Ms Lucy Jenkins

(she/her)

Publication

• Date
• Type

Research

Research 

My research interests are largely focused on Languages, literacy, mentoring and multilingualism in Wales and beyond and link directly to my current roles as Principal Investigator of the MFL Mentoring project and Co-Investigator on the AHRC Transforming Cultures of Langauges Learning Project.

MFL Mentoring mobilises mentoring methodologies to improve motivation and resilience for language learning at GCSE and beyond. Our project encourages a multilingual, global mindset that is open to all regardless of a learner’s socio-economic background or proficiency in the language classroom. Our learners are encouraged to be curious and to challenge their perspectives and assumptions by exploring the world through language and culture. This project is funded by the Welsh Government and enjoys fruitful partnerships with Aberystwyth, Bangor, Swansea and UWTSD Universities.

The project trains university students to mentor learners aged 12-14 as they make their GCSE option choices. Mentoring sessions take place either in the classroom or online depending on the needs of the school. Mentors run six sessions each autumn and spring term with small groups of mentees to provide a learner-centred approach. Each session focuses on a different theme to help learners see the multidisciplinary nature of language learning. The themes explore all languages and cultures around the world rather than promoting one language in particular. This ensures that, regardless of a learner’s language profile or proficiency, there is something to inspire and motivate. We have worked in over 130 of the Secondary Schools across Wales.

The effectiveness of the methodologies has attracted national and international attention and the project has had satellite projects in England, Spain and in other discplines, such as Physics. This has led to engagement in the UKRI ASPECT programme which supports universities to develop their social sciences research into viable business propositions.  We have also won and delivered small research grants funded by the ESRC, AHRC and the GW4.

Teaching

I supported delivery of a final year Undergraduate module in MLANG: the Student Teaching Module (2018-2020).

I also supported delivery of a module for ERASMUS students (2018-2020).

Biography

Education

2015: Masters in European Studies (Distinction): Cardiff University

2014: BA Italian and English Literature (First Class): Cardiff University

Career

2026-present: Co-Investigator and Researh Fellow, Transforming Cultures of Language Learning (AHRC Project), Cardiff University

2025-present: Principal Investigator and Researh Fellow, MFL Mentoring Project, Cardiff University

2017-2025: Project Director, MFL Mentoring Project, Cardiff University

2023-2025: Programme Manager, Routes into Langauges Cymru, Cardiff University

2023-2025: Grant Assessor, Taith 

2020-2023: Education Consultant, London School of Economics

2019-2020: Director and Project Development Manager, Language Horizons (Department for Education, England) (Cardiff University)

2018-2019: Project Development Manager, Language Horizons (Department for Education, England) (Cardiff University)

2016-2018: Research and Development Executive, Rewise Learning Foundation

Funding

Research Grants

Transforming Cultures of Language Learning, £466,000 (part of £1.2 million grant)

·       Welsh Government, MFL Mentoring, 2025-28, £1.2 million

·       Welsh Government, MFL Mentoring and Love Reading, 2023-25, £1.07 million

·       Welsh Government, MFL Mentoring, 2015-2023, £1.5 million

·       University of Leeds, Moving Mountains, AHRC, 2023-24, £3,500

·       ASPECT Network, devolved nation ARC prize award, £36,000

·       University of Stirling, Remembering Empire, AHRC, 2023, £2,600

·       Research Wales Innovation Fund, HEFCW, 2021-2022, £25,000

·       Miscellaneous ESRC Impact Accelerator grants, 2021-2024, £22,000

·       Gw4, Building Communities Grant, 2018-2019, £3,500

Engagement Grants

·       Cardiff University Future Generations Engagement Grant, £5,000

·       Oxford University, 2021-2026, £23,000

·       Reaching Wider, 2021-2026, £26,700

·       University of South Wales Civic Mission Funding, £9,400

·       Department for Education, England, 2018-2020, £526,000

International Collaborations 

·       Cardiff University Waikato Sweetcorn funding, 2023-24, £5,000

·       Taith, University of Waikato mentoring collaboration, 2023-24, £1,200

Academic positions

• 2026-present: Co-Investigator and Researh Fellow, Transforming Cultures of Language Learning (AHRC Project), Cardiff University
• 2025-present: Principal Investigator and Researh Fellow, MFL Mentoring Project, Cardiff University

Speaking engagements

•        Forthcoming: September 2026, BERA, Learner Voice in Curriculum for Wales: A Key Ingredient of Curriculum Design (Lucy Jenkins)
•        Forthcoming: May 2026, School of Advanced Study University of London, ‘Thinking Strategically: Mentoring - an Approach to Sustain the Languages Pipeline?’ (Lucy Jenkins and Kerry Bevan)
•        Invited speaker: March 2026, Association for Language Learning – Language World, ‘Developing a multilingual curriculum for all through object-based learning’ (Lucy Jenkins)
•        Invited panellist: January 2026, Swansea University Festival of Languages, ‘Language Learning in Wales’
•        Invited speaker: November 2025, AHRC, ‘Developing a language audit tool’ (Lucy Jenkins)
•        Invited Speaker: May 2025, The Teaching Modern Foreign Languages Conference 2025: Engaging Learners Inside and Out of the Classroom, ‘Engaging learners inside and out of the classroom’ (Lucy Jenkins)
•        Invited Panellist: April 2025, Swansea University, ARC Accelerator Roadshow (Lucy Jenkins)
•        Invited Speaker: March 2025, School of Advanced Study University of London, ‘Thinking Strategically: Taking Mentoring Programmes Forward’ (Lucy Jenkins)
•        Keynote: December 2025, Senedd Languages event (Lucy Jenkins)
•        Invited Speaker: November 2024, Welsh Government Y Farchnad (Lucy Jenkins, Rebecca Beckley, Glesni Owen)
•        Invited speaker: July 2024, United Kingdom Literacy Association (UKLA) Symposium, ‘Being a reader in a reading community: Discussing diverse approaches to support reading enjoyment and engagement’ (Lucy Jenkins, Alex Nita, Sarah McGweon)
•        Invited Panellist: July 2024, UKRI SHAPE Catalyst Roadshow (Lucy Jenkins)
•        Invited speaker: June 2024, Welsh Government Lunch ‘n’ Learn, ‘Why are learners in Wales not choosing languages in secondary schools?’ (Lucy Jenkins and Claire Gorarra)
•        Invited speaker: April 2024, National Centre for Coordinating Public Engagement, ‘Mentoring as a Changemaker: context, opportunities and challenges’ (Lucy Jenkins, Glesni Owen, Alex Nita, Celina Lavis)
•        Invited Speaker: March 2024, University of Stirling, ‘Why are learners in Wales not choosing languages in secondary school? Insights into motivation and student choices.’ Communications’ (Lucy Jenkins) 
•        Invited Speaker: November 2023, Seminar for Partneriaeth consortium, ‘Multilingualism: mindsets, attitudes and resources to support language learning in Wales’ (Lucy Jenkins and Claire Gorrara).
•        Invited Panelist October 2023, ASPECT Angels event, ‘Pobl Communications’ (Lucy Jenkins) 
•        Invited Speaker: July 2023, ASPECT, ‘MFL Mentoring and it’s spin-out potential’ (Lucy Jenkins)
•        Invited speaker: May 2023, International Links Global Annual Conference, ‘International Languages, Cymraeg and English: Let’s Take A Multilingual Approach!’ (Lucy Jenkins)
•        Invited Speaker: February 2023, AHRC, ‘MFL Mentoring’ (Lucy Jenkins and Claire Gorarra)
•       Invited panellist: November 2022, British Academy reSHAPE Event, ‘Translational research in the arts, humanities and social sciences’ (Lucy Jenkins)
•        Invited Speaker: November 2022, Research Series at University of Waikato, ‘Curriculum for Wales: Languages and Mentoring’ (Lucy Jenkins and Claire Gorarra)
•        Invited speaker: July 2022, WISERD annual conference, ‘International Languages in Secondary Schools in Wales: Why Don’t Learners Choose Languages and How Can The Curriculum for Wales Support Change?’ (Lucy Jenkins)
•        Invited Speaker: July 2022, Future Leaders Fellows Network (UKRI), ‘Research in Practice: Policy, Practice and Schools Engagement’ (Lucy Jenkins)
•       Invited Speaker: May 2022, University of London School of Advanced Studies, ‘Modern Languages and Inclusivity: Sharing Ideas and Practices’ (Lucy Jenkins)
•        Invited Speaker: April 2022, Cardiff Metropolitan National Strategy for Educational Research and Enquiry Seminar Series, ‘International Languages in Secondary Schools in Wales: Why Don’t Students Choose Languages and How Can We Change This?’ (Lucy Jenkins and Claire Gorarra)
•        Invited Speaker: March 2022, The Alliance of Modern Languages, Area Studies and Linguistics Subject Associations UK (AMLUK), ‘International Languages in Secondary Schools in Wales: Why Don’t Learners Choose Languages and How Can Mentoring Provoke Change?’ (Lucy Jenkins)
•        Invited Speaker: February 2022, ASPECT Network, ‘Research to Product – translation research experience’ (lucy Jenkins)
•        Invited Speaker: February 2022, Central South Consortium Annual Conference, ‘Curriculum Development across Languages’ (Lucy Jenkins)
•        Invited Speaker: February 2022, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Swansea University, ‘Working with the new Curriculum for Wales, for PGCE students’ (Lucy Jenkins)

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News articles

Uptake of international languages at GCSE increases in Wales in “most significant rise for 15 years”

20 April 2026

Cardiff University expert welcomes trend but says it’s partnered with worrying figures for A level entries

New study aims to transform cultures of language-learning

11 February 2026

Cardiff University academics part of interdisciplinary team based across the Celtic nations

Keeping international language learning high on the agenda

04 June 2025

Cardiff University-led mentoring project receives three-year funding boost

Learners have not closed the door on languages just before they make GCSE option choices, report shows

15 March 2022

Largest UK study of its kind explores young people’s attitudes to modern foreign languages

Language mentoring project shortlisted for a Higher Education award

17 September 2021

A project which addresses the challenges facing modern languages has been shortlisted at 2021’s "Oscars of Higher Education".

Language students given opportunities to explore new cultures and maintain their skills during lockdown

11 May 2020

Welsh universities supporting school linguists with vital communication practice