Swansea University hosted our third annual training Language Based Area Studies pathway workshop on July 6. This was focussed on ‘The Use of Foreign Language Skills in Social Science Research’ and included presentations from staff and ESRC-funded research students from Swansea and Cardiff Universities (the pathway partners) focusing on the conceptual and practical challenges of undertaking social science research in regional contexts characterised by linguistic and cultural diversity. Dr Clare Spencer, Head of Middle East and North Africa programmes at the Royal Institute for International Affairs, London, presented on the challenges posed by linguistic diversity in international diplomacy. Professor David James, director of the ESRC Wales DTC, discussed the place of the language-based area studies pathway in the ESRC Wales DTC.

The next annual training workshop will be held at Cardiff University early in 2016.

In the photo: some of the staff and students who participated in the workshop. To the centre: the workshop convenor Dr Gerard Clarke (Swansea University) and keynote speaker, Dr Claire Spencer (Royal Institute for International Affairs).