Annual Report 2014-15

www.colegcymraeg.ac.uk @ColegCymraeg The data already shows that more students are studying extensively through the medium of Welsh than 3 Chief Executive’s Introduction ever before. 5 Looking to the future by the The Coleg Cymraeg during the coming years. Chair of the Board, Andrew Green Cenedlaethol is now nearing Higher education funding Chief the end of its initial funding arrangements were completely 6 Coleg investment in the universities period, and this annual transformed, and the Welsh Executive’s report summarizes the ways medium premium which in which it has contributed enabled institutions to support 8 An increase in the number of students towards transforming the Welsh language provision, Introduction provision available for no longer exists. Professor studying through the medium of Welsh students to study through Robin Williams, when he drew Dr Ioan the medium of Welsh in our up recommendations for the 10 Developing a bilingual workforce universities. By appointing Coleg’s establishment period, more than a hundred new anticipated that it would be 12 The Academic Staffing Scheme Matthews lecturers, it became possible possible for the universities to expand the range of what – due to the existence of 14 The Coleg’s Scholarships is available to students in the premium – to commit to terms of breadth and depth, maintaining Welsh medium 16 The Coleg’s Projects across the higher education lecturing posts following an sector. A priority for the next initial five-year funding period 18 The past year period will be to ensure that through the Coleg Cymraeg as many as possible of those Cenedlaethol. The Coleg 20 Appendices 1-8 students who speak Welsh welcomes the Diamond in universities are studying Review, which is considering at least part of their course funding arrangements for through the medium of the the future, and has provided language. The data already evidence for ensuring that the shows that more students are funding system recognises studying extensively through the particular situation faced the medium of Welsh than by Welsh medium education. ever before, which takes The interim report issued in place within a context where December 2015 addresses there has been a significant the issue of Welsh medium reduction in the number of provision, including the part-time students. national role of the Coleg. But as the final report is not The Coleg was established at published until later this year, a period immediately before concern remains in relation major changes took place in to maintaining the substantial the higher education sector progress that has taken place in Wales and beyond, and over the last five years should these changes will continue there be further reductions in the Coleg’s budget in the meantime. 2 Annual Report 2014/15 Annual Report 2014/15 3 The Coleg fully acknowledges Why should opportunities for and publishing research the pressure on public students to study through materials, and much more. finances in the current context, the medium of Welsh in our This would not have happened and has already identified universities be secured? without the Coleg’s support. savings in response. The Broadly speaking, for two Board of Directors has made reasons: firstly, because it is Currently, the Coleg’s future preparations for addressing Dr Meredydd Evans, who died their right, especially if they funding position is uncertain. reductions which would be aged 95 in February 2015, have received their previous In recent months, I have proportionate to those facing was a great champion of education through the medium attended many meetings other bodies at present, and the Coleg from its inception, of Welsh, and secondly, together with the Chief has also made the case for having campaigned tirelessly because there is a clear need Executive and other officers sustaining a level of funding for a Coleg Cymraeg for a to nurture more people who to discuss the future of the that would protect the core long period of time. He was can work and serve bilingually. Coleg, as well as to consider work of the Coleg and the inaugurated as a fellow in Since its establishment in how it will maintain and Welsh medium provision the first Annual Meeting 2011, the Coleg Cymraeg develop its work over the next available to students in in Swansea in 2012 and Cenedlaethol has made period. The higher education particular. At the same time, contributed to a number of a significant difference sector, and post-16 education the Coleg (as stated by Coleg events, conferences and Looking to towards achieving both these generally, is changing rapidly, the Chair in his remarks) is launches on the Eisteddfod objectives. and it is essential that the developing its activities in maes. He displayed a constant the future by Coleg responds to the order to respond positively to interest in the work of the While facing a challenging and challenges and opportunities the Welsh Government’s policy Coleg, and encouraged and changing context over the last that will arise from this. agenda in the higher education advised in his friendly and the Chair of year, the Coleg maintained sector and beyond. robust manner. The Coleg and developed the work of Amid this uncertainty, it owes him a great debt, the Board expanding opportunities for is essential to protect the The Coleg’s Annual especially for initiating the students to study through the progress made since the Congregation was held in establishment of the William medium of Welsh at university Coleg’s establishment. There Bangor in 2015, where three Salesbury Fund, which now Andrew in the widest possible range is a real danger of losing what honorary fellows, Professor offers an annual scholarship to of subjects. It is a pleasure has been achieved over the Gwyn Thomas, Heini Gruffudd a student studying with Coleg Green to present this annual review last five years very quickly and Catrin Stevens, were funding. In addition, the Coleg which provides a summary if the funding is significantly inaugurated before a large established Gwobr Merêd, of all the Coleg’s work: the reduced, in the absence of audience gathered in Bangor which is awarded annually to appointment and training of other means of supporting University’s Powys Hall. It was a student in one of the Coleg lecturers, marketing Welsh what is funded by the encouraging to see strong branches who has made a medium courses, supporting Coleg, and lecturing posts representation from the wider notable contribution to Welsh branches in the universities, specifically. community as well as from the life. At the National Eisteddfod producing learning resources University itself. in Meifod, Gwobr Merêd was As the Coleg faces these presented for the first time challenges, I would like once During the early months of to Trystan ap Owen from the again to pay tribute to all those 2014, Wales lost several University of South Wales. responsible for their work and familiar faces, and among collaboration to ensure the them two fellows of the In conclusion, I would like success of the Coleg: to my Coleg. Dr John Davies was to reiterate my thanks to fellow Board members, to Ioan inaugurated as a fellow at everyone who has supported Matthews and his dedicated Aberystwyth in 2013, in the Coleg’s mission during ...the Coleg maintained and staff, to the lecturers and recognition of his outstanding the year, including colleagues students at the universities, to contribution not only as a in the universities and the developed the work of expanding the Funding Council and the historian but also for his work Coleg’s team of core staff. Welsh Government, and to all for many years as warden With the forthcoming Welsh opportunities for students to study those colleagues who strive to of Neuadd Pantycelyn. The Election in May, we trust that establish the Welsh language Coleg has now established members of the new Assembly through the medium of Welsh at as a natural medium in our an award in his memory, to will continue to support the universities. be awarded annually to an Coleg’s work and will provide university in the widest possible undergraduate student for the the resources necessary best dissertation on a theme to build on the strong range of subjects. relating to the history of Wales. foundations that are now in place. 4 Annual Report 2014/15 Adroddiad Blynyddol 2014/15 5 The Coleg’s investment in the universities Since 2011, the Coleg Over half of the Coleg’s budget funds the Academic Staffing Scheme (which funds the posts of 115 lecturers) and related Cymraeg Cenedlaethol activities including postgraduate scholarships and academic- has created more related posts. opportunities to study Most of the remaining budget is allocated to the institutions £18 Million through the medium in the form of grant funding, including: Over £18 Million invested in the of Welsh in Welsh E-learning • First MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) in Welsh universities since 2011 universities and has • Digitizing books invested over £18 million • Creating new digital resources in the universities. Resource Development • Producing textbooks, study texts, catalogues • Publishing two annual issues of Gwerddon – a multidisciplinary research journal 8 1 1 Swansea • Creating supplementary support materials – videos, audio 7 £2,278,000 clips, podcasts, apps 2 Aberystwyth Supporting collaboration 2 £3,653,000 6 • Collaborative modules 3 Bangor • Conferences and residential courses £5,317,000 Marketing and promotion 4 Cardiff • Visits to schools and further education colleges • UCAS fairs £1,908,000 • The ambassador scheme 5 Trinity St David Strategic projects 5 £2,155,000 • National subject officers 6 South Wales • Higher Education Terminology Project £1,473,000 3 Language support for students and staff 7 Cardiff Met • Welsh Language Skills Certificate £1,284,000 4 • Certificate of Welsh Language Competence for Teachers 8 Other Collaboration with the further education sector £228,000 • Establishment of a planning group • Pilot projects 6 Annual Report 2014/15 Annual Report 2014/15 7 Investing in 4000 Business Studies An increase In the 2011–12 academic year, there were very few students in the number studying Business through the medium of Welsh in of students universities in Wales.

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