Am I alone in thinking that its not the problem of Welsh students lacking in confidence confidence to apply to Oxbridge, an access fellow at Oxford's Jesus college has said but we have no ambition to have a Welsh University system that rivals not Only Oxbridge but other leading universities.
The BBC reports that
The BBC reports that
The acceptance rate of Welsh students at Oxbridge has increased in the last three years, but the number of applications has fallen.
Access officers have identified self-belief as an issue they have to tackle in Wales.
The Welsh Government said more needs to be done "to push our most able students".
Welsh students made up 3.3% of Oxford's intake, and 1.6% of Cambridge's, in 2016 according to Freedom of Information figures released by Tottenham MP David Lammy last week.
Matthew Williams, access fellow for Jesus college,(Which is sometimes referred to as the "Welsh College" said
"Our primary method of changing this narrative is by meeting as many Welsh students as possible.
"I invite a lot of students to come to Oxford and meet our undergrads. They pretty quickly realise that Oxford students are just like them."Often Welsh students lack the confidence to apply to Oxford or Cambridge, and I do all I can to change their minds."
Murrium Khan, senior access officer at Lady Margaret Hall, one of the Oxford college's responsible for access in mid-Wales, cited several possible factors contributing to Welsh Oxford applications falling, including the press, education system and, primarily, confidence.
She runs workshops with link schools in Wales and says she often plays a word association game where students mention words they think relate to Oxbridge.
"Posh, privileged, well-connected and rich are always on the list", she said, adding the college's programme was often focused on busting these myths.a spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Cambridge University said it was "intensifying its efforts" to increase Welsh applications.
"High-achieving students from Wales should strongly consider applying to Cambridge," a spokesman said.
"Welsh applicants have the same success rate as the Cambridge average and Welsh students thrive here as part of our global community. If you don't apply, we can't offer you a place."
MP Chris Bryant took more than 70 students from Rhondda to his old Oxford college in September to demystify the experience.
He told the students that the "only barrier to getting here is inside your own heads".
Clearly I do not want to stop our brightest students to reach their full potential but it shameful that some may have to go to another country in order to do so and it will take many years to rise our instituons where they rival Oxbridge but it should be our ambition.
Of those who do leave, how many never return and lose contact with their communities?
One of my most enjoyable experience in Aberystwyth was living in a Hall with a large number of Overseas Students who made a huge contribution to the ethos of the College.
Welsh Students who move to colleges outside Wales will do likewise and do not discourage them seeking a different experience.
But they should not be leaving because they believe that they can get a better education and prospects by going to Oxbridge.
The task that the likes of Chris Bryant even if he is not in the Welsh Assembly should take up is to seek to build a Education system from Nursery level to University that rivals any where in the World.
Believing that the future of our brightest and best lies in sending them to be educated at Oxbridge or anywhere else is self defeating.
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