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Medr and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol

The Welsh Government has designated the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (the Coleg) to advise Medr (the Tertiary Education and Research Commission) in relation to its duties relating to the Welsh language. 

This page provides more information about Medr, the designation, the policy and legislative context, and the Coleg's work advising Medr. 

Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 

The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (the Act) establishes Medr, an arms-length body responsible for funding and overseeing post-16 education and research from August 2024. 

Medr's responsibilities for the tertiary education sector include sixth forms in schools, further education colleges, universities, apprenticeship providers and adult education providers. 

The Act places 11 strategic duties on Medr. One of those, Section 9, relates to promoting tertiary education through the medium of Welsh:  

9 (1) The Commission must– 

  1. a. encourage demand for, and participation in, Welsh tertiary education provided through the medium of Welsh; 
  2. take all reasonable steps to ensure that there is sufficient Welsh tertiary education provided through the medium of Welsh to meet demand;
  3. encourage the provision of tertiary education through the medium of Welsh by—  

  1. registered providers in Wales, and 

  2. other persons providing tertiary education funded or otherwise secured by the Commission.  

In accordance with section 9(2) of the Act, the Welsh Government has "designated" the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol as "a person to give relevant advice to the Commission" for the purpose of assisting Medr in the discharge of its duties under 9(1).  

Memorandum of Understanding between the Coleg and Medr 

In August 2024, the Coleg and Medr agreed a  memorandum of understanding outlining how the Coleg will advise Medr on its statutory duties to increase Welsh 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. 

Medr’s strategic priorities 

In February 2024, the Welsh Government set the following strategic priorities for Medr: 

  • Develop a tertiary system that prepares learners for a dynamic and changing economy where all can acquire the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in life and work. 
  • Maintain and enhance the quality of the tertiary system, continue and intensify work on widening participation and take steps to ensure a more equitable and excellent system for all. 
  • Putting the learner at the heart of the system by focusing on the experience of learners in the tertiary system and their wellbeing. 
  • Ensure that the tertiary education system contributes to the economy and society. 
  • Establish the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research as a highly effective organisation providing stability and leadership during this time of transition.  

In the statement of priorities, the Minister notes that Medr should:  Develop a plan to increase and improve the provision and promotion of Welsh-medium education and assessment in the whole of the tertiary system recognising the role of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, as the designated person under Section 9 of the 2022 Act and Qualifications Wales as the independent qualifications regulator. This is a key part of the seamless pathway for learners into the tertiary education of their choosing. 

In the written statement, it is also stated that “these pathways should be available through the medium of Welsh”. 

In February 2025, Medr published its first strategic plan. It sets Welsh as one of its five strategic objectives: 

To encourage greater use of the Welsh language, increasing demand for and participation in learning and assessment through the medium of Welsh 

And commits to “Develop and implement a national plan for the Welsh language across the entire tertiary education sector.” 

Policy and legislation context

Cymraeg 2050 

Cymraeg 2050 is the Welsh Government's Welsh language strategy. Its targets are: 

  • A million Welsh speakers by 2050
  • Double the daily use of Welsh by 2050. 

The strategy states that education is key in order to reach a million Welsh speakers. The following two aims are set for the post-compulsory education sector:  

4: Post-compulsory education Develop post-compulsory education provision which increases rates of progression and supports everyone, whatever their command of the language, to develop Welsh language skills for use socially and in the workplace. 

5: The education workforce, resources and qualifications Plan in order to increase and improve substantially: 

  • the education and training workforce which can teach Welsh and teach through the medium of Welsh, 
  • the resources and qualifications needed to support increased provision. 

The Explanatory Memorandum of the 2022 Act states "The Commission will have a critical role to play in the context of the [above] key aims”. 

The Welsh Language and Education Act

The Welsh Language and Education Act (Wales) 2025:  

  • will require the Welsh language strategy to include a target of at least a million Welsh speakers by 2050, as well as other targets relating to the use of the Welsh language, including in the workplace and socially;

  • will establish a standard approach to describing Welsh language ability based on the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages; 

  • sets out three statutory language categories for schools (“Primarily Welsh language”, “Dual Language”, and “Primarily English language, partly Welsh”), and provides for the designation of those language categories, along with requirements relating to the minimum amount of Welsh language education provided and Welsh language learning goals, for each category; 

  • will link the linguistic planning undertaken at a national level (by placing a duty on the Welsh Ministers to prepare a National Framework for Welsh Language Education and Learning Welsh), at local authority level (by placing a duty on local authorities to prepare local Welsh in education strategic plans), and at school level (by placing a duty on schools to prepare Welsh language education delivery plans);

  • will establish a National Institute for Learning Welsh as a new body, responsible for supporting people (of all ages) to learn Welsh. 

The provision outlined in the Welsh Language and Education Act is aimed at ensuring that everyone who leaves the statutory education sector is a confident and independent Welsh speaker. Medr and the tertiary sector must plan for this context.  

The Coleg’s advice for Medr heeds the provisions of the Welsh Language and Education Act Bill and the Government's ambitions for the Welsh language and Welsh education.  

The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol's advice to Medr 

The Coleg welcomes the designation by the Welsh Ministers to provide advice to Medr on its duties in accordance with Section 9 of the 2022 Act. The designation is an additional responsibility for the Coleg.

The Coleg is committed to publishing formal advice notes submitted to Medr on its website:

For more information about Medr or the designation of the Coleg to advise Medr, email: polisi@colegcymraeg.ac.uk.