For many years there has been a call for a Welsh medium college - a centre that would be dedicated solely to the teaching of higher education through the medium of Welsh: Y Coleg Ffederal.

In July 2008, the then Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills established the Coleg Ffederal Planning Board, chaired by Professor Robin Williams, to explore the issues and possibilities for the future of Welsh medium in higher education.

The Board’s task was to set out how the Assembly Government’s commitment to the Coleg Ffederal could be taken forward and how it could build on the excellent Higher Education Sector Group's (HESG) work to date. The Board looked at possible models for the Coleg Ffederal and how it could  work with other institutions in higher education in Wales to deliver the aim of increased Welsh language tuition.

Professor Williams submitted his report, Y Coleg Ffederal, to the Minister in June 2009 to much acclaim across Wales.

HEFCW was asked by the Welsh Assembly Government to set up the Coleg Ffederal Implementation Board to put in place the arrangements for the Coleg Ffederal - which will maintain, develop and oversee Welsh medium higher education provision in Wales – through the Welsh Assembly Government’s 21st century higher education strategy and plan, For Our Future.

Over the course of the original Coleg Ffederal Planning Board and during discussion at the Implementation Board, it became apparent that the name ‘Coleg Ffederal’ was no longer appropriate in the context of modern university education. The constitution therefore proposes, with the backing of the Board, the new name ‘Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’.

Professor Merfyn Jones, former Vice Chancellor at Bangor University, was appointed the first Chair of the Coleg Cymraeg and took up his post in March 2011. The full press release can be accessed here.   

The first directors of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol were also appointed in March 2011. The full press release can be accessed here.