| The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol is a Welsh Government funded Higher Education Institution established to develop and promote Welsh-medium higher education in Wales. The Coleg funds > 50 academic lectureships within 7 universities and 2 colleges in Wales across all subject areas including a strong focus on Geography, Geology, Environmental Science and Agricultural subjects.
Students whose first language is Welsh are classed as an under-represented group in higher education due to the minority status of the Welsh Language. Many of these students are also from areas involved in Communities First, and the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation initiatives. Students have completed Primary and Secondary education through the medium of Welsh and therefore struggle with the change to English-medium education at university entry-level, which in the GEES subject areas is often highly technical.
Students who study through the Coleg can complete up to 66% of their degrees through the medium of Welsh including lectures, seminars, practical classes, field work and tutorials. Students therefore receive high quality subject tuition, typically in small group settings with experts in their preferred language. Staff also act as role-models for the students and provide important pastoral support which helps with the student transition process.
The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol also provides sponsorship for Welsh-medium students throughout their undergraduate degrees. Students completing 33% of their degrees in Welsh are eligible for a maintenance grant of £1,500 over three years while students completing 66% of their course in Welsh can apply for a maintenance grant of £4,500 over three years.
The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol was founded in 2011 and has recently received continued funding by the Welsh Government. Over the past 5 years, there has been a strong increase in student numbers studying through the medium of Welsh and excellent feedback has been received from students on their experiences. |