Working together to increase Welsh and bilingual provision in the tertiary sector and to encourage demand for it
The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and Medr (the new Tertiary Education and Research Commission) have today (Wednesday 7 August) published a memorandum of understanding outlining how the Coleg will advise Medr on its statutory duties to increase Welsh-medium and bilingual provision in the tertiary sector and encourage demand for it. In accordance with the memorandum, Medr will fully consider the advice presented to it by the Coleg.
The announcement came at a reception at the National Eisteddfod in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The Coleg's Chief Executive, Dr Ioan Matthews, said:
"Realising the Cymraeg 2050 targets to create one million Welsh speakers and double the daily use of the language poses a particular challenge for the tertiary sector. It is in this sector that the bilingual workforces of the future are being trained, from care workers to doctors, from teaching assistants to teachers, from vets to paramedics.
"The Welsh language belongs to us all, and the Coleg looks forward to working with Medr to achieve our long-term vision that Welsh and bilingual provision is available to all who study and train in Wales, regardless of their Welsh language skills."
Simon Pirotte, Chief Executive of Medr, said:
"This is our first agreement as Medr, which underlines the importance of our relationship with the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Our organisations share a statutory relationship, but as this memorandum of understanding shows, we are also brought together by our shared ambition to improve opportunities for learners through the medium of Welsh.
"We look forward to receiving the Coleg's first formal advice and working with them to deliver on that shared ambition."
Medr, operational since 1 August 2024, has been established as the new arm's length body responsible for funding and overseeing post-16 education and research in Wales. Medr has a statutory strategic duty to:
- encourage the demand for and participation in Welsh tertiary education;
- take all reasonable steps to ensure that there is sufficient Welsh tertiary education to meet demand; and
- encourage the provision of tertiary education through the medium of Welsh.
The Welsh Government has formally designated the Coleg to advise Medr on its statutory strategic duties relating to the Welsh language.
The Coleg will present its first formal advice to Medr early in the autumn term to inform Medr's first Strategic Plan which will be presented to the Welsh Government in December.