Institute of Welsh Affairs

The Institute of Welsh Affairs (also known by the acronym IWA) is an independent, membership-based think-tank based in the capital of Wales, Cardiff,[1] owing no allegiance to any political or economic interest group. It focuses its research on politics, culture, economy, education, environment, science and technology in Wales, with the aim of developing proposals for "policy innovation and improvement"[2] and promoting new thinking on Welsh issues. The IWA publishes numerous reports on the research it carries out, and organises public seminars and conferences to encourage discussion and debate. It is highly regarded for the quality of its work and its commitment to informed public discussion.

2010 saw the launch of ClickonWales.org, the IWA’s online news-analysis magazine. ClickonWales was designed to bring users a new level of regular commentary and analysis on Welsh affairs, and opportunities for debate, with expert contributors and commentators from across the political spectrum providing insights. The site also features the ‘Wales factfile’ and a ‘Lecture Library’. Wales factfile containing information and data about many aspects of Wales and its economic, social, cultural and political life. The ‘Lecture Library’ is a place where organisations will be able to post the texts of public lectures on a wide range of subjects.

Foundation of the IWA

The Institute of Welsh Affairs was incorporated on 22 July 1987 (Company No: 02151006). It was founded on the strength of a paper written in 1985 by Geraint Talfan Davies, a broadcaster, and Keith James, a Cardiff lawyer. The IWA became registered as a charity on 1 December 1990 (Charity No: 1078435).

Mission

The IWA has a fourfold mission:

  1. To help raise the level of public debate on issues affecting Wales, by placing quality information in the public domain.
  2. To influence policy-making through the dissemination of innovative new policy ideas.
  3. To provide networking opportunities for the IWA membership.
  4. To contribute to building the civic capacity of the country.

Organisation

The IWA is a membership based organisation, it has approximately 1,200 individual and 150 corporate members, and more than 100 Fellows. It is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity.

The corporate members include BBC Wales, British Gas, Cardiff County Council, Corus Steel, Eversheds, Julian Hodge Bank, ITV Wales, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, S4C, Welsh Water, and the University of Wales. Corporate members are encouraged to have an input into the research agenda of the IWA.

The Institute is governed by a Board of Trustees. Its first chairman was Henry Kroch, then chairman of AB Electronics. Since 1992, the chairman has been Geraint Talfan Davies, and since 1996 the director of the organisation has been former journalist and television producer, John Osmond.

As at November 2010, the Board members were Eurfyl ap Gwilym, Guy Clarke, Rhys David, Geraint Talfan Davies (Chairman), Peter Davies, Sue Essex, Nigel Griffiths, Gerald Holtham, Megan Mathias, Rob Humphreys, Robert Jolliffe, Ruth Marks, Chris O'Malley, Wendy Sadler, Professor John Tucker, Sir Adrian Webb, Dr. Ruth Williams and Professor Laura McAllister.

The IWA has five area branches – for north Wales, for west Wales, Swansea Bay, Gwent, and Cardiff and the Valleys. A sixth 'virtual' branch - IWA Women - has been formed to raise the profile of women's concerns in Wales and to increase the engagement of women with the IWA and civic society in Wales more generally. The IWA also has an affiliated organisation, Wales in London, which came into being in 1994 with the merger the London branch of the IWA and the London Welsh Publicity Society.

Approximately one third of the IWA's income is derived from membership subscriptions, the remainder coming mainly from the funding of specific research projects by trusts and foundations, and other public and private organisations.

Publications

The IWA publishes a journal three times a year (in spring, summer and winter), called Agenda. First published in 1994, Agenda contains numerous articles on current issues in Wales, written by experts in their field, including academics, politicians and business people, and a wide range of participants from Welsh civil society.

During the first two terms of the National Assembly of Wales (1999–2003 and 2003–2007) the IWA produced quarterly "monitoring reports" which examined the work of the devolved departments (such as health and education) as well as political and constitutional developments in general. It also examined the new institution's relations with Westminster and with the European Union. These reports can be downloaded free of charge from the IWA website.

It now publishes a regular bulletin on developments in the Assembly, Assembly Bwletin Cynulliad, published in association with Grayling Wales. These can be downloaded from clickonwales.org. In addition, the IWA has published a multitude of research reports, discussion papers and books.

Events

One of the IWA’s central activities is holding events which are designed to disseminate information to the public on a host of public policy issues. The events range from the smaller ‘coffee shop’ debates to full-scale conferences.

Typically, an IWA event will focus on a contested issue in Welsh politics. It will bring in an expert (or number of experts) who have detailed knowledge and understanding of the issue, to clearly present both side’s arguments clearly. This is inline with the first part of its mission, which to help raise the level of public debate on issues affecting Wales, by placing quality information in the public domain.

In 2010 the IWA launched the Inspire Wales Awards, in association with the Western Mail . The Awards aim to raise the profile of Welsh men and women who are making a contribution to our society, to encourage active citizenship and create role models for others. Categories for the awards include the environment, business, education, sport, and arts, media and the creative industries. 2011 sees the IWA/Western Mail Business Awards, celebrating business achievement in Wales.

Research

In November 2006 the IWA published a report entitled Time to Deliver: The Third Term and Beyond. This looked at policy options for the Assembly’s third term, and was the result of work by eight study groups in individual policy areas.

In 2010 the IWA's director, John Osmond, was asked by the Commissioner for Older People in Wales to carry out a study exploring Welsh policy responses to our rapidly ageing society, in particular the Welsh Government’s policy which has been developing in a number of innovative ways since 2003. The findings were published in the bilingual report, 'Adding Life to Years / Ychwanegu Bywyd at a y Blynyddoedd'.

The IWA's most recent publication, entitled 'Engaging Wales' disengaged youth', explores the issue of so-called 'NEETS' - Children Not in Education, Employment of Training. It contains contributions from experts in the fields of youth policy, education, employment, and youth-centred charities. A full list of the IWA's research outputs is available on its website.

The IWA's priority areas for its future work include economic development, the environment and climate change, education, health and culture, governance and civil society.

Key themes

Devolution

In the late 1990s, issues relating to devolution formed a major part in the IWA's agenda. It produced reports on the conduct of the referendum, prior to the 1997 referendum and a working group suggested many amendments to the Government of Wales Bill. It also published reports on the relationship between devolution and economic development, and on the issue of housing the Assembly.

Welsh Baccalaureate

As early as 1993, in a report entitled Wales 2010, the IWA proposed the idea of a Welsh Baccalaureate. In a later report by Colin Jenkins and John David it recommended that the Welsh Baccalaureate be based on the International Baccalaureate. Following the establishment of the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition in October 2000, the Assembly Government decided to pilot a Welsh Baccalaureate, although it chose not to adopt the IWA's detailed proposals and to ally the pilot instead to the existing A level and GCSE qualifications.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.iwa.org.uk/where/where.htm
  2. ↑ Institute of Welsh Affairs 'About Us' page, October 2007

Sources

External links