A PROJECT to promote the sharing of languages and culture at Aberystwyth University has been highly commended at an awards ceremony.

The Language Exchange Platform delivered by the university’s Lifelong Learning department was given the award in the Universities Association of Lifelong Learning Award Scheme’s international category.

The award recognises innovative engagement, including partnerships that create change in an international or transnational context.

Set up in 2009, the UALL scheme celebrates projects, programmes, partnerships, and research that promote lifelong learning in the higher education sector.

The Language Exchange Platform at Aberystwyth University uses tandem learning, in which learners work together with a partner from another country or with one who speaks the language they wish to learn.

Antonio Barriga Rubio, the driver behind the project, and modern languages co-ordinator for Lifelong Learning at Aberystwyth University, said: “We are delighted to win this commendation. The UALL has recognised the innovative engagement of the Language Exchange Platform and the promotion of change in an international context. It is an acknowledgement that the Platform can have a transformative effect on people’s lives.

“This academic year we have had 130 people take part and we are exchanging over 30 languages - from Persian to Japanese, Mandarin to French, and Welsh to German. Members of the Language Exchange Platform are not only able to work face-to-face, they now also have connections with learners at other universities in Spain, France and Germany via Skype."

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition on Wednesday