A new organisation, Dysg, has been created to spearhead the development of post-16 education and training in Wales. Dysg is the Welsh arm of the Learning and Skills Development Agency, the organisation responsible for the development of post-16 education and training in England. It will work across all the post-16 learning sectors which f all within the scope of National Council-ELWa.

The creation of Dysg means that there will now be a single body in Wales aiming to research, develop and influence the delivery of post-16 education and training. Dysg will bring together the work of the public, private and voluntary sectors to ensure that there is choice, quality and consistency of learning provision, supporting the Welsh Assembly’s 10 year vision for learning. The work of Dysg will focus mainly on advising policy makers, implementing policy, offering support for education providers in delivering the curriculum, carrying out research and running networks.

A priority will be promoting events and services through the Community Consortia for Education and Training (CCETs). There will also be an emphasis on providing ‘virtual’ support systems such as an interactive website and video networks.

Wil Edmunds OBE, Chair of Dysg Advisory Committee, said "A new culture is being born today with the launch of Dysg and it is that culture which will take us forward into a hopefully bright and successful future. Dysg is a pow erf ul agent of changes working alongside ELWa for a better Wales".

Sonia Reynolds, director of Dysg, commented "This is a very exciting time for post-16 education and training in Wales and the pace of change is staggering. We w ill be w orking closely w ith the National Assembly and ELWa to create a coherent learning and skills sector. Top priorities are supporting the roll out of the credit and qualif ication
f ramew ork, w orking on the Welsh Baccalaureate and helping to create a new Individual Learning Accounts scheme".

Dysg means “learning” in Welsh.