Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol invests in Bangor’s expertise

Bangor University has welcomed the news that the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (the new national institution for the development of Welsh medium education and scholarship at universities in Wales) has awarded nine academic posts and five PhD scholarships to Bangor University for the next academic year. The awards acknowledge the leading role that Bangor University is expected to take as the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol comes into existence in September 2011. Through this new investment, which is worth half a million pounds per annum over the next five years, the University will be able to develop its Welsh medium provision to a greater extent than ever before.

The nine posts have been awarded on the basis of successful bids outlining plans to develop Welsh medium provision across a wide range of subjects. As a result of the  awards, students at Bangor and other institutions can now look forward to a number of new modules and Welsh medium developments in subjects as varied as French, Chemistry, Popular Music, Music for Film, Psychology, Social Policy, Social Work, Nursing and Environmental Studies.

The awards are funded for up to five years and the appointed staff  are expected to be in post by September 2011.  In addition to teaching and developing Welsh medium provision in their specialist fields, the new post holders will be expected to contribute to the intellectual life of Wales through research, enabling collaborative work with other universities and promoting the language within their subject area and the institution.

In addition to the nine posts, by securing five PhD scholarships for 2011/12, the University has also shown that it has an eye on the future and the need to foster the next generation of academics and scholars. In addition to their research, the holders of the PhD scholarships which have been awarded in Accounting, Psychology, Welsh and Technology, Social Policy and Health Sciences, will also gradually undertake Welsh medium teaching duties.

Welcoming the awards, Professor John G. Hughes, Vice-Chancellor of the University said:
“The University is totally committed to playing a leading role in the development of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol while maintaining its status as the main provider of Welsh medium higher education. The nine posts that have been awarded to Bangor are part of the University’s wider strategy to enhance its Welsh medium provision. The new appointments will be a valuable addition to the substantial body of staff already innovating in the delivery of Welsh medium higher education at Bangor.”

He added: “Putting this good news alongside the University’s decision to appoint a Pro Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for Welsh medium matters and its significant investment in the Welsh Hall of Residence, there has never been a better time for students to come to Bangor to study through the medium of Welsh, and to have a rich experience in doing so.”

Mr Ioan Matthews, Chief Executive of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol said:

“Over the next five years, the academic staffing plan, which is one of the major new initiatives to arise from establishing the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, will lead to the appointment of over 100 new lecturers to teach through the medium of Welsh, and to contribute fully to scholarship in their subject areas. This year, the Coleg will finance 27 new posts, with nine of them at Bangor University. We look forward to cooperating with the University to ensure that these appointments lead to an increase in the provision and choice for students, not only in Bangor but also nationally through cooperative plans.”

Publication date: 4 April 2011