The Beacon for Wales is one of six pilot Beacons for Public Engagement funded by the Higher Education Funding Councils, Research Councils UK and the Wellcome Trust. Beacons for Public Engagement are university-based collaborative centres to help support, recognise, reward and build capacity for public engagement work across the UK.

The Beacon for Wales is a partnership between Cardiff University, University of Glamorgan, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales, Techniquest, and BBC Cymru Wales. As might be expected for a programme working on changing the culture of universities across Wales, there are a number of people who are involved including the Beacon Office, the Management Board, the Projects Advisory Group and the Champions for Public Engagement.