Coleg Ceredigion received the coveted 2014 Colegau Cymru award for Welsh and Bilingualism Aa City Hall, Cardiff on May 13 .

In competition with all further education colleges in Wales, the college triumphed to receive this prestigious award from the Deputy Minister for Skills, Ken Skates. The award, sponsored by Nat West was awarded in recognition of the college’s pioneering work to embed all aspects of the Welsh language and culture across the institution.

Principal, Jacqui Weatherburn accepted the award following an announcement of the result by Mark Douglas Nat West Regional Director for Wales.

She said: "I am absolutely delighted to receive this award on behalf of the college’s staff and students. The Welsh language and bilingualism is at the heart of the college. Our vision is ambitious but we believe strongly in preparing all our learners to work and live in a bilingual community and to that end every aspect of the student’s learning journey will include the Welsh Language and culture. The college is passionate in fulfilling its overall mission “fulfilling potential, changing lives", and engendering an understanding of the importance of bilingualism and the spontaneous, natural and interchangeable use of Welsh and English in our everyday lives is central to that mission."

The college has introduced a wide range of initiatives to achieve its goal including the innovative annual Welsh language boot camp at Llangrannog for staff and students, a student mentoring scheme, an extensive programme of social and cultural activities and the development of language aid apps. In addition all full time students will study Welsh language skills or Welsh language and culture awareness as part of their course.

Colegau Cymru’s Annual Awards recognise outstanding achievements by learners, teachers and colleges and the quality of submissions for the Colegau Cymru Awards 2014 was again notably high Dr John Graystone, ColegauCymru Chief Executive, said: “These awards ensure that best practice is properly recognised. The awards are also central to colleges’ continual efforts to raise standards across the board by learning from the best.”

The college now intends offering training and workshops to colleges and schools across Wales to share the outstanding practice it has developed.