the institution was later formed as gwent college of higher education by a merger of the caerleon college of education (the former monmouthshire training college), the newport college of art and design and the gwent college of technology in 1975. all three former institutions had established regional and national reputations, most notably the college of art with many of its students gaining commissions from the bbc and other major organisations in light of the college being amongst a select number of art colleges in the country awarded diploma in art and design status.