College Merger: Your Questions Answered

Following Welsh Assembly Government approval to proceed, the final stages of the legal merger of Coleg Llandrillo Cymru and Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor are now complete.

This means that, as of 1st April 2010, Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor became part of Coleg Llandrillo Cymru.

This is a significant and exciting development for education and training in North Wales, bringing with it new opportunities for both Colleges.

In practice though, what might this actually mean to you? The following should hopefully answer any questions you might have.

Q. Why did the Colleges merge?
A. The Colleges merged in order to:

• create a new, stronger, Further Education Institution serving Dwyfor, Meirionnydd, Conwy and Denbighshire and surrounding areas
• enable Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor to secure and further develop post-16 education and training opportunities in their area, including opportunities for local businesses
• further enhance learner opportunities and the bilingual nature of Coleg Llandrillo Cymru
• respond to national Welsh Assembly Government vision and policies.

Q. What about the College identities ?
A. As originally stated in the Ten Commitments, both College names have been retained. The new, merged organisation is made up of:

Coleg Llandrillo Cymru
Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, Rhos
Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, Rhyl
Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, Abergele
Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, Denbigh
Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, Glasdir Llanrwst
Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, Elwy
Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor
Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, Pwllheli
Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, Dolgellau
Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, Glynllifon

Following the merger, Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor has been using a new logo. This logo was developed to represent the College as part of the wider organisation.

Q. Will learners and their families notice any changes?
A. They shouldn’t notice any big changes, no. Going to College should feel pretty much the same as it did before, but with positive developments.

Q. What about timetable commitments and course choices?
A. Timetable commitments for current students will be honoured, new students will have the same choice of subjects as before and there are plans to further extend the choices available.

Q. Will learners have to travel further to study now?
A. No, they won’t have to travel any further and there shouldn’t be any difference to the travel arrangements normally provided by College.

Q. What about the language of study?
A. The existing choice of language of study will stay the same and new bilingual learning opportunities will be developed.

Q. Where will parents discuss matters relating to student progress?
A. At their local College site in the same way as they did before.

Q. Will local employers notice any changes?
A. Yes, positive ones. Coleg Llandrillo Cymru’s considerable experience with employers will allow Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor to be more responsive to the requirements of local businesses.

Q. How is the College managed now?
A. The three Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor sites are now part of the Llandrillo Group, with Coleg-Meirion Dwyfor being represented on the Corporation Board. Day-to-day general management at the various Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor and Coleg Llandrillo Cymru sites is very similar to how it was before.

Q. Will the existing College campuses and sites be affected?
A. All existing campuses and sites (including specialist sites like Glynllifon) have been maintained and significant investments in resources are already underway.

Q. What about the Welsh/bilingual ethos at the Colleges?
A. The distinctive bilingual ethos at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor will be retained and strengthened. Coleg Llandrillo Cymru will also benefit as the College continues to promote and further develop a bilingual ethos on its sites.