386,034 from Magnox/NDA is being invested by the LabSTEM project to modernise facilities at Dolgellau, Pwllheli and Llangefni, with the remainder of the funding package provided by the Welsh Government's 21st Schools and Colleges Programme and Grŵp Llandrillo Menai.

Three science laboratories at both the Dolgellau and Pwllheli sites have been refurbished and upgraded with the latest technology. A further laboratory will also be created on the Marian Mawr campus in Dolgellau to accommodate robotics and electrical engineering facilities.

Similar improvements are planned at the Coleg Menai campus in Llangefni and other initiatives, such as enhancement of curriculum and collaboration with other organisations, is also taking place.

The aim of LabSTEM is to enhance the learning environment and improve learners' experience, attract a greater number of 16 year-olds - in particular girls - to study Science and Engineering, and extend the curriculum offer in STEM subjects such as Mechanical/Electrical Engineering and Robotics/Electronics.

As well as providing college learners with the world-class facilities, the project will also form part of the STEM development landscape in North West Wales by providing locations for activities arranged by other organisations and contributing to a co-ordinated sub-regional STEM initiative.

Speaking at the official opening of the Dolgellau laboratories, Aled Jones-Griffith, Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor and Coleg Menai Principal, explained why the project is so important:

"LabSTEM will provide learners at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor and Coleg Menai with sector-leading learning environments and opportunities that will enhance their learning. This will bring huge benefits to learners, employers and the wider economy.

"The demand for young people who have studied STEM subjects at Level 3 and above, be that academic or vocational, is growing and expected to grow further. It's been quoted that 75% of all jobs in the UK over the next decade will require STEM knowledge and skills."

He added: "The requirement for STEM employees is just as strong here in North Wales, and while planned large scale developments at Wylfa Newydd have stalled, a significant number of other energy-related developments are progressing or are in the planning stages within the region.

"This modernisation project will ensure that all our STEM learners have the latest, high quality, facilities to support their studies and equip them with the skills they need to develop successful careers in the region.

"We are extremely grateful to Magnox/NDA and the Welsh Government for their investment in the project, and to all our partners in the sector for supporting our vision."

Simon Napper, NDA Stakeholder Relations and Socio Economics Manager said:

“The NDA is keen to encourage and develop education and skills, social infrastructure and sustainable employment.

“This project aims to make STEM subjects attractive to all and we would particularly welcome greater participation from female students. This project fits in well with the NDA’s ethos of investing in education and skills leading to sustainable employment.

“With Trawsfynydd being designated the lead site for the Magnox Rolling Decommissioning Programme, and as part of a range of initiatives in North Wales aiming for high value employment, this is a perfect opportunity to ensure future generations can continue to access secure jobs in the region.”

ENDS

Contact: Elliw Williams, 07766 335612 / elliw@atompr.com