The merger of Coleg Morgannwg and Ystrad Mynach College has officially taken place today to form Coleg Y Cymoedd.
Meaning College of the Valleys, Coleg Y Cymoedd will be home to more than 25,000 students and 1,000 staff when the new term starts in September.
With an annual turnover of more than £42 million, the college will operate across five campuses and attract learners from an area spanning from north Cardiff across Rhondda Cynon Taff and Caerphilly.
Principal of Coleg Morgannwg Judith Evans is heading-up the new organisation. She will be supported by an experienced senior management team including representatives from both colleges.
Ms Evans will be joined by a new Chair of Governors for the college, Liz James.
Mrs James, from Ystrad Mynach, has served on the governing body of The College, Ystrad Mynach since 1992 and has been Chair for the last six years.
A HR and local government specialist, Mrs James will provide the college’s management team with strategic leadership and advice alongside the rest of the governance team which is made up of individuals linked to both colleges.
Mrs James said: “Coleg Y Cymoedd represents the coming together of two extremely successful colleges for the benefit of its learners and the local communities. The merger will enable us to provide even greater choice across a vast range of subject areas for students as well as some world class learning facilities.”
Discussions over the merger began in 2011 following Welsh Government proposals to streamline further education in Wales.
New Principal Judith Evans said: “August 1 marks a landmark event for further education in South Wales as we welcome the official beginnning of Coleg Y Cymoedd.
“The college will benefit from excellent teaching expertise as well as a diverse range of learning programmes from A-Levels to vocational courses, apprenticeship programmes and part-time study to provide our learners with the richest experience possible. We are very much looking forward to starting the new term with the new name and to working together with colleagues and students, old and new.”
All educational provision across the new college’s five campuses will remain available from September 2013, providing one of the widest ranges of subject choices in Wales for learners.